Meet the world’s animals.

Photos: 12,636 · Stories: 19,540

• Nine-banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus

  

  An armadillo active around dusk and at night that searches leaf litter for insects. It also occurs in parts of the United States east and north of Texas.

• Red Silky Anteater Cyclopes rufus

  This red silky anteater is one of the distinct silky anteater species recognized in modern taxonomic work. The specialist account confirms records in Brazil's western Amazon and says the southern range limit is unknown.

• Beach Kingfisher Todiramphus saurophagus

  The Beach Kingfisher is a white-and-blue coastal kingfisher. It nests in tree cavities near the shore and catches fish, crabs, and insects.

• Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

  A plover with a long crest and glossy green plumage. It breeds in lowland Britain and is also widespread in lowlands and coastal wetlands in winter.

• European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis

  A study in eastern Poland found ampicillin resistance among Aeromonas isolates from turtles and water.

• African forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

  The African forest elephant lives in dense tropical forests of western and central Africa.

• Eurasian beaver Castor fiber

  A large rodent that swims in rivers and lakes and feeds on waterside plants.

• Blue-capped Ifrit Ifrita kowaldi

  This small bird inhabits mountain forests on New Guinea. Its blue crown stands out, and it searches moss and branches for insects and other small prey.

• Louisiana Alligator Alligator mississippiensis

  Other animals sometimes visit the area around its nests.

• Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

  A white waterbird with long legs and a spoon-shaped bill.

• Haitian solenodon Solenodon paradoxus

  The Haitian Solenodon is a nocturnal mammal that probes the forest floor with its long, mobile snout. It searches for insects and other small animals in Hispaniola’s forests.

• Mees's Nightjar Caprimulgus meesi

  This nightjar lives on Flores, Sumba, and other Lesser Sunda islands. Its plumage differs little from close relatives; the distinct territorial song was an important clue in recognizing it as a separate species.

• Wild Goat Capra aegagrus

  The wild goat lives on steep mountain slopes. In Georgia, breeding populations are limited to Tusheti and northern Khevsureti.

• Common Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum

  This turtle sometimes shelters around alligator nests.

• Amazon manatee Trichechus inunguis

  A manatee restricted to the fresh waters of the Amazon River system, with thick dark-gray skin and a pale belly patch.

• Osprey Pandion haliaetus

  A fish-catching raptor with a white head crossed by a dark eye stripe. On Hachijojima it is seen near the coast in winter.

• Schlegel's Asity Philepitta schlegeli

  Schlegel’s Asity is a forest bird restricted to northwestern and western Madagascar. It eats more fruit in the rainy season and also takes nectar and insects toward the end of the dry season.

• North American Racer Coluber constrictor

  This snake sometimes basks or shelters around alligator nests.

• Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus

  A whale with a streamlined body and a dorsal fin set well back. The lower jaw has different colors on each side.

• Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

  The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest living rhino and survives in Indonesia’s tropical forests.

• Sunbittern Eurypyga helias

  The Sunbittern is reported in watery habitats in Guatemala and northern Brazil. When frightened, it spreads its wings and tail to reveal hidden orange and chestnut patches.

• Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula

  A thrush commonly seen in British gardens and parks. It searches ground litter for worms, insects and fruit.

• Brown Tree Lizard Anolis sagrei

  This lizard is native to Caribbean islands and parts of Central America. It is often brown, with darker markings on its back.

• Guanaco Lama guanicoe

  A wild camelid of open habitats across western and southern South America, from dry grasslands to cold southern regions.