The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. Emus can travel...
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow...
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea ), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to 1.8 metres and...
The unusual-looking fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) from Madagascar looks like a puma and has both canine and feline features. It is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island, and preys mainly on lemurs, pursuing them through the trees with...
The Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is a non-venomous snake native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the world's longest snake and is among the three heaviest snakes. In several countries in its range, it is hunted for its skin, for...
The Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a burrowing rodent native to parts of East Africa. It is closely related to the blesmols. The Naked mole-rat exhibits a highly unusual set of physical and behavioral traits that allow it to thrive in a...
The Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is a boa species found in South America. It is the heaviest and one of the longest-known extant snake species. Like all boas, it is a non-venomous constrictor.
The Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. The common name of this species refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black....
The Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a very large bird of prey and the only member of the genus Gypaetus. This bird is also identified as Huma bird or Homa bird in Iran and north west Asia. The Bearded vulture is the only known vertebrate...
The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is a species of toothed whale. It is the largest species of river dolphin, and it has one of the widest-ranging diets among toothed whales. The Amazon river dolphin has been treated with suspicion by local...
The Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is a species of baleen whale and the only living representative of the genus Balaena. They are the only baleen whale endemic to the Arctic and subarctic waters and are named after their characteristic massive...
The fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper) is a highly venomous pit viper species found from southern Mexico to northern South America. It is the most dangerous snake of Central and South America and is the main cause of fatal snakebite incidents within its...
The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine, or perching bird. It is the most widespread member of the accentor family.
The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis ), also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of aquatic giant salamander endemic to the eastern and central United States. It is the largest salamander in North America. A member of the family...
The Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) is a large flightless bird closely related to the emu, ostriches, rheas and kiwis. It looks somewhat like a huge prehistoric turkey on stilts, wearing a large pointed casque or helmet. It is the second...
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is the largest member of the aquatic mammal order Sirenia (which also includes the dugong and the extinct Steller's sea cow). Manatees are obligate herbivores, have developed vocal communication...
The pygmy marmoset, genus Cebuella, is a small genus of New World monkey native to rainforests of the western Amazon Basin in South America. It is notable for being the smallest monkey and one of the smallest primates in the world, at just over 100...
The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is a rare baleen whale, one of three right whale species belonging to the genus Eubalaena, all of which were formerly classified as a single species. Because of their docile nature, their slow...
The Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is a species of hyena found in Africa. It is currently the rarest species of hyena. The largest remaining Brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa.
The Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales. These whales are known to be rather active on the water surface and curious towards human vessels. They like to interact with humans...
The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is a medium-sized bird of the pheasant family that is found in East Asia. It was first considered a subspecies of the Common quail, but since 1983 it was distinguished as its own species. The Japanese quail has...
Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a semi-aquatic turtle native to North America. It is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range. Blanding's turtle is of interest in longevity research, as it shows little to no...
The Yellow-lipped sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) venomous sea snake found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceanic waters. This snake spends much of its time under water to hunt, but returns to land to digest, rest, and reproduce. Because of its affinity...
Nerodia erythrogaster, commonly known as the plain-bellied water snake or plainbelly water snake, is a familiar species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the United States.
The Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii) is a member of the Galliformes bird order which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. It is closely related to the Red junglefowl
The North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica ) is a very large, thickset baleen whale species that is extremely rare and endangered. The Northeast Pacific population, which summers in the southeastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, may have no...
The small Emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator) is probably the most adorable species of tamarin. This New World monkey is euphoniously called due to its long and white-colored mustache, which is very similar to that of Wilhelm II, Emperor of...
The Common shrew (Sorex araneus) is among the most frequently found mammals in Northern Europe and Great Britain but doesn't occur in Ireland. It is one of the rare venomous mammals and lives for approximately 14 months.
The Lar gibbon (Hylobates lar) is a captivating primate and a master of agility, being remarkably fast when swinging through the trees from branch to branch. It has long arms and hands, perfectly adapted to this means of locomotion. It is an...
Fluttering over hayfields and meadows in summer, the male bobolink produces a bubbling, tinkling song, after which it is named. The male is easily distinguished in its spring finery and is the only North American bird with a white back and black...
The tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) is a freshwater dolphin found in the rivers of the Amazon basin. Despite being found in geographic locations similar to those of 'true' river dolphins such as the boto, the tucuxi is not closely related to them...
The Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a unique New World Monkey with a rather unusual appearance and a number of special adaptations. Marmosets have an arboreal locomotion similar to squirrels. They can hang onto trees vertically leap between...
African jacanas (Actophilornis africanus) are wading birds from sub-Saharan Africa. They are identifiable by long toes and long claws that allow them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes. The part of the scientific name of this species...
The radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata ) is a tortoise species in the family Testudinidae. Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to...
The northern cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus ) also known as the one-wattled cassowary, single-wattled cassowary, or golden-necked cassowary, is a large, stocky flightless bird of northern New Guinea. It is one of the three living species of...
Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli ) is a diurnal, medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus Propithecus. It is native to northwest Madagascar. Coquerel's sifaka was once considered to be a subspecies of Verreaux's sifaka, but was eventually...
The Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana ) is a marmot species that inhabits alpine grasslands throughout the Himalayas and on the Tibetan Plateau. It is IUCN Red Listed as Least Concern because of its wide range and possibly large population.
The oribi (; Ourebia ourebi ) is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. Eight subspecies are identified....
Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor ) is a small wader. This bird, the largest of the phalaropes, breeds in the prairies of North America in western Canada and the western United States. It is migratory, wintering in inland salt lakes near the...
The dwarf cassowary (Casuarius bennetti ), also known as Bennett's cassowary, little cassowary, mountain cassowary or mooruk, is the smallest of the three species of cassowaries.
Giant cuttlefish also known as the Australian giant cuttlefish (scientific name Sepia apama ), is the world's largest cuttlefish species, growing to 50 cm (20 in) in mantle length and over 10.5 kg (23 lb) in weight. Using cells known as...
The snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus ) is a small wader in the plover bird family, typically about 5-7" in length. It breeds in the southern and western United States, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Long considered to be a subspecies of...
