{"id":40430,"date":"2024-07-23T15:04:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T13:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/0938b163-6005-426e-b7a8-88dd5980d43a"},"modified":"2024-07-23T16:27:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T14:27:42","slug":"12-animals-beginning-with-s","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/12-animals-beginning-with-s\/","title":{"rendered":"12 animals beginning with ‘S’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover 12 animals starting with the letter ‘s’, but what have we forgotten? Let us know… <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 at 13:04 PM<\/p>

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From the prehistoric looking shoebill to the majestic snow leopard, here are 12 animals starting with the letter ‘S’<\/p>

Incredible animal facts: Discover extraordinary truths about the natural world<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
12 animals starting with the letter ‘S’<\/h2>
Snow leopard\u00a0<\/h3>
Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Described as \u201cghosts of the mountain\u201d, snow leopards<\/a> are elusive cats found in the mountainous regions of 12 countries in central and South Asia and are one of the rarest cats in the world<\/a>. Although they are part of the\u00a0Panthera<\/em>\u00a0genus alongside lion<\/a>, tiger<\/a>, jaguar<\/a> and leopard<\/a>, they are the only genus member to be unable to purr<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>
- Why can only big cats roar?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  \u00a0Swallowtail butterfly\u00a0<\/h3>
  Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  One of the UK\u2019s largest and most spectacular butterflies, the swallowtail<\/a> found in the UK is a subspecies of the continental species and is restricted to Norfolk<\/a> where it feeds only on milk parsley.<\/p>
  The butterfly life cycle explained<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  \u00a0Shrill carder bee\u00a0<\/h3>
  $\"\"$
  Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Once found throughout southern Britain, the shrill carder bee is now a very scarce bumblebee <\/a>in the UK, which is limited to just a few \u2013\u00a0and unfortunately isolated \u2013 locations in England<\/a> and Wales<\/a>. The name \u2018shrill\u2019 comes from its high-pitched buzzing.\u00a0<\/p>
  \u00a0Shoebill\u00a0<\/h3>
  $\"Shoebills$
  Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  An intimidating sight, the shoebill has the third largest bird beak<\/a> in the world and can grow the size of a (small) human \u2013 up to 1.5 metres high – and is definitely one of the world’s weirdest birds<\/a>. It is an ambush predator and mainly eats catfish, but is known to catch eels and reptiles too. Or if it\u2019s a chick<\/a>, possibly one of its younger siblings.<\/p>
  Saiga antelope<\/h3>
  $\"A$
  Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  One of the world’s weirdest animals <\/a>the saiga antelope has an unusual appearance, with its bulbous nose. The species roamed the steppes of central Asia in huge herds until humans almost hunted it to extinction in the 19^{th<\/sup>\u00a0century. Recovery was impeded by poaching in the 1990s, and then diseases in 2015 and 2017 which called mass mortality events.\u00a0<\/p>}
  Smooth snake\u00a0<\/h3>
  $\"A$
  Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  The smooth snake<\/a> is the UK\u2019s rarest native terrestrial reptile<\/a>, with populations in Dorset<\/a>, Hampshire<\/a> and Surrey<\/a>, where it is limited to sandy heathland. It only grows up to 70cm in length, a little longer than the adder <\/a>and much smaller than the maximum length of the grass snake<\/a>.<\/p>
  Are there any snakes in Ireland? If not why not?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  \u00a0Sun bear<\/h3>
  Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Found in the forests and shrublands of Southeast Asia, the sun bear<\/a> is the smallest extant bear species \u2013 only half the size of an American black bear<\/a>. It is named for the yellow-orange markings on its chest, which is unique in each individual.\u00a0<\/p>
  What is the biggest bear in the world?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  Short-eared owl\u00a0<\/h3>
  $\"Short$
  RSPB Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  The short-eared owl<\/a> (often referred to as a \u2018shortie\u2019 by birders) and the long-eared owl are the only native members of the \u2018eared\u2019 owls\u00a0Asio<\/em>\u00a0genus, though the tufts or \u2018ears\u2019 of the short-eared owl are hard to actually spot.\u00a0<\/p>
  What’s the biggest owl in the world?<\/a><\/li>
  What is the smallest owl in the world?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  \u00a0Sand striker<\/h3>
  $\"Bobbit$ <\/figure>
  Also known as the bobbit worm<\/a>, the sand striker has a pretty glittering body and a monstrous head of sharp jaws that can split a fish in half. One of the world’s weirdest sea creatures<\/a>, it growing up to ten feet in length and lurks in its burrow during the day, partially emerging at night to lunge at potential prey.\u00a0<\/p>
  \u00a0Song thrush\u00a0<\/h3>
  Once more abundant than its cousin the blackbird<\/a>, the song thrush<\/a> is still a well-known bird of gardens and the countryside, thanks to its amazing song. It is also famous for preying on snails<\/a>, hold one in its beak and smashing it against stone (or tarmac) to break open the shell.<\/p>
  Sheep<\/h3>
  Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  There are more than 90 different breeds of sheep in the UK<\/a>, all with their own characteristics, appearance and habits.\u00a0<\/p>
  How long do sheep live?<\/a><\/li>
  Why do we shear sheep?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  Seal<\/h3>
  Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Seals are not called \u2018dogs of the sea\u2019 for nothing. Their faces especially have a canine quality about them.<\/p>
  Their terrestrial ancestors were actually closer to \u00a0weasels<\/a>,\u00a0 otters<\/a>, skunks and racoons<\/a> than to dogs, but pinnipeds do sit squarely amongst the Carnivora, the order of mammals that contains cats, dogs, bears and other predators.<\/p>
  What’s the difference between a seal and a sea lion?<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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12 animals starting with the letter ‘S’<\/h2>