Mammals

Aardvark, anteater – What’s the difference? Quite a bit, as it turns out. The considerably hairier Anteaters – found in Central and South America – are closely related to sloths. The African aardvark, which is so pig-like that its name translates to earth-pig in Afrikaans, has a limited family and its closest relative is the elephant shrew and, oddly, the elephant itself. Their similar habits and physical traits are an example of convergent evolution, where two unrelated species evolve comparable qualities completely separate from one another. This generally happens when they live in equivalent terrain or seek the same prey, as is the case here.

As the largest land animals on Earth, African elephants are very significant gentle giants and are "keystone" species in their ecosystems. They are impressive mammals with the largest brain of any land animal on earth. It's all in the ears! Did you know that you can tell the difference between an African Elephant and an Asian Elephant by the shape of their ears? An African Elephant has ears that resemble the continent of Africa in shape, while Asian elephants have smaller and rounder ears!

The African wild dog is an endangered predator living in sub-Saharan Africa. These vividly patterned canines often compete with lions and hyenas.

The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid mammal, closely related to and often confused with Llamas. Alpacas are smaller than llamas and are prized for their soft fleece instead of as work animals. They inhabit mountainous areas from southern Colombia and Ecuador south to northern Chile and northern Argentina.

The American desert hare is a widespread species that lives in southwestern North America. Like all hares, it has long ears and strong legs, and can jump over 10 feet on a single leap. It can also run up to 30 miles per hour.

This small fox is found in cold northern climates and has many specialized adaptations for surviving in frigid temperatures.

This species of hare is known for being specially suited for a life in extremely cold conditions.

Armadillos are long-nosed, short-legged mammals known for their armored shells.

The Asian elephant is the biggest land animal living today on the continent of Asia.‍

The babirusa is one of the strangest members of the pig family, with its distinctive pairs of tusks that sprout from the lower jaw as well as through the top of the upper jaw. They are found on the Wallacea island group in Indonesia.

Bactrian camels, unlike dromedary camels, have two humps instead of one.

Beavers are semiaquatic rodents known for their industrious nature, gnawing through tree trunks to collect wood used to build their huge homes – called dams, that can stop the flow of rivers.

Bengal tigers are one of the largest wild cats on Earth, second only to Siberian Tigers. The Bengal tiger’s dramatic black striped pattern against blazing orange fur makes it one of the most recognizable animals in the world. These stunning creatures are part of a group known as Charismatic Megafauna. Animals in this group are highly appealing, widely recognized, and familiar icons for conservation efforts.

The American bison (or buffalo) is the largest living land animal in North America.

The most commonly encountered bear species in North America, the black bear is also the smallest of the continent’s bear species.

The black panther is not actually a separate species, but rather a color variation of the leopard (or occasionally, the jaguar).

Also known as the hook-lipped rhinoceros, this two-horned rhino is found in eastern and southern Africa.

The bobcat is a relative of the lynx found in North America from Canada to Mexico.

Little brown bats are one of the most commonly encountered bats in North America, often found roosting in houses and other buildings.

Bush babies are small primates found in Africa. They are mostly active at night, and may get the name “bush baby” from their baby-like cry.

The Cape buffalo is a large subspecies of African buffalo that is known for its unpredictable nature.

This slender member of the cat family is the fastest land animal living today.

Chimpanzees apes found in African savannahs and tropical forests. They are the closest living relative of humans. Chimps and humans share over 96% of their DNA.

Though related to the much larger “big cats”, the clouded leopard is much smaller than its cousins. Its teeth, however, are some of the largest in the cat family (in proportion to its body).

Found in much of North America, the coyote is a close relative of the wolf.

The dingo is believed to be a feral member of the dog family found in Australia, descended from domesticated dogs. However, some believe it is its own separate species.

Domestic pigs, Sus domesticus, are also referred to as swine or hogs. These porcine wonders have been a part of human life for thousands of years. They are incredibly versatile animals, providing food, pigskin leather, and companionship. Pigs are intelligent and social, forming strong bonds with other pigs, people, and even different types of animals. They can make fantastic family pets. Pigs are also excellent foragers, thriving in both rural and urban settings. With proper care and nutrition, pigs can provide a hearty and nutritious source of protein that is far less expensive than meat from other animals.

Dromedary camels, unlike Bactrian camels, have one hump instead of two.

