Killer whales are ocean dolphins and not whales, as the name would otherwise suggest. Also known as orca, they are the biggest and deadliest in the dolphin family. Killer Whale Orcinus orca Killer Whale Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Delphinidae Genus: Orcinus Species: Orcinus orca Killer Whale Appearance Lifespan: …
Ocelots are similar to house cats but with more predatory charm. With their unique coat, ocelots are gorgeous wild cats, mostly active at night. Ocelot Leopardus pardalis Ocelot Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Leopardus Species: Leopardus pardalis Ocelot Appearance Lifespan: 8-11 years Length: 26-39 inches Height: 20 …
Smart and agile, the impala is a graceful African antelope that stays vigilant at all times. Impala Aepyceros melampus Impala Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Aepyceros Species: Aepyceros melampus Impala Appearance Lifespan: 12-15 years Length: 51 inches Height: 28-36 inches Weight: 88-168 pounds Top speed: 56 mph …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …