The many tasks an elephant's trunk can perform means that it is composed of many different muscles but no bones.
African elephants are the biggest land animals on the planet.
They have grey, thick skin and large ears which give off heat and help keep them cool.
Their trunk acts like an arm and the tip is like a hand. There are 2 kinds of African elephant species: savanna and forest.
They live in different parts of Africa. You can tell an elephant is from Africa because their ear kind of looks like the shape of Africa.
Photo Credit: Jude (flickr)
Loxodonta africana
Central and South Africa
Grass, leaves, bark, roots, and fruit
Length: 13-16 ft (4-5 m)
Weight: 4.4-7.75 tons
70 years
Endangered
American alligators used to be endangered during the 1950's because they were hunted for their skin. But now they've recovered and are common.
The American alligator is black with a wider and more round snout than crocodiles. They have a transparent 3rd eyelid which allowed them to see underwater.
They eat any animal that is careless enough to get too close. When water is plentiful they live in rivers, creeks and swamps.
During hot seasons however when water is harder to come by, they dig out "gator holes" which fill up with water so they can have a home when the water dries up.
Photo Credit: Ryan Poplin/Suzanne Kempke
Alligator mississippiensis
Southeastern U.S.
Small mammals, turtles, fish, and birds
Length: 9.25-16 ft (2.8-5 m)
Weight: 1,000 lbs (453 kg)
50 years
Lower risk
While communicating with each other, baboons use over 10 different sounds all expressing something unique.
The olive baboon is one of the largest types of baboons. They form groups known as "troops" which can have 20-50 individuals.
The olive baboon has a strong build and a dog-like snout. Although they mostly eat leaves, with their sharp teeth they can also eat small mammals.
Photo Credit: Marc-oh (flickr)
Papio anubis
West and Northeast Africa
Grass, roots, leaves, fruit, bark, insects, frogs, eggs, and small mammals
Length: 20-34 in (60-86 cm)
Weight: 49-82 lbs (22-37 kg)
20-30 years
Lower risk
A beaver's front teeth keep on growing throughout their lives and would grow right through their bottom jaw if they didn't wear them down with all the gnawing they do on trees.
Beavers are made for water. They have webbed feet, water-proof underfur that keeps them warm, and a wide, flat, scaly tail.
Families of beavers cut down trees with sharp incisor teeth to build lodges in water. Lodges look like domes and are made out of mud and sticks.
Families work together to gather food and maintain the structure of their lodge by constantly repairing it.
Photo Credit: stevehdc/Laszlo Ilyes (flickr)
Castor canadensis
North America
Bark, leaves, and aquatic plants
Length: 29-35 in (74-88 cm)
Weight: 24-57 lb (11-26 kg)
10-12 years
Common
Camel's mouths are designed to be tough so that they can even chew thorns.
Like the letter "B", Bactrian camels have 2 humps, which is is a good way for people to remember their name.
Bactrian camels also have a shaggy, beige-dark brown fur coat that keeps them warm in the cold, dry deserts where they live.
Their humps store fat they can live on when food is scarce. When the camel's humps are erect and large, it means they are eating well.
There are many tame Bactrian camels used by people but fewer than 2,000 in the wild.
Photo Credit: Jeff Kubina
Camelus bactrianus
China and Mongolia
Grass, juicy plants, leaves, branches, grains, and dates
Length: 8.5-9.75 ft (2.5-3 m)
Weight: 990-1,520 lbs (450-690 kg)
40 years
Endangered
A cheetah's tail helps it balance and steer at high speeds.
Cheetahs are famous for being the fastest land animal in the world. They can run up to 70 mph (110 km/hr).
They have a slender, long body and a very flexible spine which is perfectly designed for running.
Their non-retractable claws help them grip the ground. Cheetahs have beautiful fur covered in black spots.
The black tear-like marks that run down from their eyes absorb some of the light from the sun, so they can see better.
(Sometimes, if they're playing a day game, athletes put black marks under their eyes for the very same reason.)
Photo Credit: James Temple
Acinonyx jubatus
Africa and Asia
Impalas, smaller hooved animals, rabbits, and birds
Length: 3.5-5 ft (1.1-1.5 m)
Weight: 46-160 lb (21-72 kg)
8-15 years
Vulnerable
Chimpanzees show their feelings to each other through facial expressions and body postures similar to the way people do.
Chimpanzees have long black hair covering their bodies, no tail, and long arms and short legs.
They usually walk on their knuckles using all four of their limbs. Chimpanzees are social and live in large communities.
They are led by an alpha male chimp who fiercely guards his territory from outsiders.
