Animals
Living things that eat other living things for energy and can move on their own at some point in their lives.
Subcategories
117 entries
Abyssinian Ground HornbillBucorvus abyssinicusA big black hornbill of African savannas that walks the ground hunting snakes, lizards and small mammals. Also called the northern ground hornbill.
African Savanna ElephantLoxodonta africanaA huge plant-eater of Africa that lives in family herds led by an older female. African elephants are the largest mammals on land.
African Spurred TortoiseCentrochelys sulcata (also called Geochelone sulcata)The largest mainland African tortoise, a burrowing plant-eater of the dry lands south of the Sahara, also called the sulcata tortoise.
Alligator Snapping TurtleMacrochelys temminckiiThe largest freshwater turtle in the United States, which lures fish into its open jaws with a worm-like bit on its tongue.
American BisonBison bisonA huge, shaggy grazer of North America that once numbered in the tens of millions and nearly disappeared.
American FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruberThe brightest-colored flamingo, also called the Caribbean flamingo, that filter-feeds with its bill upside down.
Andean CondorVultur gryphusA huge vulture of the Andes Mountains with a wingspan of about 3.2 meters, the longest of any land bird.
Angolan Colobus MonkeyColobus angolensisA black-and-white leaf-eating monkey of central Africa with a long, bushy-tipped tail and babies that are born all white.
Babydoll Southdown SheepOvis ariesA small, teddy-bear-faced sheep breed from England's South Downs with some of the finest wool of any British breed.
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusThe national bird of the United States, a fish-eating eagle that came back from the edge of extinction.
Bali MynahLeucopsar rothschildiA critically endangered white songbird with a bright blue face mask, found in the wild only on part of the Indonesian island of Bali.
Bengal TigerPanthera tigris tigrisAn endangered striped big cat of India and nearby countries that hunts alone and is an excellent swimmer.
BinturongArctictis binturongA shaggy, tree-climbing "bearcat" of Southeast Asia that smells like popcorn and grips branches with its tail.
Black-and-White Ruffed LemurVarecia variegataThe largest lemur, a critically endangered fruit-eater of eastern Madagascar's rainforests that raises its babies in nests.
Blue CraneAnthropoides paradiseusThe national bird of South Africa, a blue-gray crane of grasslands famous for courtship dances that can last for hours.
Blue DuikerPhilantomba monticolaA tiny forest antelope of central and southern Africa that weighs only 9 to 13 pounds and lives in pairs.
Blue-and-Yellow MacawAra araraunaA big blue-and-gold parrot of South American rainforests that mates for life and eats clay from riverbanks.
Blue-Bellied RollerCoracias cyanogasterA cream-and-blue West and Central African bird named for the tumbling, rolling flights males perform in courtship.
Blue-Throated MacawAra glaucogularisThe rarest macaw in the world, a blue-and-gold parrot of Bolivia's flooded Beni savanna with only about 400 left in the wild.
BongoTragelaphus eurycerusA large forest antelope of tropical Africa with 10 to 15 pale stripes down each side and horns up to 3 feet long.
Bornean OrangutanPongo pygmaeusA critically endangered red-haired great ape of Borneo's rainforests that lives mostly alone in the treetops and eats mostly fruit.
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusA small green-and-yellow parrot of Australia's dry interior, and the most widely known pet bird in the world.
Canada LynxLynx canadensisA northern forest cat with black ear tufts and big furry feet that let it walk on snow while it hunts snowshoe hares.
CapybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaerisThe world's largest rodent, a grass-eating swimmer of South American riverbanks that lives in groups.
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibisA small white heron that follows grazing animals to catch the insects they stir up, and has spread from Africa around the world.
CheetahAcinonyx jubatusA slim spotted cat of African grasslands, built for speed, that can sprint 60 to 70 miles per hour.
Chilean FlamingoPhoenicopterus chilensisA pink flamingo of the high, cold salt flats of the southern Andes that feeds with its head upside down.
ChimpanzeePan troglodytesAn endangered, tool-using great ape of African forests that lives in large communities.
Clouded LeopardNeofelis nebulosaA tree-climbing wild cat of Asian forests with cloud-shaped spots and the longest canine teeth for its skull size of any wild cat.
Common MarmosetCallithrix jacchusA tiny tree-sap-eating monkey of northeastern Brazil with white ear tufts, usually born as twins.
