Both feared and respected, often appearing in traditional stories and as a symbol of danger and power

While it’s one of the largest snakes in the world, it’s smaller than its green cousin

Also known as “barking deer” because of their loud, barking alarm calls

Well-adapted to the cold Arctic climate and can withstand temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F)

Loud birds with a distinct three-note whistling sound

With their stately waddle and regal demeanor, they are the undisputed monarchs of the Antarctic ice

Known for their bright plumage and lively behavior, making them some of the most recognizable birds in the tropics

Can hang upside down while feeding!

Don’t let their name fool you; they actually prefer to eat mussels and limpets rather than oysters!

Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

The biggest of all the hammerhead sharks, with a massive head that looks like a giant, flat hammer

Got the looks of a hawk with the scavenging habits of a vulture

Fearless defenders of their nests and chicks, often taking on much larger animals or humans if they perceive a threat

This bird is a real chatterbox, constantly announcing its presence with its loud, three-part call – “kis-ka-dee!”

A champion swimmer and a social butterfly of the warm seas

They don’t build their own nests – they cleverly take over burrows abandoned by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or even tortoises!

Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water

Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water

Remarkable architects that construct domed nests from mud and straw

Its song is often associated with the arrival of spring and is a symbol of joy and renewal

Introduced to many regions where it is now considered an invasive species

They eat almost anything that comes their way – you name it, they’ll try to snack on it!

Speed and power embodied, they rule the seas with their sleek bodies and jaw-dropping leaping prowess

Majestic giants of the sea, they peacefully glide through the ocean with mouths agape, filtering the waters for sustenance

Opportunistic predators of the open ocean, their aggressive and persistent feeding behaviour strikes fear into the hearts of their prey

Gentle giants of the sea, with mouths wide open to filter the ocean’s bounty

Majestic ocean predators, embodying power, speed, and precision in their pursuit of prey

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

The Pleistocene armadillo with a car-sized shell and a lethal tail

Despite its name, this animal was not a true tiger, nor was it related to any modern cat

Discover the mystery of a prehistoric giant: an enormous herbivore with powerful claws and a tragic fate

These wild cats are cute, intelligent, agile, and well-adapted to inhabiting tropical and subtropical forests

Survival of the fittest? This cat takes it to a whole new level, always ready to pounce and conquer any habitat

Small but mighty, this cat is a stealthy predator that swims, climbs and hunts with sass and style

Small, sly, and swift – it may be pint-sized, but it packs a punch when it comes to survival in the grasslands

Communicate using various vocalizations such as whistles, whinnies, and growls

Their neck vertebrae have a hinge mechanism that allows it to dart its long neck and pierce its prey quickly

An impressively acrobatic bird that can catch flying fish mid-jump

The most cosmopolitan of owls with home ranges extending across the globe

The largest native living bird of America

These petrels stylishly ride the ocean waves like they own the winds

Impressive flights but clumsy walking on the ground are observed in these birds due to awkward legs

These mighty birds have the longest wingspan, second only to wandering albatrosses

The humongous bird with the largest wing span of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) – seems straight out of a fantasy movie

The largest toucan there is with a long and serrated beak

An easily recognizable bird due to its pink body and spatulate bill

The most widely dispersed wild bird

The scarlet ambush hunter

They don’t need salt, bamboo sticks, or forks to deshell a snail – they have a well-adapted bill to do the job

The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly

A common scavenger bird that cleans up the roads of Central and South America

At the speed of over 321 km/h (200 mph), this bird outraces a Formula1 car

One of the tallest flying birds of Americas

Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide

Try playing hide and seek with this bird in snowy lands

This bird can give any cross-country runner a run for their money

This bird holds the record of the longest distance flown by any bird in recorded history

The most colorful vulture, with the orange cruncle

Did someone say birds don’t participate in marathons? Wait, we have a worthy contestant here

One of only six land-birds with a cosmopolitan distribution habituating all continents except Antarctica

The largest member of the order Carnivora, adult males, can be six times larger than polar bears!

Unfortunately, they are commonly killed for their habits of damaging fishing nets and stealing fish from fishing and farming operations

The smallest of the river dolphins and the only one that swims in saltwater oceans

Most common of right whales, cruising the southern oceans

These specialist predators of termites and ants are not immune to ant bites

The largest living armadillo, growing up to 1.5m (5 ft) in length, yet it feeds on tiny termites!

Able to swim and will shallow air just before entering the water to assist with buoyancy

Found all over the Americas, it is the most widespread species of all armadillos

Despite the common name, they do not feed on crabs exclusively

Don’t be fooled by their harmless appearances; they can hunt caiman, piranhas, and anacondas in the wild!

The most widespread large mammal of the Americas: from Canada’s Yukon to the Andes in South America

Secretive and solitary, inhabiting various habitats of Central and South America

They are picky eaters, often plucking off all the furs or feathers of the prey before start eating them

This solitary cat is America’s largest feline and the world’s third, after the tiger and the lion

During the wet season, they search for crabs in muddy floodplains

With an identity of its own, it’s neither a wolf nor a fox — however, wearing long ears is probably a fashion statement

Allomothering is a common activity: females of a group display communal care for each other’s infants

The mysterious diver of the ocean is the largest and only sea turtle without a hard shell and scales