Photo Credit: Derek Keats/Chi King (flickr)
Pan troglodytes
Western and Central Africa
Plants, fruits, insects, and smaller animals
Length: 25-35 in (60-90 cm)
Weight: 66-130 lb (30-60 kg)
32-39 years
Endangered
The bottlenose dolphin got its name from its bottle-shaped snout.
The bottlenose dolphin is the largest of snout-nose dolphins.
Their bodies are dark grey on top and lighter on the bottom. They are very intelligent, social animals.
Using echolocation, they make clicking sounds that bounce off objects and help them to find food.
Photo Credit: Nick Ares
Trusiops truncatus
Worldwide (except polar waters)
Fish
Length: 6.25-13 ft
Weight: 1,100 lbs (500 kg)
40 years
Common
Despite their bulk, emus can rup to 30 mph (50 km/h) on land.
Emus are the 2nd largest birds in the world (after the ostrich), and can't fly at all.
Covering their bodies are feathers that are brownish in color, soft, and like hair.
They have long, powerful legs with 3 toes on each foot to support their body weight. Their large eyes can see very well.
Male emus take care of young, incubating the eggs and guarding chicks up to 18 months of age. Now that's one devoted father!
Photo Credit: Corrie Barkimore
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Australia
Fruit, grass, grain, and insects
Height: 5-6.25 ft (1.5-1.9 km)
Weight: 66-130 lbs (30-60 kg)
25-28 years
Common
When gibbons come down from the trees, their arms are so long they actually hold them up to keep them from dragging on the ground.
Although the white-handed gibbon does indeed have white hands and feet, its fur is anywhere from creamy brown to black.
Gibbon arms are much longer than their legs and double the length of their abdomens.
They are designed for swinging in trees with flexible shoulder joints and hands that are perfect for hooking onto branches.
Gibbons live in family groups that protect their territories. One of the ways they do this is with loud calls that echo throughout their jungle ranges warning others to stay out.
Photo Credit: Mamoritai (flickr)
Hylobates lar
Southeast Asia
Fruits, leaves, insects, birds, and eggs
Height: 35 in (90 cm)
Weight: 10-17 lbs (4.5-7.5 kg)
30-35 years
Endangered
The giraffe's heart is 25 pounds, about the size of a basketball. It can pump 60 liters of blood per minute.
The world's tallest animal, giraffes have long legs and very long necks, but their necks have the same number of bones that humans do, 7.
Their tongues are purplish-black and can stretch up to 18 inches to pluck leaves from trees.
They aoso have knobby horns on their head nd spotted coats.
The pattern of spots on each giraffe is different, which can help you tell one from another.
They're social and like to travel in large groups led by an alpha male.
Photo Credit: Paul Mannix (flickr)
Camelopardalis
Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa
Buds and leaves of thorny trees, grass, and other low-lying vegetation
Length: 9.75-15 ft (3.8-4.7 m)
Weight: 1,750-2,800 lbs (794-1,270 kg)
25 years
Vulnerable
The territory that a pair of golden eagles establish can be as large as 155 square kilometers.
The Golden eagle is the largest bird of prey in North America with a 6-7.5 ft wingspan.
Being very fast at flying and swooping, they pounce on their prey at speeds of more than 241 km/h.
Golden eagles mate long-term and the pair establish a large territory where they can hunt and rear their young.
Some golden eagles, like those living in Alaska and Canada, head South during the cold seasons, but in warmer areas they'll stay year-round.
Photo Credit: Matt MacGillivray
Aquila chrysaetos
North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa
Rabbits, squirrels, fish, reptiles, birds, and other small rodents and carrion
Size: 30-35 in (75-90 cm)
Weight: 6-15 lbs (3-7 kg)
30 years
Locally common
Adult male gorillas are called "silverbacks" because of their silver-colored hair that can be found on their lower backs and thighs.
There are 4 kinds of gorillas in the wild, and the largest are the Eastern lowland gorillas.
Gorillas have long muscular arms, shorter legs and mostly walk on all 4 of their limbs.
They live in complex social groups called troops, led by an alpha male.
Photo Credit: Ryan Poplin/Matt Hoelscher
Gorilla gorilla
Central, Equatorial Africa, and the Virunga mountain region
Leaves, roots, vines, and fruits
Height: 4.25-6.25 ft (1.3-1.9 m)
Weight: 150-430 lbs (68-200 kg)
35-40 years
Endangered
Wolves do tend to howl more often when there is a full moon and their howl can be heard from up to 6 miles (10 km) away.
