All 28 days of Best Friend February 2026
Thanks so much for sticking around for yet another #BestFriendFebruary! I definitely want to make a habit of doing this for years to come! I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did!
Which friend is your favorite?
Day 28 - Colossal Squid
Artistic Depiction of a Colossal Squid
Day 28: Colossal Squid
This indomitable invertebrate lurks deep in the Antarctic waters.
Very little is known about them, as they are one of the most elusive creatures in the sea. In her search, Gumbar was unable to find her final friend.
Oh well, better luck next year...
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 27 - Kiwi
Real Photo of a Kiwi
Day 27: Kiwi
A flightless bird on the smaller side, the kiwi is endemic to the northern island of New Zealand.
Out of any living animal, these guys lay the LARGEST eggs relative to their size - making up about 20% of their entire body weight by full development!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 26 - Gharial
Real Photo of a Gharial
Day 26: Gharial
This crazy crocodilian sits on the larger side, inhabiting the waters of South Asia.
The gharial is characterized by its distinctly slim snout. Males have a pronounced bulb at the tip of their nose that resembles an Indian pot called a "ghara", hence its name.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 25 - Manta Ray
Real Photo of Manta Rays
Day 25: Manta Ray
There are three types of manta that can be found in tropical waters across the globe. These mighty mobulas can reach a wingspan of 9m!
Like sharks, they lack bones, but have a skeleton made entirely of cartilage, the same tissue we have in our ears and nose!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 24 - Olm
Real Photo of an Olm
Day 24: Olm
Unlike other amphibians, the olm is an entirely aquatic species that can be found in a small portion of southern Europe.
These seclusive salamanders live in total darkness, living their entire lives in caves. Who needs developed eyes when there's nothing to see?!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 23 - Guanaco
Real Photo of a Guanaco
Day 23: Guanaco
This crafty camelid is native to South America - from the Andes Mountains to the southernmost tip of the continent.
These guys are master mountaineers, adapting a strong heart and blood cells to gather enough oxygen at altitudes of up to 4,500m above sea level!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 22 - Leatherback Sea Turtle
Real Photo of a Leatherback Sea Turtle
Day 22: Leatherback Sea Turtle
Found in waters across the globe, this titanic testudine is the largest of its kind, reaching up to 2.7m (~8.8ft) in length and 500kg (~1,100 lb). Heavy!
They are MASTERS of migration, traveling across oceans to feed, mate, and lay their eggs.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 21 - Antarctic Icefish
Real Photo of an Antarctic Icefish
Day 21: Antarctic Icefish
The icefish is a unique type of fish that swims in Antarctic waters.
Its transparent body is due to its lack of hemoglobin, the protein that delivers oxygen through our blood. This is speculated to be an adaptive trait for their frigid environment.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 20 - Leafy Seadragon
Real Photo of a Leafy Seadragon
Day 20: Leafy Seadragon
This strangely-shaped fish calls the southern ocean waters of Australia its home.
Their leaf-like lobes of skin give them the appearance of seaweed, providing camouflage with its surroundings - a perfect example of environment influencing evolution!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 19 - Giant Pacific Octopus
Real Photo of a Giant Pacific Octopus
Day 19: Giant Pacific Octopus
This octopus is the largest of its kind, living in the Pacific coastal waters of North America and Asia.
These marvelous molluscs are among the most intelligent of the invertebrates, displaying excellent memory and problem-solving skills!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 18 - Greater Flamingo
Real Photo of Greater Flamingos
Day 18: Greater Flamingo
These highly social birds live in and around the shallow waters of Afro-Eurasia in groups of hundreds of thousands.
They have a uniquely shaped beak that is specialized for feeding while their heads are upside down, satiating their molluscivorous diet.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 17 - Beluga Sturgeon
Real Photo of a Beluga Sturgeon
Day 17: Beluga Sturgeon
The Beluga Sturgeon is one of the largest freshwater fish out there, making their home in the Caspian and Black Sea basins.
Unfortunately, overfishing has left these guys critically endangered as their roe is highly valuable - which we know as "caviar".
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 16 - Howler Monkey
Real Photo of a Howler Monkey
Day 16: Howler Monkey
There are over a dozen species of howler monkey that occupy the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Their specialized hyoid bone amplifies their voice, making them one of the LOOOOOOUDEST animals on the planet, with calls reaching 140 decibels!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 15 - Rufous Hummingbird
Real Photo of a Rufous Hummingbird
Day 15: Rufous Hummingbird
They are among the smallest birds, and are known for their flight skills. Hummingbirds are the only birds capable of backwards flight and these guys can fly up to 3,200 km during migrations!
In some cultures, they are seen as spiritual messengers.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 14 - Gentoo Penguin
Real Photo of Gentoo Penguins
Day 14: Gentoo Penguin
Inhabiting the Antarctic Peninsula is the Gentoo Penguin, highly social birds that live along the continent's coastline.
