The striped dolphin, aka euphrosyne dolphin or streaker, is found globally in tropical and temperate waters. These dolphins are included in the genus Stenella; however, recent genetic work by LeDuc et al. in 1999 indicated that Stenella is not a natural group. They face the usual
The horse fly, aka deer fly (misnomer) or gadfly, can be found all over the world, sans a few select islands and the polar regions. Female horse flies can transfer blood-borne diseases from 1 animal to another via their feeding habit. In locations where those diseases occur,
The barn swallow is the most populated swallow of them all, with individuals in Canada, United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and even vagrant populations in Antarctica. Being so widespread puts them in harm’s way though, as they face
The great hammerhead is the largest known species of hammerhead shark. They are found in tropical and warmer temperate waters throughout the world. These hammerheads are caught globally as bycatch and targets in commercial
The cowrie, aka cowry, is a sea snail in the family Cypraeidae. Their shells have almost become synonymous with beach life. They have held cultural, economic, and ornamental importance in various cultures for centuries. These
The freshwater Asian clam, aka freshwater bivalve, Asian freshwater clam, basket clam, or pygmy clam, is a type of freshwater bivalve native to eastern and southern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Thailand, the
While most shark species have 5 gill slits, the broadnose sevengill shark, formerly improperly known as cow shark & mud shark, displays 7 gill slits. These peculiar sharks can be found along the coastlines of western United
The catshark is the largest family of sharks with around 160 species in 17 genera. Just to confuse you further, catsharks are also known as dogfish. The main difference being that catsharks are oviparous (lay eggs) while
The merlin, aka pigeon hawk, has a near global distribution. In fact, the only 2 continents they can’t be found on are Australia and Antarctica. These diminutive raptors are skilled hunters and fliers that prey on other birds.
The pygmy killer whale isn’t actually a whale at all, but a species of dolphin, like other killer whales (orca). These critters are the smallest cetacean species with the word “whale” in its common name. Even though they face
