Animals

Los Angeles Zoo City-owned zoological park in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Opened in 1966 on 113 acres, it combines animal exhibits, education, conservation programs and botanical displays under mu…

Louse: biology, behavior, host relationships, and medical importance Louse Lice are small, wingless ectoparasitic insects that live on birds and most mammals. This article covers their biology, life cycle, host specificity, human lice, health impacts and…

Lovebird (Agapornis): small, social parrots known for strong pair bonds Lovebird An overview of lovebirds (genus Agapornis): appearance, behavior, distribution, diet, care in captivity, and notable distinctions among the nine species.

Lugworm (Arenicola marina): biology, habitat and human uses Lugworm Overview of the lugworm (Arenicola marina): appearance, burrow behaviour, feeding, ecological role, life cycle, and use as bait and study organism.

Lumbriculus variegatus — the California blackworm Lumbriculus variegatus Lumbriculus variegatus is a small freshwater annelid known for its dark color, remarkable regenerative ability, and use in classrooms and aquaria as live food and a model organism.

Lungfish (Dipnoi): anatomy, evolution, behavior and distribution Lungfish Lungfish are freshwater lobe-finned fishes with both lungs and gills. This article summarizes their anatomy, evolutionary importance, behavior (including aestivation), species dist…

Lungless salamander (Plethodontidae): biology, diversity, and natural history Lungless salamander Overview of lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae): anatomy, respiration, distribution, notable genera such as Speleomantes and slender salamanders, behavior, and conservatio…

Lycaenidae — the gossamer-winged butterflies Lycaenidae Lycaenidae are a diverse family of small, often iridescent butterflies (about 6,000 species). Known for ant associations, brilliant colors, and habitat sensitivity, they include bl…

Lycorhinus — early heterodontosaurid ornithischian from southern Africa Lycorhinus Lycorhinus is a small, early heterodontosaurid ornithischian from southern Africa, noted for its mixed dentition of beak, cheek teeth and enlarged caniniforms that illuminate early…

Lynx: the tufted-eared wildcats of the genus Lynx Lynx Small to medium wildcats in the genus Lynx, comprising four species across Eurasia and North America. Noted for tufted ears, short tails, large paws, and varied ecology and conserv…

Lyrebird (Menura): Australia's ground-dwelling mimic Lyrebird Lyrebirds are two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds in the genus Menura, renowned for the male's ornate tail and extraordinary vocal mimicry. They inhabit eastern forests…

Lythronax — a Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurid from southwestern North America Lythronax Lythronax is an extinct tyrannosaurid theropod from southern Utah (~80 Ma). Noted for a short, broad skull and derived features similar to Tyrannosaurus, it illuminates early tyran…

Macaque (genus Macaca) — overview, behaviour, distribution and human interactions Macaque Macaques (genus Macaca) are Old World monkeys found mainly in Asia and parts of Africa. This article outlines their traits, social systems, distribution, role in research, and cons…

Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) Macaroni penguin A crested penguin of the Southern Ocean noted for its yellow-orange forehead crest, large breeding colonies on subantarctic islands, krill-based diet, and conservation concerns.

Macaw Colorful, long-tailed New World parrots noted for intelligence, strong beaks, social bonds and striking plumage; native to Mexico, Central and South America and formerly the Caribb…

Machaeroides: an early sabre-toothed creodont of the Eocene Machaeroides Machaeroides was a small, dog-sized sabre-toothed creodont from the Eocene of North America, notable as one of the earliest known saber-toothed mammals and an example of convergent…

Machairodontinae — the sabre‑toothed cats Machairodontinae Machairodontinae, an extinct subfamily of Felidae, were the sabre‑toothed cats that lived from the Miocene to the end of the Pleistocene. They show distinctive skull and dental spe…

Mackerel: overview, biology, culinary uses, and safety Mackerel Mackerel are fast-swimming, oily marine fishes in the family Scombridae and related groups. This article covers their appearance, habitat, common species, culinary uses, and safety…

MacQueen's bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) MacQueen's bustard A large desert-dwelling bustard of Central Asia and the Middle East, noted for cryptic plumage, long-distance migration, ground nesting, and conservation concerns from hunting and…

Macropod: biology, diversity, and conservation of kangaroos and relatives Macropod Macropods are marsupials of the family Macropodidae—including kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, pademelons and quokkas—native to Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands.

Macropodiformes: kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos and their relatives Macropodiformes Macropodiformes are a suborder of diprotodont marsupials including kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, bettongs and rat-kangaroos; notable for hopping locomotion, specialized feet, and…

Macropus — genus of kangaroos, wallaroos and several wallabies Macropus Macropus is a genus of marsupials in the family Macropodidae that traditionally includes the large land kangaroos, wallaroos and a number of wallaby species native to Australia and…

Macrovipera — the large Palearctic vipers Macrovipera Macrovipera is a genus of large venomous vipers found across North Africa, the Middle East and parts of the Aegean; notable for robust bodies, medically significant bites, and seve…

Madeiran wall lizard (Teira dugesii) Madeiran wall lizard An overview of the Madeiran wall lizard, Teira dugesii: appearance, behavior, habitat, taxonomy, ecological role, and interactions with people in its native and introduced ranges.

