[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / s / t / u / v / vg / vm / vmg / vr / vrpg / vst / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k / s4s / vip] [cm / hm / lgbt / y] [3 / aco / adv / an / bant / biz / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / gd / hc / his / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / news / out / po / pol / pw / qst / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / vt / wsg / wsr / x / xs] [Settings] [Search] [Mobile] [Home]
Board
Settings Mobile Home
/an/ - Animals & Nature

Name
Options
Subject
Comment
Verification
4chan Pass users can bypass this verification. [Learn More] [Login]
File
  • Please read the Rules and FAQ before posting.

08/21/20New boards added: /vrpg/, /vmg/, /vst/ and /vm/
05/04/17New trial board added: /bant/ - International/Random
10/04/16New board for 4chan Pass users: /vip/ - Very Important Posts
[Hide] [Show All]


Janitor applications are now open. Apply here!


[Advertise on 4chan]

[Catalog] [Archive]

Moss & Lichen Edition

previously on /herp/: >>5093568

This thread is dedicated to all animals of the Reptilia and Amphibia classes. Topics include, but are not limited to: geckos, snakes of all kinds, frogs, salamanders, newts, turtles, tortoises, and much more. Before asking a question, do a search on the internet to see if it has been answered
Classifieds for finding breeders and products:
>morphmarket.com
>kingsnake.com
>faunaclassifieds.com
>caudata.org
Most forums will have a "for sale" section on them, so look for that, especially if you have a specific herp you want. Craigslist can also be a good source for cheap aquariums, and make sure to check for any reptile expos that occur in your area.

When asking a question, make sure to include these details:
>Type and size of animal
>Enclosure dimensions

Comment too long. Click here to view the full text.
275 replies and 56 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
I want to get a day gecko but I like to handle my lizards. I have a blue tongued skink and chahuoa gecko both of which tolerate handling.

Is it possible to handle a standings day gecko? The guy at the shop who is on morph market said theyre not handleable. Or a day gecko like a giant one?

Or is the guy right at the shop and theyre not handleable
>>
>>5130235
i never say it could never work but even trying to handle them is risky for their health
-they are generally very skittish
-they are stupid fast compared to most other geckos so if it gets loose it can get somewhere dangerous to its health like instantly
-skin sloughing is a unique day gecko feature that's kind of like a dropped tail but for huge chunks of their body which then need to be monitored and cared for due to infection risk.

The only handling I can recommend at all for larger day geckos is letting them climb onto your hand for food. I would never grip/hold them like you can with a skink or new caledonian them unless absolutely necessary for their care (ie, emergency enclosure removals).

For smaller ones I really don't recommend any handling because they can just bolt and get into a lethal situation way too quickly. At least the larger ones will have issues wedging themselves into a place you can't get with a human hand.
>>
Any tips on escape proofing a tank? I'm getting a cape house snake soon and all the stories about them have me a little paranoid.
>>
>>5130235
get a leopard gecko instead
>>
>>5130235
there are day geckos being handled all over social media but everybody says it takes enormous effort so do you really want to do that

File: 1729478912954.jpg (184 KB, 1080x900)
184 KB JPG
Are raccoons too smart to be domesticated?
43 replies and 15 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5121278
Why not just get a cute kitteh OP?
>>
>>5121282
>but they would just be bred for warfare anyway
why do pseuds always say shit like this
>>
>>5129226
>>
>>5129234
Doy you think that toadline racoons will become a thing?
>>
File: coon.jpg (393 KB, 900x1200)
393 KB JPG
we're very smart don't try to domesticate us

File: IMG-20231225-WA0000.jpg (122 KB, 720x1600)
122 KB JPG
God fucking dammit. I wanted to make a question, but there are no cat general. Fine, i'll create one edition

My cat will turn 5 years old this month. She never purred. The only time i listened to her purring, was when she fell from my building and disappeared for 3 days. When we found her, and brought her, she purred very loud for some days. She was 1 yar old then
But lately, in the past months, she purrs a lot when i pet her, give her food, or hold her like a baby. Why is this?
221 replies and 76 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5131002
I’ve gone 30 ft up the same tree for two different kots. Hey at least they didn’t claw the shit out of me on the way down… they did. Very much so.
>>
>>5131172
I'd suggest deep cleaning as much of your sister's cat's smell as possible with the proper pet cleaners. It does sound like protest or potty rage, even if it's a bit odd that the behavior is continuing after the sister and cat are gone. Follow up with your vet if it continues post-cleaning, and continue monitoring your cat's water intake and behavior.

