Top 10 Slowest Animals in the World

Every animal species have some kind of speciality that make them unique. Some animals have power to run faster than super cars, at same time some species are super slow in motion. Let's take a look at top 10 Slowest Animals in the World:

1. Seahorse

Our number one on our top ten list of the 10 Slowest Animals In The World is the Seahorse. Which is not a horse! The curiously cute creatures are actually fish, gills and all! Moving at an impressive 0.04 cm per sec the seahorse spends it’s days dreaming of what could really be. Found all over the world, from one inch to over one foot in size, the lucky ones can be found in beautiful blue tropical water and delightfully colored patches of coral. Now facing extinction, seahorses could commonly be found with their tales wrapped around a piece of seaweed rocking back and forth, very slowly.

2. Garden Snail

One of the slowest animal in the world is the garden snail. It is a land snail species and the most commonly known terrestrial mollusc. The slimy, slithery animal leaves behind a wet trail along its path and makes us squirm. They move at the top speed of 1.3 cm per sec. This means that it will take them 21 hours to cover just 1 km. Can you blame him? The legless creature carries his house around!

3. Three-toed Sloth

Known for their five-hour work days and nineteen hour long naps, slots, two and three toed, only go to the bathroom once every seven or so days. Hanging out in tree canopies, rarely moving, sloths crawl along at a pace of up to 3 cm per sec. Though they might not bring the chips in a dip on time, sloths are excellent swimmers and great listeners.

4. Starfish

You may already know that starfish is not really a fish. There are about 2000 different species of starfishes, and their speeds vary. Their average speed may be about 0.89-2.7 cm per sec. The leather star moves at 0.25 cm per sec, while the fastest one of them, the sand star, travels at 4.7 cm per sec. For a creature that can cover 0.168 km in an hour, floating along in ocean current is the best option.

5. Giant Tortoise

Once reportedly teetering on the edge of extinction, the Giant Galapagos tortoise, found exclusively on the Galapagos Isles is the largest tortoise in the world. Traveling at a top speed of 76 cm per sec. With males checking in at over 500 pounds the Giant Galapagos tortoise can last up to one year without food. When it is able to dine on greens, flowers, and other vegetation, the Giant Galapagos tortoise packs it away just in case a rainy 365 days strike. The giant Galapagos not only moves at a slow pace because of its anatomical features, but it also keeps the go slow in a means to conserve its energy.

6. Loris

Loris is a medium sized primate, often counted among strange and hideous creatures, what with its tennis ball eyes and curiously human-like but strangely long hands. They have slow movement, at a speed of about 55.5 cm per sec. They can extract mild toxins to discourage some predators, and can lumber to avoid them. Hence, they are fearless. Oh, and they are also nocturnal, hidden in the dark.

7. Manatee

This obese looking herbivore glides through coastal waters at a yawn-provoking about 139-222 cm per sec approximately. Related to the elephant, the Manatee dines primarily on sea greens. Using it’s molars to grind meals and snacks that easily add up to over 100 pounds of sea vegetation a day. Resembling more of a potato with fins than an elephant, the Manatee spends most of it’s time casually gliding through 70-degree waters near the surface finding easy access to air, well deserving of a spot on this list.

8. American Woodcock

The American woodcock is the only bird on this, and is a must-inclusion among the slowest animals in the world. Colloquially referred to as the timberdoodle, it is a small chunky shorebird. It is a migratory bird which, due to its courtship flights, is accepted as a harbinger of spring in northern areas. The American woodcocks move at a speed of 222 cm per sec. and are the slowest of birds.

9. Koala Bear

The Koala bear is a bear that isn’t a bear at all. This furry, beady-eyed, marsupial grows in a pouch and makes it slows emergence into the world. Spending most of their day sleeping, up to 20 hours, curled up in the tree it will occasionally wake and eat from. With reports of koalas traveling at speeds 447 cm per sec, the koala has earned its place on our top 10 list and probably isn’t moving anytime soon.

10. Gila Monster

If you don’t like lizards, you probably won’t like Gila monsters, either. They can grow up to a length of 60 cm, and its weight varies from 350 to 700 gm. It is the only venomous lizard in the US. But, they are hardly of any threat to you, as they move at a speed of about 667 cm per sec. Besides, they consume food up to one-third their weight, and store fat in body. So they rarely search for food.

Top 10 Animals with Amazing Superpowers

The animal kingdom features many exotic beasts who have abilities that are so extreme that they would inspire even the most imaginative comic book writer. Simply put, their extraordinary skills and physical attributes are unmatched in humans. Instead of crazy origin stories involving radiation and gods, animals develop their superpowers out of necessity. Their amazing abilities evolve in order to thrive and survive in a Darwinistic world in which only the strong and adaptable continue to grace the Earth with their presence.

