Animals

Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea): Identification, Range, and Ecology Palestine sunbird Overview of the Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea): identification, sexual dimorphism, range across the Levant, Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, habitat, feeding, breeding and con…

Palfrey: a Medieval Riding Horse Type Palfrey A palfrey was a type of riding horse prized in the Middle Ages for a smooth, comfortable gait. It was a functional category rather than a distinct breed, used for travel, hunting a…

Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul) Pallas's cat Pallas's cat is a small, stocky wild cat of Central Asian grasslands and montane steppes, noted for its dense fur and flattened face. Near Threatened due to habitat loss, reduced p…

Pallas's Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) Pallas's fish eagle Large brownish sea-eagle of the east Palearctic and South Asia. Inhabits inland waters from Central Asia to India and Bangladesh; endangered due to habitat loss, declining fish sto…

Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) Palm cockatoo A large, black cockatoo native to New Guinea, the Aru Islands and northern Australia, noted for its powerful bill, red facial patch, slow breeding and distinctive drumming behaviou…

Palm-nut vulture Medium-sized African raptor (Gypohierax angolensis) that feeds largely on oil-palm fruit. Known for tree nesting, approachable behaviour, and an unusual diet for a vulture.

Palmchat (Dulus dominicus) Palmchat The palmchat (Dulus dominicus) is a small, social passerine endemic to Hispaniola, known for large communal nests and designated the national bird of the Dominican Republic.

Palos Verdes blue (butterfly) Palos Verdes blue A small, range-restricted butterfly native to California's Palos Verdes Peninsula. Endangered and the focus of habitat restoration, captive-breeding, and reintroduction efforts to…

Panarthropoda Panarthropoda is a clade of ecdysozoan animals that includes arthropods, onychophorans, tardigrades and several fossil relatives, united by segmented bodies, paired appendages and…

Pangolin — the scaled mammal of Africa and Asia Pangolin Pangolins are unique, scale-covered mammals native to Africa and Asia. This article covers their anatomy, behavior, taxonomy, threats from illegal trade, and conservation efforts.

Panoplosaurus: Armored Nodosaur of the Late Cretaceous Panoplosaurus Panoplosaurus was a large nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America, a quadrupedal herbivore with heavy osteoderms and no tail club. Important for studies of…

Panphagia — an early sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic Panphagia Panphagia is an early sauropodomorph dinosaur known from Late Triassic deposits in Argentina. Its name and anatomy suggest an omnivorous diet and a transitional position in sauropo…

Panther: names, species, and natural history Panther Overview of the term 'panther', the species and color variants it denotes, taxonomy, geographic usage, behavior, cultural role, and conservation concerns.

Panthera — genus of large wild cats: tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard Panthera Panthera is a genus of the cat family Felidae comprising five living species, including the largest extant cats. Members are known for size, specialized vocal anatomy and roles as…

Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) Pantropical spotted dolphin A widespread oceanic dolphin found in tropical and warm temperate seas, notable for its spotted coloration, social behavior, and history of bycatch in tuna fisheries and subsequent…

Papilioninae — the swallowtail subfamily of butterflies Papilioninae Papilioninae is a subfamily of large, often tail‑tailed butterflies in the family Papilionidae. Found worldwide, their larvae feed on a variety of plant families and some sequester…

Papilionoidea: the true butterflies Papilionoidea Papilionoidea is the superfamily that contains the majority of what are commonly called butterflies — their traits, families, life cycle, ecological roles and how they differ from…

Papillon (dog): the Continental Toy Spaniel Papillon (dog) Small, lively toy spaniel with distinctive butterfly-like ears. The Papillon is an intelligent, trainable companion breed, popular in agility, obedience and as an affectionate hous…

Paracanthurus — the palette (blue) tang genus Paracanthurus Paracanthurus is a monotypic surgeonfish genus whose single species, Paracanthurus hepatus (blue or palette tang), inhabits Indo-Pacific coral reefs and is widely kept in marine aq…

Paradise-crow (Lycocorax pyrrhopterus) Paradise-crow A medium-sized, all-dark bird-of-paradise from Indonesia's Maluku Islands. Known as the silky crow, it is largely monogamous, eats fruit and arthropods, and is noted for its silky…

Parakeet — small long‑tailed parrots: overview, species, behavior and care Parakeet Parakeet is a general term for small to medium parrots with long tails. This article explains common species, appearance, behavior, breeding, captive care and distinctions like bud…

Paramylodon — North American ground sloth of the Pliocene–Pleistocene Paramylodon Paramylodon was a large mylodontid ground sloth that lived in North and Central America from the Pliocene to the end of the Pleistocene, notable for dermal ossicles and abundant fo…

Parapuzosia — giant Cretaceous ammonite genus Parapuzosia Parapuzosia is a genus of very large Cretaceous ammonites, known for the giant species P. seppenradensis. Fossils inform size limits, paleobiology, and predator–prey interactions i…

Parasaurolophus: the crested hadrosaur of Late Cretaceous North America Parasaurolophus Parasaurolophus, a genus of crested hadrosaurid, is known for its long tubular skull crest. This article outlines its anatomy, crest hypotheses, fossil history, ecology and signifi…

Parasitoid wasp: biology, life cycle, diversity and role in pest control Parasitoid wasp Overview of parasitoid wasps: their biology, life cycles (endoparasitoid/ectoparasitoid, koinobiont/idiobiont), diversity, ecological importance and use in biological pest control.

