Fun Animal Facts: Short, True and Kid-Sized

Alligators have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Baby alligators squeak to call their mom while they are still inside the egg.

Alpacas come from the high mountains of South America. They hum softly to talk to each other.

An armadillo’s shell is made of hard, bony plates. The three-banded armadillo can roll up into a tight ball to stay safe.

Giant anteaters have no teeth at all. Their long sticky tongue can flick in and out about 150 times a minute.

Ants can carry things much heavier than their own bodies. They live together in big families called colonies.

The wandering albatross has the longest wings of any bird. It can glide over the ocean for hours without flapping.

Axolotls are salamanders that stay in the water their whole lives. If they lose a leg, they can grow a new one!

Antelopes are speedy runners that live in Africa and Asia. Many of them have long, twisty horns.

Arctic foxes have fur on the bottoms of their paws to keep warm. Their coat turns white in winter so they can hide in the snow.

Angelfish have flat bodies and long, flowing fins. Many of them live near bright, colorful coral reefs.

The name aardvark means “earth pig”. It digs with strong claws to find ants and termites to eat.

The green anaconda is one of the heaviest snakes in the world. It spends lots of time swimming in rivers and swamps.

Many bears sleep through most of the winter in a cozy den. Mother bears often have their tiny cubs while they are still in the den.

Honeybees make honey from the nectar they collect from flowers. They do a little wiggle dance to tell other bees where to find food.

Butterflies taste with their feet. Each one starts life as a caterpillar and changes inside a chrysalis.

Bats are the only mammals that can really fly. Many bats sleep upside down during the day.

Beavers chew through trees with their strong orange teeth. They build dams and cozy homes called lodges from sticks and mud.

The American bison is the heaviest land animal in North America. Baby bison are a reddish color and are nicknamed “red dogs”.

The blue whale is the biggest animal that has ever lived. It eats tiny shrimp-like animals called krill.

A bald eagle is not really bald. Its head is covered in bright white feathers.

Badgers are super diggers with long, strong claws. They live in underground homes with lots of tunnels.

Bobcats are wild cats named for their short, stubby tail. They are about twice as big as a pet cat.

The American bullfrog is the biggest frog in North America. Its deep call sounds a bit like a cow mooing.

Baboons live in big family groups called troops. They spend lots of time on the ground, not just up in trees.

Cats sleep a lot, often 12 hours a day or more. Their whiskers help them feel their way in the dark.

Cows have a stomach with four parts to help them break down grass. A baby cow is called a calf.

A camel’s hump stores fat, not water. Camels can go for days without a drink in the hot desert.

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. It can run about as fast as a car on the highway, but only for a short sprint.

Most crabs walk sideways. They have a hard shell and two strong claws called pincers.

Crocodiles can stay underwater for a long time. A mother crocodile gently carries her babies in her mouth.

Chameleons can change the color of their skin. Each eye can move on its own, so they can look two ways at once.

Clownfish live safely among the stinging arms of sea anemones. A slimy coat keeps them from getting stung.

A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth.

Chickens are birds, but they can only fly short distances. A baby chicken is called a chick.

Chipmunks stuff food into stretchy cheek pouches. They carry it home and store it for winter.

The male northern cardinal is bright red. Both the males and the females sing.

Dogs have a super strong sense of smell, much better than ours. Every dog’s nose print is different, just like a fingerprint.

Ducks have waterproof feathers that keep them dry. Their webbed feet work like paddles when they swim.

Dolphins are mammals, so they swim up to the surface to breathe air. They talk to each other with clicks and whistles.

In most kinds of deer, only the males grow antlers. The antlers fall off and grow back every year.

Donkeys are strong and can carry heavy loads. Their loud call is called a bray and sounds like “hee-haw”.

Dragonflies can fly forward, backward and even hover in one spot. Their huge eyes help them see almost all the way around.

Dingoes are wild dogs that live in Australia. They howl to call to each other, but they rarely bark.

