I've got one fact and a picture for the first 12 animals we talked about this year. Next week I think I'll do another 12. If you click the animal name it will take you to the full post with all the facts for that particular animal. This will give everyone a chance to revisit their favorites and maybe catch some they missed! So let's look at some of the awesome critters we've discussed this year!
by photoverulam Aardvarks are the only animal from the order Tubulidentata. Their closest living relative is probably the elephant.
Armadillos come in a wide variety of colors (pinkish, gray, yellowish, black, dark-brown) and range in size from 6 inches to 5 feet in length.
Males and female anteaters are so similar in appearance that you can only tell them apart when they are with their young. The young often ride around on mom's back.
Tamandua mouths are very small, about as wide as a pencil eraser.
By Quinten Questel, via Wikimedia CommonsSilky anteaters live in trees and hardly ever descend to the ground.
Hippos are the 3rd largest land mammals. Elephants and white rhinos are bigger.
Red River Hogs have a very sensitive disc like snout which helps them find food through smell and touch. They also use their snout to help dig up their food.
by superfluity The platypus does not have teeth. They scoop up gravel with their food, which helps them digest.
Pangolins have long sticky tongues. Their tongues attaches to their bodies all the way back in their pelvis, near their last pair of ribs. Fully extended it is longer than their head and body combined.
Rhinos can move their ears independently of each other.
Binturongs have a scent gland under their tail. Their tails help them keep their balance as they walk among the branches, while at the same time marking territory. The scent the gland produces smells very much like buttered popcorn.