Let's take a look at top 10 Animals with Amazing Superpowers:

1. Jellyfish – Immortality

Jellyfish is roaming oceans for possibly more than 700 million years, making them oldest living multi-organ animals. They are mostly transparent to human eyes, and their body contains 95 to 98 percent water. But the most extraordinary quality in these marvelous deep oceanic animals is immorality. There are 3 known species of jellyfish that can perhaps live forever. Jellyfish have discovered a way to reverse their aging process by making some modifications in the DNA.

2. The Axolotl – Superhealing

There are several known animals that can heal fetal wounds and sometimes regenerate their damaged body parts. But Axolotl is above all else, it’s capable of regenerating entire lost appendages and vital structures in a period of months. They can regrow lost limbs, tail and several internal organs. They have been found restoring damaged parts of their brains. More amazingly, they can also transplant their body parts from other Axolotl. They not only transplant their limbs from other individuals, but also alien organs like eyes to full functionality.

3. Mantis Shrimp – Supervision

Although mantis shrimp have many kind of abilities that are considered beyond anything on the earth. But the most impressive organs that these animals possess are their eyes. They are believed to have one of the most elaborate visual system ever discovered. Their eyes carry 16 different types of color receptive cones, if you compare that to humans, we only have three. They not only can detect ultraviolet light but can also differentiate between multiple frequency bands. The vision of mantis shrimp can perceive both polarized light and multi-spectral images. Their eyes capable of moving independently, and are considered to be the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom.

4. The Platypus – Electro location

The Platypus is an egg-laying venomous mammal that lives in water and has duckbill, beaver-tail and otter-foot. They have ability to sense electric field generated by muscular contraction. They’re the only known mammals who find their prey using Electro location. Their sixth sense is so powerful and reliable that they close their eyes, nose and ears every time they dive, and go on hunt.

5. Tardigrade – Indestructibility

The thing that makes these micro-animals so incredible is that they are virtually indestructible. They can survive extreme conditions that would be fetal to nearly all life forms on earth. They can withstand temperature ranging from -272 to 150 degree Celsius. They can tolerate pressure 6 times greater than that found in the deepest ocean trenches, ionizing radiation 100 times greater than lethal dose for humans, and even the vacuum of outer space. They can live without food for more than 30 years, and dry themselves to level when 3 percent water left, only to rehydrate, forage and reproduce.

6. Dung Beetle – Super Strength

Dung Beatles are landed on this list for their ability to pull the weight 1,141 times heavier than their own body weight, that makes them strongest animal on the planet earth. For instance, if an average man wants to challenge them in weight pulling competition, he would be required to pull 45 large trucks that weighs around 2.4 tons each.

7. The Electric Eel – Electric Shocks

The Electric Eel have three pairs of abdominal organs responsible for producing electricity, and these glands make up 80 percent of its entire body. The result is its ability to generate two types of electric organ discharge: high voltage and low voltage. When eel finds a prey, its brain sends a signal through nervous system to electrolyte. It can generate shock up to 860 volts that can last for mere two milliseconds.

8. Mimic Octopus – Shapeshifting

As the name suggests this breed of octopus can mimic different animal species by changing skin color and adjusting the shape of its body. This animal can mimic number of different sea creatures with the tiniest possible detail. It’s not known how many different animal species it can imitate, but it’s reported to mimic up to 15 different species, and all of them are poisonous. That further explain that its mimicking ability is just a way to avoid vicious predators.

9. Peregrine Falcon – Superspeed

Peregrine falcon are some of the most widespread birds in the world. They have a body length of 34-58 cm and wingspan from 74 to 120 cm. Their diet consists of small to medium sized birds. The most amazing thing about this breed of birds is its dazzling speed, it has frequently been seen flying at the speed of whopping 320 km/h (200 mph), the highest recorded speed of Peregrine falcon is 389km/h (242 mph).

10. Froghopper – Super Jumper

Adult froghopper jump from plant to plant; some species are capable of jumping up to 70 cm vertically: which is a more impressive performance relative to body weight than another super jumpers “Fleas”, and froghopper are considerably heavier than them. The froghopper can accelerate at 4,000 m/s square over 2mm as it jumps (experiencing over 400 gs of acceleration). They can jump up to 100 times their own length. That means, if an average man could jump this long he would be able to cover about 177 meters distance in a single jump.

