The human skull has long served as a symbol of death and mortality in art. This is no more plainly seen than in the danse macabre or dance of death, an allegorical concept that arose in Europe during the Middle Ages... Read more
The term velociraptor means "swift seizer." It was native to Asia, while the larger deinonychus flourished in North America. It is known for its large claw, which it may have used as a weapon in the way the cassowary does today... Read more
The xenomorph alien, also called Xenomorph XX121 or Internecivus raptus, is a fictional creature from the Alien film franchise. It has been included in numerous movies, comic books, video games, novels, and merchandise... Read more
The wolf is an animal that has captured the imaginations of humans for millennia. Wolves are native to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They are the ancestors of "man's best friend," the domestic dog, but they have been both respected and reproached... Read more
In popular culture, the witch hat is "characterized by a conical crown and a wide brim." This is also a symbol of the Halloween holiday and included in many decorations... Read more
There are about 33 species of rattlesnake native to North and South America. Rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers marked by a unique tail structure. Each snake is born with one button or rattle segment. Within a week of birth, they shed their skin and a second button is left behind. This happens every time the snake sheds its skin... Read more
The great white shark, also known as the white shark or white pointer, is the largest extant species of mackerel shark. This animal can grow to a length of 20 feet (6.1 meters) and weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg). They may live 70 years or more in the wild... Read more
A cemetery or graveyard is a place set aside for burying the remains of the deceased. Cemeteries reflect the religious beliefs of the area and are often considered "holy ground." In some countries, such as Mexico and Japan, festivals in honor of the dead are celebrated in graveyards... Read more
The jaguar is a big cat native to Central and South America. It typically inhabits a tropical habitat, but sometimes this animal ranges as far north as the United States. An individual was known in Arizona from 2011 to 2016. It is the third-largest cat in the world; only the lion and tiger are larger. Its name means "real beast of prey" in the Tupi language... Read more
The skull has, naturally, long been a symbol of death. In one famous scene from the 1948 film Hamlet, the title character holds and speaks to the skull of his friend while he delivers a soliloquy about the deceased. Skulls appear in much artwork throughout history. Today, they can be seen on t-shirts, tattoos, certain branded items, and other merchandise... Read more