Doves make a soft cooing sound. They are close cousins of pigeons.

Dormice sleep through the cold winter months. They curl up into a tight ball in a cozy nest.

Dung beetles roll animal poop into balls. Some can roll a ball much heavier than themselves.

Dugongs are gentle sea mammals that munch on seagrass. They are close cousins of manatees.

The dik-dik is one of the smallest antelopes in Africa. Its name comes from the whistling sound it makes when it is scared.

Elephants are the biggest animals that live on land. They use their trunks to smell, drink, grab food and even say hello.

Eagles have amazing eyesight and can spot food from very far away. They build huge nests high in trees or on cliffs.

Eels have long, slippery bodies like snakes, but they are fish. Some eels live in rivers and travel all the way to the sea to lay eggs.

The emu is a very tall bird from Australia that cannot fly. It runs fast on its long, strong legs.

Echidnas are spiny mammals that lay eggs. They slurp up ants and termites with a long, sticky tongue.

Male elk grow big antlers every year. In the fall they make a loud, high call called a bugle.

Emperor penguins are the biggest penguins in the world. The dads keep the egg warm on their feet all winter long.

Egrets are tall white birds with long legs for wading. They stand very still, then quickly grab fish with their sharp beaks.

Male elephant seals have a big, floppy nose that looks a bit like a short trunk. They can swim very deep in the ocean to find food.

In snowy places, the ermine’s brown coat turns white in winter. Only the tip of its tail stays black.

Earwigs have two little pincers at the end of their bodies. They like to hide in dark, damp spots in the garden.

The eland is the biggest antelope in the world. Even though it is so large, it can jump surprisingly high.

Frogs start life as tadpoles that swim with a tail. Many frogs can jump many times their own body length.

Red foxes have great hearing and can hear a mouse moving under the snow. They wrap their bushy tail around themselves to keep warm.

Flamingos get their pink color from the food they eat. They often rest standing on one leg.

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world when it swoops down from the sky. It uses that speed to catch other birds.

Ferrets are playful and love to wiggle through tunnels. Long ago, farmers kept them to chase rabbits and rats out of burrows.

Fireflies are beetles that make their own light. They blink their glowing tails to talk to each other at night.

The fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world. Its giant ears help it hear food and stay cool in the hot desert.

Flying fish leap out of the water and glide through the air. Their big, wing-like fins help them stay up.

Flying squirrels do not really fly. They glide from tree to tree using stretchy skin between their legs.

Fruit bats eat fruit and help new plants grow by spreading seeds. Some big fruit bats are called flying foxes.

A flounder is a flat fish with both eyes on one side of its head. It lies on the sea floor and changes color to hide.

A housefly’s big eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses. It can walk upside down on the ceiling.

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. They use their long, dark tongues to pull leaves off thorny trees.

Gorillas are the biggest apes on Earth. They build a fresh leafy nest to sleep in almost every night.

Goats are great climbers and love to stand on rocks and hills. Their pupils are shaped like little rectangles.

Geese often fly in a V shape when they travel far. A baby goose is called a gosling.

Many geckos can climb walls and even walk upside down on ceilings. Tiny hairs on their toes help them stick.

Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in the mountains of China. They spend about half of each day eating bamboo.

Guinea pigs first came from South America and are now popular pets. When they are happy, they hop straight up in the air, which people call popcorning.

Gazelles are fast, graceful runners from Africa and Asia. Some bounce high in the air with stiff legs when they spot danger.

Grasshoppers have strong back legs for big jumps. Some of them make music by rubbing their legs on their wings.

Goldfish first came from China long ago. With good care, a pet goldfish can live for more than 10 years.

Great white sharks are some of the biggest hunting fish in the sea. When one of their teeth falls out, a new one moves up to take its place.

Wild gerbils live in dry, sandy places. They thump their back feet on the ground to warn their family about danger.

Hippos spend most of the day in rivers and lakes to stay cool. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes.

