Lionfish

Lionfish

Oilbird

Oilbird

Goshawk

Goshawk

Mudskipper

Mudskipper

Owl

Owl

European Starling

European Starling

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Parrot

Parrot

Bobcat

Bobcat

Lovebird

Lovebird

Common Moorhen

Common Moorhen

Snail

Snail

Guinea Pig

Guinea Pig

Vulture

Vulture

Vole

Vole

Monkey

Monkey

Ptarmigan

Ptarmigan

Dung Beetle

Dung Beetle

Nautilus

Nautilus

Cricket

Cricket

Animal Information

Lionfish (Pterois, Turkeyfish (some colloquial names))

Type:Fish (Scorpaeniformes, Scorpaenidae)
Distribution:Native to the Indo-Pacific, now an invasive species in the Western Atlantic and Mediterranean

"Lionfish have venomous fin spines, are brightly colored with exaggerated forms, are popular ornamental fish, and also an invasive species."

Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis)

Type:Bird (Caprimulgiformes, Steatornithidae)
Distribution:Caves in northern South America and Trinidad

"Oilbirds are the only nocturnal, fruit-eating birds, capable of navigating in dark caves using echolocation."

Goshawk (Northern Goshawk)

Type:Bird (Accipitriformes, Accipitridae)
Distribution:Temperate and boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere

"Goshawks are medium to large raptors, fast and agile fliers, often hunting birds and small mammals in forests."

Mudskipper (Goby, Periophthalmus)

Type:Fish (Perciformes, Gobiidae)
Distribution:Intertidal mudflats and mangrove forests of the Indo-West Pacific coast

"Mudskippers are amphibious fish, able to crawl and hop on land using their pectoral fins, with eyes protruding from the top of their heads."

Owl (Strigiformes (order name))

Type:Bird (Bird of Prey)
Distribution:Various terrestrial environments worldwide, except Antarctica

"Owls can rotate their heads nearly 270 degrees because their eyes cannot move."

European Starling (Common Starling)

Type:Bird (Passeriformes, Sturnidae)
Distribution:Native to Eurasia, now introduced to North America, Australia, etc.

"European Starlings can form huge flying flocks called 'murmurations', which are spectacular to watch."

Golden Eagle (None)

Type:Bird (Bird of Prey)
Distribution:Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, including mountains and open areas of North America, Eurasia, and North Africa

"Golden eagles are powerful and agile predators, known for their incredible diving speeds when hunting mammals and birds."

Parrot (Macaw, Amazon Parrot (common species))

Type:Bird
Distribution:Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially in South America and Australia

"Many parrot species are known for their ability to mimic human speech and other sounds."

Bobcat (American Bobcat, Wildcat (colloquial))

Type:Mammal (Carnivora, Felidae)
Distribution:North America, from southern Canada to central Mexico

"Bobcats are the most widely distributed wild cat in North America, adapted to various habitats, with short tails."

Lovebird (Agapornis)

Type:Bird (Psittaciformes)
Distribution:Native to mainland Africa and Madagascar, common pets

"Lovebirds are named for their strong pair bonds; they often engage in mutual preening and are small and colorful."

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Type:Bird (Gruiformes, Rallidae)
Distribution:Freshwater wetlands and marshes worldwide, except Australia and polar regions

"Common Moorhens are black with a red frontal shield and beak, large feet, and are skilled at walking on floating vegetation."

Snail (Terrestrial gastropod)

Type:Mollusk (Gastropoda)
Distribution:Moist terrestrial environments worldwide

"Snails crawl using their muscular foot and secrete mucus to aid movement and prevent desiccation."

Guinea Pig (Cavy)

Type:Mammal (Rodentia)
Distribution:Native to the Andes Mountains of South America, now raised globally as pets

"Guinea pigs are social animals, communicate through various sounds, and cannot synthesize their own vitamin C."

Vulture (Old World Vulture)

Type:Bird (Bird of Prey)
Distribution:Parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe, mainly in open areas

"Vultures primarily feed on animal carcasses; their heads and necks are often bare of feathers for easier cleaning of carrion."

Vole (Field Mouse (not House Mouse))

Type:Mammal (Rodentia, Cricetidae - Arvicolinae subfamily)
Distribution:Grasslands, farmlands, and woodlands of North America, Europe, and Asia

"Voles are small herbivorous rodents, numerous in species, and are important food for many raptors and carnivores."

Monkey (Macaque, Baboon (common types))

Type:Mammal (Primate)
Distribution:Tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Central/South America

"Many monkey species are highly social, living in complex groups."

Ptarmigan (Rock Ptarmigan (one type))

Type:Bird (Galliformes, Phasianidae)
Distribution:Arctic tundra and high mountain regions of the Northern Hemisphere

"Ptarmigan plumage changes with the seasons, turning pure white in winter to adapt to snowy environments; they are important tundra birds."

Dung Beetle (Scarab Beetle (ancient Egypt))

Type:Insect (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea)
Distribution:Grasslands, forests, and deserts worldwide, except Antarctica

"Dung beetles feed on animal feces, rolling it into balls and burying it as food or for a nursery."

Nautilus (Living Fossil)

Type:Mollusk (Cephalopoda, Nautilida)
Distribution:Tropical deep-water coral reef slopes of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans

"Nautiluses are ancient cephalopods with spiral external shells containing gas chambers to control buoyancy; known as 'living fossils'."

Cricket (Gryllidae (family name))

Type:Insect (Orthoptera, Grylloidea)
Distribution:Temperate and tropical regions worldwide

"Male crickets chirp by rubbing their forewings together to attract females; some species are kept as pets or used for cricket fighting."