Wolves are the largest wild dogs. Despite their name, grey wolves are not only grey, sometimes they're brown and even pure black or white.
They live in "packs" lead by a pair, an alpha female and male, who establish a territory together.
Packs often howl so other wolves know to stay away. Each member knows its place and maintains a humble posture when around the alpha pair of the pack.
Photo Credit: Thomas Roche/dalliedee (flickr)
Canis lupis
North America
Larged hooved animals, rodents, and sometimes carrion
Length: 3.25-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
Weight: 35-130 lbs (16-60 kg)
7-8 years
Vulnerable
Although grizzlies are heavy animals, they can still reach an impressive speed of 30 mph (48 km/h).
Grizzly bears are powerful predators that can be black to almost blonde.
Often the tip of their hair is light, which gives them a "grizzled" look.
Grizzly bears have bone-crushing jaws and long, non-retractable claws.
They can be meat-eating killing machines, but they also like honey, eggs, insects, fish, and berries.
Photo Credit: clairity (flickr)
Ursus arctos
Western Canada, U.S, and Asia
Grass, roots, berries, fish, insects, and other mammals
Height: 3-3.5 ft (0.9-1 m)
Weight: 200-850 lbs (91-386 kg)
20-25 years
Vulnerable
Hippopotamuses are very aggressive and dangerous animals, and they attack and kill more humans in Africa than any other animal, including lions.
The hippopotamus has a weighty, barrel-shaped body with a huge head. They also have large tusks inside their mouths.
Hippos spend their days mostly in water and at nighttime come onto land to graze on grass.
Their wide mouths serve them well during feeding. Despite their massive bulk, hippos can run on land at 25 mph, as fast as a horse or a bear!
Photo Credit: spykee (flickr)
Hippopotamus amphibius
South of the Sahara Desert in Africa
Grass, and sometimes other vegetation and fruit
Length: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Weight: 2,800-3,000 lbs (1.4-1.5 tons)
40-50 years
Vulnerable
Hyenas can eat up to 1/3 of their own body weight in just one meal.
The spotted hyena is the largest type of hyena. Their bodies and back slope downwards.
Their fronts legs are stronger than their back legs.
Like many other animals, hyenas are social, but females take the lead and are a little larger than males.
They live in burrows and do most of their hunting at night.
Photo Credit: Rob Inhood (flickr)
Crocuta crocuta
Central and Southern Africa
Hooved animals, rodents, birds, and sometimes carrion
Length: 4.25 ft (1.3 m)
Weight: 135-155 lbs (61-70 kg)
12-25 years
Lower risk
While running, impalas can leap up to 27 feet (8 meters) into the air.
Impalas are speedy antelopes which jump as they run from predators.
They have brownish-beige coats with black marks on their hips. The males have horns.
During the dry season, they come together to form mixed herds, and at other times of the year break off forming male and female groups.
Male impalas fight each other to see who can control territory.
Photo Credit: neiljs (flickr)
Aepyceros melampus
East and Southern Africa
Grass, leaves, and other vegetation
Length: 3.5-5 ft (1.1-1.5 m)
Weight: 88-145 lbs (40-65 kg)
12-15 years
Lower risk
You can tell an Asian elephant because its ear is triangular and looks a bit like the shape of India, where many of them live.
Indian elephants differ from African elephants in their body size, shape, ear size, and tusks.
Only the male Indian elephants have tusks. Elephants are very intelligent and have good memories.
Indian elephants are often trained to help people with moving heavy objects and transportation.
This means they have become very important in Asian culture.
Photo Credit: sxc
Elephas maximus
India, Sri Lanka, China, and Southeast Asia
Grass, leaves, bark, and roots
Length: Up to 11 ft (3.3 m)
Weight: 4,500-11,000 lbs (2.25-5.5 tons)
48-70 years
Endangered
After tigers and lions, jaguars are the 3rd largest big cat.
Jaguars are the largest big cat found in the Americas.
Their patterned coats are similar to leopards, but their bodies are a lot stronger.
Jaguars are fierce cats with sharp teeth and strong jaws that can deliver a powerful bite.
Like tigers, they are among the only big cats who are great swimmers.
Photo Credit: tambako (flickr)
Panthera onca
Central and South America
Deer, peccaries, tapirs, rodents, and fish
Length: 3.5-6.25 ft (1.1-1.9 m)
Weight: 79-350 lbs (36-160 kg)
12-15 years
Endangered
Orcas use echolocation in the same way dolphins do to find food by bouncing sound waves off objects.
Killer whales, also known as orcas, are actually the largest members of the dolphin family.