Horses can sleep standing up. A baby horse is called a foal.

Hedgehogs are covered in thousands of sharp spines. When they feel scared, they roll up into a prickly ball.

Hamsters stuff food into stretchy pouches in their cheeks to carry it home. Wild hamsters live in dry places like deserts and dusty fields.

Hummingbirds can hover in one spot and even fly backward. Their wings flap so fast they make a humming sound.

Hawks have super sharp eyes for spotting food from high in the sky. They catch it with strong, curved claws called talons.

Spotted hyenas make a call that sounds like giggling. They live in big family groups called clans.

Baby harp seals are born with fluffy white fur. It helps keep them warm on the Arctic ice.

Hermit crabs live inside empty shells to protect their soft bodies. When they grow too big, they move into a bigger shell.

Honeybees make honey from the sweet nectar inside flowers. They do a wiggle dance to show other bees where to find food.

Male humpback whales sing long songs under the water. They are famous for leaping out of the sea and landing with a giant splash.

Hammerhead sharks have a wide, flat head shaped like a hammer. Their eyes sit at each end, which helps them look all around.

Green iguanas can grow to about 5 feet long, and much of that is tail. They often live in trees near water and are strong swimmers.

Impalas can leap about 10 feet high to get away from danger. Only the males have long, curvy horns.

Ibises have long, curved beaks for poking in the mud. They find worms, bugs and little crabs to eat.

Ibexes are wild goats that climb steep, rocky cliffs. The males have big horns that curve back over their heads.

An inchworm is a caterpillar that will grow up to be a moth. It moves by making a little loop with its body, like it is measuring.

Indris are the biggest lemurs and live only on the island of Madagascar. They sing loud songs that carry far through the forest.

Some icefish live in the freezing water around Antarctica. Their blood is clear instead of red.

The male indigo bunting looks bright blue in the sunshine. These small birds travel at night and use the stars to find their way.

The Iberian lynx is a wild cat that lives in Spain and Portugal. It has tufts of black fur on the tips of its ears.

The Indian rhinoceros has just one horn on its nose. Its thick skin has big folds that make it look like it is wearing armor.

The male, called a peacock, spreads a huge fan of shiny tail feathers. The female is called a peahen.

The imperial moth is a big yellow moth with purple and brown spots. Its wings can be about as wide as a grown-up’s hand.

Jaguars are the biggest wild cats in North and South America. Unlike most cats, they love to swim.

Jackrabbits are really hares, not rabbits. Their huge ears help them stay cool in the hot desert.

Jays are clever birds in the crow family. Many of them bury acorns in the fall to eat later.

Jackals are wild dogs that live in Africa and parts of Asia. Mom and dad jackals often raise their pups together as a team.

Jerboas are tiny desert rodents that hop on long back legs like mini kangaroos. They come out at night when the sand is cool.

These monkeys live in the snowy mountains of Japan and are often called snow monkeys. Some of them warm up by sitting in hot springs.

A javelina looks like a pig, but it is a different animal called a peccary. Javelinas love to munch on prickly pear cactus.

Jumping spiders have big front eyes and can see very well. They catch bugs by jumping on them instead of using a web.

Jacanas have very long toes that spread out their weight. This lets them walk across floating lily pads.

The red junglefowl is a wild bird from the forests of Asia. Farm chickens came from this bird long ago.

Jackdaws are small, clever crows with pale gray eyes. They often build their nests in chimneys and old buildings.

The John Dory has a big dark spot on each side of its body. Its thin, flat body makes it hard to see from the front.

Kangaroos hop on their big back feet and use their strong tail for balance. A baby kangaroo, called a joey, grows up in its mom’s pouch.

Koalas sleep for most of the day, often 18 hours or more. They eat almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves.

Kiwis are birds from New Zealand that cannot fly. Their nostrils are at the tip of their long beak to help them sniff out worms.

Killer whales, also called orcas, are really the biggest kind of dolphin. They live and hunt together in family groups called pods.