Top 10 Amazing Flowers in the World

Flowers, with their bright colours and unique shapes, are a wonder of the nature. They make the world a beautiful place. Be it the much known rose or the lesser known orchids, flowers are always mesmerizing.

Let's take a look at top 10 Amazing Flowers in the World:

1. Swaddled Babies - (Anguloa Uniflora)

The Anguloa Uniflora is a beautiful orchid which is commonly known by the name, Swaddled Babies. The plant grows in the Columbian Andes. The most stunning feature of the plant is its flowers which are large, creamy-white and waxy. Their structure is quite complex, and at a certain stage of opening, they start to look like a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth. Each flower blooms from a single stem from the base of the pseudobulbs.

2. Hooker’s Lips - (Psychotria Elata)

While many might consider it an exaggerated description, the Psychotria Elata, also called the Hooker’s Lips or Kissing Lips plant, is absolutely genuine. It exists in the tropical rainforests of Central and Southern Africa. The waxy bract, which is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with the flower, is bright red in colour, and is shaped like the luscious lips of a woman, complete with a well-defined cupid’s bow. The actual star-shaped flowers emerge from the bract’s centre.

3. Monkey Orchid - (Dracula Simia)

The Dracula Simia or the Monkey Orchid is also known as the monkey-like Dracula. This is a rare species of orchids which is found to grow in the cloud forests of south-eastern parts of Ecuador and Peru. The orchid is called so because it has flowers which display an odd arrangement of column, petals and lip that strongly resembles the face of a monkey – a baboon, to be more specific. The flowers bear the fragrance of a ripe orange.

4. Naked Man Orchid - (Orchis Italica)

The Orchis italica is often referred to as the Italian orchid, owing to its Mediterranean region where it generally grows in large numbers. But, more commonly, it is known as the naked man orchid. This is because, the amazing flowers of the orchid have petals that look like naked men. The flowers are a combination of bright pink and white in colour, and they are all clustered densely. These strangely shaped flowers make the plant quite popular.

5. Dove Orchid/Holy Ghost Orchid - (Peristeria)

Peristeria is an orchid that is commonly found to grow across much of South America, along with Panama, Trinidad and Costa Rica. One look inside the pure white flower reveals a structure hidden inside it, which looks like dove. In fact, sitting cosy in the centre within the petals is an entire dove, complete with raised wings with tiny pink dots, and a tiny yellow beak. This structure is the reason behind its name. It is indeed one very peaceful looking flower.

6. Snapdragon and its Skull - (Antirrhinum)

The Antirrhinum, found in the rocky areas Europe, America and North Africa, has an interesting flower called the dragon flower or snapdragon. The beautiful flower petals give the impression of the face of a dragon, which, when squeezed, will open and close like the mouth. But, once the petals wither and fall off, only the seed pod is left behind, presenting quite a macabre look, because the seed pod looks like a skull. Ancient cultures believed snapdragons to have supernatural powers.

7. Duck Orchid - (Caleana Orchid)

Caleana is commonly referred to as the Duck Orchid. This is because, the labellum looks just like a flying duck with its wings raised high. The lip, in particular, looks clearly like the beak of a duck. The flower is reddish brown in colour, and in rare cases, it is greenish with dark spots, and a single leaf appears near the base of the stalk. This small terrestrial orchid is found in the Australia, from Queensland to South Australia, and even Tasmania.

8. Ballerina Orchid - (Terrestrial Spider Orchid)

These small plants are terrestrial spider orchids that grow singly or in groups in different parts across the island of Australia. The flowers are essentially cream in colour, with maroon markings, and their petals and sepals have dark trichromes. Together, the flower looks like a maiden in white tutus, holding a graceful ballet pose. The grazing of rabbits and kangaroos in the regions where they grow pose great threat to these orchids.

9. Parrot Flower - (Psittacina Balsam)

The Impatiens Psittacina is an amazing plant of the balsam family. The flowers are purple and carmine red in colour. When viewed from the sides, the flowers seemingly resemble a parrot in flight. British botanist and explorer, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, first noted, in a scientific description of the plant in 1901, how its bloom looks like a ‘flying cockatoo’ and from then on, the name has stuck. This rare plant is found in Thailand, Burma and parts of India.

10. Bleeding Heart - (Lamprocapnos)

The flower, especially in the bud form, of the Lamprocapnos, a flowering plant of the poppy family, oddly resembles the conventional shape of the heart with e droplet beneath. That is why, it has been given the name, a bleeding heart. The outer petals are bright fuchsia in colour. As the flower blooms further and the outer petals open up, the inner, white parts, often called the ‘lady in a bath’ become more visible. This plant is found in Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan.