They lives in groups called pods, lead by females. Pods work together to hunt for food and are considered dangerous predators.
Killer whales have long bodies with large front flippers and a tall dorsal fin on their backs.
Although they are mostly black, they have white bellies and a white patch behind each eye.
Photo Credit: Robert Dewar/Ed Schipul (flickr)
Orcinus orca
All oceans
Seals, sea lions, fish, and other marine mammals
Length: Up to 30 ft (9 m)
Weight: Up to 22,000 lbs (11 tons)
50-90 years
Endangered
Koalas spend almost all of their life in Eucalyptus trees.
Koalas are marsupials, like kangaroos they carry young in a pouch.
They have grey fur on top and white fur underneath. It camouflages them well against the bark of Eucalyptus trees.
Their long, curved claws and fingers make them well adapted to life in these trees.
The food they eat gives them little energy, so they sleep up to 16 hours a day. That's a long nap!
Photo Credit: Drewe Zanki
Phascolarctos cinereus
Eastern Australia
Eucalyptus leaves
Length: 26-32 in (65-82 m)
Weight: 8.75-33 lbs (4-15 kg)
13-18 years
Endangered
Male leafy sea dragons are the ones who incubate the eggs of their young and carry their until they hatch.
Leafy sea dragons are covered with leaf-shaped frills that are yellow to brown in color and perfectly camouflage them against seaweed.
Their snouts are long and thin, and very small fins propel them gracefully through water.
Leafy sea dragons are closely related to seahorses, and like them, the males are the ones who take care of rearing young.
Photo Credit: Lyn Gateley
Phycodurus eques
Waters of South and East Australia
Small crustaceans, sea lice, and mysids
Height: 13.8 in (35 cm)
7-10 years
Vulnerable
The ring-tailed lemurs and all other kinds of lemurs in the wild are found only on the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa.
Ring-tailed lemurs are the size of cats with thick, soft fur covering their bodies.
They have a smout similar to dogs and black patches around their eyes.
Their tails are bushy and striped black and white. Females boss around the others in the group.
Each group has a marked territory and the territories of rival lemur groups do not overlap.
Most lemurs stick to the trees, jumping from one to another, but the ring-tailed lemur spends a good amount of time on the ground.
Photo Credit: Antony Stanley
Lemur catta
Madagascar
Fruits, leaves, bark, flowers, and sometimes insects
Length: 15.5-18 in (39-46 cm)
Weight: 5.5-7.75 lbs (2.5-3.5 kg)
18-30 years
Endangered
Leopards are so strong they can carry animals much heavier than themselves up a tree using their powerful jaws.
Leopards are big cats with beautiful, rosette-pattern fur coats.
With their powerful hind legs, they can jump 20 feet or more! This helps them climb trees.
You can often see them resting on tree branches during the day.
They mostly come out at night to hunt for food.
Photo Credit: tropicaliving/wwarby (flickr)
Panthera pardus
Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
Gazelle, impala, wildebeest, rodents, monkeys, and birds
Length: 3-6.25 ft (0.9-1.9 m)
Weight: 82-200 lbs (37-90 kg)
12-17 years
Endangered
Hunting for the pride is mostly taken care of by the lionesses while the males protect the pride and guard their territory.
Lion are called "the king of the jungle" because they're Africa's greatest predators.
They live in groups called prides, which can have up to 15 members.
Lionesses and their cubs make up most of a pride with one or a few dominate males in the lead.
Lions have short fur coats which are brownish-yellow in color.
As they grow, the males develop a mane around their necks, which can be colored anywhere from blonde to black.
Photo Credit: Drew Avery
Panthera leo
Africa and Northwest India
Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, wild hogs, giraffe, and sometimes small animals
Length: 5.5-8.25 ft (1.7-2.5 m)
Weight: 330-550 lbs (150-250 kg)
10-14 years
Vulnerable
The black tufts of fur on the tip of their ears are not just for decoration. They help the lynx listen for prey while they hunt.
Lynx are medium-sized cats with thick fur and large paws. Their paws act like snowshoes, which make them perfect for hunting in the snowy regions where they live.
You can tell them easily from other big cats by the black tufts on their ears. They hunt at night and have excellent vision and hearing. As runners, they're not that fast, so they stalk their prey, lying hidden and then pouncing from up to 4.5 meters away.
They especially like to climb into trees and attack from above.
Photo Credit: Patrick C
Lynx canadensis
Canada, Alaska, and Northwestern U.S.
