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#BestFriendFebruary

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All 28 days of Best Friend February 2026

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?

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Day 28 - Colossal Squid

Day 28 - Colossal Squid

Artistic Depiction of a 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

11 2 2 0
Day 27 - Kiwi

Day 27 - Kiwi

Real Photo of a 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

22 4 2 0
Day 26 - Gharial

Day 26 - Gharial

Real Photo of a 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

23 2 1 0
Day 25 - Manta Ray

Day 25 - Manta Ray

Real Photo of Manta Rays

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

24 5 1 0
Day 24 - Olm

Day 24 - Olm

Real Photo of an 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

24 3 3 0
Day 23 - Guanaco

Day 23 - Guanaco

Real Photo of a 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

25 4 1 0
Day 22 - Leatherback Sea Turtle

Day 22 - Leatherback Sea Turtle

Real Photo of a 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

29 6 1 0
Day 21 - Antarctic Icefish

Day 21 - Antarctic Icefish

Real Photo of an 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

28 5 1 0
Day 20 - Leafy Seadragon

Day 20 - Leafy Seadragon

Real Photo of a 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

27 4 1 0
Day 19 - Giant Pacific Octopus

Day 19 - Giant Pacific Octopus

Real Photo of a 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

27 5 2 0
Day 18 - Greater Flamingo

Day 18 - Greater Flamingo

Real Photo of Greater Flamingos

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

23 5 1 0
Day 17 - Beluga Sturgeon

Day 17 - Beluga Sturgeon

Real Photo of a 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

25 2 2 0
Day 16 - Howler Monkey

Day 16 - Howler Monkey

Real Photo of a 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

28 3 1 0
Day 15 - Rufous Hummingbird

Day 15 - Rufous Hummingbird

Real Photo of a 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

25 3 3 0
Day 14 - Gentoo Penguin

Day 14 - Gentoo Penguin

Real Photo of Gentoo Penguins

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

27 5 1 0
Day 13 - Stonefish

Day 13 - Stonefish

Real Photo of a 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

30 3 2 0
Day 12 - Bearded Vulture

Day 12 - Bearded Vulture

Real Photo of a 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

37 7 2 0
Day 11 - Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Day 11 - Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Real Photo of a 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

31 6 1 0
Day 10 - European Mouflon

Day 10 - European Mouflon

Real Photo of European Mouflons

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

39 7 1 0
Day 9 - Sloth

Day 9 - Sloth

Real Photo of a 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

50 8 2 0
Day 8 - Greater Roadrunner

Day 8 - Greater Roadrunner

Real Photo of a 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

34 3 3 0
Day 7 - Leopard Seal

Day 7 - Leopard Seal

Real Photo of a 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

27 3 1 0
Day 6 - Platypus

Day 6 - Platypus

Real Photo of a 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

30 4 3 0
Day 5 - Tarsier

Day 5 - Tarsier

Real Photo of a 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

35 2 2 0
Day 4 - Desert Rain Frog

Day 4 - Desert Rain Frog

Real Photo of a 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

38 5 2 0
Day 3 - Etruscan Shrew

Day 3 - Etruscan Shrew

Real Photo of an 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

39 3 2 0
Day 2 - Boa Constrictor

Day 2 - Boa Constrictor

Real Photo of a 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

47 8 1 0
Day 1 - American Bison

Day 1 - American Bison

Real Photo of an 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

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Gumbar wearing a large backpack, walking alongside many different animal prints, marking the beginning of "Best Friend February 2026"

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?

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