Animals

Cetiosaurus — an early British sauropod Cetiosaurus Cetiosaurus, a Middle Jurassic sauropod from Oxfordshire, was among the first sauropods described and is known from relatively complete remains; its study shaped early ideas about…

Chaetocauda (Sichuan or Chinese dormouse) Chaetocauda Chaetocauda sichuanensis is a little-known dormouse from high montane forests of northern Sichuan, China. Only two female specimens have been collected; it is nocturnal, arboreal a…

Chaetodipus — a genus of New World pocket mice Chaetodipus Chaetodipus is a genus of small, seed-eating rodents in arid regions of North America, notable for their fur-lined cheek pouches, bristly pelage, and close relationship to other he…

Chaetognatha (arrow worms): marine predatory planktonic animals Chaetognatha Chaetognaths, or arrow worms, are small, mostly transparent marine predators common in plankton worldwide. This article covers their form, ecology, evolution, diversity and scienti…

Chain pickerel (Esox niger): appearance, habitat, and angling overview Chain pickerel Chain pickerel (Esox niger) is a small pike native to Atlantic and Gulf Coast drainages; an ambush predator found in weedy waters and a popular freshwater game fish with ecological…

Chameleon: biology, traits, distribution, and human interactions Chameleon Chameleons are a distinctive group of primarily insect-eating lizards known for their independently mobile eyes, projectile tongues and remarkable ability to change skin color for…

Chan's megastick (Phobaeticus chani) — the world's longest stick insect Chan's megastick Phobaeticus chani, or Chan's megastick, is a stick insect from Sabah, Borneo, renowned for exceptional length. Known from very few specimens, it remains little studied and may inha…

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): overview, identification, and uses Channel catfish Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is a North American freshwater catfish valued by anglers and aquaculture. Covers identification, habitat, life history, uses, and how it diffe…

Chaohusaurus — an early basal ichthyopterygian from the Early Triassic Chaohusaurus Chaohusaurus is a small, primitive ichthyopterygian from the Lower Triassic of China. It shows transitional anatomy between land reptiles and later dolphin-like ichthyosaurs and pr…

Charadriiformes: the diverse order of shorebirds, gulls, terns and allies Charadriiformes Charadriiformes is a global order of about 350 species including plovers, sandpipers, gulls, terns and auks; varied in form, habitat and behavior and ecologically important as shor…

Charizard Charizard, a Fire/Flying Pokémon originally from the first generation, is an iconic dragon‑like creature known for its evolutions, alternate forms (Mega and Gigantamax), prominent…

Charonosaurus — a large lambeosaurine hadrosaur from Late Cretaceous China Charonosaurus Charonosaurus is a large lambeosaurine hadrosaur known from fossil remains in Heilongjiang, China, near the end of the Cretaceous; notable for a long hollow cranial crest.

Chasmosaurus — a long‑frilled horned dinosaur Chasmosaurus Chasmosaurus was a Late Cretaceous ceratopsid with an elongated frill and modest horns. Fossils from western North America illuminate its anatomy, ecology, and role among horned di…

Cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii) Cheer pheasant The cheer pheasant is a vulnerable, ground-dwelling pheasant of the western Himalaya. This article covers its appearance, behavior, naming history, distribution, threats and conser…

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): the fastest land mammal Cheetah The cheetah is a slender, daytime-active feline native to African savannas and a few parts of Asia, famed for sprinting speed, unique adaptations, and conservation challenges.

Chelicerata: anatomy, evolution, diversity and ecological roles Chelicerata Chelicerata are a major arthropod subphylum including arachnids and horseshoe crabs, defined by chelicerae and a two-part body; they have a long fossil record and play key ecologic…

Chelonia: name, taxonomy and the green sea turtle Chelonia Chelonia refers both to a historical name for the turtle order and to the genus containing the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas); this article explains usage, biology, and conserva…

Domestic Chicken: Biology, Breeds, Husbandry, and Uses for Meat and Eggs Chicken Overview of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus): biology, common breeds, care and husbandry practices, and production systems for meat and eggs from backyard to commerc…

Chigger (Trombiculidae): biology, bites, habitat, and prevention Chigger Small parasitic mites (family Trombiculidae) whose larval stage bites humans and animals, causing intense itching. Overview of appearance, life cycle, habitat, treatment, and preve…

Chihuahua Chihuahua: a small companion dog breed known for its bold temperament, and Mexico’s largest state, noted for deserts, mountains and the Copper Canyon; the name also appears in food…

Chihuahua (dog breed): overview, traits, history, care and uses Chihuahua (dog) A compact encyclopedia entry on the Chihuahua: its appearance, origins, temperament, health and care, common uses as a companion dog, and notable distinctions.

Chimaera (fish) Chimaeras are cartilaginous fishes (order Chimaeriformes), distant relatives of sharks. They have tooth plates, long tapering tails and often live in deep water; about 50 species o…

Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Chimpanzee An encyclopedic overview of the common chimpanzee: appearance, behaviour, cognition, tool use, social structure, distribution, conservation status and its relationship to humans.

Chinchilla: small Andean rodents known for dense fur and social behavior Chinchilla Overview of chinchillas: their appearance, habitat in the Andes, behavior, conservation history, use in fur farming, and basic care as pets.

