Common barn owl (Tyto alba): appearance, behaviour, and human links Common barn owl Overview of the common barn owl (Tyto alba): taxonomy, appearance, habitat, diet, breeding, conservation and its role near farms and woodlands.
Common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) Common basilisk A medium-to-large neotropical lizard known for its ability to run across water. Found in lowland rainforests near rivers from Central to South America; notable for crest, long tail…
Common bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) Common bronzewing A widespread Australian pigeon with iridescent wing patches, the common bronzewing inhabits woodlands and open country, feeds mainly on seeds and plant material, and plays a role i…
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo) Common buzzard A widespread Old World raptor, the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-sized, highly variable hawk that inhabits woodlands and open country across Europe and Asia and plays a…
Common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) Common collared lizard A compact overview of the common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris): appearance, behavior, habitat, reproduction, conservation, and its role as Oklahoma's state lizard.
Common coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui) Common coquí A small terrestrial tree frog native to Puerto Rico, famed for its loud nocturnal two-note call, direct egg development, cultural importance, and invasive presence in parts of Hawa…
Common crane (Grus grus) — Eurasian crane Common crane The common crane (Grus grus) is a widespread Eurasian species of the family Gruidae, noted for long migrations, elaborate courtship displays, and cultural importance across Europe…
Common eider (Somateria mollissima) Common eider A large northern sea duck known for colonial coastal nesting, down-lined nests, diving for shellfish, and wide wintering flocks across Europe, North America and Siberia.
Common frog (Rana temporaria) Common frog A widespread European amphibian (Rana temporaria) with variable brown or green coloration. Breeds in ponds and wetlands; found from Iberia and Italy to the Arctic Circle and many i…
Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Common kingfisher A small, brightly colored river bird of Eurasia and North Africa. A specialist fish-eater that dives from perches, nests in riverbank burrows, and is widely recognizable by its blu…
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) Common krait A nocturnal, highly venomous elapid snake of South Asia, known for potent neurotoxic venom, secretive behaviour, and significance in human-snake conflict and medical management of…
Common loon (Great Northern Diver): biology, behavior, and conservation Common loon A concise overview of the common loon (Gavia immer), covering appearance, range, feeding, breeding, vocalizations, and conservation concerns for this iconic northern waterbird.
Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Common marmoset Small New World primate native to Brazil, known for tree‑gum feeding, claw‑like nails, cooperative social groups, vocal communication and adaptability to disturbed habitats.
Common night adder (Causus rhombeatus) Common night adder A concise overview of the common night adder, a small venomous viper of sub-Saharan Africa: its appearance, behavior, habitat, diet, medical significance, and how it differs from o…
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) Common pipistrelle A small, widespread insectivorous bat found across Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia; roosts in buildings and trees and distinguished by its 45 kHz echolocation call.
Common toad (Bufo bufo) Common toad The common toad (Bufo bufo) is a widespread European amphibian with dry, warty skin, parotoid glands that produce toxins, nocturnal feeding habits and spring migrations to breed in…
Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) Common wombat A compact, burrowing marsupial native to southeast Australia and Tasmania; a herbivore known for its stout build, backward pouch and cube-shaped droppings, important as an ecosyste…
Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) Common wood pigeon Large, grey pigeon with distinctive white neck and wing patches. Widespread in woodlands, farmland and towns across Europe and western Asia; feeds on seeds, fruit and crops and nes…
Common yabby (Cherax destructor): overview, identification, and human uses Common yabby The common yabby (Cherax destructor) is an Australian freshwater crayfish known for variable colouration, burrowing habits, importance to aquaculture and aquaria, and expanding pop…
Companion dog A companion dog is kept primarily for friendship and emotional support rather than for work; this article explains characteristics, differences from service dogs, benefits, history…
Compsognathus — a small Late Jurassic theropod Compsognathus Compsognathus was a small bipedal carnivorous theropod from Late Jurassic Europe, known from two nearly complete specimens that preserve stomach contents and illuminate small-thero…
Condor (New World vulture) Condor A profile of condors — the two New World vulture species, their appearance, ecology, taxonomy, cultural significance, and conservation challenges.
Condorraptor Condorraptor is a Middle Jurassic megalosauroid theropod from Patagonia, known from fragmentary remains. A mid-sized bipedal predator (~4.5 m), it is often compared to Piatnitzkysa…
Confuciusornis — an early beaked bird from the Early Cretaceous Confuciusornis Confuciusornis is a crow-sized Early Cretaceous bird from northeastern China, notable as the earliest known bird with a toothless beak, a pygostyle, abundant fossil specimens, and…
Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis): an overview of Africa's native peafowl Congo peafowl A concise encyclopedia entry on the Congo peafowl covering identification, habitat, behavior, relationships to other birds, threats, and conservation.
