We’ve got humor, weirdness, newness, and cuteness.  What else could you want?  And please be sure to read the story of the wolf pack at the end.  I found it deeply touching.  Alas, alert readers have informed me the explanation of the wolf pack photo is incorrect.  See below if you’re interested.

animals-via-sam

Naughty dog

Over-zealous dog

Over-zealous dog

Over-competitive dogs

Over-competitive dogs

Over-comptitive cat

Over-comptitive cat

animals-via-johnanimals-john-2animals-via-sam-2

Cows have best friends, known for being highly sociable.

Cows have best friends, and are known for being highly sociable.

animals-bird-via-geoanimals-2-2animals-3-2animals-dog-and-catanimals-dog-sleeping-kathleen animals-via-george-2mixed-species-via-george-2animals-via-john-3animals-via-kathleen-2animals-via-drb

animals-via-george-flowersanimals-via-george-2animals-george-4animals-george-2animals-george-3animals-mouseanimal-frognat-geoanimal-frog-on-boatanimals-via-murray-2

Geckos

Geckos

animals-froganimals-5

Purple flourescent harlequin frog

Purple flourescent harlequin frog

Mary River turtle, Australia. By Chris Van Wyk on flickr

Mary River turtle, Australia. By Chris Van Wyk on flickr

animals-mary-river-turtle-in-australia-by-chris-van-wyk-on-flickr

By Dawn Quadling

By Dawn Quadling

animals-via-drb-2

animals-via-george

Spiny flower mantis

Spiny flower mantis by Yvonne Spane

animals-george-5

Another questionable animal, suggestions welcome.

Another questionable animal, suggestions welcome.

animals-via-george

This is real. I checked.

animals-deer

Not sure what this is. Suggestions or answers welcomed.

Not sure what this is. Suggestions or answers welcomed.

animals-via-forget

Wild dog pup

Wild dog pup

Bat-eared Fox, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa by Isak Pretorius.

Bat-eared Fox, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa by Isak Pretorius.

Red Colobus monkey, Zanzibar in Africa

Red Colobus monkey, Zanzibar in Africa by Isak Pretorius

animals-via-pintanimals-weirdanimals-11animals-2animals-nose

The olinguito is the first carnivore species to be discovered in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years.

The Olinguito is the first carnivore species to be discovered in the Western Hemisphere in 35 years.

This is the barely-seen ili pika, a shy mountain animal from China, who was recently spotted for the first time in 20 years.

This is the barely-seen ili pika, a shy mountain animal from China, who was recently spotted for the first time in 20 years.

The maned wolf is the tallest of all wild canids Its long legs are an adaption to the tall grasslands found in its native habitat in South America.

The maned wolf is the tallest of all wild canids Its long legs are an adaption to the tall grasslands found in its native habitat in South America.

The racoon dog from East Asia is named after its resemblance to the racoon, but they are not related. They are very good climbers and often climb trees.

The racoon dog from East Asia is named after its resemblance to the racoon, but they are not related. They are very good climbers and often climb trees.

 

The pink fairy armadillo is just 3.5-4.5 inches in length (excluding the tail)

The pink fairy armadillo is just 3.5-4.5 inches in length (excluding the tail)

Gerenuk in Somali means Giraffe-necked. From E. Africa, the neck and ability to stand on their long legs allows this antelope to reach into trees.

Gerenuk in Somali means Giraffe-necked. From E. Africa, the neck and ability to stand on their long legs allows this antelope to reach into trees.

Zebra Dukier

Zebra Dukier

Fossa. This cat-like carnivorous mammal is from Madagascar.

Fossa. This cat-like carnivorous mammal is from Madagascar.

Lions in the rain.

Lions in the rain.

lions

lions

animals-bears-via-drb-2animals-via-george

Tempted by a fig tree, a Borneun Orangutan climbs 100 feet. With males weighing as much as 200 pounds, orangutans are the world's largest tree-dwelling animal.

Tempted by a fig tree, a Borneun Orangutan climbs 100 feet. With males weighing as much as 200 pounds, orangutans are the world’s largest tree-dwelling animal.