King penguins are the second biggest penguins, after emperor penguins. Parents keep their egg warm by holding it on top of their feet.

The Komodo dragon is the biggest lizard in the world. It lives on just a few islands in Indonesia.

Kingfishers sit on branches over the water and watch for fish. Then they dive in headfirst to catch one.

Kookaburras are Australian birds with a loud call that sounds like laughing. They often call early in the morning and at sunset.

Koi are colorful fish that people keep in ponds. With good care, they can live for more than 25 years.

Katydids are green insects that look a lot like leaves. Their name comes from their song, which some people hear as “katy did, katy didn’t”.

Kinkajous are furry rainforest animals that hold onto branches with their tail. They use their long tongue to lick up nectar and honey.

Krill are tiny shrimp-like animals that swim in huge groups. Many whales, seals and penguins eat them.

Lions live together in family groups called prides. A lion’s roar can be heard from about 5 miles away.

Ladybugs are tiny beetles that gardeners love because they eat aphids. Their bright spots tell birds that they taste bad.

Llamas come from the Andes Mountains in South America. People use them to carry packs on long mountain walks.

Leopards are strong climbers that often rest high up in trees. Their spots are shaped like little roses and are called rosettes.

Wild lemurs live only on the island of Madagascar. Ring-tailed lemurs hold their striped tails up high like flags.

Lizards lie in the sun to warm up their bodies. Some lizards can drop their tail to get away and grow a new one.

Lobsters have a hard shell and two big front claws. They crawl along the ocean floor on their walking legs.

A lynx has tufts of black fur on the tips of its ears. Its big, furry paws work like snowshoes in deep snow.

Lionfish have long, stripy spines that look a bit like a lion’s mane. The spines sting, so other fish leave them alone.

The leatherback is the biggest turtle in the world. Its shell feels like soft leather instead of a hard shell.

Loons are great divers that chase fish underwater. Their wild, wailing call echoes across quiet lakes at night.

Leafcutter ants carry bits of leaves that are bigger than they are. They use the leaves to grow a special food garden in their nest.

Many monkeys use their long tails to help them balance as they leap through trees. Spider monkeys can even hang by their tails.

Mice use their long whiskers to feel their way in the dark. Their front teeth never stop growing, so they chew a lot.

Moose are the biggest members of the deer family. They are good swimmers and love to munch on plants in lakes.

Meerkats live in big family groups in the deserts of southern Africa. One meerkat stands guard on its back legs and calls out if danger is near.

Manatees are gentle, slow swimmers that are sometimes called sea cows. They spend much of the day munching on water plants.

Macaws are big, colorful parrots with strong curved beaks. Their beaks are tough enough to crack open hard nuts.

Moles spend almost their whole lives digging tunnels underground. Their wide front paws work like little shovels.

Monarch butterflies have bright orange and black wings. Every fall, many fly all the way from Canada and the US to Mexico.

Mountain goats climb steep, rocky cliffs with ease. Their hooves have soft pads that grip the rocks like sneakers.

Manta rays glide through the sea by flapping their wide fins like wings. Giant manta rays can be about 20 feet across.

Mandrills are the largest monkeys in the world. Grown-up males have bright red and blue faces.

Male mallards have shiny green heads. The loud “quack” you hear at the pond usually comes from a female.

Narwhals are whales that live in icy Arctic waters. The long spiral tusk is really a tooth that grows out through the lip.

Newts are small salamanders that live part of their lives in water and part on land. They can regrow a lost leg or tail.

Nightingales are small brown birds famous for their beautiful songs. They often sing at night, which is how they got their name.

Nurse sharks spend their days resting on the sea floor. They use little whisker-like feelers near their mouths to find food.

Numbats are small striped animals from Australia. They eat thousands of termites every day.

A nautilus lives inside a swirly shell with lots of little rooms. It moves by squirting out water, a bit like a jet.