Common WarthogPhacochoerus africanusA wild African pig with curved tusks and bumpy face "warts" that roots for food and shelters in old aardvark burrows.
Corn SnakePantherophis guttatusA harmless orange-and-red constrictor of the eastern United States, also called the red rat snake, with a belly like Flint corn.
CougarPuma concolorA large, solitary wild cat of the Americas, also called a mountain lion, puma or panther, that hunts mostly deer.
Crowned LemurEulemur coronatusA small, fruit-eating lemur of northern Madagascar whose males and females look so different they were once easy to tell apart at a glance.
Diamondback TerrapinMalaclemys terrapinA colorful turtle of coastal salt marshes from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico, the only turtle besides sea turtles that lives in brackish water.
DrillMandrillus leucophaeusAn endangered baboon relative of West-Central African rainforests whose males have a bright red chin and a mane.
Eastern Box TurtleTerrapene carolinaA land turtle of the eastern United States that can close its shell like a box and may live more than 100 years.
Eastern Diamondback RattlesnakeCrotalus adamanteusThe largest venomous snake in the United States, a quiet, reclusive rattlesnake of southeastern pine forests.
Eastern Indigo SnakeDrymarchon couperiThe largest native nonvenomous snake in the United States, a glossy black snake that shines blue in sunlight and even eats rattlesnakes.
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaA brown African waterbird with dark eye patches that grazes near rivers and lakes and has spread to parts of Europe.
ElkCervus canadensisA large North American deer whose males grow huge antlers every year and fill autumn valleys with high-pitched bugling.
Giant AnteaterMyrmecophaga tridactylaA toothless insect-eater of Central and South America that flicks its 2-foot tongue up to 150 times a minute.
Giant OtterPteronura brasiliensisThe longest otter in the world, a fish-hunting "river wolf" of the Amazon that lives and hunts in family groups.
Giant PandaAiluropoda melanoleucaA black-and-white bear of the mountain bamboo forests of southwestern China that eats almost nothing but bamboo.
Golden Lion TamarinLeontopithecus rosaliaA tiny, bright-orange monkey with a lion-like mane that lives only in Brazil's Atlantic Coastal Forest.
Gray Rat SnakePantherophis spiloidesA harmless, tree-climbing constrictor of the eastern and southeastern United States that eats rodents, birds and eggs.
Great CurassowCrax rubraA vulnerable fruit-eating forest bird of Mexico, Central America and northwestern South America.
Greater KuduTragelaphus strepsicerosA large striped antelope of African woodlands whose males grow long, spiral horns with about two and a half twists.
Greater One-Horned RhinocerosRhinoceros unicornisA huge, armor-looking rhino of India and Nepal with a single horn, whose numbers have recovered from about 150 animals to thousands.
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydasA large sea turtle that grazes on seagrass and algae, named for the color of its fat rather than its shell.
Green Tree PythonMorelia viridisA bright green rainforest python of New Guinea and northern Australia whose babies hatch yellow or red and later turn green.
Green-Winged MacawAra chloropterusA big red South American macaw, also called the red-and-green macaw, with green and blue wings and lines of tiny red feathers on its face.
Grey Crowned CraneBalearica regulorum (East African crowned crane: B. r. gibbericeps)An endangered African crane with a crown of stiff golden feathers, shown on the flag of Uganda. Also called the East African crowned crane.
Guatemalan Beaded LizardHeloderma charlesbogertiAn endangered venomous lizard that lives only in one dry valley in eastern Guatemala and helped lead to a diabetes medicine.
Gulf Coast Native SheepOvis ariesThe oldest type of sheep in the United States, a hardy breed descended from Spanish settlers' flocks that handles heat and humidity well.
HamerkopScopus umbrettaA brown African wading bird with a hammer-shaped head that builds the biggest nest of any bird in Africa.
Harris's HawkParabuteo unicinctusA dark brown hawk of the Americas' dry lands, nicknamed the "wolf of the sky" because family groups hunt together.
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisA spotted African ground bird with a bony helmet on its head that eats insects and ticks and would rather run than fly.
Hoffmann's Two-Toed SlothCholoepus hoffmanniA slow, upside-down rainforest sloth of Central America and northwestern South America that sleeps about 15 hours a day.
