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Animals

African bullfrog

Pyxicephalus adspersus African bullfrogs are the largest frog in southern Africa, with some reaching dinner-plate size. They range from South Africa north to Tanzania. They inhabit open country primarily at low elevations. African bullfrogs are carnivores and eat other frogs and birds. The African bullfrog is aggressive; it may inflate its body and attack an intruder with its huge mouth agape...

African crested porcupine

Hystrix cristata The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. The life of an African crested porcupine The sharp, sturdy quills of the African crested porcupine give it highly effective protection against predators...

African lungfish

Protopterus annectens African lungfish live in freshwater swamps, backwaters and small rivers in West and South Africa. These prehistoric animals have survived unchanged for nearly 400 million years and are sometimes referred to as "living fossils." Life of an African lungfish African lungfish have some fascinating adaptations. They have two lungs, and can breathe air...

African red-billed hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus The red-bill lives in open savanna, woodland and thorn scrub in sub-Saharan Africa. It is an omnivore, eating fruit, insects and small animals. Hornbills are named because the shape of their bill reminded early people of cattle horns. The hornbill's first two neck vertebrae are fused to support its large bill...

African slender-snouted crocodile

Mecistops cataphractus African slender-nosed crocodiles live in freshwater rivers and streams in the tropical forests of Central and West Africa. The life of an African slender-nosed crocodile Slender-nosed crocodiles grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 500 pounds. Their skin is protected by scales, and their back scales are armored with bony plates...

African spurred tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata The African spurred tortoise lives in semi-arid grasslands, scrub and savannah areas along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa. It is the third largest tortoise in the world, and the largest on the African continent. The life of a spurred tortoise The spurred tortoise is sand-colored with an oval carapace, or shell...

Allen's swamp monkey

Allenopithecus nigroviridis Allen's swamp monkeys live in the lowland forests of the central Congolian basin. They are herbivores. The species name, nigroviridis, refers to the color of the monkey: nigro means black; viridis means green (though some appear to be closer to yellow). Swamp monkey behavior and facts Swamp monkeys forage on the ground and in shallow water...

American beaver

Castor canadensis Beavers are found in streams, rivers, marshes and small lakes throughout most of North America, Northern Mexico and western Canada. At up to 60 pounds, they are the largest rodents in their range. The life of an American beaver The beaver's body is wonderfully adapted for swimming in cold water...

Amur tiger

Panthera tigris altaica The Amur tiger (formerly known as the Siberian tiger) is found only in the mountain forests of eastern Russia, with a small population ranging across the border into China. This tiger subspecies is adapted to the region's high latitude, harsh climate, and long winters. The life of an Amur tiger Amur tigers are the largest cats in the world...

Asian elephant

Elephas maximus Asian elephants are native to the scrub forests and rain forests of India, Nepal, and parts of Southeast Asia. At 6,000 to 13,000 pounds and 7-10 feet high at the shoulder, Asian elephants are among the largest living land animals, but are smaller than their African relatives, with smaller ears and rounded backs. Humans have worked with Asian elephants for around 5,000 yea...

Bald eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagles range throughout North America, most often along the coast or near other large water sources. They are one of the largest bird species in this area, second only in size to the California condor. The life of a bald eagle As predators at the top of the food chain, bald eagles are adapted to both hunting and scavenging...

Blue and gold macaw

Ara ararauna Blue and gold macaws are common in rainforests in Mexico, Central America and northern South America. They are herbivores. Blue and gold macaws use their beaks as a "third foot" to help them climb. Back and upper tail feathers are brilliant blue; the underside of the tail is olive yellow. Forehead feathers are green...

Bontebok

Damaliscus pygargus pygargusBontebok are grazing antelopes that were historically found only in the coastal plain of southwestern South Africa, where they migrated between seasonal pastures and formed large herds...

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola Buffleheads are small diving ducks widespread throughout North America. Bufflehead behavior and facts The bufflehead's name is a combination of buffalo and head, due to the bulbous shape of the male's head when he puffs up the white feathers on the back of his head. Buffleheads are identified by the large white patch on the back of their iridescent green and purple heads...

Bull trout

Salvelinus confluentus Nicknamed the "grizzly bear of the fish world" for its fierce disposition and reliance on pristine, unspoiled habitat, the bull trout is one of the most threatened and least-known members of the salmon family. Bull trout behavior and facts Named for its large head, the bull trout is a species of char native to Northwestern North America. Bull trout are often confuse...