Nuthatches can walk down tree trunks headfirst. They wedge nuts into bark and tap them open with their beaks.

Nile crocodiles are the biggest reptiles in Africa. Mother crocodiles gently carry their babies in their mouths.

Male northern cardinals are bright red, while females are soft brown. They visit backyard bird feeders all year long.

Night herons stand very still at the water’s edge to catch fish. As their name says, they often hunt in the evening and at night.

The nene is a goose that lives only in Hawaii. It is the state bird of Hawaii.

Nyala are antelope from southern Africa. Males have twisty horns and shaggy coats, while females are reddish with white stripes.

An octopus has eight arms covered in suckers that can grab and even taste. It has three hearts and blue blood!

Owls can turn their heads much farther than we can, about three-quarters of the way around. Their soft feathers let them fly almost silently.

Otters have thick fur that keeps them warm in cold water. They are playful and like to slide down muddy or snowy banks.

The ostrich is the biggest bird in the world, but it cannot fly. It can run up to about 40 miles per hour on its long legs.

Orangutans spend most of their lives up in the trees. Every night they build a fresh nest of leaves to sleep in.

Orcas are also called killer whales, but they are really the biggest kind of dolphin. They live and hunt together in family groups called pods.

An ox is a strong cow or bull trained to do farm work. Farmers have used oxen to pull plows and carts for thousands of years.

The opossum is the only animal with a pouch that lives in the US and Canada. When it is scared, it may play dead to trick a predator.

Okapis have striped legs like a zebra, but their closest relative is the giraffe. They use their long tongues to grab leaves.

Oysters live inside two rough shells that they can close up tight. Some oysters can make shiny pearls.

Ocelots are wild cats about twice the size of a pet cat. Their fur is covered in pretty spots and stripes.

Baltimore orioles are bright orange and black songbirds. They love sweet treats and will visit feeders with orange slices.

Penguins cannot fly, but they are amazing swimmers. They use their flippers like wings to zoom through the water.

Giant pandas spend most of their day eating bamboo. They live in misty mountain forests in China.

Pigs are very smart and can learn their own names. They roll in mud to cool off because they cannot sweat much.

Many parrots can copy sounds, and some can even say words. Their feet have two toes pointing forward and two pointing back.

Polar bears have black skin under their thick white fur. They are strong swimmers and hunt seals from the sea ice.

Only the male is called a peacock, and the female is called a peahen. He spreads his long, shiny tail feathers into a giant fan.

Porcupines are covered in thousands of sharp quills. They cannot shoot their quills, but the quills come out easily if touched.

Atlantic puffins have bright orange beaks in the summer. They can carry lots of small fish in their beaks at once.

The platypus has a bill like a duck and lays eggs, even though it is a mammal. It lives in rivers and streams in eastern Australia.

Pufferfish gulp water to blow up like a spiky ball when they feel scared. This makes them too big and prickly for most fish to eat.

Pythons are big snakes that squeeze their food instead of using venom. Mother pythons coil around their eggs to keep them safe.

A praying mantis holds its front legs together like it is praying. It can turn its head to look over its shoulder.

Quail are small, round birds that spend most of their time on the ground. Baby quail can run around just a few hours after they hatch.

Quokkas are small marsupials from Western Australia, about the size of a house cat. Their mouths curve up, so they often look like they are smiling.

The male resplendent quetzal has shiny green feathers and a very long tail. It lives in misty cloud forests in Central America.

Quolls are spotted marsupials from Australia and New Guinea. They are most active at night, when they hunt for insects and small animals.

Queen angelfish are bright blue and yellow. A dark spot on their head, ringed with blue, looks like a little crown.

The American quarter horse got its name from racing a quarter of a mile. Over short distances, it is one of the fastest horses in the world.

Queen snakes live near rocky streams in the eastern United States. They eat mostly crayfish that have just shed their hard shells.

A quahog is a hard-shelled clam that lives buried in the sand along the Atlantic coast. It sucks in water through a tube and filters out tiny bits of food.