The Eastern chipmunk is a small member of the squirrel family found in the eastern North America.

The Eastern cottontail rabbit is one of the cutest and most iconic animals in North America and is often featured in childhood stories, movies, and art. These adorable herbivores are easily identifiable by their large ears and white puff tails. Found throughout much of North America, they have an impressive ability to adapt to almost any environment including suburban and urban areas. Though rabbits are often kept as cuddly pets, the bouncy bunnies that we see running around parks and fields are vital members of their ecosystems.

The elk (or wapiti) is one of the largest members of the deer family, behind the moose. Interestingly, in Europe the moose is called “elk”.

The fennec fox is a small fox found in the African desert that is well known for its overly large bat-like ears.

The Florida panther is an extremely endangered subspecies of the mountain lion (Puma concolor) that is found only in the sawgrass swampland and pine forests in southern Florida.

There are 50 species of flying squirrel, which are able to glide using membranes of skin stretched between their arms and legs.

The spectacular combination of being the tallest mammal on earth with a unique coloring pattern makes the giraffe one of the most recognizable animals in the world. A giraffe’s statuesque physique with its elongated legs (that are taller than humans), skyscraping necks, and extending tongues make for a fascinating combination to see in action. Many people flock to zoos to see these majestic animals, but few people know that some subspecies of giraffes are in serious trouble and listed as endangered by the IUCN.

Gorillas are large apes that are some of the closest living relatives to humans.

The name “gray squirrel” can be applied to three different species of squirrel found in North America.

The largest member of the Canidae (or dog) family, the gray wolf is found in North America, Europe and Asia.

Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear found in the northwestern area of North America, though its range was once much larger.

The name groundhog is misleading; these creatures are actually rodents. More specifically, they are ground squirrels, which are collectively known as marmots. Groundhogs live in North America, across the northeastern United States, and much of Canada.

Hedgehogs are small mammals covered in prickly spines, which help to protect them from predators.

Native to Africa, the hippopotamus is a large mammal that spends much of its time in the water.

Known for its tenacity and ferocity, the honey badger is able to fend off most animals, even predators much larger than itself.

Howler monkeys are known for their loud calls that can be heard at distances of over three miles away!

Unlike the white rhino, black rhino and Sumatran rhino, the Indian rhino has only one horn on its nose instead of two. It and the closely related Javan rhino are the only living members of the genus Rhinoceros.

When most people think of big cats, they picture Africa or Asia, but the South American jaguar is the third-largest feline in the world, behind only the tiger and lion. While people often use the term jaguar and leopard interchangeably, they are actually two different but closely related species. Jaguars are the only species from the genus Panthera to survive in the New World (North and South America) and their ancestors were believed to have emigrated from Asia. Despite geographical proximity and a superficial likeness, cougars are not related to jaguars and are in a different genus. Jaguars, like lions, tigers, and leopards, are considered 'big cats' and one of the main things that sets them apart is the ability to roar, however some definitions of big cats allows for non-roaring species such as cougars, clouded leopards, and cheetahs simply for their size.

This subspecies of black bear is found only in British Columbia, Canada, and is known for a rare variant coloration that is completely white furred.

Though often mistakenly called a koala ‘bear’, koalas are marsupials and have no relation to true bears. We want to think of them as cuddly and sweet, but their fur is more akin to sheep’s wool than a teddy bear and their disposition discourages the idea of cuddling. Although there is a popular belief that koalas sleep for such extended periods of time because they are drunk or even high from the toxic leaves of the eucalyptus, there is no truth to that. They do, however, smell a bit like cough drops due to their diet. The first written records of koalas did not appear until the late 18th century, although the Aboriginal people of Australia were well acquainted with the shy and elusive animal.

One of the “big cats”, the leopard is a large spotted feline found in Asian and Africa.

Often thought of as majestic and commanding, lions are widely referred to as the King of Beast. Due to their size (they are the second-largest felines - tigers being the largest), they are a keystone species. They are the only predators in Africa that are able to bring down the largest land herbivores (elephants and giraffes). Lions are vital to thinning out the oldest or sickest herbivores, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The African and Asiatic are the only two species of lions left today.

Llamas are more than just adorable creatures with a fun name, Llama Glama. These cuddly lamoids have been extremely helpful to humans throughout history. Llamas are a domesticated relative of camels and are native to the Andes Mountains in South America. Llamas are valuable livestock, prized for their sturdiness as pack animals and as a source of meat and wool. Recently, people have begun to keep llamas as pets, use them as therapy animals, and as protective guardians for herds of other grazing animals.

