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Animal facts

Discover the remarkable lives of animals, one fact at a time.

Ground squirrel

  • The European ground squirrel hibernates for up to about 6-7 months a year.
  • When it sees a predator, it gives a sharp alarm whistle.
  • It often stands upright on its hind legs to look out for danger.

Guinea pig

  • Guinea pigs are rodents, not pigs.
  • Pups are born furred and with open eyes.
  • They have four toes on each front foot and three on each hind foot.

Guineafowl

  • Helmeted guineafowl have been domesticated and are still raised as poultry.
  • Guineafowl often forage during cooler parts of the day and may rest when conditions are hot.
  • Domestic guineafowl are raised for eggs as well as meat. Related profile: Chicken.

Gull

  • Most gulls are white and grey, often with black markings on their heads or wings.
  • There are about 50 species of gulls around the world.
  • Gulls are clever birds: they learn, remember and pass on behaviours, such as stamping their feet on the ground to make earthworms come to the surface.

Hammerhead shark

  • There are about ten species of hammerhead sharks.
  • The winghead shark has a head almost half as wide as its body is long.
  • Hammerheads can see above and below at the same time.

Hamster

  • Hamsters carry food in stretchy cheek pouches that reach back to their shoulders.
  • The German verb "hamstern" means "to hoard", after the hamster's habit of storing food.
  • Almost all pet Syrian hamsters descend from a mother and her young found near Aleppo, Syria, in 1930.

Hawk

  • There are about 50 species of true hawks (goshawks and sparrowhawks); in North America, the name is also used for buzzards.
  • Hawks live in many habitats, including forests, rainforests, farmland, savannas, mountains and towns.
  • Hawks often live 3-10 years in the wild, and some have lived about 20 years.

Hedgehog

  • Hedgehogs usually live alone, although behaviour differs with species and circumstances.
  • An adult European hedgehog has about 5,000-7,000 spines.
  • Spines are modified hairs and are replaced gradually over time; there is no single one-year schedule for every spine.

Hippopotamus

  • The name "hippopotamus" comes from ancient Greek and means "river horse".
  • Its skin produces a reddish, oily liquid, which made people believe that hippos sweat blood.
  • This liquid keeps the skin moist and protects it from sunlight and germs.

Hoopoe

  • The hoopoe's name imitates its soft "oop-oop-oop" call.
  • It can raise its crest like a fan when it is excited or alarmed.
  • Nesting females and chicks produce a foul-smelling liquid that helps keep predators away.