Conidae (cone snails): predatory marine gastropods Conidae Conidae, known as cone snails, are a family of predatory marine gastropods with conical shells and a venomous harpoon-like radular tooth; their toxins are studied for medicine and…
Conus (cone snails): biology, venom, distribution, and research Conus Conus, commonly called cone snails, are venomous marine gastropods known for conical shells, a harpoon-like radular tooth, diverse conotoxins, and importance in neuroscience and ph…
Cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) Cookiecutter shark A small, oceanic shark known for taking round plugs of flesh from larger animals; widely distributed in warm waters and notable for bioluminescence and a distinctive biting method.
Cope's gray treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) Cope's gray treefrog A compact overview of Cope's gray treefrog, Dryophytes chrysoscelis: appearance, life cycle, habitat, range, distinguishing features and conservation notes.
Copenhagen Zoo Copenhagen Zoo, founded in 1859 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, is a historic urban zoo known for its architecture, diverse species collections, conservation work and public outreach…
Copepod — small planktonic crustacean Copepod Copepods are tiny, often planktonic crustaceans found in marine and freshwater habitats. They form a key link in aquatic food webs, with diverse free-living and parasitic forms and…
Copper pheasant (Syrmaticus soemmerringii): appearance, habitat and conservation Copper pheasant Large, long-tailed pheasant endemic to Japan. Overview of appearance, behavior, range, diet, breeding, threats and legal protection, with links to further resources.
Coprophagia: causes, occurrence, health risks, and management Coprophagia Coprophagia is the consumption of feces. This article explains its occurrence across species, the special case of cecotrophy, likely causes, health risks, and practical approaches…
Coral: structure, reefs, ecology and conservation Coral Corals are marine animals that build reefs, host symbiotic algae, and form crucial ecosystems. This article explains their biology, reef formation, threats like bleaching, and cons…
Coral snake A group of small, often brightly banded elapid snakes (Old World and New World) known for neurotoxic venom, secretive habits, and mimicry by other species; includes genera Callioph…
Cormorant: Overview, Characteristics, Behavior and Human Interactions Cormorant Cormorants (family Phalacrocoracidae) are medium-to-large aquatic birds—around 40 species—known for diving for fish, dark plumage, and historic use in coastal fisheries.
Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus): natural history, identification, and captive care Corn snake Comprehensive overview of the North American corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus): identification, distribution, ecology, color morphs, captive care, and its distinction from similar…
Cornu aspersum (garden snail) Cornu aspersum Cornu aspersum, the garden snail, is a small, widespread terrestrial gastropod native to Europe, often considered a garden pest, noted for its variable banded shell, hermaphroditic…
Corroboree frog Small, brightly banded Australian frogs of the genus Pseudophryne; two species with distinctive yellow-and-black patterns, specialised alpine wetland habitats, toxic skin secretion…
Corsac fox (Vulpes corsac) Corsac fox The corsac fox is a medium-sized steppe fox of central Asia, adapted to semi-deserts and grasslands. It is social, lives in communal dens, and faces pressure from hunting for its f…
Corvida — obsolete grouping of songbirds Corvida Corvida was a historical grouping of oscine songbirds within Passeri. Once used to assemble many Australasian and tropical families, the term is now abandoned because it is paraphy…
Corvidae — the crow family: crows, ravens, jays and allies Corvidae Corvidae is a widespread family of passerine birds including crows, ravens, jays, magpies and allies. Noted for intelligence, social behaviour and adaptability, the family contains…
Corythosaurus — the crested duck-billed dinosaur Corythosaurus Corythosaurus, a lambeosaurine hadrosaur from Late Cretaceous North America, is known for its helmet-like hollow crest, complex teeth, and facultative bipedal gait. It likely used…
Coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) Coscoroba swan A compact white swan native to southern South America, notable for its intermediate traits between true swans, geese and ducks and close genetic affinity with the Cape Barren goose…
Cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus): ecology, appearance, and conservation Cotton mouse Small North American rodent native to the southeastern United States; natural history, habitat, behavior, and conservation status, including threatened local populations.
Cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus) Cottontail rabbit Cottontail rabbits are small to medium-sized American rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus, recognized by their white tail undersides, widespread across diverse habitats and important a…
Courtship in Animals: Behaviors, Functions and Notable Examples Courtship in animals Courtship in animals comprises the behaviors that attract and secure mates, ranging from dances and displays to chemical signals; it shapes sexual selection, pair bonds, and reprod…
Cowbird (Molothrus): brood-parasitic New World blackbirds Cowbird Cowbirds are brood-parasitic blackbirds (genus Molothrus) of the New World. They lay eggs in other species' nests, associate with grazing mammals, and affect host populations and c…
