Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Aves Sphenisciformes Spheniscidae Spheniscus Speniscus humboldti   Did you know? Humboldt penguins are named after the Humboldt current, a nutrient rich current of cold water current that runs along the coast of South America from northern Peru to the south of Chile. Conservation Status The Humboldt penguin […]

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Name Scientific Name: Platinista gangetica. Common Name: South Asian River Dolphin, Blind River Dolphin, Ganges Susu (Ganges River Dolphin subspecies), Bhulan (Indus River Dolphin subspecies). Conservation Status The South Asian River Dolphin is listed as Endangered by the Internation Union for the Conservation of Nature. It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International […]

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Interesting Facts The Hawsksbill Sea Turtle is the most endangered of all the turtle species. Its population has declined over 80% in a century. One of the most important reasons for the global decline of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle has been the high demand for its richly patterned shell. It is used in a variety […]

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Interesting Facts Electric eels are not true eels but they have a strong resemblance to true eels (Anguilliformes). They are Gymnotiformes commonly known as South American knifefish or neotropical fish. These fish can produce up to 650 volts of electricity enough to severely injure humans and other animals. Male electric eels make a nest with […]

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  Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Mammalia Artiodactyla Monodontidae Monodon Monodon monoceros   Interesting facts During winter sometimes narwhals get trapped under fast forming pack ice. They attempt to keep the breathing hole open with their tusks but die of exhaustion and suffocation unable to breathe. Tusks are overgrown teeth. […]

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0 Conservation Status Walruses have been part of the culture of many indigenous Arctic cultures for thousands of years. They have hunted them for their meat, skin, blubber, tusks and bones. During the 19th and early 20th century its population was rapidly depleted. The Pacific species has rebounded since then but the Atlantic and Laptev […]

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  Population and Conservation Status The South China Tiger is the most critically endangered species of tiger in the world. There are about two dozen in world in reserves in China and South Africa. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature this subspecies may be functionally extinct as it has not been observed […]

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 An adult bald eagle, young ones do not have white plumage in the head and tail.   o o Cool facts about the bald eagle The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782. Benjamin Franklin did not approve of the bald eagle as the US emblem. He thought it […]

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o o  Name Scientific name: Megaptera novaenanglia. Megaptera is derived from the Greek mega for “large” and pteron for “wing”. Novaeangliae for New England where the humpback was first described scientifically. Common name: Humpback whale, hump whale, hunchbacked whale. Conservation Status The humpback whale is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its status was […]

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  Name Common name: Sperm Whale, Spermacet Whale, Cachelot, Pot Whale. “Spermaceti”, the organ in the head of the whale which contains an oily liquid once believed to be sperm. Scientific name: Physeter macrocephalus. Physeter is derived from the Greek word for “blowpipe or blowhole” Macrocephalus is derived from Greek meaning “big head”. Conservation Status […]

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  o o Name Common name: Leatherback, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Trunkback Turtle, Coffinback, Luth. Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea Conservation Status by Subpopulations East Pacific Ocean subpopulation: Critically Endangered. Nesting females and nests declined by 97.4% during the past three generations. Northeast Indian Ocean subpopulation: Data Deficient. There is insufficient reliable trend data of […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Panthera Panthera pardus o o Name Scientific name: Panthera pardus. Panthera is derived from the Latin word panthera or the Greek word panther meaning “panther, leopard”. Pardus is derived from the Latin pardus or from the Greek pardos meaning “male panther”. Common […]

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Conservation Status The snowy owl (Bobus scandiacus) has a wide distribution and healthy population numbers, though its trend is declining. According to the IUCN  its global population is estimated at more than 300,000 individuals. It does not meet the criteria for Vulnerable and it is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Endangered […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae Genus: Enhyndra Species: Enhyndra lutris o o Name Common name: Sea otter. Scientific name: Enhyndra lutris. Enhiyndra comes from the Ancient Greek word for “water” and lutris from the Latin word for “otter”. Habitat Sea otters live in coastal areas, primarily in the ocean but they […]