Top 10 Intelligent Animals in the World

Humans are thought to be the only intelligent specie in the world but this is just a misconception on the part of humans. Animals are also intelligent in many ways and sometimes they have more brain power, a better in a lot of ways, than humans. Some of the animals are specialized to do things that human being can’t begin to ever think.

Let's take a look at top 10 intelligent animals in the World:

1. Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are claimed to be the most intelligent species in the world after humans with desired human similarities. Chimpanzees look like humans and they also act like humans. Chimpanzees have the capacity to think like humans some of the chimpanzees have also learnt to play games and solve mathematical problems. A Chimpanzee’s mind can be trained to make his brain capacity equal to that of a 5 year old human child. And with these capacity of their brain and they are widely claimed as one of the smartest animals on Earth.

2. Orangutans

Just like chimpanzees, orangutans stand out as being especially gifted in the brains department. They have a strong culture and system of communication, and many have been observed to use tools in the wild. Orangutans live in widely scattered communities and form strong social bonds, which may be the key to their advanced cognitive skills. Females remain with their young for many years, teaching them all they need to survive in the forest.

3. Rhesus Monkeys

Rhesus monkey can copy human behavior and act. They are able to mimic human beings. Rhesus monkeys are believed to have advanced communication skills and they have capabilities to form complex social structure and act according to their post. They can break hard covering of things with heavy stone. They attack in groups and their attacks are also well planned.

4. Rats

The ability to think about thinking is called metacognition, and a few years ago scientists discovered that rats, like humans, can make decisions based on what they do or do not know. Studies also show that rats are surprisingly self-aware, they're ticklish, and they dream just as we do. Pet rats are extremely social and form strong bonds with their owners. They learn their names and come when they're called, and they beg for time out of their cage to play and interact with their owners.

5. Pigs

Yes you heard it right, pigs are among the smartest animals to live on Earth. Pigs are generally thought to be dumb but that’s not the reality. Pig’s mental capacity can be like that of a 3 year old human child. They are said to have emotions and feelings. Pigs have dreams in night and they cry while mourning. They have the ability to learn new skills every day. Pigs can also cope up with environmental stress.

6. Octopuses

Octopuses have the largest brains of any invertebrate. The common octopus has about 130 million neurons in its brain. A human has 100 billion. However, three-fifths of an octopus' neurons are not in the brain; they're in its arms. Each arm has a mind of its own, so to speak, and if cut off (which the octopus can regrow), will wander away and even grab at food as it did while still attached.

7. Squirrels

Squirrels are small and cute animals that live in both domestic and wild environment. Squirrels are not associated with capabilities related to humans. They don’t act like humans but when it comes to food gathering they turn out to be one of the smartest animals known. Squirrels can go to any limit for gathering food and they are also believed to have intelligent memory skills.

8. Dogs

When it comes to canine companions, "smart" means different things to different people. Some people feel an obedient dog is smart, while others believe a dog with a mind of her own is more intelligent. Very agreeable dogs are considered smart by most human standards. Humans judge the intelligence of dogs based primarily on how quickly they learn to obey our commands, how well they perform, and whether they are able to learn human-type stuff like identifying objects. Because dogs have lived among humans for so long and undergone so much domestication, some scientists believe they're more like humans than even chimps – and could serve as a model for understanding human social behavior.

9. Dolphins

Dolphins are well-documented as intelligent animals. As Discovery News reports, the dolphin’s large brain is structured for awareness and emotion. In fact, dolphin brains are more structurally complex than humans. As Emory University dolphin expert Lori Marino told Discovery News, "If human standards for intelligence are applied to non-human animals, however, dolphins come very close to our own brain aptitude levels."

10. Pigeons

Pigeons have always been used as the way of sending messages throughout history. They were like ancient post-masters. Pigeons have been delivering messages on places like battlefield and have always been the source of communication for lovers like Romeo and Juliet. Pigeons are said to be extremely good geo-locators and they are able to remember place throughout their lifetime. Not just that, Pigeons can also remember faces of people without forgetting them.

10 Most Colorful Cities in the World

Colours are beautiful, colours are everywhere. Colours are what make our life so very special, and grab our attention and give us inspiration in this otherwise sullen, drab world. What if you could live in a city filled with such magical colours, and walk through streets that are a constant reminder of the rainbow?