The queen conch is a big sea snail with a pretty pink shell. It lives in warm, shallow water in the Caribbean.

The red-billed quelea is a small African bird that lives in huge flocks. Some flocks have millions of birds that fly together like a cloud.

The Queensland grouper is one of the biggest fish that lives on coral reefs. It can grow longer than a grown-up is tall.

This is the biggest butterfly in the world. It lives only in a small patch of rainforest in Papua New Guinea.

Rabbits have long ears that help them hear danger coming. Their front teeth never stop growing, so they chew a lot to keep them short.

Raccoons have clever front paws that work almost like little hands. The dark fur around their eyes looks like a mask.

A rhino’s horn is made of keratin, the same stuff as your fingernails. White rhinos are some of the biggest land animals on Earth.

Reindeer are the only deer where both boys and girls grow antlers. Their wide hooves help them walk on snow.

The American robin has a bright orange-red chest. You can often spot one tugging worms out of the lawn.

Red pandas live in mountain forests in Asia and eat mostly bamboo. They wrap their long, fluffy tail around themselves like a blanket.

A rooster is a grown-up male chicken. Roosters crow loudly, often very early in the morning.

A rattlesnake shakes the rattle on its tail to say “stay away”. A new piece is added to the rattle each time it sheds its skin.

Ravens are big black birds and very clever problem solvers. They can even copy sounds, including human words.

Red foxes have a bushy tail with a white tip. They can hear a mouse moving under the snow.

Rays are fish with flat bodies that glide through the water by flapping their fins like wings. Many of them rest on the sandy sea floor.

Rats are smart and can learn tricks as pets. They use their long whiskers to feel their way in the dark.

Snakes have no legs and move by bending their long, strong bodies. They smell the air by flicking out their forked tongue.

A shark can lose thousands of teeth in its life, and new ones keep moving forward to take their place. The whale shark is the biggest fish in the world.

Sloths move so slowly that tiny green algae can grow in their fur. They spend most of their lives hanging upside down in trees.

Squirrels bury nuts in the fall to eat later in winter. Some of the nuts they forget grow into new trees!

Sheep grow a thick coat of wool that farmers trim about once a year. Wool is used to make cozy sweaters, socks and blankets.

Seals are great swimmers but wiggle on their bellies when they are on land. A thick layer of fat called blubber keeps them warm in icy water.

Spiders have eight legs, so they are not insects. Many spiders spin silky webs to catch their food.

Swans are large birds with long, curvy necks. Baby swans are called cygnets.

A skunk can spray a very stinky smell to keep enemies away. Before it sprays, it often stomps its feet as a warning.

A snail carries its shell on its back like a little house. It glides along on a trail of slime that helps it move.

Seahorses are fish that swim standing up. The dad seahorse carries the eggs in a pouch until the babies hatch.

Sea otters sometimes hold paws while they sleep so they do not drift apart. They use rocks as tools to crack open shellfish.

Tigers are the biggest wild cats in the world. No two tigers have the same pattern of stripes.

A turtle’s shell is part of its skeleton, so it can never crawl out of it. Many turtles can pull their head inside the shell to hide.

Toucans have huge, colorful beaks that are surprisingly light. They use them to reach fruit at the ends of thin branches.

Tortoises live on land and walk on sturdy, elephant-like legs. Giant tortoises can live for more than 100 years.

A male turkey is called a tom, and he puffs up his feathers to show off. Wild turkeys can fly short distances and sleep up in trees.

Tarantulas are big, hairy spiders. As they grow, they shed their whole skin and can even regrow a lost leg.

Tree frogs have sticky toe pads that help them climb leaves and branches. Some are small enough to sit on your fingertip.

Tapirs have a short, bendy nose that works like a tiny trunk. Baby tapirs have stripes and spots that help them hide in the forest.

Tasmanian devils are marsupials that live in the wild only on the island of Tasmania in Australia. They make loud screeches and growls at night.

