Photos and descriptions of the strangest and most unusual animals in the world. Strange and rare animals (61 photos)

This can be said with confidence by looking at some of her creations. But humans are not far behind her in this matter, naming newly discovered specimens of flora and fauna in such a way that a smile appears on the face by itself. For example, funny names The animals, the list of which will be presented below, can easily claim to be the top most fun and entertaining. Of course, you can rearrange them as you wish, or just smile and get some positivity.

Muskrat and tuco-tuco

Our rating of “Funny Animal Names” opens, of course, with the muskrat. This cute animal of the Shrew-like order can be found in the basins of the Urals, Don, Volga and Dnieper. Somewhat similar to a mole and a beaver at the same time, they have a pear-shaped tail, slightly reminiscent of a turtle. The tail part of the muskrat is covered with horny scales, and on top there are also short, hard bristles. It looks a lot like a turtle's tail, only hairy. Under the tail of this animal there are special glands with a sharp, very specific smell. So, we can say that the muskrat is a Russian skunk, however, the smell of the glands is much less unpleasant and is even sometimes used in perfumery.

The second place in our ranking is occupied by a small rodent with the funny name tuco-tuco, living in South America. These animals live in small colonies of 100-200 individuals, with each rodent having its own “one-room burrow.” Yours interesting name These little animals were awarded for the fact that when danger approaches, they make a loud, characteristic “tuko-tuko” sound, warning their relatives.

Star-nosed mole rat and naked mole rat

Third place in the “Funny Animal Names” ranking can be given to the star-nosed animal. This miracle is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. A distinctive feature of the starfish is interesting structure“nose”, or stigma, consisting of 22 tender fleshy tentacles-rays. When the starfish eats, its nasal “fingers” gather into a soft, compact “fist”, and if it wants to drink, then it has to lower the entire snout into the water for a few seconds. Otherwise, the star-nosed mole is very similar to an ordinary mole.

Another interesting animal that can dig many kilometers of tunnels is called the naked mole rat. This small rodent, which can fit entirely in the palm of an adult, most closely resembles a completely bald rat without ears. The mole rat lives in eastern Africa and prefers to be underground almost all the time. Their underground mansions can be up to 5 kilometers long. In their way of life and behavior algorithm, naked mole rats most closely resemble ants: they live in colonies and love to make supplies, which they place in their pantries and bedrooms, connected by passages.

Cuzimanza and aye-aye (hand-footed)

When listing the funniest names of animals, one cannot help but recall the animal called the cuzimanza. This long-nosed relative of the mongoose lives in West Africa and is quite easy to tame and train. However, there is one interesting feature— the fact is that the cuzimanza has no pronounced sexual deformity and outwardly it is almost impossible to distinguish which is a female and which is a male, so difficulties may arise in choosing a nickname.

The next step in our improvised ranking is occupied by the largest nocturnal primate with the funny name “aye-aye”, living in Madagascar. This animal is also called the little hand, which is also quite funny. The aye-aye monkey is a rather rare animal; their entire population numbers only a few dozen individuals. The little arm has a brown color with white speckles and a large, about 15 centimeters, fluffy tail. It weighs about 2.5 kg and feeds mainly on larvae and worms.

Fossa and margay

Next, the “Funny Animal Names” rating is continued by Fossa. At first glance, we can say that this is an ordinary medium-sized animal belonging to the cat family. However, scientists have found that the Fossa has nothing to do with cats - it is the only representative of the genus Cryptoprocta. In appearance, this animal is a cross between a jaguarundi, a mongoose and a civet. This is the largest predator on the island of Madagascar. Although Fossa has no enemies in nature, people dislike it very much, and today it needs protection.

Margay is an animal similar to a small leopard. Has very long tail and loves to climb trees. This beautiful representative of the cat family has huge, expressive eyes. Margay also has special structure paws, which allows him to descend upside down even from a completely vertical tree. It is unlikely that any other representative of the cat family can do this.

