Animals

Bandicoot: small omnivorous marsupials of Australasia Bandicoot Bandicoots are small to medium-sized marsupials from Australasia. This article covers their appearance, diet, reproduction, distribution, conservation status and notable species.

Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) — small woodland rodent Bank vole A small reddish-brown vole native to Europe and parts of Asia. Common in woodlands and hedgerows, omnivorous, high reproductive rate, important prey and seed disperser; generally n…

Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) Bar-headed goose A high-altitude waterfowl of Central Asia, notable for its dark head bars and remarkable physiological adaptations for flying over the Himalaya; lives in wetlands and feeds mainly…

Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) Bar-tailed godwit Large migratory wader (Limosa lapponica) breeding on Arctic coasts and tundra; famed for record non-stop migrations between breeding and wintering coasts in the Old World and Pacif…

Barbary falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) Barbary falcon A medium-sized falcon native to the Canary Islands and coastal North Africa, closely related to the peregrine and adapted to arid cliffs and shoreline habitats.

Barbary lion (Atlas lion) Barbary lion Large North African lion population historically found from Morocco to Egypt. Extinct in the wild; distinctive in appearance and subject of taxonomic and conservation interest.

Barbourofelis: the North American saber-toothed predator Barbourofelis Barbourofelis, an extinct saber-toothed carnivore from North America, lived about 13.6–5.3 million years ago. Known for flattened canines and a mandibular flange, its classificatio…

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica): appearance, behavior and significance Barn swallow A widespread aerial insectivore, the barn swallow is a familiar long-tailed passerine found across much of the world; known for its forked tail, mud-cup nests and close association…

Barnacle (Cirripedia) Barnacle Barnacles are sessile crustaceans with hard calcareous plates that attach to submerged surfaces; they have a distinctive larval cycle and significant ecological and economic impact…

Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) Barnacle goose A compact, black-and-white Arctic-breeding goose, noted for cliff-nesting, long migrations and a medieval myth linking it to barnacles; a member of the black-geese genus Branta.

Barney (Bernard): George W. Bush's Scottish Terrier and White House 'First Dog' Barney (dog) Barney (Bernard, 2000–2013) was the Scottish Terrier pet of President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, noted for the White House "Barney Cam" holiday videos and his role as a public…

Barosaurus: a long-necked Jurassic sauropod Barosaurus Barosaurus was a long-necked, herbivorous sauropod from the Late Jurassic, known for an extremely elongated neck, a gracile build, and fossils reported from North America and parts…

Barracuda (Sphyraena) — elongated predatory marine fish Barracuda Barracuda are fast, elongated predatory ray-finned fish of the genus Sphyraena found in tropical and subtropical seas. Noted for large teeth, ambush hunting, and occasional human i…

Barred Owl (Strix varia) Barred owl A large, stocky North American owl noted for barred plumage, rounded face, deep hoots, broad diet and adaptability to mature forests and some suburban areas.

Baryonyx — Early Cretaceous fish‑eating spinosaurid Baryonyx Baryonyx is a fish‑eating spinosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous, first found in England in 1983; notable for a long crocodile‑like snout and a large thumb claw.

Basenji: the barkless hunting dog with catlike habits Basenji Basenji — an ancient African hunting breed known for its yodel-like voice, clean habits, erect ears and curled tail. Independent, alert and affectionate with a distinctive temperam…

Basilisk (lizard): the water‑running reptile Basilisk A small genus of Central and South American lizards famed for running on water. Basilisks are lightweight, live near freshwater in tropical forests, and include four commonly recog…

Basilosaurus — an early whale of the Late Eocene Basilosaurus Basilosaurus was a large, eel‑like archaeocete whale of the Late Eocene whose fossils clarified the whale transition from land to sea and were found in places such as the United St…

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking shark Large, slow-moving filter-feeding shark found in temperate seas worldwide, reaching about 12 m. Feeds on plankton at the surface; historically hunted and now subject to conservatio…

Bass (fish) Bass are several common names for freshwater and marine perciform fishes valued for food and sport; includes temperate and black basses, their biology, notable species, and human u…

Basset Hound: appearance, history, behavior, and uses Basset Hound A short-legged scent hound known for a powerful nose, loose skin, and distinctive appearance; developed for tracking game and now kept as hunting and companion dogs.

Bat (Chiroptera): biology, behavior and ecological roles Bat Overview of bats—mammals of the order Chiroptera—covering anatomy, echolocation, diets, habitats, diversity, human interactions and conservation across their global range.

Bayannurosaurus — Early Cretaceous ankylopollexian ornithopod Bayannurosaurus Bayannurosaurus is a mid-sized Early Cretaceous ornithopod from China (described 2018). A non-hadrosauriform ankylopollexian with an ~80 cm skull, important for understanding iguan…

Beagle — small to medium scent hound and companion dog Beagle The Beagle is a small-to-medium scent hound prized for its tracking ability, friendly temperament, and role as a companion, working dog and cultural icon.