Tuna are fast, strong fish that have to keep swimming to breathe. Some kinds can swim all the way across an ocean.

Termites live in huge family groups, and some build giant mud towers. A termite mound can be taller than a grown-up.

Toads have dry, bumpy skin and short legs, so they hop in little steps. They eat lots of bugs, which makes them great garden helpers.

The umbrellabird has a big crest of feathers on its head that looks like an umbrella. Males also have a long, feathery flap hanging from their chest.

The bald uakari is a monkey with a bright red face. It lives in flooded forests in the Amazon.

The urial is a wild sheep from Central and South Asia. Males have big horns that curl around in a circle.

Many unicornfish have a horn-like bump on their forehead. They live on coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Uromastyx are lizards that live in hot, dry deserts. They have spiky tails and love to lie in the sun to warm up.

The Ural owl lives in forests in Europe and Asia. It has a round, pale face and dark eyes.

The upland sandpiper lives in grassy fields instead of on beaches like most sandpipers. It often perches on fence posts.

Utah prairie dogs live in underground burrows in the state of Utah. They bark and chirp to warn each other about danger.

The Uganda kob is a reddish antelope from Africa. It appears on the coat of arms of Uganda.

Unau is another name for the two-toed sloth. It hangs upside down and moves very slowly through the trees.

Vultures are nature’s cleanup crew because they eat animals that have already died. Many have bare heads, which helps them stay clean while they eat.

Vipers are snakes with long fangs that fold back when their mouth is closed. Many vipers have wide, triangle-shaped heads.

Vampire bats live in Mexico, Central America and South America. Unlike most bats, they can walk and even run along the ground.

Vicuñas are wild cousins of llamas and alpacas that live high in the Andes Mountains. Their wool is one of the softest in the world.

Vervet monkeys live in groups in Africa. They use different warning calls for different dangers, like eagles, leopards and snakes.

Voles are small, chubby rodents that look like mice with short tails. They make little tunnels and paths through the grass.

The vaquita is the smallest porpoise in the world and lives only in one small part of the sea near Mexico. It is very rare, so people are working hard to protect it.

Viceroy butterflies are orange and black and look a lot like monarchs. Birds often leave them alone because they taste bad.

Veiled chameleons have a tall bump on top of their heads called a casque. They can change their colors, often getting brighter or darker with their mood.

The male vermilion flycatcher has a bright red chest and a dark brown back. It catches flying bugs right out of the air.

Vinegaroons are arachnids that live in deserts in the southern United States and Mexico. When they feel scared, they spray a mist that smells like vinegar.

Velvet ants look like fuzzy ants, but they are really a kind of wasp. The females have a very painful sting, so look but don’t touch.

Whales are mammals, so they swim up to the surface to breathe air. The blue whale is the biggest animal that has ever lived.

Walruses use their long tusks to help pull themselves up onto the ice. Their stiff whiskers help them find clams on the dark sea floor.

Wolves live and hunt in family groups called packs. They howl to call each other from far away.

Wombats live in Australia and dig long burrows under the ground. Their poop comes out shaped like little cubes!

Woodpeckers tap holes in trees to find bugs and make nests. Their long, sticky tongues help them grab bugs hiding deep in the wood.

Warthogs are wild pigs that live in Africa. They often kneel down on their front knees to eat short grass.

Wallabies are smaller cousins of kangaroos. A mother wallaby carries her baby, called a joey, in her pouch.

Weasels have long, skinny bodies that can squeeze into tiny burrows. Some weasels turn white in winter to hide in the snow.

Huge herds of wildebeest travel across Africa every year to find fresh grass. Baby wildebeest can stand up and walk just minutes after they are born.

The whale shark is the biggest fish in the world. Even though it is huge, it eats tiny food like plankton and little fish.

Wolverines look like small bears, but they are really part of the weasel family. Their big, wide paws work like snowshoes.