So, is that a lynx or a bobcat? That can be a hard question to answer, depending on where you spot the cat. They are actually very closely related and share the same genus. If you see it north of the Canadian border, it's probably a lynx, south and it's probably a bobcat, the most common wild cat in North America. Along the border, however, it could be either cat. A lynx's ears have a much longer tuft and their feet are larger. Their tails, both bobbed, are also different. A lynx's tail has a solid black end while the bobcat has a tail that is striped with white on the bottom. If you are in Europe or Asia, it's a lynx.

The Mandrill is a large monkey known for the brightly colored facial skin in males, that includes pastel blues and vibrant reds.

The Maned Wolf is the largest member of the dog family in South America. It is known for the mane of fur that gives it its common name, and its very long legs. It is found in open grassland habitats in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and rarely in Uruguay.

Unlike its ground-dwelling relatives, the Matschie’s tree-kangaroo prefers to live in trees, as its name implies. This kangaroo lives in the rainforests of Northeastern New Guinea, on the Huon Peninsula.

Despite how their name sounds, meerkats are not related to cats at all but are most closely related to mongooses. Despite not being the largest or the most majestic of animals, meerkats have, nevertheless, become a well-known symbol of Africa. They have been very successful in the arid and painfully hot areas they call home in the far south of the African continent. Their attentive little faces as they stretch their bodies to look for danger easily capture the human imagination.

The moon bear of Asia gets its common name from the crescent or v-shaped patch of white fur on its chest.

The largest living member of the deer (or cervid) family, moose are easily identified by their large size, bulbous nose, and prominent hump.

The Mountain Lion is an iconic animal of the American west, but that is only a small part of this magnificent predator's story and of its range. They have the largest territory of any land animal in the Western hemisphere, even though that range is only a portion of what it was when Europeans first settled the continent. The mountain lion is unable to roar and is the largest cat in the world grouped with the purring cats. Their typical sandy color gave rise to their scientific name of puma concolor, which literally means 'cat of one color'.

Despite being named the muskox, this animal is more closely related to sheep and goats than oxen. They are one of the largest members in the subfamily Caprinae, and are known (and named) for their musky odor, which males use to attract mates. Muskoxen live in the far north of North America, with introduced populations in northern Europe.

The porcupine is the second-largest rodent in North America, behind the beaver. It’s covered in thick, stiff hairs that have formed into sharp quills that it uses to defend itself from any predator foolish enough to attack it.

The okapi is the closest living relative of the giraffe. In fact, it is sometimes called the “forest giraffe”, and it is the only other member of the giraffe family alive today. They are currently only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Africa.

Orangutans are known for their reddish-brown hair. Today these apes are found only in Borneo and Sumatra.

The giant panda is one of the most well-known and recognizable animals in the world, with its distinctive black and white color pattern.

Pangolins are armored mammals with large scales covering much of their body. They’re the only mammals with this type of protective covering. There are eight species of pangolin, four of which are found in Asia, and four which are native to Africa.

Although the platypus was well known in the remote areas where it lives, the Western world had no evidence of its existence until the late 18th century when a preserved pelt was sent back to England. Instead of this outrageously unique animal being heralded, it was dismissed as a well-made hoax since none of the renowned scientists of the day could believe that such a creature could truly exist. Even the Aboriginal people of Australia had a legend of a duck and a water rat mating to produce the platypus, so there was a precedent for their disbelief.

The Przewalski's horse is the last true “wild” horse, meaning undomesticated by man. Some horse types, like the Mustang, are “feral” meaning that though they exist in the wild, they trace their lineage back to domestic animals. Przewalski’s horses have not been domesticated. These horses were named after the explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky.

The pygmy hippo is one of only two species alive today in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the common hippo. Pygmy hippos differ from their cousins in a number of ways. They are much smaller, less aquatic, and are active mostly at night.

With its bandit mask and bushy striped tail, the raccoon is one of the most recognizable animals of North America.

The largest “true” fox, the red fox is widely distributed in North America, Europe and Asia.

The red kangaroo is the largest living kangaroo and the largest living marsupial.

Once thought to be related to the giant panda, the red panda is now believed to be the only living member of its own family.

