Animals

Thylacinidae (the thylacine family) Thylacinidae Thylacinidae is an extinct or nearly extinct family of carnivorous marsupials from Australasia, best known for the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger). They illustrate convergent evolution…

Thylacinus — genus of carnivorous marsupials (thylacines) Thylacinus Thylacinus is a genus of carnivorous marsupials best known for the thylacine. Native to Australia and Tasmania, the group is known from recent historic extinction and older fossil…

Thylacinus potens — an extinct large thylacine from Australia Thylacinus potens Thylacinus potens was a robust, wolf-sized extinct thylacine known from fossil remains near Alice Springs. It is notable for a shorter, broader skull and heavier build than the mod…

Thylacosmilus: extinct South American sabre-toothed metatherian (Miocene–Pliocene) Thylacosmilus Thylacosmilus, a sabre-toothed metatherian from Miocene–Pliocene South America, had jaguar-sized body, elongated upper canines and unique neck and jaw adaptations; fossils dated ro…

Thyreophora: the shield-bearing (armoured) dinosaurs Thyreophora Thyreophora is a clade of ornithischian dinosaurs known for bony body armour (osteoderms). It includes stegosaurs and ankylosaurs and encompasses early armoured forms that arose in…

Tianyuraptor — Early Cretaceous dromaeosaurid from Liaoning, China Tianyuraptor Tianyuraptor is a short-armed dromaeosaurid from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Group of Liaoning, China (≈122 Ma). Described in 2009, the holotype shows a mix of primitive and derived…

Tibetan antelope (chiru) — high‑altitude antelope of the Tibetan Plateau Tibetan antelope The Tibetan antelope (chiru, Pantholops hodgsonii) is a high‑altitude ungulate native to the Tibetan Plateau, valued for its fine underfur (shahtoosh) and subject to strict interna…

Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) Tibetan fox Medium-sized fox of the high Tibetan Plateau, noted for a flattened face and specialized diet; occupies cold, open grasslands and is adapted to high altitudes across Tibet, Nepal,…

Tiger (Panthera tigris): overview, traits, range and conservation Tiger Large solitary big cat native to Asia. Covers appearance, behavior, historic range and modern conservation challenges, plus cultural importance and differences from other big cats.

Tiger beetle — fast, colorful predatory beetles Tiger beetle Tiger beetles are a widespread group of predatory beetles known for bright metallic colors, powerful jaws and exceptional running speed. They inhabit open sunny habitats worldwide…

Tiger keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus) — overview and natural history Tiger keelback A concise encyclopedia article on the tiger keelback, a rear‑fanged colubrid found across East and Southeast Asia, covering identification, behavior, defensive toxins, distribution…

Tiger quoll (spotted‑tail quoll) — mainland Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial Tiger quoll The tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), or spotted‑tail quoll, is a nocturnal carnivorous marsupial native to eastern and southeastern Australia, known for its spotted coat, climbing…

Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum): overview and conservation Tiger salamander A widespread North American mole salamander known for bold markings, a mixed aquatic-terrestrial life cycle, and ecological importance; varies regionally and faces habitat threats…

Tiger snake (Notechis scutatus): description, behavior, and medical importance Tiger snake A venomous Australasian snake (Notechis scutatus) found in southern Australia and Tasmania; variable in color and pattern and medically significant due to potent venom and frequent…

Tigger (fictional character from A. A. Milne) Tigger Tigger is a fictional tiger-like character from A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories, famous for his orange-and-black appearance, springy tail and exuberant, bouncing personality.

Tigon (hybrid of tiger father and lioness mother) Tigon A tigon (or tiglon) is a hybrid big cat produced by a male tiger and a female lion. Rare and mostly found in captivity, tigons combine traits of both parents and raise specific gen…

Tigrosa — a genus of wolf spiders Tigrosa Tigrosa is a small genus of wolf spiders formerly placed in Lycosa and Hogna. These ground‑living hunters occur mainly in North America and are known for robust bodies, maternal ca…

Tigrosa helluo — a North American wolf spider Tigrosa helluo Tigrosa helluo is a large wolf spider native to eastern North America, known for hunting without webs, carrying egg sacs and spiderlings, and a taxonomic history that moved it from…

Tiktaalik: a Devonian 'fishapod' bridging fish and early tetrapods Tiktaalik Tiktaalik is an extinct lobe‑finned fish from the Late Devonian (~375 Ma) with a mix of fish and tetrapod features that illuminate the evolutionary transition from water to land.

Tilapia — biology, aquaculture, and environmental impacts Tilapia Tilapia are warm‑water cichlids widely farmed for food and kept in aquaria. This article summarizes their biology, distribution, farming methods, ecological effects, and common man…

Tilikum: the captive orca at the center of controversy and the Blackfish story Tilikum (orca) Tilikum (c. 1981–2017) was a captive male orca involved in three human deaths. His life, capture in Iceland, and role in the debate over marine mammal captivity inspired public scr…

Tiliqua scincoides — Eastern blue‑tongued skink Tiliqua scincoides A common, large Australian skink noted for its bright blue tongue, stout body, omnivorous diet and live birth. Widely encountered across eastern Australia and frequently kept in ca…

Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Timber rattlesnake A large venomous pit viper native to eastern North America, recognized by its rattle and banded pattern. Summarizes appearance, habitat, behavior, venom effects, and conservation s…

Timema: small, basal stick insects of western North America Timema Timema is a genus of short, stout stick insects native to the far western United States. Notable for their basal position in Phasmatodea and several long-lived asexual species, the…