Let’s take a look at the 10 Most Colorful Cities in the World:

1. Burano, Venice, Italy

It’s easy to spot the Venetian Island of Burano from the sea. The jewel-colored homes act like a beacon, which is what they were intended to be. According to island lore, local fisherman started painting their homes in bright colors hues of orange, red, yellow, and purple so they could see them while out fishing in the fog and could follow their colors back home. Now, the practice has become law, and if you live on the island and want to paint your home, you must ask for permission from the government, who will assign your home a color. For visitors, the homes are just a welcome dose of cheerfulness.

2. Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa

Bo-Kaap (also written Bo Kaap) is a multicultural neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa, that is known for its brightly painted buildings and cobblestone streets. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, it has been a predominantly Muslim district for more than a century, and it has one of South Africa's oldest mosques. Most inhabitants' ancestors are from the Indian subcontinent and insular Southeast Asia. Afrikaans has long been the language of this community, though English continues to gain ground. The historic two-story homes and bright paint schemes (pictured) have made this neighborhood a popular stop for tourist photo ops.

3. Willemstad, Curacao

The dazzling colors that adorn the capital city of this Caribbean island stem from an unlikely source headaches. According to local lore, back in the 1800s the governor of the Dutch colony decided that the color white caused his migraines. He issued a decree that buildings could be painted anything but white. Today, this jewel-colored city is an almost perfectly preserved Dutch colonial trading settlement with a UNESCO World Heritage designation.

4. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

The capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is known as the Pink City. With a few exceptions, all the buildings within the historic city center are pink. This unusual color choice dates to the 19th century when a Rajasthani king ordered all buildings to be painted pink ahead of a visit by England's Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, in 1876. The color choice was meant to evoke a sense of hospitality and welcoming. The unique visual appeal of Jaipur is enhanced by its architecture. The City Palace, Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal (pictured) are a few popular sites, while a host of temples, gardens and squares allow people the chance to fill out their sightseeing itinerary.

5. St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

Perhaps the most notable feature of the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador is the row of colorful Victorian homes that runs through downtown. Called “jellybean houses” due to their wild red, blue, yellow, and green hues, the houses fill St. John’s with splashes of whimsy. Most of the homes are done with tasteful white trim, but others opt for a bit of discord with the color schemes. The colors began to appear in the 1970s, and many suspect this was done to cheer up a declining urban center. Whatever the origin, the homes are a bright spark on the island, particularly when the gray days of winter set in.

6. Valparaiso, Chile

This port city is the historical and cultural hub of Chile, with a wide array of museums, cathedrals, churches and colonial buildings. The coastal area is where beautiful boats, cruising this region, stop at. What’s even more magnificent about this part of the city is the multi-hued urban sprawl adorning the sea. The homes and the bohemian murals on the walls are a manifestation of the creative spirits of the citizens, and result in creating a splendour, especially from the acensores along the funiculars that provide a bird-eye view.

7. Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

India’s Blue City, tucked into the Western state of Rajasthan, is a colorful reminder of India’s caste system. In the past, Brahmins, the so-called upper class, painted their homes in the royal hue of blue to differentiate their properties from those of the lower class. Over time, others just mirrored the effect. Even the city's Mehrangarh Fort got a solid coat of blue. Many suspect the color is now popular for a number of reasons including tradition. The blue paint’s chemical composition might be a good defense against termites, the color keeps dwellings cool in the blazing sun, and the vivid color is downright beautiful.

8. Guanajuato, Mexico

Located in the mountains of Central Mexico, Guanajuato was once a center of the silver mining industry. Visitors can trace the city's past by visiting the many 16th century plazas and churches scattered throughout the hillsides. Brightly painted buildings are found all around Guanajuato. Unlike many Mexican cities, this place is free from traffic jams. The narrow streets are simply too difficult for cars to navigate. Despite the pleasant setting, there are not many tourists in Guanajuato. Most visitors seem to prefer the similarly historic (but less colorful) San Miguel de Allende, about an hour away.

9. Chefchaouen, Morocco

The small and beautiful Chefchaouen city is nestled in the Rif Mountains of Northwest Morocco. This popular tourist town is known for its striking vivid blue-washed buildings. The bluish design of this city was introduced by Jewish refugees in 1930. The blue color considers as symbol of sky and heaven in Judaism. It also represents people must live their lives with spiritual awareness. The natives of Chefchaouen regularly repaint the buildings in blue shade in the memory of that old Jewish tradition and to keep the history alive. This bluish village glows differently in different time of a day. In Wet condition Chefchaouen also look like a clear blue water world.