California condor

Stretching 10 feet from wingtip to wingtip, California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are the largest land birds in North America, and once ranged from British Columbia to Baja California and inland to the Rocky Mountains...

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus Cheetahs are the world's fastest land animals and Africa's most endangered cats. They live and hunt in the open and vegetated savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. The life of a cheetah The cheetah's body is uniquely designed for speed. Its lightweight, narrow frame supports long legs and its flexible spine allows its front legs to stretch far forward with each stride...

Chimpanzee

Pan troglodytes Chimpanzees are native to the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. As they adapt to deforestation, they are also living in woodlands, bamboo forests, swamp forests, even open savannah. The life of a chimpanzee Chimpanzees are highly intelligent and have rich social lives. They problem solve and invent tools...

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch Coho salmon were historically distributed throughout the North Pacific Ocean from central California to Point Hope, Alaska, through the Aleutian Islands, and from the Anadyr River, Russia, south to Hokkaido, Japan. Coho spend the first half of their lives in streams and small freshwater tributaries...

Colobus monkey

Colobus guereza Colobus monkeys live in the forests and grasslands of Central Africa. They are found most often in second-growth or degraded forests or along rivers. The life of a colobus monkey Colobus monkeys live mostly in the trees and eat leaves and fruit. To help them digest all that foliage, they have a multi-chambered stomach and gut microbes that break down cellulose...

Common emperor scorpion

Pandinus imperator Emperor scorpions live in the rainforests of West Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world. It is a carnivore. Emperor scorpion behavior and facts Adults eat ground-dwelling insects and small animals; young eat fruit flies and small crickets. Their venom is mild. Emperor scorpions hunt at night...

Cougar

Puma concolor Cougars once ranged across most of North America, and from southern Argentina and Chile to southeastern Alaska. Though they have disappeared from most of the east coast of the United States, they still have the greatest natural distribution of any native terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Cougars need areas with shelter and enough prey to live on...

De Brazza's monkey

Cercopithecus neglectus De Brazza's monkeys live along rivers in forest habitats in Central Africa, from Cameroon to Ethiopia, and Kenya to Angola. They are primarily herbivores. This monkey is named for Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, an Italian explorer originally named Pietro Savorgnan di Brazza...

Desert tortoise

Gopherus agassizii The desert tortoise lives in deserts of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. It is primarily an herbivore. This tortoise was named to honor Louis Agassiz, a Swiss scientist (1807-1873)...

Domestic cat

Felis catus 600 million domestic cats live on every continent except Antarctica. They are the descendants of Middle Eastern wildcats, which became domesticated when humans began farming in the region about 10,000 years ago. The relationship was useful to both cats and people. The life of a domestic cat Domestic cats are built for flexibility...

Dwarf mongoose

Helogale parvula Dwarf mongooses live throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa in a wide variety of woodlands, thickets and savanna habitats. They are the smallest carnivores in Africa and are primarily insectivorous (insect-eaters). Dwarf mongoose behavior and facts This squirrel-sized mongoose is the smallest of the African mongooses...

Education snakes

Ball python, Python regius Length and defense: 3 to 4 feet, the smallest of African pythons; defense against larger predators is to coil in a tight ball. Habitat and range: Grasslands of West Africa, Sierra Leone, Togo and Senegal Diet and hunting: Small mammals Reproduction: The female coils around six to seven eggs for approximately three months, often nesting in an abandoned burrow. Co...

Giant African millipede

Archispirostreptus gigas The giant African millipede lives in rainforests. Millipede lingo Millipede: mille means thousand; pede means feet. Centipede: centi means hundred; pede means feet. A detritivore such as the millipede is an herbivore that eats decaying plant material. Millipedes and centipedes: Some differences Millipedes have four legs per body segment; centipedes have two. Mill...

Giraffe

The Oregon Zoo is home to representatives of two subspecies, the reticulated giraffe and the Masai giraffe. Reticulated giraffes live in open woodlands and wooded grasslands in Somalia, northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia...

Golden eagle

Aquila chrysaetos Golden eagles are found in Europe, Asia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and North America. They range from sea level to 10,000 feet in many habitats: forests, tundra, prairies, sagebrush, scrubland or alpine meadows. They are probably the most numerous of large eagles in the world. In North America, golden eagles are more common west of the Mississippi River...

