Mammals
Warm-blooded animals with fur or hair that feed milk to their babies, including humans, dogs, whales, and elephants.
Koala
Koala
Scientific Name
Phascolarctos cinereus
Weight LB
9–33 lb (Southern koalas are larger than northern ones)
Average Life Span
10–12 years (Wild); up to 18 years (Captivity)
Fact
Koalas have one of the most specialized and "low-energy" diets on Earth. They eat almost nothing but eucalyptus leaves, which are extremely fibrous and toxic to most other animals. Because this diet provides very little nutrition, koalas have evolved to conserve energy by sleeping for up to 18 to 22 hours a day.
Weight KG
4–15 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Leopard
Leopard
Scientific Name
Panthera pardus
Weight LB
62–132 lb (Female); 80–198 lb (Male)
Average Life Span
12–17 years
Fact
Leopards are the strongest climbers among the big cats. They often haul heavy prey—sometimes animals twice their own body weight—high up into the branches of trees. They do this to protect their meal from scavengers like hyenas and lions who might try to steal it.
Weight KG
28–60 kg (Female); 37–90 kg (Male)
Continent
Asia
Region
Asia
Lion
Lion
Scientific Name
Panthera leo
Weight LB
265–420 lb (Female); 330–550 lb (Male)
Average Life Span
10–14 years (Wild); up to 25 years (Captivity)
Fact
A lion's roar is so powerful that it can be heard from up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) away. This thunderous sound is used to communicate with pride members and warn rivals to stay away from their territory.
Weight KG
120–190 kg (Female); 150–250 kg (Male)
Country
India
Continent
Asia
Llama
Llama
Scientific Name
Lama glama
Weight LB
280–450 lbs
Average Life Span
15-25 years
Fact
Llamas are extremely intelligent and are often used as "guard animals" for sheep and goats; they will chase off predators like coyotes and foxes to protect their herd.
Weight KG
113 to 181 kg
Continent
South America
Moose
Moose
Scientific Name
Alces alces
Weight LB
594-1584 lbs
Average Life Span
15-25 years
Fact
Moose are giant, cold-loving deer known for their impressive antlers (males) that regrow yearly, their ability to swim powerfully and even dive for aquatic plants, and their "twig eater" diet, but a fun fact is that their hollow hair helps them float and stay warm, and they have poor eyesight but incredible hearing and smell to compensate for blind spots!.
Weight KG
270-720 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Habitat
Boreal forests, lake sides, wetlands
Diet
Herbivore
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Region
Asia, North America
Orangutan
Orangutan
Scientific Name
Pongo (includes P. abelii, P. pygmaeus, and P. tapanuliensis)
Weight LB
80–110 lb (Female); 110–200+ lb (Male)
Average Life Span
35–45 years (Wild); up to 50+ years (Captivity)
Fact
Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes. While chimps and gorillas live in large social groups, adult male orangutans spend about 90% of their time alone. They have an incredible reach; an adult male's arm span can be up to 7 feet (2.2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip—longer than they are tall! This allows them to bridge gaps between trees in the canopy without ever having to touch the ground.
Weight KG
37–50 kg (Female); 50–90+ kg (Male)
Country
Indonesia
Continent
Asia
Orca
Orca
Scientific Name
Orcinus orca
Weight LB
6,000–12,000 lb (Up to 22,000 lb for large males)
Average Life Span
30–50 years (Wild males); 50–80 years (Wild females)
Fact
Orcas are among the most socially complex animals on the planet. They live in matrilineal pods led by the oldest female, and each pod has its own unique culture. This includes a specific "dialect" of vocalizations and specialized hunting techniques passed down through generations. Some pods specialize in eating fish, while others—known as "transient" orcas—hunt large mammals like seals, dolphins, and even the calves of Great Blue Whales.
Weight KG
2,700–5,400 kg (Up to 10,000 kg for large males)
Region
Africa, Arctic, Asia, Australia, Bermuda, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Polar Bear
Polar Bear
Scientific Name
Ursus maritimus
Weight LB
330–550 lb (Female); 770–1,500 lb (Male)
Average Life Span
15–20 years (Wild); up to 30+ years (Captivity)
Fact
Despite their snowy appearance, Polar Bears are not actually white. Their long outer guard hairs are translucent and hollow, reflecting visible light to provide camouflage in the ice. Beneath that thick coat, their skin is jet black. This black skin is an evolutionary marvel designed to absorb as much heat as possible from the sun's rays to keep the bear warm in temperatures that can drop to $-34$°C.
Weight KG
150–250 kg (Female); 350–700 kg (Male)
Continent
North America
Region
Arctic, Europe, North America
Raccoon
Raccoon
Scientific Name
Procyon lotor
Weight LB
4.4-30.8 Lbs
Average Life Span
2-20 years
Fact
Raccoons are incredibly smart and have human-like dexterity in their paws, allowing them to solve complex puzzles and open locks, with their "washing" behavior actually enhancing their sensitive touch to feel their food better; their black eye mask reduces glare, improving their excellent night vision, and they can even rotate their hind feet 180 degrees to climb down trees headfirst.
Weight KG
2-14 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Habitat
Woodlands
Diet
Omnivore
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Region
North America
Red Fox
Red Fox
Scientific Name
Vulpes vulpes
Weight LB
6–31 lb
Average Life Span
3–5 years (up to 14 years in captivity)
Fact
A fun fact about Vulpes vulpes (the red fox) is that they have vertical, slit-like pupils, similar to cats, which help them see incredibly well in low light, and they use their bushy tails for balance, warmth, and communication, often with a white tip. They are also highly vocal, using over 40 different calls, and can leap great distances to pounce on prey, a hunting technique called "mousing".
Weight KG
3–14 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Habitat
forests, Grasslands, Mountains, urban areas
Diet
Omnivore
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Region
North America
Red Panda
Red Panda
Scientific Name
Ailurus fulgens
Weight LB
7–13 lb
Average Life Span
8–10 years (Wild); up to 15 years (Captivity)
Fact
Like the Giant Panda, the Red Panda has a "false thumb"—an extended wrist bone used to grip bamboo while eating. Despite their name, they are not closely related to the Giant Panda; they simply evolved similar traits because they share the same high-altitude bamboo forest habitat. Interestingly, they were discovered and named "Panda" about 50 years before the Giant Panda was even known to the Western world!
Weight KG
3–6 kg
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Region
Asia
Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard
Scientific Name
Panthera uncia
Weight LB
50–120 lb
Average Life Span
10–12 years (Wild); up to 22 years (Captivity)
Fact
Snow leopards have several unique physical adaptations for the cold. Their tails are nearly as long as their bodies (up to 40 inches), acting as a counterbalance for balance on steep cliffs and as a built-in "blanket" that they wrap around their faces while sleeping.
Weight KG
22–55 kg
Country
Chile
Continent
Asia