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 …

The largest deserts in the world are usually thought of as hot, arid places with sandy, dry earth stretching as far as the eye can see.  While that’s true for some deserts, a region doesn’t have to be sandy and hot to count as a desert. That’s because precipitation levels, not heat or sand, determine …

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 …

Slow and docile, basking sharks are notable filter feeders and the second largest fish on earth. Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus Basking Shark Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes Family: Cetorhinidae Genus: Cetorhinus Species: Cetorhinus maximus Basking Shark Appearance Lifespan: 50 years Length: 26-40 feet Weight: 10,000-13,000 pounds Top speed: 4 mph …

Large and not really social, the common emu is a flightless bird and one of the most famous animals of Australia. Common Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Casuariiformes Family: Casuariidae Genus: Dromaius Species: Dromaius novaehollandiae Emu Appearance Lifespan: 10-20 years Length: 4.8 to 5 feet Height: 5.2 …

Worshipped as gods in many ancient South American cultures, jaguars are powerful cats. They’re the kings of the Amazon Rainforest. Jaguar Panthera Onca Jaguar Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: Pantera Onca Jaguar Appearance Lifespan: 12-16 years Length: 60-72 inches Tail: 27.5-36 inches Height: 2.1-2.5 feet …

Incredibly fast and agile, the cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal. Although unique, it also is Africa’s most endangered cat. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Acinonyx Species: Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah Appearance Lifespan: 10-20 years Length: 44-59 inches Height: 29-35 inches Weight: 46-159 …