10. Santorini, Greece

When you think of the Greek island of Santorini, it's likely that two colors come to mind: White, which is the color of many buildings' walls, and blue, which is not only the color of the roofs, but of the sparkling Ionian sea the laps at the island's shore. In fact, the building facades of the city of Oia feature a number of other colors, but the blues and whites are so dazzling it's easy to simply fixate on them. Another surefire way to appreciate the vibrant rainbow of Oia is to take your shots at sunset on a clear day, when the prismatic sky casts its colorful light on the darkened cityscape.

10 Most Endangered Animals in the World

Although scientists estimate that there could be upwards of 30 million animal species on the planet, a number of those species are teetering on the verge of extinction due to man’s thirst for consumption or entertainment. Hunted for meat, for fur, and for other materials governments around the world are cracking down on poaching and illegal hunting practices.

Let's take a look at the 10 Most Endangered Animals in the World:

1. Hawksbill Turtle

With a range that covers all the world's tropical and sub-tropical seas, the hawksbill turtle population has decreased by 80% over the last three generations. The major threat facing the hawksbill turtle is the tortoiseshell trade. In the last 100 years, millions have been killed for their shells. Habitat destruction by human beach front development, excessive collection of their eggs, and poaching for meat are other major threats to their survival.

2. South China Tiger

It is also known as the Amoy found in the forests of South China. Its size is smaller than other sorts of the tiger. It is the most critically threatened cat. Only approximately 30-50 of them remaining. China hunts it at a very high rate. Which has become the greatest threat to wiping them out of the face of earth. To help save this tiger today the WWF is planning to introduce captive-bred tigers into the forests.

3. Saola

The saola, also known as the Asian unicorn, was first discovered by scientists in May 1992. They have only been found in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos. The nickname unicorn relates to their two sharp horns, which can reach up to 20 inches (51 centimeters). Saola means “spindle horns” in Vietnamese. They are cousins of cattle, goats and antelope.

4. Sumatran Orangutan

It is one of the two species of orangutan, which is found in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. Only eight orangutans that are presently kept in quarantine cages at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme at the Quarantine Centre are remaining because they require long time care due to disability and health related issues and they can therefore not be released into the wild just yet. The greatest threat for the Orangutan is the extensive destruction of the Sumatran rainforest by human activities such as logging, mining, construction of roads and it is also cleared to provide land for farming, which has made them easy targets for poaching because their population is left isolated and fragmented. In the process of capture and transport, approximately 6-8 of them die every day.

5. Amur Leopard

Unlike its southern cousins, the Amur leopard has adapted to live in the cold, temperate forests of southeast Russia and northeast China. Its winter fur is the longest of any leopards, with each hair growing to 3 inches (7 centimeters) long. It’s estimated there are only about 60 of these unique cats left. With such a low population, a distinct threat to their survival is inbreeding. Researchers have found hazardously low genetic diversity in the existing leopards. Also, cub survival rates have been decreasing for decades, which is likely due to genetic abnormalities.

6. Vaquita

Vaquita is the rarest marine mammal in the world. Its body is gray with a white stomach, and around the eyes, it has dark patches. Of the seven species of the Vaquita, it is the smallest and the only one that in the Eastern Pacific Ocean where waters are warm. They live in a tiny area in the Gulf of California in the north. According to the WWF, only 30 vaquitas are remaining. The greatest threat is accidental deaths when they get got in gillnets that are meant to catch other marine species. If a ban on the gillnet is not enforced, then they will become extinct very fast and probably by 2018.

7. Mountain Gorilla

Dian Fossey’s research work with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda brought them international attention. Despite increased conservation efforts, only two populations of gorillas remain today in four national parks in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas live in high mountain regions, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet (2,400 to 4000 meters). Their long fur allows them to tolerate sometimes freezing temperatures. Adults can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms), and stand over five feet tall when they’re up on two legs.

8. Pangolin

Pangolin is the only mammal whose entire body is covered with scales. They have large, curved claws for digging termite and ant nests. They are used to draw barks from trees and pulling logs so as to find their insect prey. Also, they are known as scaly anteaters, and they are increasingly becoming victims of illegal poaching in Asia and Africa where they are found. Their meat is a delicacy while their scales are highly valued. Only eight species of the pangolin exist today with four species living in Asia and another four species in Africa. International and national laws protect these pangolins. These species are on the list of Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

9. Javan Rhinoceros

This is the most endangered rhinoceros in the world, with only 63 animals surviving in a national park in Indonesia. They are also potentially the rarest large mammals on earth. Very little is known about the Javan rhino’s way of life. They live in extremely dense jungle, making them difficult to study. Adults live alone and only come together occasionally to mate. Their days are typically spent wallowing in mud holes, which they might deepen with their feet and horns for extra comfort.

10. Giant Panda

It is also known as panda bear. Gaint panda originates from central China. It is a treasure here in China and is adored all over the world. This panda has white and black colors on its body. Researches shows that adult pandas can live up to 30 years. However, this is not always the case. Because both the Cubs and adult pandas die because of many predators such as the yellow-throated martens and the snow leopard that kill and consume this animal. In particular, pandas are in danger of extinction due to loss and disintegration of habitat, and by people hunting other animals and harvesting plants from the forests. The most depraving thing is that they are also vulnerable to the loss of habitat and destruction.

Top 10 Famous non-human Astronauts in the World

Before Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first man in space on April 12, 1961, a long succession of non-human astronauts had already been shot through the atmosphere in order to determine if life forms could survive spaceflight. Even after manned space missions became routine procedures, many different animals continued to be used for space experiments. Animal astronauts have been instrumental in helping humans succeed in space.

Let's take a look at top 10 Famous non-human Astronauts in the World:

1. Dogs

Laika, the most famous non-human space traveller was not only the first dog to fly into space but was also the first living being to have touched the orbit. She had flown on November 3, 1957 in Sputnik 2 rocket but unfortunately had died after a few hours due to overheating and stress. In was only in the 1960s that technology and human knowledge reached the level where animals could start returning safely to earth.

2. Monkeys

In 1961 the Ham was regarded as the first chimp to go to the moon, it is not popular for traveling to space missions of any kind but have finally proved a point that Hams also can be a project material for you. In the same year the Ham was appointed to orbit the earth, and till date, this creature happens to be the first chimp to do that, unlike other animals which have been used to get around space on different occasions. Get you a little ham and you would know what it feels like to be in space.

3. Spiders

The first one to invade space was two European garden spiders named Anita & Arabella in the 1973 Skylab 3 space mission. What the researches wanted to find out was how spaceflights and weightlessness affected their power of constructing webs. It was observed that the duration of web construction was longer but surprisingly was of finer quality. Unfortunately both Anita & Arabella died owing to dehydration but their bodies are now at display in the Smithsonian.

4. Cats

Look at this lucky cat who was an astronaut, he is referred to as Felix, he is the first cat to be in space. 1963 October, Felix was launched into space in the Veronique AGI rocket. He went and came back in one piece. Who would have believed that this is possible? Well guys here you go, Felix made it to space and back with fear of any kind. Wake up to greater heights and refuse fear.

5. Turtles & Tortoises

The turtles were one of the first animals to have entered space. In 1968, the Soviets sent two turtles in the Zond 5 spacecraft with the intention of sending them to deep space. The Zond 5 made a loop around the moon before returning to earth safely along with the turtles who had only suffered a slight weight loss. Interestingly in 1974 the Soviet sent tortoises into space for 90 days setting a record for the highest duration spend by any animal in space.

6. Fish

In order to accumulate more data on otolith organ, a pair of Mummichog fish was sent in 1973 on the spacecraft called Skylab 3. Used because of their ability to survive extreme conditions, the small aquatic specimens accompanied Skylab 3 in 1973 to provide more information about the otolith organ (inner ear). Many other kinds of fish have also been in space including guppies, zebra danios, carp, swordtails, Japanese killifish, and oyster toadfish, to name but a few.

7. Frogs

NASA had sent two bullfrogs in space in 1970 under a programme called the Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO). This was a research procedure to find out how otolith (which refers to a mechanism that controls equilibrium in the inner ear) would adapt to weightless ambience. The program was a success in terms of the right amount of data that researchers could manage to collect but the poor frogs were never recovered.

8. Bees

Challenger blasted-off in 1984 with more than 3,000 honeybees on board. Astronaut James Van Hoften was onboard that mission and was in charge of carrying out an experiment to determine how honeybees might make honeycomb cells in a micro-gravity environment. The experiment would also compare the shape, size, volume, and wall thickness of honeycombs constructed in orbit to those built by a ground control group. The lack of gravity didn’t affect the insects, who during NASA’s seven-day mission managed to build honeycombs exactly like they do on Earth!

9. Guinea Pig

On March 9, 1961 the first guinea pig successfully invaded the space on the Soviet Sputnik 9 spacecraft along with a bunch of other animals (dog, reptiles & mice). About thirty years later in 1990, China launched a trip for 60 plants and some animals including guinea pigs on the biosatellite FSW-1 3, which had successfully returned home.

10. Mice

On August 31, 1950, the Americans launched a V-2 rocket containing a mouse. Unfortunately, on return, the parachute system failed and the mouse was killed on impact. China and Russia have also sent many of these little creatures into space. The first rat in space came in February of 1961 when France sent a rat named 'Hector' into space. After flying to a height of 93 miles, 'Hector' was successfully recovered.