Paridae (tits, chickadees, titmice) — small passerine birds Paridae Paridae are a family of small, adaptable passerine birds—commonly called tits, chickadees, or titmice—found across the Northern Hemisphere and Africa. Covers appearance, behavior,…

Parides — Neotropical genus of swallowtail butterflies Parides Parides is a Neotropical genus of swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae), called cattlehearts. They occur from southern North America through Central and South America and are know…

Parides alopius — the white-dotted cattleheart Parides alopius A medium-sized New World swallowtail, Parides alopius (white-dotted cattleheart) is native to Mexico with rare stray records in southeastern Arizona; notable for black wings with w…

Parides childrenae — Green‑celled Cattleheart Parides childrenae Parides childrenae, the Green‑celled Cattleheart, is a swallowtail butterfly of the family Papilionidae found from southern North America through Central America into northern Sout…

Parides erithalion — the Variable Cattleheart butterfly Parides erithalion Parides erithalion, the Variable Cattleheart, is a swallowtail butterfly (Papilionidae) of the Americas, notable for dark wings with red hindwing markings, geographic variation and…

Montezuma's Cattleheart (Parides montezuma) Parides montezuma A Neotropical swallowtail butterfly, Parides montezuma is known as Montezuma's Cattleheart; this article covers its appearance, life cycle, habitat, ecology, taxonomy, and conserva…

Parma wallaby (Macropus parma) Parma wallaby Smallest macropod from eastern Australia, the Parma wallaby has grey-brown fur and a white facial stripe. Once thought extinct, rediscovered on Kawau Island and near Gosford; now l…

Parnassiinae: the Apollos and Parnassians (a Holarctic butterfly subfamily) Parnassiinae Parnassiinae is a subfamily of Papilionidae—commonly called Apollos or Parnassians—found across the Holarctic. This article describes their appearance, life cycle, mimicry, sphragi…

Parrot: overview, biology, behavior and conservation Parrot Parrots (order Psittaciformes) are colorful, often intelligent tropical birds. This article summarizes their appearance, behavior, distribution, ecological role and conservation co…

Parrotfish: colorful reef grazers and reef engineers Parrotfish Parrotfish are tropical marine fishes (about 95 species) notable for a beak-like dental plate, colourful sex-dependent coloration, mucous sleeping cocoons, and a key role in coral…

Parsley frog (Pelodytidae) Parsley frog Parsley frogs (family Pelodytidae) are small, smooth-skinned Eurasian frogs in the single genus Pelodytes. This entry summarizes their appearance, relationships, range, life cycle,…

Partridge: medium-sized game birds of the pheasant family Partridge Partridges are medium-sized ground-dwelling game birds in the pheasant family. This article covers their appearance, behavior, habitats, human uses, cultural role and distinctions…

Parvicursor — tiny alvarezsaurian maniraptoran dinosaur Parvicursor Parvicursor is a genus of very small alvarezsaurid maniraptoran dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous, notable for its diminutive size, long cursorial legs, reduced forelimbs, and sign…

Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius): the vanished North American pigeon Passenger pigeon An overview of the passenger pigeon, its appearance and behavior, causes of its rapid decline and extinction, and its legacy in conservation history.

Passerida: core clade of advanced songbirds (oscine passerines) Passerida Passerida, the core clade of advanced songbirds, includes thrushes, flycatchers, warblers and finches. Explore its global diversity, ecological roles and evolving classification fr…

Passerine: the perching birds of the order Passeriformes Passerine Passerines are perching birds in the order Passeriformes, comprising the majority of bird species. They are known for their anisodactyl feet, diverse songs, and global distribution…

Paul the Octopus Paul the Octopus was a common octopus at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, noted for 'predicting' football match winners during UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup…

Pauropod Small, soft-bodied myriapods in the class Pauropoda. About 500 described species worldwide live in soil and leaf litter and play a role in decomposition and soil ecosystems.

Pavo (Asiatic peafowl) Pavo (bird) Pavo is the genus of Asiatic peafowl in the pheasant family, known for the blue (Indian) and green peafowl. This article covers appearance, behavior, distribution, diet, reproducti…

Paw (mammalian soft foot) Paw A paw is the soft, often padded foot of many mammals bearing claws or nails. Paws cushion movement, aid traction and sensing, and show adaptations for habitat, hunting, or digging.

Peafowl: species, appearance, behavior, and cultural significance Peafowl Peafowl are large pheasants prized for the male’s ornate train. This article covers their taxonomy, physical traits, behavior, distribution, human uses, and conservation, including…

Pecora (infraorder of ruminant mammals) Pecora Pecora is an infraorder of ruminant mammals that includes deer, bovids, giraffids and relatives, typically characterized by cranial appendages such as horns, antlers, pronghorn she…

Pederpes — an early Carboniferous tetrapod Pederpes Pederpes is an extinct early Carboniferous tetrapod genus known from a single near-complete skeleton found in Scotland; its limb and foot anatomy show early adaptations for terrest…