Native to the Americas, the cougar is the second-largest big cat in the New World, after the jaguar. Cougar Puma Concolor Cougar Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Puma Species: Puma concolor Cougar Appearance Lifespan: 8-13 years Length: 6-7 feet Height: 24-35 inches Weight: 65-220 pounds Top speed: …
As the largest big cat, the tiger is a solitary creature at the very top of the food chain. Tiger Panthera Tigris Tiger Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera tigris Tiger Appearance Lifespan: 8-10 years Length: 79-154 inches Height: 27.5-47.2 inches at shoulder Weight: 140-660 …
More closely related to the tiger than the leopard, the snow leopard is a big cat that can travel over 25 miles in a single night. Snow Leopard Panthera uncia Snow Leopard Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia Snow Leopard Appearance …
With an unusual head shape, the great hammerhead shark is an excellent hunter and apex predator of the oceans. Great Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna mokarran Great Hammerhead Shark Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Sphyrnidae Genus: Sphyrna Species: Sphyrna mokarran Great Hammerhead Shark Appearance Lifespan: 20-30 years Length: 15-20 feet Weight: …
Easily identified due to their exclusively long neck, giraffes are highly social African animals. Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Giraffe Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Vertebrata Order: Mammalia Family: Giraffidae Genus: Giraffa Species: Giraffa camelopardalis Giraffe Appearance Lifespan: up to 25 years Height: 14 to 19.7 feet Weight: 1,000 to 3,000 pounds Top speed: 37 …
Undoubtedly, the frilled lizard is one of the quirkiest sights in nature, from the moment it runs away on its hind legs to when it unfurls the colorful skin flap around its head. Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii Frilled Lizard Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Agamidae Genus: Chlamydosaurus Species: Chlamydosaurus …
As one of the only big cats that live in groups, lions are social and live in an egalitarian society without ranking. African Lion Panthera leo African Lion Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera leo African Lion Appearance Lifespan: 15 years Length: Head and body, …
Powerful and agile, leopards are excellent climbers and swimmers, making them skilled apex predators. Still, their population is decreasing worldwide. Leopard Panthera pardus Leopard Scientific Classification Leopard Appearance Leopards are big cats similar to lions, tigers, and jaguars. Their soft and thick furs are yellow to golden. Their skin is covered with dark spots shaped …
Small and adaptable, Darwin’s frog is a carnivorous species that is both unique and incredibly smart. Still, this tiny amphibian is nearly extinct. Darwin’s Frog Rhinoderma darwinii Darwin’s Frog Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Rhinodermatidae Genus: Rhinoderma Species: Rhinoderma darwinii Darwin’s Frog Appearance Lifespan: 10-15 years Length: 1-1.2 inches Weight: 0.5 ounces …
Aardvarks look like small pigs with rabbit-like ears and kangaroos’ tails, yet they are not related to any of these animals. In fact, the elephant is one of their closest living relatives! Aardvark Orycteropus afer Aardvark Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Tubulidentata Family: Orycteropodidae Genus: Orycteropus Species: Orycteropus afer Aardvark Appearance …