Aepyceros melampus The impala is one of the many species of antelope found in the African wilderness. They are reddish/fawn in color with a paler colored underside. They have black markings on their hips and tail, and white markings above each eye, under their chin and on the underside of their tail. This graceful creature is slender …
Animals by Region
Panthera onca The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. According to one Indian myth, the jaguar acquired its spotted coat by daubing mud on its body with its paws. Translated, the jaguar’s name means, “a beast that kills its prey with a single bound”. The Jaguar has a compact body, a broad head and powerful …
Kangaroos have powerful hind legs and short, thumbless forelimbs. Kangaroos can travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and can leap some 30 feet. Kangaroos use their long tails for balancing. Their bodies are covered in thick, coarse, wooly hair that can be shades of gray, brown or red. Kangaroos are marsupials, which …
The orca, or “killer,” whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas have long, rounded bodies with large dorsal fins at the middle of their backs. Their black bodies are marked with white patches on the underside and near the eyes. Size The average male orca grows to 23 feet long and weighs …
Gazella A gazelle is any of many antelope species. There are about 14 species of gazelle. They are thin and graceful and can be identified by their curved, ringed horns, tan or reddish-brown coats and white rumps. Often, there are spots or stripes on their coats. Gazelles are known as swift animals; they are able to reach …
Ailuopoda melanoleuca Pandas are famous for their black and white markings. The legs, shoulders, ears and oval patches around the eyes are black, and the rest of the coat is white. Good tree climbers, pandas can also swim to escape predators. Pandas use an enlarged wrist bone that looks like a thumb to grasp objects like …
Giraffes are one of the world’s tallest mammals. They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns. Giraffes have small “horns” or knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs are used to protect the head in fights. Size Male giraffes are larger than …
Equus grevyi Grevy’s zebra is the largest living wild member of the horse family. They have narrow stripes that cover the head, body and legs. A Grevy’s zebra’s belly is white and does not have stripes. Size Grevy’s zebras are 4.5 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder. They are eight to ten feet long …
Ursus arctos The grizzly bear is a large predator that is different from black bears due to a distinctive hump on its shoulders. Grizzly bears have concave faces and long claws about the length of a human finger. Their coloration is usually darkish brown but can vary from very light cream to black. The long guard hairs …