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 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Genus: Aptenodytes Species: Aptenodytes forsteri Name Common name: Emperor penguin. Scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri o o Distribution and Habitat Emperor penguins live in the waters of the Antarctic, the continental shelf, fast ice and surrounding islands. Its distribution is limited to the area between 66˚ […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Panthera Panthera tigris 0   0 Name Scientific name: Panthera tigris. Common name: Tiger. Distribution There are 8 recognized subspecies of tigers living in 13 Asian countries: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Russia and North Korea. […]

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0   Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Osteoglossiformes Family: Arapaimidae Genus: Arapaima Species: Arapaima gigas 0   Name Scientific name: Arapaima Common name: Pirarucu in Brazil, paiche in Peru. Physical Features The arapaima is the largest freshwater fish. They have a large and wide mouth with a toothed tongue which is a characteristic of […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Genus: Spheniscus Species: Spheniscus mendiculus 0 Name Scientific name: Spheniscus mendiculus. Common name: Galapagos penguin. Distribution and Habitat Galapagos penguins live in the northernmost habitat of all penguin species. They are the only species to live and breed in tropical climate. They are […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Ursidae Ursus Ursus maritimus 0 0  Name Scientific name: Ursus maritimus Common name: White bear, ice bear, polar bear. Distribution and Habitat The polar bear is distributed throughout the Arctic Circle and surrounding areas. Their range is limited by the extent of sea […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Amphibia Caudata Cryptobranchidae Andrias Andrias davidianus , There are 3 species of the Cryptobranchidae family: Chinese giant salamander, Japanese giant salamander and North America Hellbender.  Name Common name: Chinese giant salamander. Scientific name: Andrias davidianus. Distribution and Habitat The Chinese giant salamander is an amphibian […]

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Taxonomy Kingdon: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Family: Monodontidae Genus: Delphinapterus Species: Delphinapterus leucas    Name Common name: White whale, beluga whale. Its name comes from the Russian world “beloye” meaning white. Scientific name: Delphinapterus leucas. Delphinapterus means dolphin without a wing – or dorsal fin. Habitat and Distribution Beluga whales are widely […]

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  0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinoptergii Order: Acipenseridae Genus: Huso Species: Huso huso Name Scientific name: Huso huso. Common name: Beluga sturgeon, great sturgeon, giant sturgeon, European sturgeon. 0 Habitat and Distribution The Beluga sturgeon is native to the Black, Caspian, Azov and Adriatic Seas. Historically they have spawn in the Danube, […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Caudata Family: Ambystomatidae Genus: Ambystoma Species: Ambystoma mexicanum Name Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum Common name: Axolotl, Mexican salamander, Mexican walking fish, Ajolote. 0 Distribution and Habitat The axolotl is an amphibian native to central Mexico specifically to the high altitude, fresh water lakes Xochimilco and Chalco […]

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The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) belongs to the pteroinae genus which has 10 species of lionfish. Two of them, Pterois volitans and Pterois miles, are invasive species in the North West Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Of the two species Pterois volitans makes up 90% of the total. 0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Varanidae Varanus Varanus komodoensis , .  A Komodo dragon in the Komodo National Park in Indonesia. Name Scientific name: Varanus komodoensis Common name: Komodo dragon, land crocodile. Habitat and Distribution Komodo dragons are native to the archipelago of Indonesia to the islands of […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Carcharhinidae Genus: Negaprion Species: Negaprion brevirostris 0 Name Scientific Name: Negaprion brevirostris. Common Name: Lemon shark. Distribution and Habitat  They inhabit the coastal inshore waters of the northwest Atlantic Ocean from the coast of the state of New Jersey to Southern Brazil, the Caribbean […]

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0 Name Scientific name: Orcinus orca Common name: Orca whale, killer whale. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae Genus: Orcinus Species: Orcinus orca 0 Physical Features The orca whale is the largest member of the dolphin family. They have large black body with white belly and a grey […]