10 most Amazing trees in the World

Trees are an incredible part of nature, vital to our everyday survival. Trees dot city squares, suburban landscapes, and uninhabited forests all over the world. With some 400 billion trees on the planet, and over 23,000 different kinds of trees, it takes an extra special something to make a tree stand out.

Even common trees are amazing enough, but some trees are just spectacular, whether by their sheer size, age or shape or through mysterious properties they seem to possess. There are probably hundreds of majestic and magnificent trees in the world – of these, some are particularly special. Here we present some of the top 10 Most Amazing, Most Magnificent, Most Exotic and wonderful trees from around the world.

1. Giant Sequoia Tree, California, USA

The General Sequoia tree is the prime attraction of the Sequoia National Park, California, and for a good reason – General Sequoia is the world’s largest tree by volume. While it’s not the tallest or widest, it certainly is among the tallest and widest trees in the world, and has the best height by width value (meaning volume). The magnificent tree is estimated to be around 2,300 to 2,700 years old (one of the oldest in the world). Its height is 83.8 meters (275 ft) and its diameter is 7.7 m (25 ft).

2. Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of big baobab trees lining a dirt road in western Madagascar. This amazing and unique landscape draws many tourists from all around the world, making the Avenue of the Baobabs one of the most popular attractions in the area and one of the most famous landmarks in Africa.

3. Dragon Blood Trees, Socotra, Yemen

Also known as Socotra Dragon Tree, this beautiful strange species is endemic to the Socotra archipelago – a group of 4 islands in the Indian Ocean, belonging to Yemen. The fruits of the tree are small fleshy berries which exude a deep red resin, known as dragon’s blood.

4. Cherry Blossom, Tokyo, Japan

The spring cherry blossom of the Japanese Cherry is world famous for its breathtaking beauty. While the cherry blossom can be found in many places in the world, in Japan it’s truly part of the culture and will often be found in festivals and other displays.

5. The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges is a long beautiful avenue of Beech trees that were planted by a family in the 18th century. The avenue is one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland, visited by many tourists all year round. It as one of the locations used by the production of Game of Thrones (as the road leading to and from King’s Landing).

6. Methuselah Trees, California, USA

Methuselah is a specific tree of the species Great Basin Bristlecone pine. Methuselah is one of the oldest trees in the world at an age of over 4,800 years. Until recently it was thought to be the oldest living tree, but another tree located in the same grove was found to be over 5,000 years old. Both trees are located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains, California. The exact location of Methuselah in the forest is not published and the tree itself is not marked to protect it from vandalism.

7. Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees, Kauai, Hawaii

The rainbow eucalyptus has a unique colorful bark. It’s not often that you see a tree that has a natural blue, purple or orange colors on its trunk. These trees often seem like they came from the imagination of a Hollywood writer trying to picture other worlds. The rainbow eucalyptus can reach a height of over 200 ft (61 meters). The species is native to New Britain, New Guinea, Seram, Sulawesi and Mindanao, but the trees in the pictures were taken in a rainbow eucalyptus grove in Maui, Hawaii.

8. The Largest Wisteria, Japan

This spectacular wisteria plant is both the largest and oldest wisteria in Japan. It was planted around 1870 and is located in Ashikaga Flower Park in the city of Ashikaga, not far from Tokyo. Despite looking much like a tree, a wisteria is not a tree but rather a vine. The branches can get very heavy and have a hard time supporting their own weight. So a steel structure was built to help support this giant wisteria, allowing visitors to walk under the beautiful blossoming branches of the old plant and enjoy a wonderful experience.

9. Wind Swept Trees, New Zealand

These trees on Slope Point, the southern tip of New Zealand, grow at an angle because they’re constantly buffeted by extreme antarctic winds. The winds are so intense in this part of New Zealand that the trees are bent, twisted, and blown in all sorts of directions from the continuous force.

10. Crooked Forest, Poland

The Crooked Forest in the beautiful forests list, but with only 400 trees in the forest. Crooked Forest is a grove of oddly-shaped pine trees. This young forest was planted around 1930 and has about 400 pines. It is generally believed that some form of human tool or technique was used to make the trees grow this way, but the method and motive are not currently known. Some believe that the woods were deliberately grown this way to make “Compass Timbers”, or trees that are deliberately shaped for the purpose of using those odd shapes in ship building. Another theory is that tanks from WWII are the cause, rolling over the young trees snapping the stem, but still surviving, forcing them to grow in the direction they were ran over.

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