Reindeer are a type of deer found in cold climate habitats in North America, Europe, and Asia.

The ring-tailed lemur is one of the most well-known species of lemur, a type of primate native to the island of Madagascar.

The river otter of North America is a semiaquatic mammal that’s well suited for life both in the water and on land.

This medium-sized African wild cat is known for its long legs.

Skunks are mostly known for one thing: smelling bad! When frightened or threatened, a skunk will eject a foul-smelling spray from its scent glands that is very difficult to remove!

The smallest member of the genus Panthera, the snow leopard cannot roar like its larger cousins.

The golden snub-nosed monkey is found in mountain forests in China. It is named for its golden fur color and its extremely flattened nose.

Spider monkeys are found in Central and South America, named for their spider-like long limbs and tails.

The largest member of the hyena family, the spotted hyena is known for its distinctive “laughing” call.

Squirrel monkeys are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, including the Amazon rainforest.

Sugar gliders are a species of gliding possum. They are marsupials, which means that females have a pouch to carry their young, like a kangaroo. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and certain islands in Indonesia.

The Sumatran rhino is one of the most endangered animals on the planet. This elusive creature is the smallest of the five living species of rhinoceros and is only found in a few locations in Sumatra, Borneo, and possibly Malaysia.

The largest living meat-eating marsupial, the Tasmanian devil has a reputation for tenacity and foul temperament.

The “two toes” of this sloth’s name refers to its front feet which each have only two clawed toes.

Basically, wallabies are small to medium-sized kangaroos that are heavier bodied than the standard kangaroo. There is no real scientific definition of the name to help understand the classification. While not quite as mysterious to non-native Australians as koalas or platypus, wallabies nonetheless fascinate people. They are no longer restricted to that one area of the world, however. Colonies of the descendants of escaped zoo wallabies can be found in Hawaii, England, Ireland, and mainland Europe.

Warthogs are members of the pig family found in sub-Saharan Africa, known for their prominent tusks and their knobby, bumpy faces.

There are three species of weasel in North America: The least weasel, the short-tailed weasel, and the long-tailed weasel. The long-tailed weasel is the most widespread throughout the United States (with the exception of Alaska), while the least and short-tailed weasels are restricted more to the northern parts of North America.

The largest living species of rhinoceros, the white rhino is found primarily in southern Africa.

White-tailed deer are found throughout much of North America, including most of the United States, southern Canada, and Central America. They are also found in the northernmost regions of South America.

Wild boar have been found in North America since the 15th century when European explorers released the animals from their ships. The first known infestation occurred in the West Indies by Christopher Columbus but the mainland soon followed, as did Hawaii. Some of the boars escaped, and others were released intentionally for sport hunting. Wild boar are the ancestors of domesticated pigs and that connection allows the two to mate when pigs escape and become feral. Areas such as Florida and Texas are especially hard-hit by these aggressive and successful animals. These states both have extensive hunting and trapping in an attempt to control the numbers.

Native to southern Africa, the wildebeest is a large antelope, known for the large scale migrations they undertake in order to find food.

While many know Wolverine, the comic character, the true wolverine is a carnivorous mammal that is known to be quite ferocious. It’s the largest member of the weasel family and can be found primarily in the northern United States, Canada, Alaska, Russia, Siberia, and the Nordic European countries.

Long considered a pest and valued only slightly for its meat - especially in the extremely Australian - sounding wombat stew, wombats have battled to be seen above Australia's often extraordinary wildlife. An American seeing one would likely mistake it for a pudgy groundhog and then go looking for a killer bird or venomous duck-billed animal. But, like all animals, wombats are interesting in their own ways. With their backward pouch and extensive tunnels, they deserve attention as much as the deadlier or weirder animals. While they are ignored by most people, they are generally detested by farmers for the damage they do to fields.

As members of the Equus genus, zebras are closely related to donkeys and horses. With their distinctive black (sometimes brown) and white striped coats, zebras are one of the most widely recognized animals in the world. There are currently three species of Zebras: Grévy's zebra, Plains Zebra, and Mountain Zebra. All three types are found in Africa. Each zebra species has distinctive stripe patterns, and beyond that, individual zebras are identified by their unique striped coat. Their striped coats help to camouflage them from predators. When bunched together, the mass of stripes makes it difficult for a predator to single out and target individuals.