Maybe cat shelving/furniture to help her feel more in control of the territory?
>>
>>5131180
The first thing I did after my sister was done visiting was to wet vac the carpet and clean all the bedsheets and blankets. Since then, they've been sent through the wash multiple times as my cat continues to pee on them. I can do another pass with the wet vac I suppose, wouldn't hurt any.
Behavior wise I think some of it has to do with the fact that I've been taking her outside more and more. I don't let her wander around outside unsupervised so she doesn't indiscriminately slaughter all the birds she can get her claws on, but I'll play with her outside using a stick with some string on the end, or "chasing" her when it's time to bring her back inside (she'll seemingly detect when I'm about to pick her up and scuttle off a bit while I walk along behind waiting for her to get tired).
I mention this because she's started to just meow at me and run to the door anytime I start walking around the house to do anything. She seems to want to be an outdoor cat but considering the state I found her in I don't think it'd be a good idea (besides the fact there are coyotes here).

I do have some cat furniture. Two cat trees, though neither are in my room (where the visiting cat had been staying). Would moving a cat tree into my room help?
There's also a smaller scratching post thing that acts as a ladder to get to a windowsill she likes, an actual scratching post, and an exercise wheel that she also uses.
>>
File: IMG_20260124_181928.jpg (126 KB, 673x893)
126 KB JPG
>>5131159
random orange kitty sleepy in street
>>
>>5131189
Our cats are indoor/outdoor (not my personal preference, we have predators that'll take a cat if they can) since they know how to use the doggy door. One of them is more indoor than outdoor, while the other one is more outdoor than in (I bet you can guess which of the two is more affectionate... cats); when the doggy door is closed we do leave a window open for the more outdoor one to come and go as he pleases (he will bust through the window AC fins if not) and the more indoor one will come if we call her before we head to bed.

... So if you want to experiment with an indoor/outdoor set up that's always a possibility. Alternatives may be a catio, especially if there's a lot of predator pressure and she's not satisfied with supervised walks. There's no harm in switching up the indoor furniture.

File: unnamed.jpg (11 KB, 160x160)
11 KB JPG
why is he so insufferable??
273 replies and 15 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5129994
it can be interesting if there are consistent criteria laid out, like which "builds" have adapted to the widest variety of habitats/biomes/niches. TierZoo doesn't do this though.

>>5129999
he did? where?
>>
>>5129999
Him feeling the need to say that is how you know he cranks it 7 times a day
>>
>>5129999
when/where did he say that?
>>
>>5123775
what is supposed to be educational about this slop?
>>
>>5129994
rankings like these are supposed to just be some fun shitposting, but for a quality execution they should be clever, and TierZoo just isn't

I'm going to post a platypus every day until all of /an/ wants to snuggle a puggle

Previous thread >>5065820 hit image limit and before anyone says it yes the males (and only the males) venomous (mostly seasonally).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1puF5nSDV6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6QHzIJO5a8
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AvIwt6lEQDk
43 replies and 40 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5129990
I didn't realize how big a platy he was until I looked closer. Wally might be Tasmanian.

This is your daily reminder to want a platypus.
>>
This is your daily reminder to want a platypus.
>>
Royal national park platypus repopulation up to 20 with new reintroduction.

This is your daily reminder to want a platypus.
>>
File: platypus 19.jpg (296 KB, 1920x1080)
296 KB JPG
This is your daily reminder to want a platypus.
>>
You’re doing God’s work, platypusposter.

111 replies and 86 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
File: 1772348326412371.webm (2.38 MB, 640x640)
2.38 MB
2.38 MB WEBM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCoeoSgWGMo
>>
>>5130918
>>5130921
>>5130999
>>5131083
super cute!
>>
File: Seal arm hug.gif (2.99 MB, 400x300)
2.99 MB GIF
>>5131190
This one is special, for you. :)
>>
>>5131026
Where's his PC full of hentai?
>>
>>5131015
>If seals don't trigger a strong caring instinct on you due to being extremely cute you don't deserve to live

Seals are the rapiest animals out there, even worse than dolphins and orangutans

File: puppy_kitty.webm (2.93 MB, 640x480)
2.93 MB
2.93 MB WEBM
frens edition
215 replies and 89 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>not actually; I would never hurt an animal other than for food
Like parówki...

