Animals

Cowry (family Cypraeidae) Cowry Cowries are glossy marine gastropods in the family Cypraeidae, mainly tropical. Their distinctive polished shells are biologically unusual and have long cultural, economic and deco…

Coyote (Canis latrans) Coyote A resilient North American canid known for adaptability, vocalizations, and expanding range; important predator and cultural symbol with distinct traits from wolves and foxes.

Coypu (nutria): a semi‑aquatic rodent and its ecological role Coypu Concise account of the coypu (Myocastor coypus): identification, native range, introductions for fur, ecology, impacts on wetlands, and approaches to control and management.

Crab (Brachyura): biology, diversity, and human importance Crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura with a compact carapace and two claws. They occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats and are important ecologic…

Crab spiders (Thomisidae): ambush predators and masters of camouflage Crab spider Crab spiders (family Thomisidae) are ambush predators with crab-like posture, strong front legs and varied camouflage. They occur worldwide in diverse habitats and include about 17…

Crab-eating Frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) Crab-eating Frog A Southeast Asian frog species able to tolerate brackish water. Found in mangroves, rice fields and estuaries, notable for its salt tolerance, wide habitat use, and introduced popu…

Crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) Crab-eating Macaque A Southeast Asian monkey species also called the long-tailed or cynomolgus macaque; common in wild and used widely in research. Discusses appearance, behavior, range, human interac…

Crane (birds and lifting machines) Crane Comprehensive overview of cranes as both large wading birds (family Gruidae) and mechanical lifting devices, covering characteristics, types, history, uses, and notable distinction…

Crane (bird): overview, biology, distribution, and conservation Crane (bird) Cranes are long-legged, long-necked wading birds of the family Gruidae. This article covers their appearance, behaviour, global range, species diversity, cultural role and conserva…

Crane fly (Tipulidae): appearance, life cycle and ecological role Crane fly Crane flies (family Tipulidae) are long-legged dipterans often mistaken for large mosquitoes. This article covers their appearance, life stages, diversity, ecology, and distinction…

Craniata — skull-bearing chordates including vertebrates and hagfishes Craniata Craniata is the clade of chordates characterized by a skull (cranium). It traditionally groups Vertebrata and hagfishes; its limits and relation to vertebrae are debated in anatomy…

Crappie: North American Panfish (Black and White Crappie) Crappie Crappies are two North American freshwater sunfish (genus Pomoxis), the black and white crappie. Coverage includes identification, life history, habitat, angling, culinary use, and…

Craugastoridae: Neotropical direct-developing frogs Craugastoridae Craugastoridae is a family of primarily terrestrial Neotropical frogs that develop directly from eggs to froglets. It contains the genera Craugastor (≈112 species) and Haddadus (2…

Crayfish: freshwater crustaceans, biology, diversity, and human uses Crayfish Crayfish (also crawdads or crawfish) are freshwater crustaceans related to lobsters, crabs and shrimp. They live in streams, ponds and wetlands; over 540 species exist worldwide wi…

Creodonts — extinct early carnivorous mammals Creodont Creodonts were a diverse group of early carnivorous mammals that lived from the Paleocene to the Miocene. They dominated predator niches before modern carnivores displaced them and…

Crepidophryne — highland toads of Costa Rica and Panama Crepidophryne Crepidophryne is a small genus of true toads found in the highland forests of Costa Rica and Panama. They occupy montane habitats, include three recognized species, and are indicat…

Crest (feathers) A bird crest is a grouping of specialized feathers on the head used in display and communication. Crests vary in form and mobility across species and have evolved independently in…

Crested penguin (genus Eudyptes) Crested penguin Crested penguins (genus Eudyptes) are yellow-crested, black-and-white seabirds of subantarctic islands, notable for head plumes, red bills and a two-egg breeding system with brood…

Crested quetzal A medium-sized Andean trogon (Pharomachrus antisianus) with a short crest, iridescent upperparts and red underparts; inhabits montane cloud forests and helps disperse fruit seeds.

Cricket (insect) Crickets (family Gryllidae) are nocturnal orthopterans known for their chirping songs, long antennae, and jumping hind legs; they play key roles in ecosystems and are distinct from…

Crinkle-collared manucode A medium-sized bird-of-paradise from New Guinea and nearby islands, noted for glossy iridescent plumage, a textured neck 'collar', red eyes and a largely fruit-based diet.

Crinoidea: sea lilies and feather stars — form, function, and fossil record Crinoidea Crinoidea are a class of marine echinoderms that includes stalked sea lilies and free-living feather stars; filter feeders with feathery arms, an extensive fossil record, and ecolo…

Cristatusaurus — an Early Cretaceous spinosaurid from West Africa Cristatusaurus Cristatusaurus is a fragmentarily known spinosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of West Africa. Its remains resemble those of Baryonyx and Suchomimus, and its distinct statu…

Crocodile: biology, behavior, evolution and human interactions Crocodile Crocodiles are large amphibious reptiles in the order Crocodilia. This article describes their appearance, behavior, evolution, habitats, notable species and interactions with peop…

Crocodilia: biology, evolution, and ecological role Crocodilia A comprehensive overview of crocodilians (order Crocodilia): their classification, anatomy, fossil origins, behaviour, ecological importance, and conservation challenges.

