Animal facts, education & inspiration
Freshwater, unlike seawater, has low concentrations of dissolved salts. It occurs naturally on the Earth's surface in glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Only about 2.5% of the water on our planet is fresh; the majority is saline and in the oceans. It's essential to life, though, providing us, and many animals, with drinking water.
Some animals rely on freshwater environments more than others though, with freshwater animals spending all or most of their time living in it, for example, fish, frogs and crayfish. Find out what other animals call freshwater habits home by scrolling through our archives below.
Fascinating facts about some of the world’s most amazing animals. From Aardvarks to Zebras our A-Z of the animal world is guaranteed to inspire. If your favourite animal’s not yet included, please let us know. Check out the Top 3 most loved animals! »
Female alligators construct nests of vegetation and mud and can lay over 50 eggs in a single season. The sex of a newborn alligator depends on temperature. Incubation temperatures of 30°C or below will produce females, whereas 34°C or above will produce males. Alligators are amongst the most attentive parents in the reptile world, remaining with their young for up to three years.
Amazon river dolphins are a strong part of Amazon folklore. Some say that if a person drowns, their spirit enters the body of a boto, while others say river dolphins transform into beautiful people at night to lure humans into their river forever. The magical shape-shifters will always wear a white hat to hide their dolphin blowhole!
Atlantic salmon are incredible fish that migrate thousands of miles in their lifetime from saltwater to freshwater habitats to spawn. Migrations are incredible to watch, with salmon leaping their way up streams and waterfalls!
Beavers are social animals, living in large family groups of monogamous parents, young kits, and the yearlings from the previous spring.
Chinese giant salamanders are the largest amphibians in the world.
The highly aquatic Columbia Spotted Frog can only live near permanent water bodies. Habitat destruction and modification is causing population declines in some parts of its range.
Duck feathers have evolved to be highly waterproof. Even when they dive underwater, their underlayer of downy feathers will remain dry.
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