Snowshoe hare, mice, grouse, squirrels, and other small rodents
Length: 2.3-3 ft (0.75-0.9 m)
Weight: 18-24 lbs (8-11 kg)
7 years
Threatened
While feeding, manatees use their flippers to hold food and raise it to their mouths. Their mouths only contain molar teeth.
Manatees are gentle, aquatic giants that are close relatives of elephants. They have greyish brown skin that sometimes has algae growing on it.
They have small eyes and no ear flaps. Their large, flat tail helps them to cruise through water easily despite their size.
They normally come together just to breed, but sometimes they form large groups where there is an abundance of food.
Photo Credit: Rusty Boxcars
Trichechus manatus latirostrus
Southeastern U.S. to Northeastern South America
Marine and freshwater vegetation
Length: 8.25-15 ft (2.5-4.5 km)
Weight: 440-1,320 lbs (200-600 kg)
50-60 years
Vulnerable
Meerkats can eat toxic and even poisonous things like millipedes or scorpions.
Meerkats are slender, small animals with pointed faces. They are very social and live in groups known as gangs inside underground burrows.
At night, they retreat to their burrows, and during the day, they either warm themselves in the sun or look for insects and other food.
They are very alert animals and are often found standing on their hind legs, stretched tall to look out for predators.
If they see danger, they sound an alarm to warm the other members of their gang.
Photo Credit: Trisha Shears/Tambako (flickr)
Suricatta suricatta
Kalahari Desert in Africa
Insects, grubs, lizards, eggs, and small snakes
Length: 10-14 in (25-35 cm)
Weight: 1.3-2.2 lbs (600-925 g)
12-14 years
Lower risk
Moose derived their name from the Algonquin Natives' word "mooswa", which means "twig-eater".
Moose are the largest deer in the world with long slender legs supporting a massive body covered in brown to blackish fur.
Every spring, male moose grow antlers that can measure more than 2 meters across. In December, the mature bulls will shed them while the younger males can keep their antlers up until March.
On land, moose can run up to 35 km/h, and in the water, they can dive to a depth of more than 5 meters. Moose can become territorial and aggressive.
They can be dangerous and it's best to keep away and give them lots of space.
Photo Credit: Malene
Alces alces
Alaska, Canada, Northern Europe, and Northeastern Asia
Plants, leaves, and other vegetation
Height: 8.25-11 ft (2.5-3.3 m)
Weight: 1,100-1,500 lbs (500-700 kg)
15-25 years
Lower risk
All their life, orangutans spend almost all of their time in trees. They only come down to the forest floor when it's absolutely necessary.
Orangutans are covered in orange, maroon, or brownish thin hair and are heavier primates. They spend most of their time, eating, sleeping, and breeding.
Searching for food most of their days, they swing through the treetops with arms that are up to 7.25 feet (2.2 meters) across.
Photo Credit: axinar/Carl Feldman (flickr)
Pongo pygmaeus
The islands of Borneo and Sumatra (Southeast Asia)
Fruit, vegetation, and insects
Length: 3.5-4.5 ft (1.1-1.4 m)
35-40 years
Endangered
Ostriches don't actually bury their heads in the sand. They do however lie low, pressing their necks against the ground when they sense danger.
The ostrich is a flightless bird with a very unique appearance. It has a very long neck and long, strong legs.
One stride can cover about the length of a car. It is the largest bird and lays the largest eggs of any living bird.
The ostrich make up for its lack of ability to fly with it's amazing running ability. It can reach maximum speeds of about 98 kilometers per second (60 mph), making it the fastest land speeds of any bird.
Photo Credit: Ernst Vikne
Struthio camelus
Africa
Plants
Height: 7-9 ft (2.1-2.7 m)
Weight: 220-350 lbs (100-160 kg)
30-40 years
Lower risk
Mother pandas give birth to cubs that are normally just 6 inches long and weigh 4-8 ounces.
Pandas are extremely rare black and white bears. In a few small areas of China, they can be found in the wild.
They mostly eat bamboo, which has poor nutrition, so they have to eat a lot of it.
They like to ilve alone and only meet up with other pandas to breed.
Photo Credit: popofatticus (flickr)
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Central China
Bamboo, and sometimes other plants and rodents
Length: 5.25-6.75 ft (1.6-1.9 m)
Weight: 155-280 lbs (70-125 kg)
20-30 years
Endangered
Father emperor penguins incubate eggs not by sitting on them, but by balancing them on their feet and covering them with a flap of feathered skin above their feet.
The emperor penguin is the largest penguin on the planet. It lives in the coldest region of any bird.