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Taxonomy Family Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Reptilia Crocodylia Crocodylidae Crocodylus Crocodylus rhombifer . Cuban crocodile in Hoyerswerda Zoo in Saxony, Germany  Name Scientific name: Crocodylus rhombifer Common name: Cuban crocodile Physical Features The Cuban crocodile have powerful legs that give them the ability to jump. They are able to leap from […]

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Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Animalia Chordata Amphibia Anura Hylidae Agalychnis Agalychnis callidryas 0 0 Name Scientific name: Agalychnis callidryas. Common Name: Red eyed tree frog or Red eyed leaf frog. Range and Habitat The red eyed tree frog, also known as red eyed leaf frog, is an amphibian native to Central American countries, […]

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 Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Subspecies Animalia Chordata Aves Strigiformesa Strigidae Strix occidentalis Strix occidentalis caurina 0 0  Name Scientific name: Strix occidentalis caurina. Common name: Northern spotted owl. Habitat and Distribution The northern spotted owl is one of the three species of spotted owls, the other two are the California and the […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes Family: Lamnidae Genus: Carcharodon Species: Carcharodon carcharias   Name Common name: Great white shark, white shark, white pointer or great white. Scientific name: Carcharodon carcharias. 0 Physical Features The white shark has a dorsal fin on top of its body, two pectoral fins at the bottom […]

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What is in a name? Local Amerindians in the Amazon rainforest used toxins from the skin of these frogs to poison the tips of their blow darts, therefore the name poison dart frog. Taxonomy Kingdon: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order Anura Suborder: Neobatrachia Family: Dendrobatidae 0   Physical Features Poison dart frogs have bright colorful […]

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  Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Cathatiformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Gymnopyps Species: Gymnogyps californianus Name Scientific name: Gymnogyps californianus. Common name: California condor. 0 Physical Features The plumage of the California condor is black with white patches of white feathers on the underside of their wings. These patches are visible when flying. Like their […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phulum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Boidae Genus: Eunectes Species: Eunectes murinus 0 0 Name Common name: Green anaconda. Scientific name: Eunectes murinus 0  Habitat and Distribution The green anaconda is a non-venomous boa species found in South America. It is also known as the common anaconda or water boa because […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae Genus: Vultur Species: Vultur gryphus Name Common name: Andean condor. Scientific name: Vultur gryphus 0 Habitat and Distribution The Andean Condor (Vultus gryphus) is one of the 7 species of New World vultures found in warm and temperate areas of the American continent. The […]

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0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Мammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera Uncia 0   Physical Features Despite their name, snow leopards (Panthera Uncia) are not the color of the snow. Their fur color varies from smoky gray to yellowish brown with black spots and rosettes. They stand out against […]

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  0 Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Acinonyx Species: Acinonyx Jubatus 0 Name Common name: Cheetah, hunting leopard. Scientific name: Acinonyx Jubatus. Physical Features Cheetahs have coarse short tan fur with black one inch black spots that serve as camouflage. They are distinguished from other big cats by their smaller size, spotted […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Phociadae Genus: Pagophilus Species: Pagophilus Groenlandicus 0 0  Name Common name: Harp seal or Greenland seal. Scientific name: Pagophilus Groenlandicus Distribution and Habitat The harp seal (Pagaphilus groenlandicus) is a marine mammal that lives in defined breeding grounds in the Arctic. There are three populations. The […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae, Inidae, Lipotidae, Plantanstidae, Pontoporiidae. 0 0 Distribution and Habitat There are 42 species of dolphins found around the world. Of those, 38 are marine dolphins and 4 are river dolphins. Dolphins are found worldwide and thrive in shallow seas where weather is […]

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Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phyum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Lynx Species: Lynx Canadensis 0 Name Common name: Canadian lynx. Scientific name: Lynx Canadensis Its name comes from the Greek word to “shine”, maybe in reference to their reflective cat eyes. Physical Features The Canadian lynx is a medium size wild cat. Canadian […]

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