Huacaya AlpacaVicugna pacosA fluffy domestic alpaca first raised by Andean people in Peru more than 6,000 years ago for its soft, warm fleece.
Hyacinth MacawAnodorhynchus hyacinthinusThe largest macaw, a bright blue parrot of central South America with yellow rings around its eyes.
King VultureSarcoramphus papaA large black-and-white vulture of tropical forests from Mexico to Argentina with a brightly colored head.
Komodo DragonVaranus komodoensisThe largest living lizard, a venomous predator found only on a few Indonesian islands that can smell food miles away.
Kori BustardArdeotis koriOne of the world's heaviest flying birds, a ground-walking hunter of African grasslands that puffs up its neck to show off.
Kunekune PigSus scrofa domesticusA small, round, short-snouted pig breed kept by the Maori people of New Zealand, often with two tassels hanging from its chin.
Lappet-Faced VultureTorgos tracheliotosAfrica's largest vulture, an endangered scavenger whose strong beak opens carcasses for other vultures.
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeThe largest kingfisher, an Australian bird famous for a loud call that sounds like laughter.
Lesser Hedgehog TenrecEchinops telfairiA small, spiny, insect-eating mammal of Madagascar that looks like a hedgehog but is more closely related to moles and shrews.
LionPanthera leoA large wild cat of the African savanna that lives in family groups called prides.
Malayan Sun BearHelarctos malayanusThe smallest bear, a tree-climbing honey lover of Southeast Asian forests with a golden patch on its chest and the longest tongue of any bear.
Maned WolfChrysocyon brachyurusA long-legged, red-coated South American canine that is neither a fox nor a true wolf, and eats as much fruit as meat.
Marabou StorkLeptoptilos crumeniferA huge, bald-headed African stork that feeds mostly on dead animals and often gathers near lakes, rivers, garbage dumps and fishing villages.
Mata MataChelus fimbriataA camouflaged Amazon turtle with a flat head and snorkel nose that vacuums up fish by suddenly opening its mouth.
MeerkatSuricata suricattaA small, social desert mammal of southern Africa, also called the slender-tailed meerkat, that takes turns standing guard.
Military MacawAra militarisA green macaw with a red forehead that lives in scattered mountain and forest populations from Mexico to Argentina.
Milky Eagle OwlBubo lacteusOne of the world's larger owls, also called Verreaux's eagle-owl, with bare pink eyelids that show when it blinks.
Naked Mole RatHeterocephalus glaberA nearly hairless underground rodent of East Africa that lives in colonies run by a single queen, like bees.
Nigerian Dwarf GoatCapra aegagrus hircusA small, easygoing dairy goat breed of West African ancestry known for rich milk, often born three or four at a time.
Nile LechweKobus megacerosAn endangered swamp antelope of South Sudan and Ethiopia whose dark males and golden females look like different animals.
Nubian GoatCapra aegagrus hircusA tall dairy goat breed with long, floppy ears and a rounded nose, developed in England from British, African and Indian goats.
Oberhasli GoatCapra aegagrus hircusA reddish-brown Swiss dairy goat breed with black markings, prized for its milk and its sturdy, fearless nature.
OstrichStruthio camelusThe world's largest bird, a fast-running flightless bird of African savannas that lays the largest egg on Earth.
Panamanian Golden FrogAtelopus zetekiA bright golden, poisonous frog that is Panama's symbol of good luck. It has not been seen in the wild since 2009 and survives in zoo breeding programs.
Pancake TortoiseMalacochersus tornieriA critically endangered East African tortoise with a thin, flat, flexible shell that hides in rock cracks instead of in its shell.
Patagonian MaraDolichotis patagonumA long-legged Argentine rodent that looks like a cross between a hare and a small deer and can run 35 miles per hour.
Plains ZebraEquus quagga (subspecies include Grant's zebra)The most common zebra, a grass-grazing striped horse relative of eastern and southern Africa whose stripe pattern is one-of-a-kind on every animal. Grant's zebra is one kind.
Poison Dart FrogsFamily Dendrobatidae (about 220 species)A family of about 220 tiny, brightly colored rainforest frogs whose bold colors warn predators that their skin is poisonous.
Pygmy HippopotamusChoeropsis liberiensisA small, shy, endangered hippo that lives alone in the forests and swamps of West Africa, mostly in Liberia.