Crocodylomorphs: evolution, anatomy, and diversity of the crocodile lineage Crocodylomorph Crocodylomorphs are the archosaur group that includes living crocodilians and their extinct relatives. This article reviews their characteristics, fossil history, major lineages an…

Cross River gorilla A critically endangered subspecies of the western gorilla found in a small forested region along the Nigeria–Cameroon border, notable for its fragmented range and distinct skull fe…

Crossbill (genus Loxia): the cone‑feeding finches with crossed bills Crossbill Small finches of genus Loxia with distinctive crossed mandibles that pry open conifer cones. Found across northern forests, they show unusual feeding, breeding timing and debated s…

Crotalinae (pit vipers): overview, features, diversity and human interactions Crotalinae Crotalinae, or pit vipers, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found across Asia and the Americas. They have heat‑sensing pits, hinged fangs and varied venom; members include rattle…

Crotalus — genus of rattlesnakes Crotalus Crotalus is the genus of rattlesnakes native to the Americas, recognized for their keratin tail rattles, heat-sensing pits and medically significant venom. Overview of traits, rang…

Crotalus enyo — Baja California (Lower California) rattlesnake Crotalus enyo A small-to-medium pit viper native to the Baja California peninsula and nearby islands. Crotalus enyo shows variable coloration, island forms, and typical rattlesnake behavior; bit…

Crotalus ruber (Red Diamond Rattlesnake) Crotalus ruber A concise overview of Crotalus ruber, the red diamond rattlesnake: identification, range, behavior, venom, reproduction, conservation, and how it differs from related rattlesnakes.

Crow (Genus Corvus): Description, behavior, distribution and cultural role Crow Crows (genus Corvus) are intelligent, adaptable birds in the crow family Corvidae. This article outlines their appearance, behaviour, evolution, ecological role and relationships w…

Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) Crown-of-thorns starfish A large, spiny sea star of the Indo‑Pacific that feeds on coral polyps; notable for its venomous spines, population outbreaks, and significant impacts on reef ecosystems.

Crustacean: biology, diversity, ecology, and human importance Crustacean Overview of crustaceans — a diverse subphylum of arthropods — covering anatomy, life cycle, ecology, evolution, and their role in fisheries and ecosystems.

Cryolophosaurus — Early Jurassic theropod from Antarctica Cryolophosaurus Cryolophosaurus is an Early Jurassic theropod discovered in Antarctica. Known for a distinctive skull crest, it informs polar palaeontology, early tetanuran evolution, and Southern…

Cryptobranchoidea — the primitive salamanders Cryptobranchoidea Cryptobranchoidea is a suborder of ‘primitive’ salamanders found in eastern North America and East Asia. It includes giant salamanders and Asiatic stream salamanders, notable for a…

Cryptoclidus — a medium-sized plesiosaur of the Middle Jurassic Cryptoclidus Cryptoclidus was a small to medium-sized long-necked plesiosaur from Middle Jurassic marine deposits in Europe and Russia, named by H. G. Seeley in 1892; notable for interlocking s…

Cub (young of large carnivores) Cub A cub is the juvenile form of several large predatory mammals. This article explains biological traits, development, species examples, parental care, terminology and cultural refer…

Cuban solenodon (almiquí) Cuban solenodon The Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus), or almiquí, is a nocturnal, venomous insectivore endemic to Cuba. A relict mammal in a small ancient family, it is threatened by habitat lo…

Cuckoo (Cuculidae): overview, behavior and brood parasitism Cuckoo Cuckoos (family Cuculidae) are a diverse group of near-passerine birds found worldwide. Some species are brood parasites; the family also includes roadrunners, koels, coucals, malk…

Cuckoo bee: parasitic bees that exploit other species' nests Cuckoo bee Cuckoo bees are kleptoparasitic bees that lay eggs in the nests of other bees. They lack pollen-collecting structures, show distinctive morphology and behaviors, and evolved parasi…

Cucujiformia: infraorder of plant-associated beetles Cucujiformia Cucujiformia is an infraorder of the beetle suborder Polyphaga that contains several superfamilies of mostly plant-eating beetles, including weevils, leaf beetles, ladybirds and sa…

Culex: common house mosquitoes, biology and public-health importance Culex Culex is a genus of mosquitoes known as common house mosquitoes; several species transmit viruses and parasites to birds, humans and other animals and are targets of vector control…

Curl‑crested manucode (Manucodia comrii) Curl-crested manucode A large, glossy bird of paradise from Papua New Guinea islands, notable for curled head feathers, twisted tail feathers, fruit diet, and a restricted island range. Named after Pete…

Currawong (Strepera): an overview of the Australasian passerine Currawong Currawongs are crow-like passerine birds of the genus Strepera native to Australasia. They are medium-large, omnivorous birds known for distinctive calls and adaptability to woodla…

Cuscus: an overview of the arboreal marsupial Cuscus Cuscus are tree-dwelling marsupials native to New Guinea and nearby islands. This article summarizes their appearance, behavior, habitat, interactions with people, and key differen…

Cuttlefish Cuttlefish are short-lived cephalopods notable for their intelligence, rapid camouflage, internal cuttlebone and distinctive W-shaped pupils. They hunt crustaceans and fish and pla…