Beak (bird bill): structure, variation, function and evolution Beak The beak (bill or rostrum) is the external mouth and nose of birds. This article explains its anatomy, diverse shapes and adaptations, functions and evolutionary background in acce…

Bear (Ursidae): overview, species, biology and conservation Bear Bears (family Ursidae) are large caniform carnivorans with eight living species. This article summarizes their anatomy, diets, behaviour, distribution, species, evolution and conse…

Bear dog (Amphicyonidae) Bear dog Amphicyonidae, commonly called bear dogs, were an extinct family of caniform carnivores that lived from the Eocene to the Pleistocene across Eurasia, Africa and North America.

Bearded dragon (Pogona): overview, behavior, care, and species distinctions Bearded dragon Bearded dragons (genus Pogona) are medium-sized, diurnal lizards from arid Australia. This article summarizes their appearance, behavior, habitat, captive care, reproduction, speci…

Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus): Arctic pinniped overview Bearded seal A concise encyclopedia article on the bearded seal, covering appearance, behavior, distribution, fossil record, ecology, and conservation in the Arctic.

Beaver: the semi‑aquatic rodent and ecosystem engineer Beaver Overview of beavers: biology, behavior, habitat, history of decline and return, dam-building impacts, ecological importance, and human management and interactions.

Becklespinax — a spine-bearing theropod from Early Cretaceous England Becklespinax Fragmentary genus of large predatory theropod from the Early Cretaceous of Sussex, England, known for tall neural spines; taxonomically debated and important for understanding spin…

Bee: biology, diversity, behavior, and human importance Bee Comprehensive overview of bees: biology, major groups, role as pollinators, relationship with humans (honey and beekeeping), and conservation issues.

Bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) — the smallest living bird Bee hummingbird A compact overview of the bee hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae: its appearance, behaviour, Cuban range, breeding, and why it is notable as the smallest living bird and smallest thero…

Bee-eaters (Meropidae): colourful aerial insectivores of the Old World Bee-eater Bee-eaters (family Meropidae) are slender, brightly coloured birds of the Old World and Australasia that catch flying insects in the air, nest in burrows, and often breed in coloni…

Beef cattle: breeds, production, uses and history Beef cattle Beef cattle are bovines raised primarily for meat (beef). This article covers breeds, production systems, byproducts, welfare, environmental issues and common terminology.

Beelzebufo — the extinct giant frog (the “Devil Toad”) Beelzebufo Beelzebufo, nicknamed the Devil Toad, is an extinct giant frog from Late Cretaceous Madagascar, known for its unusually large size, robust skull, and debated relationships to moder…

Beetle (Order Coleoptera): Diversity, Biology, and Importance Beetle Beetles (Coleoptera) are the largest order of insects, with hundreds of thousands of described species and great ecological, economic, and evolutionary significance worldwide.

Beibeilong — a large oviraptorosaur from China Beibeilong Beibeilong is an extinct genus of large oviraptorosaur (caenagnathid) from Cretaceous China, known from an embryo in a nest and named B. sinensis in 2017. It links giant eggs and n…

Beipiaosaurus — a feathered therizinosaur of the Early Cretaceous Beipiaosaurus Beipiaosaurus, from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China, is an early therizinosaur known for primitive feathers, a beak with cheek teeth, and insights into theropod herbivory a…

Belemnites: extinct Mesozoic coleoids with a fossil rostrum Belemnite Belemnites were squid-like marine cephalopods of the Mesozoic known for their bullet-shaped calcitic rostra; they had ten arms, an ink sac, and are important index fossils and pale…

Beluga — whale, sturgeon (caviar), aircraft and other meanings Beluga Beluga commonly denotes the Arctic white whale and the beluga sturgeon (source of prized caviar); the name also applies to an oversized transport aircraft, a lentil type, brands an…

Ben's Cat — American Thoroughbred racehorse Ben's Cat Ben's Cat (2006–2017) was a Maryland‑bred Thoroughbred gelding noted for turf sprint success, multiple stakes wins, a 32‑win career, and his sudden death after colic surgery in 201…

Bengal cat: appearance, history, temperament and care Bengal cat Overview of the Bengal cat, a domestic hybrid with a wild-patterned coat: appearance, origins, temperament, care needs, health considerations, and guidance for prospective owners.

Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis) Bengal monitor A widespread South Asian monitor lizard, the Bengal monitor is a terrestrial predator found across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, noted for its long tail, active hunting and adapt…

Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) Bengal tiger Large tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent, known for its orange coat and black stripes; inhabits forests and mangroves and faces threats from habitat loss and poachi…

Benjamin (Animal Farm) Benjamin is the elderly, cynical donkey in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Seldom speaking, loyal to Boxer, and resistant to revolutionary zeal, he functions as a realist and a figure…

Bennett's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus) Bennett's tree-kangaroo A large arboreal marsupial from northeastern Australia, Bennett's tree-kangaroo is adapted to life in rainforest canopies with strong forelimbs, a long tail, and remarkable leaping…

Bentheuphausia amblyops — a deep‑sea krill of the family Bentheuphausiidae Bentheuphausia amblyops An overview of Bentheuphausia amblyops, the sole species in its family: morphology, deep‑water distribution, ecology, and how it differs from surface krill.