Although they have wings, they cannot fly but they are superb swimmers! They can drive up to 1,750 feet (533 meters) underwater searching for food.
Emperor penguins are loving parents. During the breeding season, females lay a single egg then leave to feed in the ocean.
The male partner keeps the egg warm all during the freezing cold winter and doesn't eat until the female returns. He then leaves to feed and returns to help raise the chick with the mother.
Photo Credit: Lin Padgham
Aptenodytes forsteri
Antarctica
Fish
Height: 3.5 ft (1.1 m)
Weight: Up to 82 lbs (37 kg)
15-20 years
Vulnerable
Male platypuses have toxic venom in stingers located at the heels of their back feet.
The platypus is a unique and unexpected mammal. It has a beak like a duck, a flat tail like a beaver, and a furry body.
Webbed feet make it an excellent swimmer, and it uses its sensitive bill to hunt for food on the bottom of rivers.
They live in burrows by the waterside. Amazingly, platypuses are one of the only mammals who lay eggs.
Photo Credit: couchy (flickr)
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Eastern Australia and Tasmania
Shellfish, insects, and worms
Height: 16-23.5 in (40-60 cm)
Weight: 1.75-5.5 lbs (0.8-2.5 cm)
10-17 years
Vulnerable
Underneath their white fur, the skin of polar bears is actually black.
Polar bears are the largest carnivores in the world, although sometimes, the Kodiak brown bear in Alaska can also grow as large.
Polar bears live mostly on sea ice, but are great swimmers.
They have the thickest fur of any bear, which keeps them warm and helps them to blend in with the snow while they hunut for prey.
Their keen sense of smell helps them to hunt for seals even when the seals are beneath a layer of snow.
Photo Credit: Jim Seith
Ursus martimus
Arctic
Seals, walruses, fish, birds, and sometimes whales
Length: 7-11 ft (2.1-3.4 m)
Weight: 880-1,580 lbs (400-680 kg)
20-30 years
Vulnerable
From all of the kinds of wild horses that used to live on earth, the Przewalski's horses are the last remaining survivors.
You used to be able to find Przewalski's horses running wild in Mongolia, but now, due to conservation efforts, all they live in is zoos over the world.
This horse has a large head and muzzle, and they eat very dry grasses and plants that other horses would not be able to eat.
They have large bodies with muscular but slim legs and live in herds of 3-20 horses.
The herd is led by a stallion, who protects the others and constantly defends his leadership from other rival males.
Photo Credit: Jeff Kubina
Equus ferus przewalskii
Mongolia
Grass, desert shrubs, and other vegetation
Height: 7.25-8.5 ft (2.2-2.6 m)
Weight: 440-750 lbs (200-340 kg)
20-25 years
Extinct (in the wild)
After a puma has eaten some of its prey, it'll often bury the rest and come back later to eat more.
Pumas are also called cougars and mountain lions. In North America, they are the largest cat in the wild.
Their coats are beige and solid in color, although yuong pumas can have spots on their fur.
Their powerful, hind legs help them jump into trees up to 18 feet (6 meters) from the ground. Now that's pretty high!
Photo Credit: Angel Malachite/tambako (flickr)
Puma concolor
North and South America
Deer and other large animals and rodents
Length: 3.5-6.5 ft (1.1-2 m)
Weight: 150-230 lbs (68-104 kg)
8-13 years
Lower risk
The red panda is known by a few names. The other names include bright panda, cat-bear, poonya, and fire fox (also the name of the popular web browser by Mozilla).
Although distant cousins of the giant panda in China, the red panda is much smaller, growing to about the size of a house cat.
Red pandas live in the mountains in trees where they forage for their food. Unlike the giant panda, they eat more than just leaves.
They like fruit, roots, and others things too. They're very shy, live alone, and only hook up with other red pandas to breed.
Photo Credit: Andy McLemore
Ailurus fulgens
Eastern Himalayas and Southwestern China
Leaves, roots, fruit, grubs, and bird eggs
Length: 20-25 in (51-64 cm)
Weight: 6.5-13 lbs (3-6 kg)
23 years
Endangered
The horn of a rhinoceros is made out of a protein called keratin, which is also the same protein our fingernails are made of.
An Indian rhinoceros has gray-brown skin that looks similar to plated armor.
They have a pointed upper lip, and both males and females have a single large horn.
The males use their horns to fight off predators and other male rhinos who invade their territory.
They can also use their horns when fighting for the right to mate.
They spend much of their day grazing on grass, but they'll also go in water and are good swimmers.