Can't hurt to ask to bring it back, sometimes you cut stuff from your inventory because you project less income. If not you must go on a pilgrimage to a further butcher to get your fill.
>>
>>5130609
chompy

>>5130610
cutie and murderer

>>5130611
holy shi- blue lagarto, its beautiful

>>5131016
kissy kissy

>>5131018
a full bag of doggies


Comment too long. Click here to view the full text.
>>
File: lucky cat.webm (2.62 MB, 720x690)
2.62 MB
2.62 MB WEBM
>>
>>5131238
Sometimes it's just your day.
>>
>>5129971
>me when i found tomatoes in my food
You eat just the tomatoes?

File: FOq1wW4VUAEgR6F.jpg (421 KB, 1484x1774)
421 KB JPG
Otters are in vogue this life cycle
165 replies and 127 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5130177
BLEP
>>
File: 1664297542836.jpg (409 KB, 1024x682)
409 KB JPG
>>
File: atywow2.jpg (657 KB, 2560x1440)
657 KB JPG
>>
What's the difference between an otter and a ferret and a stoat?
>>
>>5131284
One is a rapist. Another is an ADHD noodle cat. And the last one is small but mighty hunter.

File: kinda_chonky.jpg (1.19 MB, 4096x2731)
1.19 MB JPG
Too Big To Fail Edition

Previously on /fox/:
>>5121687
67 replies and 53 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5131133
classic "presenting outrageously fluffy tummy for you to pet and then bites you" trap
>>
File: say_what3.jpg (1.76 MB, 2730x4096)
1.76 MB JPG
>>5131133
>>
>>5131192
This one got sun bleached and then rolled in some ashes
>>
File: HIwStfsbsAAUPQ1.jpg (332 KB, 1152x2048)
332 KB JPG
>>
attention: vixen spotted again today

In this thread, we talk about speculative biology scenarios that would be funny and ridiculous.
For example, it would be funny if all of the human face mites on the planet became super intelligent and then they started building big skyscrapers on my face and then a rocket took off from my face and then the face mites created a galactic empire and humans were enslaved by the face mite galactic empire.
Think of science fiction evolution scenarios thst would be hilarious.
1 reply omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5131012

What if I touched you?
>>
>>5131030
It would be extremely painful.
>>
What if we had a world populated only by birds and some fish?
>>
>>5131011
What if instead of the current situation, mammals didnt have dicks and birds did?
>>
>>5131173
Would Ostriches and Ducks be exactly the same or would they lose their dicks?
If mammals lacked dicks, then we'd probably view them as some gross, primitive appendage like how we view ovipositors and it would probably be a really niche fetish that would crop up on this board from time to time.
Also the world would be robbed of nearly all of the largest penises known to exist.

Put your paws in the air like you don't care edition

Prev: >>5122210
35 replies and 5 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5130913
I'm going to take her to the vet tomorrow and put her to sleep. I really don't want to but I'm out of options and it seems she's getting worse each passing day. She's in constant pain all day and night whenever she's awake and she's mostly awake. Fucking hell.
>>
>>5131153
Why is it so hard to just not reply to them?
>>
>>5131145
I hear that they're generally leaner and more athletic.
>>
>>5131157
And it's done. Drove her to a 24/7 clinic because she was screaming all night. As soon as I made the call, literal and figurative, she immediately got quiet and didn't make a single peep until it was over. I couldn't even touch her shoulder or neck area before without her screaming and trashing in pain, but she was completely calm the entire time as I lifted her ans carried her. It's like she knew and maybe the screaming was her telling me to get it over with. Man, what a dog and awesome 14 years together. What a blessing. I already miss her so much.
>>
>>5131157
>>5131249
I'm sorry you had to do that, but I'm glad the end was peaceful. Take care of yourself for the next couple weeks anon.