Radiated TortoiseAstrochelys radiataA critically endangered Madagascar tortoise named for the yellow star-like lines on its high, domed shell.
Red PandaAilurus fulgensA red, bushy-tailed tree climber of Himalayan and Chinese mountain forests that eats bamboo but is not related to the giant panda.
Red WolfCanis rufusThe world's most endangered wolf, a family-pack hunter that now lives in the wild only in eastern North Carolina.
Reticulated GiraffeGiraffa reticulata (also listed as Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)An endangered giraffe of northern Kenya with orange-brown patches outlined by a network of bright white lines.
Rhinoceros IguanaCyclura cornutaAn endangered plant-eating lizard found only on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, named for the horn-like scales on its snout.
Ring-Tailed LemurLemur cattaAn endangered primate of southwestern Madagascar with a black-and-white striped tail, female-led troops and a love of sunbathing.
Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrysOne of the world's smallest ducks, a tree-perching duck of South American wetlands that nests in tree holes.
Ross's TuracoMusophaga rossaeA fruit-eating African forest bird, also called Lady Ross's turaco, whose red feathers get their color from a copper-containing pigment.
Rough Green SnakeOpheodrys aestivusA slender, harmless green snake of the southeastern United States that lives in shrubs and trees and eats insects and spiders.
Scarlet IbisEudocimus ruberA bright red wading bird of northern South America that feeds mostly on crayfish and small crabs.
Schmidt's GuenonCercopithecus ascanius schmidtiA colorful African monkey with a white nose and a chestnut-red tail, also called the red-tailed monkey, that stuffs its cheek pouches with food.
Seal SalamanderDesmognathus monticolaA lungless stream salamander of the Appalachian Mountains that breathes through its skin and hides under rocks in shallow water.
SiamangSymphalangus syndactylusA long-armed gibbon of Southeast Asian rainforests that calls with a deep boom, using a throat sac that swells as big as a grapefruit.
SidewinderCrotalus cerastesA small desert rattlesnake of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that moves sideways across loose sand, making it the fastest rattlesnake.
Snow LeopardPanthera unciaA smoky-gray big cat of Central Asia's high mountains with huge furry paws and a long tail it wraps around itself for warmth.
Solomon Islands SkinkCorucia zebrataThe world's largest skink, a tree-dwelling, mostly vegetarian lizard of the Solomon Islands with a tail that can grab branches.
Southern Ground HornbillBucorvus leadbeateriA big black African hornbill that walks the grasslands hunting small animals and booms to announce its territory.
Southern ScreamerChauna torquataA South American wetland bird, also called the crested screamer, whose call carries up to 3 km and whose wings have sharp spurs.
Southern Three-Banded ArmadilloTolypeutes matacusA small South American armadillo, the only kind that can roll up into a complete armored ball.
Southern White RhinocerosCeratotherium simum simumThe largest rhino, a wide-lipped grass grazer of southern Africa that came back from near extinction to about 20,000 animals.
Sumatran OrangutanPongo abeliiA critically endangered red-haired great ape of Sumatra's rainforests that lives mostly alone in the treetops and eats mostly fruit.
Sumatran TigerPanthera tigris sumatraeThe smallest tiger, found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, with closely set stripes and webbed toes for swimming.
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesAn endangered long-necked goose of eastern Asia that migrates thousands of kilometers and is the ancestor of the Chinese domestic goose.
Two-Toed SlothCholoepus didactylusAn upside-down rainforest mammal of Central and South America that sleeps about 15 hours a day and grows algae in its fur.
Wattled CraneBugeranus carunculatusA tall African wetland crane with flaps of skin hanging from its chin that shrink when it's nervous and lengthen when it's excited.
Western Lowland GorillaGorilla gorilla gorillaA critically endangered great ape of Central Africa that lives in small family troops led by a silverback.
White StorkCiconia ciconiaA big white-and-black bird with a red bill that breeds in Europe, winters in Africa and inspired the story of storks delivering babies.
White-Tailed DeerOdocoileus virginianusA common deer of the Americas that flashes its white tail as a warning and bounds away at up to 30 miles per hour.
Wolf's GuenonCercopithecus wolfiA gray, red-saddled African forest monkey named after the person who discovered it, not after wolves.