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By research, I don't mean writing a research paper or anything like that- just taking the time to look a few things up.
Because zoology and biology can be a lot different than you thought they were.

Common Misconceptions include(but are hardly limited to):

1:Wolves fight with their claws.
2:Cats always land on their feet.
3:All bats drink blood.
4;Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.
5:Snakes are poisonous.
6: Predators are mean and herbivores are friendly.
7:Wild animals are just like domestic animals, right?

But actually:

1: It's possible a claw might catch on something during the struggle, but wolves usually bite,- not scratch- and generally go for the throat. (Clawing/scratching is more of a cat thing- though they can bite, too.) Wolves usually use their claws to dig.(Said claws are not retractable, either. Though, oddly enough, neither are a cheetah's.)

2:They do MOST of the time- as a general rule, the longer the fall, the more likely they are to land on their feet. They can still get injured, though.

3: Only three species of bat are hematophagus (drink blood)- and two of those species feed exclusively on birds. Most bat species feed on fruit or insects, though the bulldog bat fishes and some bats pollinate flowers in the process of drinking nectar.

4:Nope- they actually dig their nests in the dirt- what looks like them burying their heads is actually them checking in on the kids.

5: There are some venomous snakes, but no poisonous ones. There is a difference between "poisonous" and "venomous".
If you have to touch or eat it to feel the ill effects, it's poison. If it's the result of a bite (or, in the case of the spitting cobra, spray) it's a venom.

6: Herbivores can be plenty mean. If they have babies, are territorial, or have babies AND are territorial, even species you wouldn't consider threating can get quite vicious.
Even a domestic cat can get nasty if you mess with them- now imagine annoying a white-tailed deer- weighing in at 150 pounds and armed with sharp hooves.
Remember- any animal can and will defend itself if it feels threatened.

7:Not in the least.
Sure, there are some similarities- but a wild animal is not "just like" a domestic animal.
They have different behavioral patterns and biological needs.
Domestic animals generally don't attempt to delimb you if you get too close.
Basic Wilderness Survival Tip: Leave the wild animals alone.

Even if you're creating an anthropomorphic and/or fantasy critter, research can help you with things like anatomy.
Protip: There is NO such thing as BACKWARDS KNEES. Animals have knees in the same place- that "backwards knee" is their elongated ankle. (Which is just a fancy way of saying that they have really long ankles.)

Likewise, being able to differentiate between plantigrade, digitigrade, and unguligrade stance - and using them appropriately- can help improve your designs.

Plantigrade: walks on whole foot-kind of like people.
Digitigrade: walks on its toes- a lot of animals are like this, such as cats, dogs, wolves- but not rabbits(rabbits are plantigrade.)
Unguligrade: walks on hooves- interestingly enough, the hind limbs are similar to those of digitigrade animals- examples include horses, deer, and pigs. Includes split and solid hooves- make sure to use the one appropriate to your species.

Animal behavior can also be helpful for structuring your characters society- whether they're a real species, some sort of hybrid, or completely fantastical.

In short, this is not to condemn you for not being an expert, but to encourage putting in that little bit of extra effort. ^^
After all, what good is there in calling your oc a coatimundi when they act and look nothing like one?

For oc creation in general, I recommend checking out this series: griffonmender.deviantart.com/a…

Stamp Base by WinglessButterfly55 wingless-butterfly55.deviantar…

Description
By research, I don't mean writing a research paper or anything like that- just taking the time to look a few things up.
Because zoology and biology can be a lot different than you thought they were.

Common Misconceptions include(but are hardly limited to):

1:Wolves fight with their claws.
2:Cats always land on their feet.
3:All bats drink blood.
4;Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.
5:Snakes are poisonous.
6: Predators are mean and herbivores are friendly.
7:Wild animals are just like domestic animals, right?

But actually:

1: It's possible a claw might catch on something during the struggle, but wolves usually bite,- not scratch- and generally go for the throat. (Clawing/scratching is more of a cat thing- though they can bite, too.) Wolves usually use their claws to dig.(Said claws are not retractable, either. Though, oddly enough, neither are a cheetah's.)

2:They do MOST of the time- as a general rule, the longer the fall, the more likely they are to land on their feet. They can still get injured, though.

3: Only three species of bat are hematophagus (drink blood)- and two of those species feed exclusively on birds. Most bat species feed on fruit or insects, though the bulldog bat fishes and some bats pollinate flowers in the process of drinking nectar.

4:Nope- they actually dig their nests in the dirt- what looks like them burying their heads is actually them checking in on the kids.

5: There are some venomous snakes, but no poisonous ones. There is a difference between "poisonous" and "venomous".
If you have to touch or eat it to feel the ill effects, it's poison. If it's the result of a bite (or, in the case of the spitting cobra, spray) it's a venom.

6: Herbivores can be plenty mean. If they have babies, are territorial, or have babies AND are territorial, even species you wouldn't consider threating can get quite vicious.
Even a domestic cat can get nasty if you mess with them- now imagine annoying a white-tailed deer- weighing in at 150 pounds and armed with sharp hooves.
Remember- any animal can and will defend itself if it feels threatened.

7:Not in the least.
Sure, there are some similarities- but a wild animal is not "just like" a domestic animal.
They have different behavioral patterns and biological needs.
Domestic animals generally don't attempt to delimb you if you get too close.
Basic Wilderness Survival Tip: Leave the wild animals alone.

Even if you're creating an anthropomorphic and/or fantasy critter, research can help you with things like anatomy.
Protip: There is NO such thing as BACKWARDS KNEES. Animals have knees in the same place- that "backwards knee" is their elongated ankle. (Which is just a fancy way of saying that they have really long ankles.)

Likewise, being able to differentiate between plantigrade, digitigrade, and unguligrade stance - and using them appropriately- can help improve your designs.

Plantigrade: walks on whole foot-kind of like people.
Digitigrade: walks on its toes- a lot of animals are like this, such as cats, dogs, wolves- but not rabbits(rabbits are plantigrade.)
Unguligrade: walks on hooves- interestingly enough, the hind limbs are similar to those of digitigrade animals- examples include horses, deer, and pigs. Includes split and solid hooves- make sure to use the one appropriate to your species.

Animal behavior can also be helpful for structuring your characters society- whether they're a real species, some sort of hybrid, or completely fantastical.

In short, this is not to condemn you for not being an expert, but to encourage putting in that little bit of extra effort. ^^
After all, what good is there in calling your oc a coatimundi when they act and look nothing like one?

For oc creation in general, I recommend checking out this series: griffonmender.deviantart.com/a…

Stamp Base by WinglessButterfly55 wingless-butterfly55.deviantar…