Animals are a major group of multicellular organisms, of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan becomes fixed as they develop, usually early on in their development as embryos, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile - can move spontaneously and independently.
: Animal conservation. Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever. Read article
: Creepy crawlies. Creepy Crawlies. "A few years ago I was on holiday in Holland. I was on a bicycle trip and at the very first sign of a hill, I got off my bike for a rest. I sat down by the side of the road on the grass. A few seconds later, I was covered in ants. They were swarming all over me so I quickly got up and brushed them off." Read article
: What did a dinosaur look like? We love looking at dinosaurs. But what are we seeing? The real thing? Or a little fact and a lot of imagination? Read article
: Famous pets and pets of the famous. Some animals, such as Laika the Russian space dog, Lassie or Babe the piglet become famous in their own right. Other animals have made their mark because their owners were or are famous. Did you know that Mozart had a pet starling? And Lord Byron kept a pet bear? Read article
: Flea circuses. A good circus has always built its reputation on its ability to amaze and entertain and what could be more amazing than a flea circus? But does such a thing really exist and can fleas really be taught to perform circus tricks? Read article
: Goodbye great auk. Far out into the ocean to the north and west of Britain are the cold wild islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They make a line of beautiful beaches 150 miles long. Further west is the small group of islands called Saint Kilda. They are cold and wild too, but without beaches. The islands are tall volcanic rocks hundreds of metres high. Read article
: Human Rights for Great Apes? Chimpanzees, and the other great apes - gorillas, orang-utans and bonobos (pygmy chimps) - are always one of the favourite attractions in any zoo. There seems little doubt that the main reason for this is because they are so similar to us, and the more "human" their behaviour, the more the visitors to the zoo enjoy themselves. Read article
: Iguana farming. When you think of animal farming, cows, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, chickens and ducks probably come to mind. Read article
: Animal migration. Migration: the act of changing location periodically, especially by moving seasonally from one region to another. Read article
: Everything you (n)ever needed to know about polar regions. Did you know that A penguin can propel itself 7 feet (2.1 metres), straight out of the water, to avoid a whale or leopard seal, or that dogs are illegal in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland? Read article
: Sea monsters. Question: What animal is over 30 feet long, has a big head, enormous eyes, a mane like a lion, a long neck, a body like a snake and lots of arms like an octopus? Answer: Nobody knows. Read article
: Venomous animals. Venomous animals. Find out about 5 of the most deadly animals in Australia: the sea wasp, the funnelweb spider, the fierce snake, the blue-ringed octopus and the cone shell. Read article
: Wild animals. Read some facts about animals that will amaze you. Then try and read between the lines to answer the questions. Read article
: the following word games are available for this theme: amazon animals (1) | amazon animals (2) | animal idioms | animal kingdom | animal noises | animals | desert animals | dinosaurs x 9 | dogs (1) | dogs (2) | insects (1) | insects (2) | kenyan wildlife puzzles (x4) | kenyan wildlife quiz (1) | kenyan wildlife quiz (2) | marine animals | migrating animals | venomous animals (1) | venomous animals (2) | zoo puzzle
: Aesop's fables. Aesop, who was supposed to have lived from about 620 to 560 B.C. in Greece, was famous for his Fables. As well as being good fun, these also teach moral lessons. Read story
: Alberto's new neighbours. Alberto took one look at his new neighbours and knew that his life was going to get more difficult. He watched them arrive in their big, noisy car and watched them get out. There they were, two of them, as big and as noisy as their car, and smelly and stupid as well. Read story
: Animal Farm. This satirical novel by George Orwell is ostensibly about a group of animals who oust the humans from the farm they live on and run it themselves, only to have it corrupted into a brutal tyranny. Read story
: Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor (Emperor of Heaven) called for a contest on his birthday: a race! All the animals of the kingdom were invited to participate, but there would only be 12 winners, and the prize was a permanent place in the Zodiac Years. Read story
