Australia
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
Central Bearded Dragon
Central Bearded Dragon
Scientific Name
Pogona vitticeps
Weight LB
0.6–1.2 lb
Average Life Span
8–12 years (up to 15 in captivity)
Fact
A fun fact about Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, is they have a tiny "third eye" (parietal eye) on top of their head that detects light and shadows, helping them spot predators from above, and they also communicate with head bobbing, arm waving, and puffing their spiky "beards" black when threatened.
Weight KG
0.3–0.55 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Habitat
Deserts, Dry woodlands
Type
Reptiles
Diet
Omnivore
Conservation Status
Least Concern
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
Emu
Emu
Scientific Name
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Weight LB
66–132 lb
Average Life Span
10–20 years (Wild); up to 35 years (Captivity)
Fact
Unlike the Ostrich which has two toes, the Emu has three toes on each foot. This provides them with exceptional balance and stability for sprinting across the Australian outback. They can reach speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h) and have a stride that can be nearly 9 feet long. Their legs are among the strongest in the animal kingdom—strong enough to rip down metal wire fences.
Weight KG
30–60 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Type
Birds
Giant oceanic manta ray
Giant oceanic manta ray
Scientific Name
Mobula birostris
Weight LB
6600 Lbs
Average Life Span
20 years
Fact
Manta rays are giant, gentle filter-feeders with unique belly spots like fingerprints, the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish, and the ability to "fly" out of the water, performing incredible acrobatics despite their massive size (wingspans up to 29 feet!). They constantly swim to breathe and feed on plankton, visiting "cleaning stations" for hygiene and displaying high intelligence, including recognizing themselves in mirrors.
Weight KG
3000 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Habitat
Ocean
Type
Fish
Diet
Carnivore
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Great White Shark
Great White Shark
Scientific Name
Carcharodon carcharias
Weight LB
1,500–5,000 lb
Average Life Span
30–70 years
Fact
A fun fact about great white sharks is that they are partially warm-blooded, allowing them to maintain a body temperature warmer than the surrounding water, which helps them hunt faster in colder seas, and they possess a "sixth sense" (electroreception) to detect the electrical fields of prey, even those hiding in sand. They also have rows of serrated, triangular teeth that can reach nearly 7 inches, and their skin is covered in tiny scales that reduce drag for speed.
Weight KG
680–2,300 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Habitat
Ocean
Type
Fish
Diet
Carnivore
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
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
Moon Jelly
Moon Jelly
Scientific Name
Aurelia aurita
Weight LB
0.2–0.4 lb
Average Life Span
Up to 1 year
Fact
Moon jellies are fascinating because they have no brain, heart, or blood, are 95% water, and have a multi-purpose opening that acts as a mouth and anus, but a fun fact is they can de-age and get younger during their life cycle, with their polyp stage surviving for decades waiting for the right conditions to become adult jellyfish.
Weight KG
0.1–0.2 kg
Country
Indonesia
Continent
Asia
Habitat
Ocean, sea
Type
Cnidarian
Diet
Carnivore
Conservation Status
Not evaluated
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
Western Honey Bee
Western Honey Bee
Scientific Name
Apis mellifera
Weight LB
0.00025 lb
Average Life Span
Worker: 5–7 weeks (summer), Queen: 2–5 years
Fact
They use a "waggle dance" to communicate the direction and distance of food sources to other bees.
Weight KG
0.0001 kg
Continent
Europe
Habitat
farms, forests, gardens, Meadows
Type
Invertebrates
Diet
Herbivore
Conservation Status
Data Deficient