File: image0.gif (3.61 MB, 320x320)
3.61 MB GIF
Looking for some guidance here. My new adopted dog is quite fearful and loses control of his bowels when I approach him. The image in this post shows how he acts when I get within 10 feet of him. I’ve kept him on a leash so I can grab him and take him to different rooms in the house without risking being bitten. He snarls and bites a lot and digs his claws into the ground. His old owner claims not to know of this behavior and keeps saying “dude I told you he hates his leash TAKE IT OFF HIM” but I’m not sure that’s the right move right now. He needs to be leashed so I can control him. Any suggestions? Maybe he needs to be enclosed in a cage? This dog is shitting constantly and it really is becoming a nuisance. I’m debating taking him to a shelter to see if they want him. I don’t think I’m able to rehabilitate this dog since he is so wall eyed and so very very angry at the world. Thoughts? Ideas?
>>
This sounds really tough—adopting a dog with severe fear issues like this is challenging, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. That GIF captures classic extreme fear response: piloerection (hair standing up), cornering, and involuntary defecation from terror. This is a stress response, not spite or "anger at the world"—it's a dog whose nervous system is in full fight-or-flight (or freeze/flood) mode.
Keep the leash on for now. Your instinct is right. Safety for both of you comes first. The old owner's advice to just "take it off" ignores the biting/snaring risk. Use it to move him calmly without cornering or forcing interactions. Avoid yanking or escalating.
Don't approach directly. Give him space. Many fearful dogs improve with "ignore and toss treats" — sit sideways, no eye contact, soft voice, and gently toss high-value treats (chicken, cheese, hot dogs) from a distance. Let him choose to approach.
Crate consideration: A properly introduced crate can be a safe "den" where he feels secure, not a punishment. Make it positive with treats, meals, and a comfy bed in a quiet area. Never force him in when scared or use it long-term as isolation. Some fearful dogs benefit from it for decompression; others find it trapping. Test carefully.
Constant defecation when approached is likely fear-induced (stress colitis or loss of control from adrenaline).
Establish a calm potty routine: consistent times, low-pressure outdoor spots, praise/treats for success far from triggers.
Reduce overall stress: quiet environment, predictable schedule, no forced handling.
Many fearful dogs improve significantly with time, patience, and counter-conditioning/desensitization (gradual exposure + positive associations). But it can take weeks to months—sometimes longer for severe cases.
>>
>>5131240
Key steps:
1. Decompression period: Give him weeks to just settle without big expectations. Minimal pressure, lots of space.
2. Professional help urgently: Find a force-free certified behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist (not just any trainer). Look for IAABC, CPDT, or Fear Free certified. They can assess for pain/medical contributors and create a tailored plan. Meds (anti-anxiety) may help in severe cases.
3. Positive reinforcement only. No punishment—it worsens fear.
4. Build trust slowly: Treats for any calm behavior, short positive sessions, confidence-building games.

This level of fear + aggression (biting, snarling) isn't something every owner can handle, especially with constant messes and safety risks. You're not a failure if it's too much—rehabilitation isn't guaranteed, and quality of life for both matters.
Shelter return: Contact them honestly with details. Many have behavior resources or foster networks. Returning sooner is often better than after more stress. Be transparent with any potential new adopter too.
You're doing the right thing by seeking guidance instead of forcing it. Prioritize a vet visit and behaviorist consult this week. In the meantime, protect yourself, manage the environment, and give him (and you) some breathing room. If you share more details (age, breed, how long you've had him), I can try to refine suggestions. Hang in there.
>>
>>5131214
1) Stop being a wuss. He's a tiny fucking dog. You do not need a leash to control him. That's just you being weak as shit. Wear some gloves and long sleeves.
2) Why do you need to take him to different rooms? Stop. Stop being a retard. Set up ONE room for him, a room that you can easily clean and control. Do not force him out of that room until he is comfortable. Put stuff in there to make him feel secure. Barriers between you and him help.
3) While he is in that room, spend time there. Do not force interaction with him. Just be in the room, a lot. Don't approach him. Don't even make direct eye contact. He will eventually figure out that you are feeding him and existing with him and not harming him. This could take a long ass time. Could be weeks. Maybe more. Don't bother trying to lure him in with treats. That's just you being impatient and at this stage it's useless possibly detrimental as he's fear motivated, not food motivated (for now).
4) Stick to a consistent schedule for feeding and cleaning the area.
5) You can absolutely give him up. Just don't lie to the next person or facility about the dog.

File: 0987dfj.jpg (519 KB, 840x630)
519 KB JPG
>survived dinosaurs
>survived ice ages
>survived global wildfires
>survived pangea splitting
>survived tsunamis and floods
>survived asteroid
>survived super volcanoes
>survived humans
Fucking how?
16 replies and 2 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5130648
>uneducated anon thinks he can determine relatedness by how things "look"
every time
this is why real ones don't read or post here
>>
>>5130835
So OP should have used some family name? Oh is it clade? Phylum? Order? Genus? Even that one croc that gallopped was still a croc to me.
>real ones
Autistic navel gazers who spaz on 4chin boards they claim to not even read?
>>
>>5130840
I didn't say anything about OP

