Llama

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.

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Domestic Animals

Aardvark

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.

African Elephant

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!

African Wild Dog

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

Alpaca

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.

Ameraucana Chicken

The Ameraucana Chicken is a North American derivative breed of the Chilean Araucana chicken, thus its name is a combination of “America” and “Araucana”. It is one of the few types of chicken that lays blue eggs.

American Desert Hare

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.

Andalusian

The Andalusian is an old breed, dating to the 15th century, and has remained much the same since that time.

Angus Cow

Originally known as Aberdeen-Angus for two of Scotland's northernmost counties where the cattle were first bred. The color black was chosen as dominant, although there seems no real reason for the choice. The first Angus in America was also the first polled (hornless) breed seen there. Four bulls were brought from Scotland to Kansas City, Missouri in 1873 by George Grant, who hoped to establish the breed and create a strong market. Though they were first called freaks, he was able to demonstrate their worth and crossbred them with Texas longhorns, with the black and polled genes being dominant.

Arabian

The Arabian hails from a desert environment, and was a favorite horse of the Bedouin nomad people.

Arctic Fox

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

Arctic Hare

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

Armadillo

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

Asian Elephant

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

Ayrshire Cow

The Ayrshire is a dairy cattle breed originating in Scotland, known for its reddish splotching.

Babirusa

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 Camel

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

Beagle

Originally bred as scent hounds, beagles are popular companion dogs, noted for their adorable “pleading” expression.

Beaver

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 Tiger

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.

Bison

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

Black Bear

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

Black Panther

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

Black Rhinoceros

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

Black Sheep

A black sheep is a rare color morph of the domesticated sheep (Ovis aries). As the dominant gene for coloration in sheep is one which shuts color off, most sheep are white. However, if two parent sheep are heterozygous for the black coloration gene, meaning they possess both dominant and recessive black genes, a black lamb will result about 25% of the time.

Bobcat

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

Border Collie

Known for their high intelligence, border collies are named for the area where the breed is said to have originated: the border between Scotland and England.

Boston Terrier

Known for its inquisitive large eyes and ears, the Boston Terrier is a friendly and intelligent breed.

Boxer

The Boxer is a German breed of dog known for its strong jaws, short muzzle, powerful neck, and energetic personality.

Brown Bat

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

Bulldog

Known for its compact form and pronounced underbite, bulldogs are patient and friendly, but also notably stubborn.

Bush Baby

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.

Cape Buffalo

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

Cheetah

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

Chicken

The chicken was first domesticated about 8,000 years ago. It is a common domestic animal throughout the world that is used for its meat and eggs, and is sometimes kept as a pet.

Chimpanzee

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.

Clouded Leopard

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).

Clydesdale

One of the most easily recognized breeds of draught horse, the Clydesdales originated in Scotland.

Collie

With their long sable-colored coats, Collies are one of the most recognizable dog breeds.

Coyote

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

Dachshund

The dachshund, known for its short legs and elongated body, was bred for hunting animals in burrows.

Dalmatian

Known for its striking spotted fur coat, the Dalmatian breed is named for Dalmatia, a historical region of Croatia.

Dingo

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 Pig

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.

Donkey

The donkey is a domesticated member of the horse family, popularly used as a pack animal.

Dromedary Camel

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

Eastern Chipmunk

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

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

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.

Elk

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”.

Fennec Fox

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

Fjord

One of the oldest horse breeds in the world, the Fjord is small but strong.

Florida Panther

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.

Flying Squirrel

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

French Bulldog

Considered a companion or “toy” breed, the French bulldog was developed by breeding smaller English bulldogs with rat-catching dogs from France.

Friesian

Known for their elegant black coats and flowing hair, it’s no wonder that Friesians are popular horses in film and television programs.

German Shepherd

Originally bred for sheep herding (hence the name shepherd), this working dog is now used for a variety of tasks, including police work, search-and-rescue, and assisting the disabled.

Giraffe

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.

Goat

While it is commonly believed that goats will eat anything even remotely edible, that is not the case. This belief in their broad appetite probably occurred due to their tendency to taste various items to see if they are edible. The children’s story “Three Billy Goats Gruff” tells the story of three brother goats trying to cross a bridge to graze in a field. Even that is not accurate as goats prefer other sources of food to grass. Perhaps due to their long history with humans, goats are often found in mythology and the most famous example is the mischievous Pan, the partial goat Greek god of nature.

Golden Retriever

This Scottish breed is one of the most popular dogs, known for being gentle and friendly.

Gorilla

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

Gray Squirrel

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

Gray Wolf

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

Great Dane

The Great Dane is a breed of dog most well known for its size, as one of the tallest dog breeds ever. The tallest Great Dane ever was named Zeus, who stood 44 inches tall at the shoulder.

Grizzly Bear

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

Groundhog

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.

Guernsey Cow

This dairy cow is named for the island of Guernsey where the breed first originated.

Gypsy Vanner

These horses were originally bred by Romani and Irish travelers to pull their caravans.

Hampshire Pig

The Hampshire pig is sometimes referred to as the Saddleback due to its unique coloration.

Hedgehog

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

Hereford Cow

The Hereford cow is a popular breed of beef cattle that originated in England.

Hippopotamus

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

Holstein Cow

Holsteins are one of the most recognizable breeds of dairy cow, with their iconic black and white coloration.

Honey Badger

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

Howler Monkey

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

Indian Rhino

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.

Jack Russell Terrier

Originally bred for fox hunting, these small terriers are known for their exuberant energy and their general good health.

Jaguar

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.

Kermode Bear

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.

Knabstrupper

The Knabstrupper originates in Denmark and is known for its spotted coat coloration.

Koala

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.

Labrador Retriever

Originally bred for sport and hunting, the Labrador has gained much popularity as a companion dog due to its friendly and playful nature.

Leopard

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

Lion

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.

Lynx

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.

Mandrill

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

Maned Wolf

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.

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo

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.

Meerkat

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.

Moon Bear

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

Moose

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

Morgan Horse

The Morgan Horse is one of the oldest United States horse breeds.

Mountain Lion

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'.

Muskox

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.

Mustang Stallion

Mustangs are free-roaming feral horses descended from mostly Spanish stock but also from any other breeds of horse that either escaped captivity or were released.

North American Porcupine

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.

Okapi

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.

Ongole Cow

The Ongole cow of India is a breed of zebu, a form of domestic cattle known for its distinctive hump. The Brahma cows of the United States are bred from Ongole cattle. These cows are named for the Ongole region of India, where the breed originated.

Orangutan

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

Panda

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

Pangolin

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.

Persian Cat

Persians are instantly recognizable, with their flattened faces and longhair coats.