Grey gull

Larus modestus Grey gulls live on sandy beaches and mudflats on the west coast of South America from Ecuador and Peru to central Chile. The life of a grey gull Grey gulls run back and forth between receding waves of western South American beaches, searching for small crustaceans in the sand...

Harbor seal

Phoca vitulinaHarbor seals are found north of the equator along the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They swim in near-shore coastal waters, bays and estuaries. They haul out on rocky islands and sandy beaches to rest, get warm, give birth, and escape from predators...

Harris hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus The Harris's hawk lives in semi-arid areas of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, with its range extending into Mexico, Central and South America. It prefers scrub containing mesquite, cacti and yucca...

Hooded merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus Hooded mergansers are small fish-eating ducks or 'sawbills' native to North America. Hooded merganser Behavior and facts Male hooded mergansers are named for the crest of feathers on the back of their heads, which can be expanded or contracted. The female hooded merganser has a brown body with a light brown crest extending from the back of the head...

Hooded vulture

Necrosyrtes monachus Hooded vultures are common across sub-Saharan Africa. Habitats include open plains, savannas, forests, coastal areas and villages. They are carnivores. The scientific name, Necrosyrtes monachus, means a "monk-like (bird) that drags away the dead." The common name derives from the wool-like down that covers the lower throat and rear of the neck...

Inca tern

Larosterna inca Inca terns live on coastal islands off the coasts of Chile and Peru. They are piscivores. Inca tern behavior and facts Inca terns feed on anchovies, mote sculpins and silversides; they swoop down from the air to snatch the tiny fish from the top few inches of water...

Kinkajou

Potus flavus Kinkajous are rainforest mammals that live in a variety of forest habitats in Central and South America, from southern Tamaulipas state in Mexico south to southern Brazil. They are frugivores (fruit-eaters)...

Lion

Panthera leo African lions live in the open plains, thick brush and dry thorn forests of sub-Saharan Africa. With their big jaws and muscular build, lions can prey on animals many times their size. Life of a lion Lions are mostly crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and spend much of the day sitting or sleeping...

Naked mole rat

Heterocehalus glaber Naked mole rats live underground in the dry, arid regions of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. These unique animals are rodents, but they are more closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs than they are to either moles or rats. The life of a naked mole rat Most naked mole rats are 4 to 6 inches long, and weigh 1 to 3 ounces...

Nankin chicken

Gallus gallus domesticus Nankin chickens are a bantam breed of chicken. The word bantam is often used to describe "miniature" breeds of poultry, and there are many different bantam breeds. A nankin is one of the 17 types of true bantams, which means they have no full sized counterpart. Nankin chickens are thought to be one of the oldest known breeds of bantams...

Nigerian dwarf goat

Capra hircus The Nigerian dwarf is a miniature goat from West Africa. It has been domesticated as a dairy goat and can be found throughout the world. Goats are herbivores. Nigerian goat behavior and facts Goats are browsers, eating tips of woody shrubs and trees...

Northern shoveler

Anas clypeata Named for its large bill with a broad spatula-shaped tip, the northern shoveler is a dabbling duck widespread throughout the northern hemisphere. Northern shoveler behavior and facts Northern shovelers dip their beaks into shallow water and filter foods such as insects, plants and seeds. This type of feeding is called dabbling. Males have a bottle-green head and chestnut col...

Old world rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus Domestic, or common, rabbits are native from Spain and Portugal south to North Africa. As early as Roman times, they began to be introduced elsewhere for food. They are now found throughout much of the planet, domesticated for food and as pets...

Pacific lamprey

Entosphenus tridentatus Pacific Lamprey begin their lives in freshwater streams around the Pacific Rim—from Japan north to Russia and from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to California and Baja, Mexico. Lamprey are among the oldest fish in the world, first appearing in the fossil record 450 million years ago...

Philippine sailfin lizard

Hydrosaurus pustulatus This lizard is native to silty lowland rivers in tropical forests of the Philippine Islands and southern New Guinea. It is an omnivore. Did you know? Hydro means water; saurus means lizard: Water lizard. This lizard is an excellent swimmer. The sailfin has a vestigial eye atop its head. It's called the parietal or pineal eye...

Pygmy goat

Capra hircus Pygmy goats are a small breed of domestic goat. Originally native to Southwest Asia, goats were domesticated 8,500 years ago for meat, milk and fiber and are now found all over the planet...

Pygora goat

Capra hircus hircus Pygora goats are a medium breed of domestic goat. They were initially bred in Oregon City, Ore., in the 1980s by crossing an angora goat with a pygmy goat in order to produce a goat with fine fiber for hand spinning...