Photo Credit: Trisha Shears
Rhinoceros unicornis
India and South Asia
Grass
Length: Up to 12 ft (3.8 m)
Weight: Up to 4,800 lbs (2.4 tons)
35-45 years
Vulnerable
The pups of grey seals grow so fast they can put on 2.5-3 pounds (1.15-1.35 kg) daily, just from drinking their mother's milk.
Male grey seals are much larger than females in size and weight. They also have thicker necks, broader shoulders, and longer snouts.
Grey seals are not just grey, they can be all the way from white with black patches to black with white patches. Generally, male seals are darker.
Grey seals can dive deep in search of food and hold their breath for up to 20 minutes.
Photo Credit: Lucie Provencher
Halichoerus grypus
Eastern Canada to Baltic Sea
Fish, squid, crustaceans, and octopus
Length: 6.5-8.25 ft (2-2.5 m)
Weight: 370-680 lbs (168-308 kg)
25-35 years
Common
Great white sharks are responsible for more attacks on humans than any other sharks.
Great white sharks are powerful, dangerous predators.
They have large jaws with triangular teeth that dig deep into the flesh of their prey.
Beating its tail sideways, they can cruise through the water at great speeds.
They can even be found leaping high out of water so that their entire body is visible in mid-air.
Photo Credit: Mila Zinkova
Carchardon carcharias
Temperate, tropical and sometimes cooler waters worldwide
Seals, sea lions, large fish, and dolphins
Length: 20-26 ft (6-8 m)
Weight: 4,000 lbs (2 tons)
40-70 years
Vulnerable
Snow leopards are extremely powerful predators and can bring down prey 3 times their size.
Snow leopards are endangered and rarely seen in the wild.
They have thick, grayish fur to keep them warm, and their black spots help them camouflage while they hunt.
With their powerful hind legs, they can pounce up to 30 feet (9 meters). They also use their long, thick tail to balance as they run up and down rocky cliffs.
Photo Credit: tambako (flickr)
Panthera uncia
Mountains of Central Asia
Wild sheep, goats, and small animals
Length: 3.25-4.25 ft (1-1.3 m)
Weight: 55-165 lbs (25-75 kg)
10-12 years (22 in captivity)
Endangered
While tapirs eat, their trunks retract out of the way, so their teeth can get to the food.
The Malayan tapir is black all over except for a large white "saddle" on its lower back and sides.
These white spots help hide it in moonlit forests at night. Young tapirs have strips and markings which look like watermelons, but disappear quickly as they grow.
Tapirs also have a small and mobile trunk that helps them feed on leaves. Spending a lot of time in water, tapirs are great swimmers.
Photo Credit: Allie Caulfield
Tapirus indicus
Southeast Asia
Leaves, twigs, buds, and fruits
Length: 6-8.75 ft (1.8-2.7 m)
Weight: 550-1,190 lbs (250-540 kg)
25-30 years
Endangered
The tasmanian devil, with its huge jaws, has the strongest bite force of all the world's mammals, relative to size.
Although small, the tasmanian devil has a ferocious and feisty character. It is known for its loud snarling and growls and throws huge temper tantrums when provoked.
With their large, powerful jaws, they bite into prey. When they're getting lots of food, their tails get fat, like other marsupials.
There used to be lots of tasmanian devils in Australia, but now, they're declining because of a contagious cancer disease that makes tumors grow on their heads and aruond their mouths, making it hard for them to eat.
Photo Credit: Matt McGillivray
Sarcophilus laniarius
Tasmania
Insects, fish, birds, snakes, and carcasses of dead animals
Length: 20.5-32 in (52-81 cm)
Weight: 9-26 lbs (4-12 kg)
5-8 years
Endangered
The stripes on each tiger's coat are different, no 2 are alike.
Tigers are the largest and most powerful of the big cats, and the biggest tigers are Siberian.
Tigers are some of the only big cats who are very good at swimming and can follow their prey into water.
Their reddish-orange color and stripes help them camouflage in long grass when they're stalking prey.
When they attack, they knock over their prey and bite them on the neck.
Photo Credit: David Prior/Claudio Gennari
Panthera tigris
South and Southeast Asia
Deer, wild pigs, water buffalo, and antelope
Length: 4.5-9.25 ft (1.4-2.8 m)
Weight: 220-660 lbs (100-300 kg)
10-15 years
Endangered
At birth, the young of a wallaby is about the size of a bean.
Wallabies are small kangaroos who also have pouches, making them part of the marsupial family.
Bennett's wallabies have long rear legs which are longer and stronger that their upper limbs.
It is these legs that provide the power they need in flight. They also have a long, thick tail which provides great balance when they start hopping.