Chinchillidae: chinchillas, viscachas and their relatives Chinchillidae Chinchillidae is a family of South American rodents including chinchillas and viscachas. This article summarizes their anatomy, behaviour, distribution, taxonomy, fossil record, hu…

Chinese Crested Dog A small companion breed, often hairless with a crest of hair; two varieties (Hairless and Powderpuff). Known for affectionate temperament, special skin and dental care, and a long,…

Chinese fire belly newt (Cynops orientalis) Chinese fire belly newt Small, brightly colored semi‑aquatic salamander native to China, commonly kept as a pet; noted for its orange ventral coloration, smooth skin, aquatic habits, and mild skin toxins.

Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti) Chinese mountain cat A little-known small wildcat native to the high plateaus of western China. Covers appearance, behavior, taxonomy debates, habitat, threats and conservation measures.

Chinese river dolphin (baiji): an overview of Lipotes vexillifer Chinese river dolphin The baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) was a freshwater dolphin once endemic to the Yangtze River in China. Intensive threats led to its functional extinction; it remains an emblem of rive…

Chinkara (Gazella bennettii): the Indian or Jabeer gazelle Chinkara Small gazelle native to South Asia and parts of Iran and Pakistan, adapted to arid plains and scrub; known as the chinkara or Indian gazelle with conservation concerns varying regi…

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) Chinstrap penguin Medium-sized Antarctic penguin notable for a thin black band under the chin; breeds in large pebble-nest colonies, feeds mainly on krill and small fish, and shows regional populati…

Chipmunk: small striped squirrel-like rodents Chipmunk Chipmunks are small, striped rodents in the squirrel family (Sciuridae), known for cheek pouches, burrowing, food hoarding and a distribution across much of North America and parts…

Chiton (Polyplacophora): Marine molluscs with eight-plated shells Chiton Chitons are marine molluscs (class Polyplacophora) with eight articulating plates, a broad muscular foot and a rasping radula. Mostly intertidal grazers worldwide with a long fossi…

Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes): sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras Chondrichthyes Chondrichthyes are jawed fishes with skeletons of cartilage rather than bone. Includes sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras; covers anatomy, classification, ecology, evolution and co…

Chondrophore (Porpitidae): colonial, surface‑dwelling hydrozoans Chondrophore Chondrophores (family Porpitidae) are small colonial hydrozoans that float at the ocean surface. Known members include Porpita porpita and Velella velella; they resemble jellyfish…

Chondrostei — primitive ray-finned fishes Chondrostei Chondrostei are an ancient group of primarily cartilaginous ray-finned fishes, including sturgeons, paddlefishes, bichirs and reedfishes. They retain many ancestral traits and are…

Chordate (phylum Chordata) Chordate Chordates are animals in the phylum Chordata distinguished by a notochord and related structures. The group includes vertebrates and some invertebrates; this article surveys featur…

Chow Chow: History, Traits, Care, and Notable Facts Chow Chow The Chow Chow is an ancient Chinese dog breed known for its blue-black tongue, dense coat, curled tail and dignified, reserved temperament; this article covers appearance, care, hi…

Christmas Island pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi) Christmas Island pipistrelle A small vesper bat once endemic to Christmas Island, Australia. Thought extinct in 2009, it illustrates island vulnerability to invasive species and rapid declines of isolated wild…

Christy's dormouse (Graphiurus christyi) Christy's dormouse A little-known African dormouse from Central Africa. Found in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it inhabits tropical moist lowland forests and is primarily arborea…

Chrysalis: the butterfly pupa and its transformation Chrysalis A chrysalis is the hardened pupal stage of a butterfly during metamorphosis. It shelters the developing adult and shows adaptations for protection, camouflage, and seasonal dormanc…

Chuandongocoelurus: a small tetanuran theropod from Jurassic China Chuandongocoelurus Chuandongocoelurus is a little-known tetanuran theropod dinosaur from the Jurassic of China, known from fragmentary remains. It sheds light on early tetanuran diversity and the evo…

Chub — common name for several freshwater ray-finned fishes Chub Chub is a vernacular name applied to several small-to-medium freshwater ray-finned fishes (mainly in the carp family). This article summarizes their traits, distribution, ecology,…

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) Chukar Alectoris chukar is a Eurasian upland gamebird of the pheasant family, known for its black face band, red bill and legs, rocky-habitat preference, and cultural and sporting signifi…

Churamiti: a monotypic genus of Tanzanian true toads Churamiti Churamiti is a monotypic genus of true toads endemic to Tanzania. Its lone species, Churamiti maridadi, is listed as Critically Endangered because of an extremely limited range and…

Cicada: biology, life cycle, behavior and human interactions Cicada Cicadas are large, loud hemipteran insects known for their mating calls, long subterranean nymph stages (including 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas), and roles in ecosystems and…

Cichlid — diverse freshwater fishes of the family Cichlidae Cichlid Cichlids are a large, diverse family of freshwater fishes known for varied forms, complex parental care (including mouthbrooding), rapid speciation in African rift lakes, and impor…

Ciconiiformes: long‑legged wading birds and their relatives Ciconiiformes Overview of Ciconiiformes, a historical grouping of large wading birds (storks, herons, ibises, spoonbills), with their traits, fossil history, ecology, and conservation notes.