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss Rainbow trout are native to watersheds west of the Cascade Mountains. They have been introduced elsewhere in North America and on every continent except Antarctica for food and sport fishing. They are omnivores. Rainbow trout are in the salmon family. The "rainbow" refers to a reddish-pink stripe on the fish's side...

Red panda

Ailurus fulgens Red pandas are a small arboreal mammal found in the montane forests of the Himalayas and major mountain ranges of southwestern China (Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Myanmar). These strange carnivores have formidable teeth and a pseudo thumb that they use to consume a diet of mostly bamboo...

Red-tailed hawk

Buteo jamaicensis The red-tailed hawk is one of the most common large, broad-winged hawks in North America. Its range is from Alaska and northern Canada south to Central America. Red-tailed hawks live in a variety of habitats: open country, scrub, woodlands, rocky canyons, coastlines, prairies and deserts...

Ring-tailed lemur

Lemur catta Ring-tailed lemurs live in the dry forests of southwestern Madagascar. Unlike most lemurs, they spend about half of their time on the ground. The life of a ring-tailed lemur Ring-tailed lemurs are hard to miss. They're named for their 2-feet-long tails, which have 13 alternating black and white rings...

Ringtail

Bassariscus astutus Ringtails live in semi-arid oak forests, pinyon pine or juniper woodlands, conifer forests, deserts and other dry, rocky habitats in Mexico, north to California and Oregon and throughout the American Southwest to Texas and northeast to Oklahoma and Kansas. They are primarily carnivorous. Ringtails are not cats, but are related to raccoons...

Rocky Mountain goat

Oreamnos americanus Mountain goats, a North American native, range from steep slopes at elevations up to 13,000 feet, to temperate forests at sea level in coastal British Columbia. As herbivores, they eat grass, herbs, lichen, moss and woody plants. Their historic range was Southeast Alaska south to the Columbia River and east to the southern Yukon, Idaho and western Montana...

Rodrigues flying fox

Pteropus rodricensis Rodrigues flying foxes are bats found only on Rodrigues, a tiny island 900 miles east of Madagascar. They live in dense rainforests with large, mature trees. As Rodrigues rainforests have been cut, their range has shrunk to a small wooded valley. The life of a Rodrigues flying fox Rodrigues flying foxes are actually fruit bats...

Sacred ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus The sacred ibis lives throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Iraq. A living hieroglyphic, this species was venerated and often mummified by ancient Egyptians...

Southern sea otter

Enhydra lutris Sea otters live in the nearshore marine ecosystem. They do most of their foraging within about half a mile of shore. Both northern and southern sea otters once inhabited the Oregon coast...

Speke's gazelle

Gazella spekei This gazelle's historic range is the Horn of Africa: on the Somali coast, inland to Ethiopia. It lives in stony brush, grassland and semidesert. It has been hunted to extinction in Ethiopia and is endangered in Somalia due to war, hunting and overgrazing...

Straw-colored fruit bat

Eidolon helvum The straw-colored fruit bat is adaptable to many habitats and lives in lowland forests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west, South Africa to the south, and Ethiopia in the east. It is an herbivore, eating wild fruits and nectar. They are strong flyers, and have been seen at sea, 125 miles from the nearest land...

Veiled chameleon

Chamaeleo calyptratus This kaleidoscopic, cone-headed lizard with swiveling eyes is native to the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula. Veiled chameleon behavior and facts Also known as the cone-head chameleon, this lizard is named for the sharkfin-like casque on its head, which channels dew and condensation into its mouth. Veiled chameleons possess a sticky, spring-loaded tongue...

White sturgeon

Acipenser transmontanus White sturgeon are large fish that range along the west coast of North America from California to British Columbia. White sturgeon from the lower reaches of the Columbia River are considered the most productive in the species' range. White sturgeon behavior and facts The white sturgeon is North America's largest fish...

White-faced whistling duck

Dendrocygna viduata White-faced whistling ducks live throughout South America, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Caribbean and Central America. White-faced whistling duck behavior and facts White-faced whistling ducks are named for their high-pitched whistling calls...

Wood duck

Aix sponsa Considered one of the most stunning of all waterfowl, the wood duck's scientific name, Aix sponsa means "waterbird in bridal dress". Wood duck Behavior and facts Wood ducks are one of few waterfowl to commonly perch in trees...