By Debbie Dicarlo on flickr

By Debbie Dicarlo on flickr

animals-via-lawrence-2

A wolf pack: the first 3 are the old or sick, they give the pace to the entire pack. If it was the other way round, they would be left behind, losing contact with the pack. In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed. Then come 5 strong ones, the front line. In the center are the rest of the pack members, then the 5 strongest following. Last is alone, the alpha. He controls everything from the rear. In that position he can see everything, decide the direction. He sees all of the pack. The pack moves according to the elders pace and help each other, watch each other." This remarkable image was captured by Cesare Brai.

A wolf pack: the first 3 are the old or sick, they give the pace to the entire pack.
If it was the other way round, they would be left behind, losing contact with the pack.
In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed.
Then come 5 strong ones, the front line. In the center are the rest of the pack members,
then the 5 strongest following. Last and alone, the alpha. He controls everything from the rear. In that position he can see everything, decide the direction.
He sees all of the pack.
The pack moves according to the elders pace and help each other, watch each other.” This remarkable image was captured by Cesare Brai.

According to Snopes and thanks to readers, the above description is not accurate.  “This photograph is “real” in the sense that it shows a pack of wolves in Wood Buffalo National Park, but the pack is not being led by the three oldest members and trailed by an “alpha” wolf, as implied by a viral Facebook post. Instead, one of the stronger animals leads the group in order to create a path through the snow for them.”  If you’re interested in more details including info about what “alpha” actually entails, go here.

Thanks to:  Sam, Jen C., Jen H., John, George, Kathleen, Murray, Neil, Merry, Wim, Anita, Lawrence

Also to:  Flickr finds on Colossal.

 

33 thoughts on “Animal Medley

  1. One of my favorite posts from you! So glad you do the work of finding these treasures. The wolf pack information is very moving!

  2. Yes, the Wolf pack was v-e-r-y interesting! I always learn so much from your wonderful and sometimes humorous photos of interesting creatures. By all means, keep up the good work, we certainly appreciate it – and look forward to your next one. Thank you!

  3. Inspiring post, as always! The ‘questionable animal’ is a caterpillar. What species I don’t know. I’ve seen the wolf pack photo and description posted on the Internet earlier and it was dismissed as incorrect by biologists in the field. Regardless, they are wonderful and complex animals. Thanks for your fantastic images!

  4. Thank you.. I look forward to your emails
    I very much enjoy them ..Always waiting for the next.

  5. Please, don’t ever stop doing what you are doing. You truly are a breath of fresh air!

    Judith

  6. Love your photos, I share them with other who are animal lovers. My grandchildren love looking at these.

  7. thank you ..your e pictures are so heartfelt..When I get your mail I either double over laughing or become a water fountain

  8. I absolutely LOVE your work….This is always the BEST of the best!!! You are Blessed and Bless every single one of us by sharing your talent! Thank you SO much! XOXO

  9. I so enjoy your pictures. They show animals at their very best, so relaxed and unaware of the camera. Thanks for sharing.

  10. I’m so sorry to hear that because it’s such a lovely story. And I know there are animals that indeed do wonderful and complex things together.

  11. I’ve said this before many times but I think it’s time to say it again. I’m so glad you like the images on my site and have taken the time to express your appreciation. However, I just choose images I find and appreciate on the internet and copy them into my site. I give attribution when I can find it but alas, it is too often impossible to know who should get credit for these pictures. My contribution is just curating and organizing and maybe making a few comments, but I love doing it and am grateful to share my enjoyment with others.

  12. Thank you for your fine work in gathering the wondrous images you share with us. It is such a pleasure to forward your latest for friends to appreciate.

  13. Hiçbir şekilde görme olanağımız olmayan yaratıkları ve diğer dünya zenginliklerini bize ulaştırdığınız için sonsuz teşekkürler.
    (l want to say aproximatily in my own language Turkish:”Thank you for your wondrous images you share with us .)

  14. Nibras,
    I’m happy that you enjoy these images and appreciate you writing in two languages so your comments can be shared by more people. Thank you.

  15. God sure did create some amazing animals! Thank you for sharing them here! I enjoyed the photos and your website very much! It’s a great, inspiration!

  16. Love your collections! It opens up whole new worlds most of us will never see. Incidentally, the photo marked “Geckos” is actually of two baby chameleons.

    Jo

  17. This entire collection is very soothing and comforting. Photographic Therapy. Thank you for finding and sharing these with us.
    I wish I could see more of these and I appreciate this.

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