Animals for Kids

Our world is filled with an abundance of animals and scientists are discovering new species almost every day. An “animal” is defined as:  “a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.”

This means that everything from insects to people are considered to be animals.

How is a wild animal different from a domesticated animal?

Domesticated animals have genetic changes that make them less aggressive than wild animals. The changes can occur over centuries or just a shorter amount of time and in many cases, domesticated animals seek out the companionship of humans. Wild animals can be dangerous to humans.

What is the fastest land animal found anywhere in the world?

The cheetah: it can achieve speeds of up to 75 mph or 120 kph

Bees are nature’s pollinators. They are found everywhere on the globe except for which continent?

The continent of Antarctica. Although covered in snow and ice, Antarctica was once a land mass that is considered to be a continent. Over time, it shifted to the current location.

What are the six basic groups or “classes” of animals?

• Mammals
• Invertebrates
• Birds
• Fish
• Reptiles
• Amphibians

What is the largest primate?

The Eastern Lowland gorilla. This primate can reach heights of 6.6 ft. and weigh up to 550 lbs.

Which animals sleep standing up?

Only specific animals have the ability to sleep standing up and it requires both the muscular ability as well as legs that can “lock” in place.

These animals include:

• Zebras
• Horses
• Elephants
• Cows 
• Flamingos

What type of cat is the largest of its species?

The tiger. It can weigh up to 660 lbs or 300 kg

Are animals color blind?

The term “color blind” relates to those that can only see in black and white. People and animals often see “color” differently. Some animals can see colors that people don’t see and others see in specific color waves, just not the ones that we see. This doesn’t make them “color blind”.

We know that spiders can move very fast. How many legs do spiders have?

Spiders have eight pairs of legs which means they have 16 legs in total.

What is the largest land animal in the world?

An elephant. The record set for the heaviest elephant was 26,000 lbs or 12,000 kg

Why do raccoons wash their food?

Raccoons have delicate nerve endings in their paws and wetting the food lets them sense their food better.