Monitor Lizard

Monitor Lizard

Magpie

Magpie

Termite

Termite

Manta Ray

Manta Ray

Spider Monkey

Spider Monkey

Paddlefish

Paddlefish

King Cobra

King Cobra

Coral

Coral

Hummingbird

Hummingbird

Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

Shrew

Shrew

Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe Crab

Golden Oriole

Golden Oriole

Flying Squirrel

Flying Squirrel

Hoatzin

Hoatzin

Puffin

Puffin

Llama

Llama

Dog

Dog

Sponge

Sponge

Cricket

Cricket

Animal Information

Monitor Lizard (Varanus (genus name, some colloquially called 'Five-clawed Dragon'))

Type:Reptile (Suborder Lacertilia, Varanidae)
Distribution:Tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia

"Monitor lizards are large predatory lizards (Komodo dragon is one type), with forked tongues like snakes and a keen sense of smell."

Magpie (Eurasian Magpie)

Type:Bird (Passeriformes, Corvidae)
Distribution:Eurasia, northwestern North America, and northwestern Africa

"Magpies are known for their black and white plumage and habit of collecting shiny objects; they symbolize good fortune in China."

Termite (White Ant (common misnomer))

Type:Insect (Blattodea, formerly Isoptera)
Distribution:Global tropical and subtropical regions, a few distributed in temperate zones

"Termites feed on cellulose from wood, can build complex nests, and some queens can live for decades."

Manta Ray (Devilfish, Blanket Ray)

Type:Fish (Cartilaginous, Mobulidae)
Distribution:Surface waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide

"Manta rays are the largest rays, feed on plankton, and sometimes leap out of the water."

Spider Monkey (None)

Type:Mammal (Primate, Atelidae)
Distribution:Tropical rainforests of Central and South America

"Spider monkeys have long, slender limbs and tails; their prehensile tails act like a fifth limb, allowing agile movement through trees."

Paddlefish (American Paddlefish, Spoonbill Catfish)

Type:Fish (Actinopterygii, Acipenseriformes)
Distribution:Mississippi River basin in the United States

"Paddlefish have a very long, paddle-shaped snout (rostrum) covered in sensory receptors for detecting plankton; they are filter feeders."

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Type:Reptile (Suborder Serpentes, Elapidae)
Distribution:Forests and shrublands of South and Southeast Asia

"The king cobra is the world's longest venomous snake, primarily preys on other snakes, and can raise the front third of its body off the ground."

Coral (Reef-building coral)

Type:Cnidarian (Anthozoa)
Distribution:Shallow tropical and subtropical marine areas worldwide

"Coral reefs are formed by the calcium carbonate skeletons secreted by thousands of tiny coral polyps."

Hummingbird (None)

Type:Bird (Apodiformes)
Distribution:The Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, mainly in the tropics

"Hummingbirds are among the smallest birds, can hover and fly backward, feed on nectar, and have extremely high metabolisms."

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, Hump Whale)

Type:Mammal (Marine Cetacean, Mysticeti)
Distribution:All major oceans worldwide, undertaking seasonal migrations

"Humpback whales are known for their spectacular breaching behavior and complex courtship songs; their pectoral fins are exceptionally long."

Shrew (Soricidae (family name))

Type:Mammal (Soricomorpha, Soricidae)
Distribution:Terrestrial areas worldwide, except Australia, Antarctica, and some islands

"Shrews are among the smallest mammals, have extremely high metabolisms, need to eat constantly, and some species are venomous."

Horseshoe Crab (King Crab (misnomer), Limulidae (family name))

Type:Arthropod (Merostomata, Xiphosura)
Distribution:Shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic coast of North America and Southeast/East Asia

"Horseshoe crabs are ancient marine arthropods, their form almost unchanged for hundreds of millions of years; their blue blood is used for medical testing."

Golden Oriole (Eurasian Golden Oriole)

Type:Bird (Passeriformes, Oriolidae)
Distribution:Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; winters in tropical Africa

"Male golden orioles have golden-yellow plumage and melodious songs but are secretive and not easily observed."

Flying Squirrel (Pteromyini (tribe name))

Type:Mammal (Rodentia, Sciuridae - Pteromyini tribe)
Distribution:Forests of North America, Europe, and Asia

"Flying squirrels have a gliding membrane (patagium) between their front and hind limbs, allowing them to glide from high to low places; they are nocturnal and arboreal."

Hoatzin (Stinkbird, Canje Pheasant)

Type:Bird (Opisthocomiformes)
Distribution:Swamps and riverside forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America

"Hoatzins are herbivorous birds with a unique digestive system; chicks have claws on their wings to help climb, and they have a peculiar musky odor."

Puffin (Atlantic Puffin (common))

Type:Bird (Charadriiformes)
Distribution:Cliffs and islands along the coasts of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

"Puffins have brightly colored beaks during the breeding season, resembling clowns; they are skilled at diving for fish and are often called 'sea parrots' or 'clowns of the sea'."

Llama (Lama glama (sometimes confused with Guanaco))

Type:Mammal (Artiodactyla, Camelidae)
Distribution:Native to the Andes Mountains of South America; domesticated

"Llamas are important pack and wool animals in South America; they are gentle but will spit when agitated."

Dog (Canine, Domestic Dog)

Type:Mammal
Distribution:Widely distributed globally as pets and working animals

"Dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell, thousands to millions of times stronger than humans, with great variation among breeds."

Sponge (Porifera (phylum name))

Type:Porifera (Phylum)
Distribution:Oceans worldwide, a few in freshwater

"Sponges are among the most primitive multicellular animals, with bodies full of pores, filtering food through water currents."

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."