: The Dinosaur in Jake’s Garage. When Jake finds a dinosaur in his garage, nobody believes him. But when he finally brings it out to show them, the result is not what he expected either ... Read story
: The Hunting Bird. Samir’s grandfather told him that once, a long time ago, the bird had been a famous hunting bird. But now it looked old and tired and it seemed it couldn't fly. But could it? Read story
: The Polar Bear's Dinner. So, I’m a polar bear, right? Got that? A polar bear. Not one of those brown bears that live in forests and on mountains. One of those big white ones, you know, surely. Where do I live? On an iceberg of course, not that far from the North Pole. We never go too near the North Pole though, it’s much too cold up there. Read story
: A Serious Case. I have a friend who is afraid of spiders. This isn’t very unusual; a lot of people are afraid of spiders. I don’t really like spiders much myself. But my friend isn’t afraid of spiders in any normal way. She isn’t just afraid of spiders, she is totally, completely and utterly terrified of them. Read story
: Animal poetry. Poems about horses and other animals sent to us by users. Read poems
: The cat that walked by himself. Rudyard Kipling used to tell his daughter stories in which he invented funny answers for such questions as "How did the camel get his hump?". The stories end in amusing poems that summarise the stories themselves. This poem tells us the reasons why many people prefer dogs to cats. Read poem
: Danger in the Wet. Some people in North Queensland (Australia) love having tourists visit them so much, that they tell them this tale... Read poem
: Mountain Fable. In this fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist, poet, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement, a squirrel and a mountain have an argument! Read poem
: The Tyger. This famous poem by William Blake conjures up amazingly vivid images of the mighty tiger. Read poem
: Wolf poetry. Three poems about wolves by Rudyard Kipling, Cynthia Minde and Tamara Smith. Howoooool! Read poem
: "My polar bear is really cheap to feed!" "Really? Why's that?" "Because he lives ..." See cartoon
: "I don't need to weigh myself." "No? Why not?" "Because I've got..." See cartoon
: "Why are you chasing your tail, poor dog? " See cartoon
: "Your voice sounds a bit strange." "Yes, I'm ..." See cartoon
: "I don't like playing games with him." "Me neither ...". See cartoon
: "I'd like some lipstick, please." "How would you like to pay for that?" "Just put it ..." See cartoon
: "Why are you always arguing?" "Because ..." See cartoon
: "So you've eaten the cheese. Now what?" "I'm going to sit by this mouse hole ..." See cartoon
: "Don't fly upside down, whatever you do!". See cartoon
: "What's black and white and read all over?" "A sunburnt penguin?" "No, silly! A ..." See cartoon
: "Goodness! What happened to you?" "I've just come from ..." See cartoon
: "Pleased to meet you." "Charmed ..." See cartoon
: "I never eat weathermen." "No, why not?" "Because ..." See cartoon
: "Hello, Honey" See cartoon
: "What sort of animal is that?" "It's a p-i-i-i-g." "Why do you call it that?". See cartoon
: "Do you know why we coyotes are different from fleas?" "No, why ...?" See cartoon
: "I don't wanna flee!" "Me ..." See cartoon
: "What do you mean I don't deserve..." See cartoon
: "How's life?" "Oh, up and ..." See cartoon
: "You look like you're enjoying yourself." "Oh, yes! I'm having ..." See cartoon
: "Why have you got that steak on your head?" See cartoon
: "You've just destroyed half the forest, spoilt the waterhole and smashed all the nests!" "That's why ..." See cartoon
: "What do you get if you cross a kangaroo with a sheep?" See cartoon
: "Why are you so jumpy?" "I'm excited. I was born on February 29th ...". See cartoon
: "What are you doing?" "I'm going against ..." See cartoon
: "Do we have any talking parrots?" "No, but we have a woodpecker ...". See cartoon
: "What animal is that?" "It's a moose from Canada." "A moose? Och! They must ..." See cartoon
: "What do you get if you cross a praying mantis with a termite?" "An insect that ..." See cartoon
: "This is the key we New Zealanders have been searching for!" See cartoon
: "Your voice sounds a bit strange." See cartoon
: "Mummy? Why do elephants have trunks?" "Because we'd look silly ..." See cartoon
: "I washed myself three times a day every day for a week. Now ..." See cartoon
: "Why did you eat all the lamps, you stupid monster?" "I was in need of some ..." See cartoon
: the following trivia topics are available for this theme: animal conservation | biodiversity | creepy crawlies | dinosaurs | pets
: the following sets of links are available for this theme: animal conservation | animal migration | biodiversity | creepy crawlies | dinosaurs | pets | venomous animals
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