Magellan goose (Upland goose, Chloephaga picta) Magellan goose A distinctive South American goose (Chloephaga picta) of the Anatidae family, common in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the Falklands; notable for strong sexual dimorphism and two…

Maggot (fly larva) Maggot The soft, legless larval stage of flies (order Diptera); ecologically important as decomposers, medically useful in wound care, and significant in forensics and pest management.

Magnificent tree frog (Litoria splendida) Magnificent tree frog Encyclopedic overview of the magnificent (splendid) tree frog, covering identification, behaviour, range in northern Australia, discovery, relationship to White's tree frog, and co…

Magnosaurus — a fragmentary Middle Jurassic theropod from England Magnosaurus Magnosaurus is a little-known, fragmentary theropod dinosaur named in the early 20th century from Middle Jurassic deposits in England; its anatomy and taxonomic status remain uncer…

Magpie (Pica and related corvids) Magpie Magpies are medium-sized corvids recognizable by long tails and contrasting plumage. This entry covers their identification, behavior, distribution, intelligence, reproduction, and…

Mahakala — a small basal dromaeosaur from the Late Cretaceous Mahakala Mahakala is a small Late Cretaceous dromaeosaurid from Mongolia whose basal anatomy and short forelimbs inform debates about the origin of flight and body-size evolution in paravia…

Maiasaura — the 'good mother' duck-billed dinosaur Maiasaura Maiasaura, a Late Cretaceous hadrosaurid, is famous for nesting colonies and evidence of parental care. Discovered in Montana, it influenced ideas about dinosaur behavior, growth,…

Maine Coon (domestic cat breed) Maine Coon Large, longhaired domestic cat known as the 'gentle giant'. Native to Maine, USA, valued for its size, tufted ears, bushy tail, and friendly temperament; has a debated origin and s…

Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais): biology, range, impact, and control Maize weevil An overview of the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais), its identification, hosts, distribution, economic impact on stored and standing grain, and commonly used prevention and contro…

Majoidea: spider crabs and related families Majoidea Majoidea is a superfamily of crabs in the infraorder Brachyura, often called spider crabs. They have long legs, a triangular carapace, and many species use camouflage; taxonomy has…

Majungasaurus — the Mahajanga lizard, a Late Cretaceous abelisaurid Majungasaurus Majungasaurus is a medium-sized abelisaurid theropod from Late Cretaceous Madagascar, notable for its short deep skull, reduced forelimbs, evidence of bone-biting behavior, and Gon…

Malacostraca — anatomy, diversity, evolution and human importance Malacostraca Malacostraca is the largest group of crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters, shrimp, mantis shrimp and krill. This article summarizes their body plan, diversity, fossil record, eco…

Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus): appearance, habitat, behavior and conservation Malayan tapir The Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) is the only Asian tapir and the largest of five tapir species. This article summarizes its appearance, behavior, distribution, ecological role,…

Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) — overview and conservation Malayan tiger The Malayan tiger is a distinct tiger population of Peninsular Malaysia recognized after 2004 genetic studies. This article covers its identity, appearance, habitat, threats, and c…

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): description, behavior and distribution Mallard A widespread dabbling duck, the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is common in wetlands and urban waterbodies worldwide and is the wild ancestor of most domestic ducks.

Maltese (dog): small Mediterranean companion breed Maltese (dog) The Maltese is an ancient small companion dog associated with the island of Malta and the Mediterranean. Known for its silky white coat, lively personality and role as a lapdog and…

Maluridae — fairywrens, grasswrens and emu-wrens Maluridae Maluridae are a family of small insect-eating passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea, known as 'wrens' for their behaviour and form but unrelated to true wrens of the…

Mamba (Dendroaspis): fast-moving African venomous snakes Mamba Mambas are a small genus of highly venomous African snakes (Dendroaspis). This article explains their appearance, behaviour, venom, species differences, habitat, and medical and cu…

Mamenchisaurus — long-necked Chinese sauropod Mamenchisaurus Mamenchisaurus, a long-necked sauropod from China, is famous for an exceptionally long neck with many vertebrae. Known from mid-20th century finds, it sheds light on sauropod anato…

Mammal (class Mammalia) Mammal Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded vertebrates with hair or fur and mammary glands. They include monotremes, marsupials and placentals and occupy diverse ecological roles wo…

Therapsids and the Outdated Phrase “Mammal-like Reptile” Mammal-like reptile Explanation of the historic term “mammal-like reptile”, the synapsid group therapsids, their features, evolutionary position, and why the phrase is misleading.

Mammalia (class): Characteristics, Evolution, and Diversity Mammalia (taxonomy) Mammalia is the class of warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by hair and mammary glands. This article outlines diagnostic traits, major groups, evolutionary history, ecological…

Mammoth: an overview of the Ice Age elephants Mammoth Large, hairy relatives of modern elephants (genus Mammuthus) that roamed Pliocene–Pleistocene landscapes, adapted to cold environments, hunted by humans and studied through fossil…

Manatee Manatees are slow-moving, fully aquatic mammals of the order Sirenia (genus Trichechus). They graze on seagrass and freshwater vegetation and are protected for their ecological rol…