I said you're retarded because you think organisms are classified by "looks." as if how things look to you personally matters at all to anyone else.
>>
>>5128457
Difficult to argue with this. They are amazing at not
>>
>>5131232
*not dying
Fuck

File: HB2x55DbgAAUWIf.jpg (377 KB, 1024x1536)
377 KB JPG
I fucking despise armchair paleontologists. I wouldn’t even care about their ramblings if it wasn’t for the fact that every time a new paper drops, they make a shitty idea off of it. And whether it’s by video, blog or Twitter post, if it picks up traction it somehow ends up being seen as fact by the general paleo community. Actual literal headcanons being made up with zero professional research or backing behind them.
>Nanotyrannus being dubious even though we already knew about its tooth count and fore arm difference a decade before the 2025 paper.
>Dakotaraptor being dubious because of some guy pointing out its sickle claw had a vague resemblance to a Nanotyrannus claw. (Yeah no shit they’re both theropods) It’s like they needed a new target to point the dubious finger at after the Nano paper dropped.
>Nanaimoteuthis being a shellfish specialist despite the very paper describing it pointing out wear patterns on its beak that prove the contrary.
>Carnotaurus being the “Cretaceous cheetah” because it ran fast, ignoring literally every other aspect of its anatomy.
>The average Edmontosaurus being a 15 ton monster that regularly raped Rex, because of a paper describing a superadult specimen that represented the smallest top percent of adults lucky enough to live that long.
>Titanoboa being an obligate piscivore because it had adaptations for hunting the most common prey source in its environment.
For years I have watched this endless cycle and it’s god damn exhausting. If you want your thought experiments to be seen as scientific, go get a degree, start researching, and publish an actual paper about it. You can't just make a hypothesis, stop there, and assume you're correct, it doesn't fucking work like that. Why does the science community that prides themselves on "Realistic portrayals" not know how to fully read through a published paper?
143 replies and 27 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
>>5131004
No, it's their moral obligation for all (100% (every single piece)) to be drawn the way i like it
>>
>>5130991
>>5130991
Another example of overcorrection i guess. Again, inb4 it turns out it did have long legs just like it turned out T. rex didn't have feathers after all!
>>
>>5131098
>just like it turned out T. rex didn't have feathers after all!
the most recent science says T. rex had feathers and was a slow scavenger.

>>5129572
>>
>>5130991
>>5131098
It isn't just long legs, but long legs in the right way.
Long lower legs.
Just having proportionately long legs isn't the same as being fast.
>>
>>5131217
Same thing stands. Cosmic coincidence will make its lower legs long. Because it always happens

File: IMG_4871.jpg (240 KB, 1284x1220)
240 KB JPG
The bluestreak cleaner wrasse, a 10cm fish species that feeds off the dead skin of larger fish, has demonstrated the ability to recognize itself in a mirror -- a trait that is more so associated with birds and more intelligent mammals.
Scientific paper on this phenomenon:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-70138-7
Video on the subject:
https://youtu.be/Drbl5udwk9I
85 replies and 3 images omitted. Click here to view.
>>
File: Antscool.mp4 (1.73 MB, 504x360)
1.73 MB
1.73 MB MP4
>>5114217
Meanwhile, ANTS
>>
>>5130939
I don’t care if crickets "feel pain" (have a damage avoidance and fluid flow stimulation algorithm) or if a cow can be trained to use a brush. Your religion is retarded. Being vegan for ethical reasons is morally impermissible. Being a vegan for religious reasons is okay because then you get to go to hell for not obeying genesis.

The absolute most crickets can do is be on the absolute edge of the "going out of your way to torture this for no reason shows somewhat poor character" category.

There is no such thing as a “carnist”. It’s actually called normal. Humans are carnivores. This is a fact. The human body does not function or develop properly without regular uptake of animal products. The best it can do without them is just not die… immediately. Without the whole world built and maintained by stronger, smarter meat eaters to support you, you would be a cretin, instead of just a dysfunctional little "brahmin" suffering from the neurosis of an animal reared in captivity by animals reared in captivity.
>>
>>5114217
Maybe we all are just a dead skin in a huge bowl of wrassels
>>
>>5120819
Now try asking a fish to climb a tree... Exactly, that's what I thought
Epic victory for me
>>
>>5114221
I think for a lot of animals, it is just a case of not really caring about eyesight in the same way that humans do.
Like if you're a species that relies mostly on smell, then the mirror test is pretty limited in utility because flipping it around - how many humans could identify their own smell?


[Advertise on 4chan]

Delete Post: [File Only] Style:
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.