Africa
African Bush Elephant
African Bush Elephant
Scientific Name
Loxodonta africana
Weight LB
6,000–13,000 lb
Average Life Span
60-75 years
Fact
An African Bush Elephant's trunk has around 40,000 muscles (more than your whole body!), allowing incredible dexterity to smell, drink, grasp, and trumpet, while their spongy foot pads let them walk quietly and even "hear" vibrations through the ground, making them surprisingly stealthy giants. They're also 'ecosystem engineers' and use mud baths as sunscreen to protect their sensitive skin from the sun and bugs, showing immense intelligence.
Weight KG
2,700–6,000 kg
Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
Habitat
forests, Grasslands
Type
Mammals
Diet
Herbivore
Conservation Status
Endangered
Barn Owl
Barn Owl
Scientific Name
Tyto alba
Weight LB
0.9–1.3 lbs
Average Life Span
2–4 years (Wild) / Up to 20 years (Captivity)
Fact
Barn Owls have the best hearing of any animal ever tested. Their ears are placed asymmetrically on their head, allowing them to pinpoint the exact location of a mouse rustling in total darkness.
Weight KG
0.4–0.6 kg
Habitat
Grasslands
Type
Birds
Diet
Carnivore
Blue Whale
Blue Whale
Scientific Name
Balaenoptera musculus
Weight LB
200,000–400,000 lbs
Average Life Span
80-90 years
Fact
A Blue Whale's tongue alone weighs as much as an entire elephant, and its heart is the size of a bumper car.
Weight KG
90,000–180,000 kg
Continent
Asia
Type
Mammals
Dolphin
Dolphin
Scientific Name
Delphinus delphis
Weight LB
330–1,400 lb
Average Life Span
40–60 years
Fact
Dolphins possess a biological sonar called echolocation. They emit high-frequency clicks that bounce off objects, allowing them to "see" their surroundings through sound. This sense is so precise that a dolphin can determine the size, shape, and even the density of an object from a distance.
Weight KG
150–635 kg
Continent
Asia
Type
Mammals
Flamingo
Flamingo
Scientific Name
Phoenicopterus roseus
Weight LB
4–9 lbs
Average Life Span
20–30 years (Wild) / Up to 50 years (Captivity)
Fact
Flamingos are born with gray feathers; they only turn pink because of the carotenoid pigments in the algae and brine shrimp they eat!
Weight KG
2–4 kg
Continent
Africa
Type
Birds
Humpback Whale
Humpback Whale
Scientific Name
Megaptera novaeangliae
Weight LB
55,000–66,000 lb
Average Life Span
45–50 years (though some may live up to 80–90)
Fact
Humpbacks are famous for their extraordinarily long pectoral fins, which can reach up to 16 feet (5 meters) in length—about one-third of their total body length. The scientific name Megaptera actually means "big-winged."
Weight KG
25,000–30,000 kg
Type
Mammals
Nile Crocodile
Nile Crocodile
Scientific Name
Crocodylus niloticus
Weight LB
500–1,650 lbs (Large males can exceed 2,000 lbs)
Average Life Span
70–100 years
Fact
Nile Crocodiles have the strongest bite in the animal kingdom, capable of applying a force of about 5,000 psi (pounds per square inch).
Weight KG
225–750 kg
Country
Tanzania
Continent
Africa
Type
Reptiles
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)
Type
Mammals
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Scientific Name
Falco peregrinus
Weight LB
1.5–3.3 lb
Average Life Span
12–15 years (Wild); up to 25 years (Captivity)
Fact
The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet. During its signature hunting dive, called a "stoop," it soars to a great height and then plummets at speeds of over 200 mph (320 km/h).
Weight KG
0.7–1.5 kg
Type
Birds
Pigeon
Pigeon
Scientific Name
Columba livia
Weight LB
9 to 13 ounces
Average Life Span
3-5 years
Fact
Pigeons are the world's oldest domesticated bird. They have been used for thousands of years as messengers, even receiving medals of honor for saving lives during WWI and WWII!
Weight KG
250 to 370 grams
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Type
Birds