Tinamou (Tinamidae) — ground-dwelling palaeognath birds Tinamou Tinamou are a family of about 47 species of ground-dwelling birds native to Central and South America. Related to ratites, they are generally poor fliers with distinctive breeding…

Tineidae — the clothes moths and fungus moths Tineidae Tineidae is a diverse family of small moths, many of whose larvae feed on fungi, detritus or keratinous materials; includes clothes moths that damage textiles and species important…

Titanis — prehistoric flightless predator of the Phorusrhacidae Titanis Titanis was a large, flightless predatory bird (a 'terror bird') known from Pliocene–Pleistocene deposits. A South American lineage that reached North America, it illustrates the p…

Titanoboa cerrejonensis — the giant Paleocene snake Titanoboa Titanoboa cerrejonensis, an extinct giant boa-like snake from about 58 million years ago, is the largest known snake. Fossils from Colombia reveal its size, habitat, diet, and sign…

Titanosaur: giant sauropod dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Titanosaur Titanosaurs were diverse, often gigantic Cretaceous sauropods. This article summarizes their anatomy, size extremes, fossil record, evolution, ecology, reproduction and open resear…

Titanosaurus — a historically important but dubious sauropod genus Titanosaurus Titanosaurus is a fragmentarily known genus of Late Cretaceous sauropod first named in 1877; later work has treated it as a nomen dubium and reassigned many species to other titano…

Titanotylopus — extinct giant camelid of North America Titanotylopus Titanotylopus was a large extinct camelid that lived in North America from the late Miocene to the mid Pleistocene. Known for robust limbs, broad feet and a heavy build, it inhabit…

Togo mouse (Leimacomys buettneri) Togo mouse Little-known West African muroid rodent known from two 1890 specimens; notable for unusual groove-like dentition and uncertain classification. Its conservation status is unclear an…

Tonic immobility Tonic immobility is a reflexive, temporary state of motor inhibition seen in many animals and sometimes humans; studied in behaviour, welfare and trauma contexts.

Tor putitora (golden mahseer): ecology, status and conservation Tor putitora Tor putitora, the golden or Himalayan mahseer, is an endangered large cyprinid fish of South Asian rivers and lakes, valued by anglers and threatened by habitat loss and overfishin…

Tornjak — Bosnian‑Croatian mountain shepherd and livestock guardian Tornjak The Tornjak is a traditional mountain shepherd dog from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia: a large, long‑coated livestock guardian with medieval roots, revived in the 20th century…

Torosaurus Large late Cretaceous ceratopsian dinosaur known for its long frill with large openings. Lived in western North America and has been the focus of debate over its relationship to Tr…

Torrent salamander (genus Rhyacotriton) — stream-adapted amphibians of the Pacific Northwest Torrent salamander Small, secretive salamanders of the genus Rhyacotriton found in cool, fast streams of the Pacific Northwest; four recognized species, specialized habitat needs, and conservation co…

Tortoise: terrestrial shelled reptiles of the order Testudines Tortoise A tortoise is a land-dwelling member of the turtle order (Testudines). This article explains their anatomy, behavior, island giants, history, and conservation challenges.

Torvosaurus: the giant predator of the Late Jurassic Torvosaurus Torvosaurus was a large Late Jurassic theropod known from North America and Portugal; notable for its size, robust skull and role in diverse Morrison Formation ecosystems.

Tosa Inu (Japanese Mastiff) Tosa Inu Large, powerful Japanese breed from Tosa (now Kōchi), historically bred for dog fighting; today kept as companion, guard and show dog. Known for calm, reserved temperament, short c…

Toucan: Overview, biology, behavior and conservation Toucan Toucans are colorful Neotropical birds (family Ramphastidae) known for their large bills, fruit-based diets, cavity nesting and social behaviour. Found in lowland rainforests from…

Toy Fox Terrier A small, lively terrier breed developed in the United States for companionship and performance. Known for a smooth coat, alert temperament, and versatility in companion and sport r…

Toytown (1992–2017) — British event horse ridden by Zara Phillips Toytown (horse) Toytown was a chestnut British eventing gelding, best known for his partnership with Zara Phillips. Born 1992, retired 2011, amassed 1,421 British Eventing points and died in 2017.

Trapdoor spider: burrow-dwelling ambush predators Trapdoor spider Trapdoor spiders are burrowing ambush predators known for constructing hinged silk-and-soil doors. They have stout bodies, sit-and-wait hunting tactics, and ecological roles as gro…

Tree frog: arboreal frogs, adaptations, life cycle and conservation Tree frog Tree frogs are a diverse, arboreal group of frogs adapted to life above ground. This article covers their key traits, reproductive strategies, evolution, ecological roles, and cons…

Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus) — arboreal marsupials of Australasia Tree-kangaroo Tree-kangaroos are tree-dwelling marsupials of the genus Dendrolagus, found in New Guinea, nearby islands and northern Australia. They are adapted for climbing and differ in form a…

Treepie: an overview of the arboreal corvids Treepie Treepies are long‑tailed birds in the crow family (Corvidae), found mainly in Southeast Asia. This article covers their appearance, behavior, taxonomy, habitat, and conservation si…

Treeshrew: small Southeast Asian mammals of the order Scandentia Treeshrew Treeshrews are small mammals of the order Scandentia, native to Southeast Asian forests. They comprise two families, show varied diets and behaviors, and are notable in studies of…