The wolf is an animal that has captured the imaginations of humans for millennia. Wolves are native to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They are the ancestors of "man's best friend," the domestic dog, but they have been both respected and reproached... Read more
In popular culture, beehives are often involved in honey gathering or a character being stung by a swarm of angry bees. We see one example of this in Winnie the Pooh, quoted above. Other animated films, such as Bee Movie, are centered entirely around this hard-working animal... Read more
Salmon are large fish that spend part of their lives in freshwater and part in saltwater. They have a unique life cycle in which they hatch in rivers and streams, live most of their adult life in the ocean, then return to their birthplaces to spawn... Read more
The griffin, also spelled griffon or gryphon, is a mythological creature with roots in the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean regions. It has the body of a lion and the wings and head of a bird, usually an eagle. Some also bore ears like those of horses. Such creatures have also been called alke, keythong, or Opinicus. The griffin was often paired with the sphinx, a creature with a human head and a lion's body... Read more
Sparrows are a common sight the world over, being native or imported to every continent except Antarctica. These small brown birds are comfortable around human settlements, and their habitats range from forests to deserts to open country. They eat seeds and insects, and many are quite vocal... Read more
The bald eagle, a type of sea eagle, is the national bird of the United States. It appears on the national seal and many coins, as well as on decorations for patriotic holidays, such as the Fourth of July... Read more
The bobcat, also called the wildcat or bay lynx, is a North American mammal. Bobcats are slightly larger than the average housecat, weighing 15 to 33 pounds (7 to 15 kilograms). Bobcats can live almost anywhere - deserts, forests, and even cities... Read more
Nearly 60 species of falcons live in various climates throughout the world. They are birds of prey resembling the related hawks and eagles. Falcons are known for their speed and grace. In fact, a diving peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world. They often nest on the sides of cliffs or tall buildings... Read more
There are about 33 species of rattlesnake native to North and South America. Rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers marked by a unique tail structure. Each snake is born with one button or rattle segment. Within a week of birth, they shed their skin and a second button is left behind. This happens every time the snake sheds its skin... Read more
The great white shark, also known as the white shark or white pointer, is the largest extant species of mackerel shark. This animal can grow to a length of 20 feet (6.1 meters) and weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg). They may live 70 years or more in the wild... Read more
The bass is a North American game fish or sport fish, part of a family of fishes known as sunfish. A number of unrelated saltwater fish are known as sea bass... Read more
The jaguar is a big cat native to Central and South America. It typically inhabits a tropical habitat, but sometimes this animal ranges as far north as the United States. An individual was known in Arizona from 2011 to 2016. It is the third-largest cat in the world; only the lion and tiger are larger. Its name means "real beast of prey" in the Tupi language... Read more
Chase is one of the main protagonists of the animated series Paw Patrol. He is second in command after the 10-year-old human boy, Ryder. Along with a team of seven other pups, Chase and Ryder work hard to keep the inhabitants of Adventure Bay safe... Read more
The toucan is a tropical bird famous for its large, colorful beak. There are about 15 species of toucan native to South and Central America. Smaller birds similar in appearance to toucans are called toucanets or aracaris... Read more
Grizzly bears or brown bears are one of the largest predators in North America. In fact, the Kodiak bear, a subspecies of the grizzly that lives on Alaskan islands, is the largest land carnivore in the world. These North American brown bears are the descendants of the Eurasian brown bear... Read more
Totoro is the title character of an animated 1988 fantasy film. My Neighbor Totoro follows the adventures of two young girls in rural post-war Japan who move into a new home. Their friends include dust-like spirits called susuwatari, a cat-shaped bus, and the large rabbit-like spirit of the woods known as Totoro... Read more
Golden retrievers are a popular dog breed. Retrievers are a type of sporting dog or gundog that can be trained to retrieve or fetch game that has been shot down by a hunter... Read more
The centaur is a legendary creature of Greek mythology. The centaur was purportedly part horse and part man. Many were said to dwell in the mountains of Arcadia and Thessaly. Centaurs were depicted as drawing the chariot of Dionysus, the god of wine, or being ridden by Eros, the god of love... Read more
The Kraken is a sea monster of ancient legend, part of the mythology of Europe's Scandinavian region. The Kraken was purported to be large enough to sink a ship at sea... Read more
The snow leopard or ounce is one of 37 species of cats found throughout the world. This long-haired big cat lives in the snowy mountains of Asia. It feels right at home at elevations up to 5,500 meters or 18,000 feet!... Read more