Photo Credit: Martin Pettitt
Macropus rufogriseus
Southeastern Australia and Tasmania
Leaves, shrubs, and grass
Length: 17.5-41 in (44.5-104 cm)
Weight: 8.5-52 lbs (3.9-23.6 kg)
15 years
Low risk
Female walruses sometimes "adopt" and take care of other walrus pups who have been orphaned.
Walruses have wide muzzles with whiskers, flippers, small eyes, and dangerous tusks that grow down from their upper jaw.
Mature male walruses can grow tusks up to 3 feet (1 meter) in length.
Although their skin is normally cinnamon-brown in color, it can flush red during sunbathing.
Walruses are social and gather in the hundreds on sea ice.
Photo Credit: uhuru1701/Polar Cruises (flickr)
Odobenus rosmarus
Arctic waters
Clams, mussels, shellfish, and shrimp
Length: 9.75-12 ft (3-3.6 m)
Weight: 2,800-4,500 lbs (1.4-2.25 tons)
40 years
Vulnerable
Surprisingly, with its slender legs, the warthog can run up to 48 km/h.
Warthogs have slender legs supporting their strong, hairless bodies. Their heads are large and have between 1-3 pairs of warts, giving them their name.
They have the typical snout shape of a pig. Also, on their head are 2 pairs of tusks, which are sharp and strong enough to be used in defense.
Having no hair on their bodies, warthogs will wallow in mud to protect their skin from the intense heat.
Photo Credit: William Warby
Phacochoerus africanus
Southern Africa
Grass, roots, and fruit
Height: 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)
Weight: 120-250 lbs (54-113 kg)
7-11 years
Lower risk
White rhinos aren't actually white. Their name comes from a mistranslation of the Dutch word "wjd", which means "wide."
After the elephant, white rhinos are the 2nd largest land animals in the world.
They tend to be grey or brownish-yellow in color with 2 horns growing above their wide square lips.
The shape of their lips makes it easy for them to graze on grass and to tell them apart from the black rhino (which is a bit smaller but whose upper lip forms a pointed shape).
They have very poor eyesight and sometimes they will charge a car.
Photo Credit: Brian Snelson
Ceratotherium simum
Africa
Grass
Height: 12-13 ft (3.7-4 m)
Weight: 3,000-8,000 lbs (1,360-3,630 kg)
40-50 years
Endangered
The zebra's black and white stripes confuse a hunting predator by making it difficult to target a single zebra in a group.
It's easy to tell a plains zebra by the black and white stripes that cover its body.
Each zebra has its own pattern of stripes, no 2 are alike. These animals are very social and live in large groups called "harems".
When zebras sense danger, they make a barking sound to warn others in the herd.
Photo Credit: Martin Pettitt
Equus quagga
Southeast Africa
Grass, leaves, twigs, and bark
Length: 7.25-8.25 ft (2.2-2.5 m)
Weight: 390-850 lbs (175-385 kg)
20-40 years
Endangered
African Elephant
Alligator
Giraffe
Golden Eagle
Gorilla
Hippopotamus
Killer Whale
Lion
Manatee
Orangutan
Panda
Penguin
Polar Bear
Red Panda
Shark
Snow Leopard
Tiger
White Rhino
Portable Zoo is an HTML/JavaScript/web recreation of Pocket Zoo (long after its removal) that is here to bring back the nostalgia and childhoods that were brought to pretty few people back in the days that it was still available on the App Store.
Pocket Zoo was made by Tiny Hearts (est. 2009), a joyful then iOS studio (now owned by Shopify) that would focus on creating high quality family-friendly apps
for people ages "2-100". Tiny Hearts was founded by a husband (Robleh Jama) and wife team passionate about kids and nature.
Pocket Zoo was a #1 Education app, a Top 50 Overall app on the App Store and was featured in Wired Magazine as a "Must-Have" app as well as the New York Times.
Other notable mentions include: Mac World, Real Simple Magazine, and Huffington Post. Pocket Zoo was chosen as the runner-up in the 2010 App Star Awards (Entertainment And Fun Category).
Programming, Recreated Vectors, etc. (pretty much everything) - OftenGuy (for putting so much effort to bring iOS nostalgia and possible lost media back by still having said media as tribute to the original)
Producer And Creative Director: Robleh J.
Animal Content Editor: Nusaybah. A
Development: Rob Chia
UI Design: Rob Wooten
Map Illustration: Alexandria Neonakis
Character Illustration: Adam Record
Brand Identity: Fawad Mehrzad
Editing: Rukhsana Khan