These tenacious torpedoes are the fastest swimmers of all penguins, being able to reach underwater speeds of up to 22mph (36 km/h).
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 13 - Stonefish
Real Photo of a Stonefish
Day 13: Stonefish
There are five species of stonefish. While some can be found in rivers, they mostly reside in tropical Indo-Pacific waters.
These guys are recognized as the most venomous fish in the world. One sting from spines can put a person six feet under within an hour!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 12 - Bearded Vulture
Real Photo of a Bearded Vulture
Day 12: Bearded Vulture
This bird of prey can be found all over Afro-Eurasia. Like other vultures, these silly scavengers feast on animal remains.
But this one is unique: They have super powerful stomach acid that allows for a diet of almost exclusively BONE! Now THAT'S metal!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 11 - Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Real Photo of a Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Day 11: Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
On the magical island of Madagascar lives this lovely lemur. They live on a frugivorous diet, meaning they primarily feast on fruits!
They are the world’s largest pollinator! Pollen sticks to their thick fur and spreads around as they move.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 10 - European Mouflon
Real Photo of European Mouflons
Day 10: European Mouflon
A feral subspecies of the domestic sheep that inhabits Europe. Just like other bighorns, these guys are known to headbutt in the heat of competition.
They have INCREDIBLY thick skulls that are built to withstand the enormous force of their headbutts.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 9 - Sloth
Real Photo of a Sloth
Day 9: Sloth
Blink and you’ll miss it! There are six extant species of sloth that feast on the leaves of Central and South America.
Sloths have a slooooooooooooow metabolic rate - less than half of what it should be for an animal its size. This explains their breakneck speeds.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 8 - Greater Roadrunner
Real Photo of a Greater Roadrunner
Day 8: Greater Roadrunner
The largest of the roadrunners, these guys inhabit the arid shrublands of North America. Most would think they go "beep beep", but it's more of a "haw haw haw".
As the name implies, they have a need for speed, reaching up to 26mph (~42kmph) on foot!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 7 - Leopard Seal
Real Photo of a Leopard Seal
Day 7: Leopard Seal
Living in and around the Southern Ocean is this aquatic ace, who gets its name from its spotted coat.
They have super powerful jaws and serrated teeth they use to crunch and eat their prey of fish, penguins, krill, squid, and even smaller seals.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 6 - Platypus
Real Photo of a Platypus
Day 6: Platypus
Is it a duck? Is it a beaver? Who knows?! The platypus inhabits the freshwater areas of Eastern Australia.
They are a special type of egg-laying mammal known as monotremes. There are four species of monotreme in the world and they all are found in Australia.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 5 - Tarsier
Real Photo of a Tarsier
Day 5: Tarsier
Found in Southeast Asia, tarsiers are small insectivorous primates with enormous eyes to fit their nocturnal lifestyle.
Their eyes are too big to rotate in their sockets. So to make up for this, they can swivel their heads 180° to maximize their visual field.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 4 - Desert Rain Frog
Real Photo of a Desert Rain Frog
Day 4: Desert Rain Frog
On a small strip of land along the coast of Southwest Africa where the sand dunes meet frequent fog, lives this adorable little amphibian.
Make no mistake, however, these fearsome frogs won't hesitate to show of their mighty battle cry when threatened.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 3 - Etruscan Shrew
Real Photo of an Etruscan Shrew
Day 3: Etruscan Shrew
Meet the world's smallest known extant mammal. Found in parts of Southern Europe, they measure in at around 4cm long, making insects look massive!
With such a high metabolism, they must eat SIX TIMES THEIR BODY WEIGHT in a single day just to survive!
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 2 - Boa Constrictor
Real Photo of a Boa Constrictor
Day 2: Boa Constrictor
Members of the Boidae family thrive in a variety of environments, from tropical rainforests to the arid semi deserts of Central and South America.
Despite their lack of limbs, these beautiful boas are excellent climbers, living a semi-arboreal lifestyle.
#BestFriendFebruary
Day 1 - American Bison
Real Photo of an American Bison
Day 1: American Bison
Meet the largest land animal in North America! These grazing giants rule the prairies at a shoulder height of ~2m and weighing ~1000kg!
While they once numbered at around 50 MILLION, commercial hunting has left them at around 500,000 in the current day.
#BestFriendFebruary
Gumbar wearing a large backpack, walking alongside many different animal prints, marking the beginning of "Best Friend February 2026"
🌎BEST FRIEND FEBRUARY🌏
“The world’s a pretty big place! So many friends to meet and so little time!”
Gumbar is BACK for the second annual #BestFriendFebruary! Will she be able to make 28 new friends before the end of the month?
