African linsang (Poiana) — small viverrid carnivores of Africa African linsang The African linsang or oyan (genus Poiana) are slender, nocturnal viverrids native to African forests. This article covers appearance, behavior, taxonomy, relationship to genets, a…
African palm civet (Nandinia binotata): overview and natural history African palm civet Small, arboreal feliform of sub‑Saharan Africa. Nocturnal, solitary omnivore and important seed disperser. Unique early‑branching lineage often placed in its own family, Nandiniida…
African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) African penguin Endangered seabird of southwestern Africa, also called the jackass or black‑footed penguin. Lives in island and a few mainland colonies, feeds on small fish and squid, threatened b…
African red toad (Schismaderma carens) African red toad Monotypic toad of southern and eastern Africa; adaptable to many habitats. Overview of identification, distribution, behavior, breeding, and conservation status.
African wild dog (painted dog) African wild dog A social, wide-ranging African canid known for its mottled coat, cooperative hunting, and vulnerable conservation status. Lives in packs and hunts medium-sized ungulates; threatene…
African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) African wildcat Small wild felid of Africa and the Near East, ancestor of the domestic cat; widespread, adaptable, and important in studies of domestication and conservation.
Africanis — indigenous southern African village dog (landrace) Africanis Africanis: indigenous southern African landrace dogs, not a formal breed. Hardy, variable village dogs with deep local roots, traditional roles in communities, and growing interest…
Africanized honey bee Africanized bee A hybrid form of honey bee noted for heightened defensive behavior. Originated from crosses of African and European honey bees and now established across much of the Americas.
Afrosoricida: tenrecs and golden moles Afrosoricida Afrosoricida is an order of small African mammals that includes tenrecs and golden moles. Molecular evidence groups them with Afrotheria and separates them from traditional insecti…
Afrotheria: the African-rooted clade of placental mammals Afrotheria Afrotheria is a clade of placental mammals with African origins, united by molecular evidence. It includes elephants, manatees, hyraxes, aardvarks, elephant shrews, tenrecs and gol…
Afrovenator — Middle Jurassic African theropod Afrovenator Afrovenator was a mid-Jurassic bipedal carnivorous dinosaur from northern Africa known from a largely complete skeleton; important for understanding megalosaurian theropods and Jur…
Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) Agalychnis callidryas Agalychnis callidryas, the red-eyed tree frog, is a colorful Neotropical arboreal frog known for its red eyes, nocturnal habits, leaf-laid eggs and predator-startle defenses.
Agamidae — the dragon lizards (family of acrodont iguanian lizards) Agamidae Agamidae is a widespread family of acrodont lizards known as dragon lizards. This article summarizes their distribution, physical traits, behavior, taxonomy, and interactions with…
Agathaumas — a dubious ceratopsid genus from the Late Cretaceous Agathaumas Agathaumas, meaning "great wonder", is a fragmentary and debated ceratopsid dinosaur genus from Late Cretaceous Wyoming. Known from limited remains, it has historically been linked…
Agathemera (chinchemolle): an isolated South American phasmid Agathemera Agathemera, the chinchemolle, is a distinctive phasmid native to Chile and Argentina, notable for a powerful defensive odor, pronounced sexual dimorphism, and an isolated taxonomic…
Aggron — Armored Steel/Rock Pokémon Aggron Aggron is a heavily armored Steel/Rock Pokémon introduced in Generation III. Known for high physical defense and a dinosaur-like appearance, it evolves from Lairon and has a Mega E…
Agilisaurus: a small Middle Jurassic ornithischian from eastern Asia Agilisaurus Agilisaurus is a small, agile ornithischian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of eastern Asia. Known from relatively complete remains discovered in Sichuan, it helps illuminate ear…
Agilodocodon: a small, likely arboreal docodont from the Middle Jurassic Agilodocodon Agilodocodon scansorius is a shrew-sized mammaliaform from the Middle Jurassic, proposed as an early tree-climber. Its anatomy, diet and arboreal interpretation remain subjects of…
Agkistrodon contortrix (Eastern copperhead) Agkistrodon contortrix Venomous pit viper native to eastern North America. Mid-sized, copper-colored, ambush predator with distinctive hourglass bands; venom rarely fatal to healthy adults but can cause…
Agriotes — a genus of click beetles and their wireworm larvae Agriotes Agriotes is a genus of click beetles (Elateridae) whose larvae, called wireworms, feed on seeds and roots worldwide and are significant agricultural pests; the genus includes multi…
Agujaceratops — horned ceratopsian from the Aguja Formation Agujaceratops Agujaceratops is a chasmosaurine ceratopsid from Late Cretaceous Texas, known from two species. It is notable for its ornamented frill and contributes to understanding southern Lar…
Agustinia — early Cretaceous sauropod with controversial armour Agustinia Agustinia is a fragmentary sauropod genus from Early Cretaceous Argentina, originally noted for unusual dermal plates and later the subject of taxonomic debate. Its classification…
Aidi (Chien de l'Atlas): Moroccan livestock guardian and hunting dog Aidi Aidi, or Chien de l'Atlas, is a Moroccan working dog traditionally used to guard flocks and assist hunters. Noted for its scenting ability, loyalty, and adaptability to mountain an…
Airedale Terrier: history, appearance, and roles Airedale Terrier The Airedale Terrier is a versatile British terrier breed from the Aire valley in Yorkshire, known for its wiry coat, intelligence, and history as a hunting and working dog.