Water buffalo love to rest in mud and water to stay cool. Farmers in Asia use them to help plow rice fields.

X-ray tetras are tiny fish with see-through skin, so you can spot their backbone. They swim together in big groups called schools in South American rivers.

The xerus is a ground squirrel that lives in dry parts of Africa. It holds its bushy tail over its back like a little sun umbrella.

The Xoloitzcuintli is a dog from Mexico, and many of them have no hair at all. People call it “Xolo” for short, which sounds like “SHOW-low”.

Xenopus is the name for the African clawed frog. It has no tongue, so it uses its front feet to push food into its mouth.

This little hummingbird lives only in the very south of Baja California in Mexico. Like other hummingbirds, it can hover in one spot while it sips nectar.

Xenops are small brown birds that live in the rainforests of Central and South America. They hop along twigs and pick bugs out of the bark.

The Xingu river ray is a stingray that lives in rivers in Brazil, not in the sea. It is dark with bright white spots all over its back.

This small gecko lives in rocky deserts in Baja California, Mexico. It has wide, leaf-shaped pads on its toes that help it climb rocks.

Yaks live high in the cold mountains of Asia, like the Himalayas. Their long, shaggy hair hangs down almost to the ground like a skirt.

Yellow tangs are bright yellow fish that live on coral reefs, mostly around Hawaii. They nibble on algae, which helps keep the reef clean.

Yellowfin tuna are fast swimmers with bright yellow fins. They swim in big groups in warm oceans around the world.

Yellow-eyed penguins live in New Zealand and have a band of yellow around their eyes. They are one of the rarest penguins in the world.

Yellow jackets are wasps with yellow and black stripes. They build paper nests by chewing up bits of wood.

A yabby is a freshwater crayfish from Australia. It has two big claws and can dig deep burrows when its pond dries up.

The yapok, also called the water opossum, is a strong swimmer with webbed back feet. A mother yapok can close her pouch to keep her babies dry underwater.

Yellow mongooses live in southern Africa and dig burrows to live in. They sometimes share their homes with meerkats and ground squirrels.

These chubby marmots live in the mountains of western North America. They sleep through the long, cold winter inside their burrows.

The yellowhammer is a small yellow bird that lives in Europe. People say its song sounds like “a little bit of bread and no cheese”.

Yorkshire terriers are tiny dogs with long, silky hair. They were first bred in England to catch rats.

Yeti crabs live deep in the ocean near warm cracks in the sea floor. Their arms are covered in fuzzy hairs, which is how they got their name.

Every zebra has its own stripe pattern, so no two zebras look exactly alike. Zebras live in groups called herds and can sleep standing up.

Zebus are cattle with a big hump on their shoulders and loose, floppy skin under their necks. They handle hot weather well, so farmers in India and Africa keep many of them.

Zebra finches are tiny birds from Australia with bright orange beaks. Young males learn to sing by copying their dads.

Baby zebra sharks have stripes, but grown-ups have spots instead. They like to rest on the sandy sea floor during the day.

The zorilla is a black and white animal from Africa that looks a lot like a skunk. When it is scared, it sprays a very stinky smell.

Zebrafish are small striped fish that come from rivers in South Asia. They can regrow parts of their bodies, like their fins.

The zebra duiker is a small antelope from the rainforests of West Africa. Dark stripes across its back help it hide in the shadows.

Zebra swallowtails are butterflies with black and white stripes and long tails on their back wings. Their caterpillars eat the leaves of pawpaw trees.

Zebra spiders are tiny jumping spiders that often sit on sunny walls. Instead of spinning webs to catch food, they pounce on it.

Zebra mussels are small shellfish with striped shells. They stick tightly to rocks, boats and even each other.

The zander is a big fish that lives in lakes and rivers in Europe. Its large eyes help it see and hunt in dim, murky water.

Zokors are chubby rodents from China that spend almost all their lives underground. They use their strong front claws to dig long tunnels.