Ajkaceratops — a small ceratopsian from the Late Cretaceous of Europe Ajkaceratops Ajkaceratops is a genus of small beaked ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Tethyan archipelago, named after Ajka, Hungary. It highlights insular faunas and Eurasian disp…
Akbash Dog — Turkish Livestock Guardian Akbash Dog The Akbash is a large, white Turkish livestock guardian bred to protect flocks. This article summarizes its appearance, history, working role, care needs, and how it differs from s…
Akita Inu: Japanese dog breed — characteristics, history and varieties Akita Inu Comprehensive overview of the Akita Inu: appearance, origin in northern Japan, coat types, temperament, care, and differences between Japanese and American lines.
Alamosaurus (Late Cretaceous titanosaur) Alamosaurus Alamosaurus, a giant titanosaur from the Late Cretaceous American Southwest, is known from fragmentary skeletons and is pivotal for interpreting regional faunal and environmental c…
Alaska plaice (Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus): biology, distribution and fisheries Alaska plaice Alaska plaice is a northeastern Pacific flatfish found on continental shelves to about 600 m. This article describes its appearance, habitat, diet, life history, fisheries interact…
Alaskacephale Alaskacephale is a small pachycephalosaurid dinosaur from Late Cretaceous Alaska, named in 2006. Known from fragmentary cranial remains, it informs high-latitude dinosaur diversity…
Alaskan Klee Kai — small northern spitz companion breed Alaskan Klee Kai A compact northern spitz developed as a companion-sized husky look‑alike. Overview of appearance, history, temperament, care, and how it differs from larger arctic breeds.
Alaskan Malamute A large Arctic sled dog breed known for strength, endurance, dense double coat, and pack-oriented temperament; used historically for freight sledding and today as working and compa…
Albatross: oceanic seabirds of the family Diomedeidae Albatross Albatrosses are large, long-lived seabirds of the family Diomedeidae, adapted for life over open oceans with exceptional flight, island breeding colonies, and conservation challeng…
Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti): description, behaviour and conservation Albert's lyrebird A large Australian songbird known for elaborate tail displays and exceptional vocal mimicry. Endemic to a small area of subtropical rainforest and classed as Vulnerable due to its…
Albertosaurus: a slender tyrannosaur of Late Cretaceous North America Albertosaurus Albertosaurus was a medium‑sized tyrannosaurine theropod from Late Cretaceous North America, known for a lighter, faster build than T. rex and for a bonebed with multiple individua…
Albisaurus: a fragmentary archosaur from the Czech Republic Albisaurus Albisaurus is a little-known extinct archosaur known from fragmentary fossils found in the Czech Republic; its classification has been uncertain after historical misidentification…
Alectrosaurus — a Late Cretaceous tyrannosauroid from Asia Alectrosaurus Alectrosaurus was a lightly built, fast-running tyrannosauroid dinosaur from Late Cretaceous Mongolia and China. Known from partial remains, its exact relationships and lifestyle r…
Aletia (moth genus) Aletia Aletia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae. This article summarizes its features, taxonomy, ecology, distribution, and how it is studied and identified.
Alex (parrot): African grey studied for animal cognition and communication Alex (parrot) Alex (1976–2007) was an African grey parrot studied by Irene Pepperberg; his ability to use vocal labels, label absence, and perform concept-based tasks influenced research on avia…
Alexandrine parakeet A large green parakeet native to South and Southeast Asia, known for its red shoulder patches, noisy flocks, and introduced colonies in parts of Europe.
Alioramus — a slender tyrannosaurid from Late Cretaceous Mongolia Alioramus Alioramus is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur known from Mongolia. It is characterized by a long, narrow skull with many small teeth and cranial crests; two species are recognized…
Alitta succinea (pile worm): description, biology, and ecological role Alitta succinea Alitta succinea, the pile or clam worm, is a common nereid polychaete found in shallow coastal waters. This article covers its anatomy, life cycle, habitat, ecological importance a…
Alligator: biology, taxonomy, behavior, and conservation Alligator Overview of alligators: two living species, physical traits, habitat, behavior, fossil history, relationship to other crocodylians, and conservation status and human interactions.
Alligatoridae: the family of alligators and caimans Alligatoridae Alligatoridae is the crocodilian family that includes alligators and caimans. This article covers their traits, genera and species, distribution, behavior, reproduction, and conser…
Allosauroidae: the allosauroid theropods Allosauroidae Allosauroidae were a diverse clade of large theropod dinosaurs known from the Middle Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous. This article outlines their traits, history, notable genera, a…
Allosaurus — large Jurassic theropod and Morrison Formation predator Allosaurus Allosaurus was a large carnivorous theropod of the Late Jurassic, best known from the Morrison Formation of North America. Many specimens exist; its ecology, anatomy and possible s…
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos): Domestic South American camelid Alpaca A domesticated South American camelid prized for its soft, insulating fiber. Alpacas have two main fleece types, a long Andean history of breeding, and are kept worldwide for texti…
Alpha male A social concept for the highest-ranking male in animal groups; used in ethology to describe dominance and in human culture as a metaphor, often oversimplified or contested.