“Oedipus complex” and the evil shieldback

On the ninth step of our “Funny Animal Names” rating is the “Oedipus complex,” which is written in Latin as Oedipus complex. No, this is not a term from a psychology course, but a small salamander. Based on what considerations she got her name - it is unknown; it is unlikely that she knew Dr. Freud or suffers from any complexes. True, a little later this type of salamander was isolated as a separate species and “renamed”, arbitrarily changing several letters. Now they are called Oedipina complex - which has not only no translation, but no meaning at all.

The honorable tenth step can be safely given to the evil shieldback, or the frog Badjit. At first glance, this is a cute and harmless creature, but, sensing danger, the evil shield-back immediately ceases to seem cute. It swells to enormous sizes and becomes like a pimply soccer ball, emitting rather sharp and unpleasant sounds.

Madagascar suckerfoot and broad-eared folded lip

And again we will return to the island of Madagascar - the homeland of such animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that animals with funny names that live there occupy a large part of our rating. One of them is the Madagascar suckerfoot - bat in which the suckers are located directly on the skin. Although this “mouse” has as many as 38 teeth, it mainly eats small insects and loves to wrap himself in palm leaves, hiding from enemies.

The broad-eared folded-lipped bat is another bat that lives in the south of Primorye and the Caucasus. A distinctive feature of the folded lip is that it can serve several types sound signals from which at times he composes something like a song.

Okapi, dromedary and Tasmanian devil

Another animal that has a funny name is the dromedary, or simply the dromedary camel. Their distinctive feature is, as is known, that they can do without water for several months. But if they got to a watering hole, they can “swallow” about a hundred liters in 10 minutes, and if the animals could hold a championship for the best “water drinker,” the dromedary would certainly be among the champions.

Not only nature can boast of its quirks. Crossed animals with funny names are also a common occurrence. For example, crossing a zebra and a giraffe resulted in a rather funny animal with the funny name okapi. Much like a giraffe, this cute animal has stripes on its legs and loins. Okapi also have small horns and long tongue, which helps them pick tasty leaves from trees. Unlike giraffes, okapi have darker chocolate-colored fur, which allows them to better hide from predators.

Well, that concludes our rating Tasmanian devil- the largest predator among modern marsupials. Outwardly, he looks a little like a little boy Himalayan bear- black with a white “tie” on the chest. The animal has a very stern disposition, for which it received the nickname “devil.” He also has strong jaws and sharp teeth, which in one bite can not only bite through a bone, but also crush the spine of his prey.

Our top 15 is now complete. Of course, this rating is far from complete, so anyone can expand it and tell us what other funny names of animals and birds exist in nature.

Russia's forests make up a significant share of all (more than 8 million km² of mixed forests are home to rare animals such as tigers, bears and leopards). The remaining areas range from semi-deserts to cold tundra, from snowy mountain peaks to green meadows. The Himalayas and other mountain ranges shield Russia from warmer southern regions, giving much of the country a temperate to subarctic climate with snowy winters, but summers can be surprisingly hot. The eastern regions of Russia experience the most harsh winters, but at the same time they are the most biologically diverse.

This article is a list, description and photo of animals living in Russia, structured by groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish).

Mammals

Russia is home to more than 300 species of mammals, accounting for 6% of all species in this class.

Brown bear

Wild boar

Wild boars are common in oak, beech and mixed forests Europe, Asia and North Africa. These large, bristly mammals are the ancestors of domestic pigs, which were domesticated by humans several thousand years ago.

Eurasian lynx

It is the third largest predator in Europe after brown bear and the gray wolf, as well as the largest of the four species in the lynx genus. It is an extremely efficient hunter, using its sense of smell, stealth, powerful paws and jaws to bring down prey several times its own size and then strike fatal bite into the victim's neck. IN winter period, the fur of the common lynx is longer and denser. Large paws covered with fur allow them to move quickly through deep snow.

European beaver

European beavers have literally been revived after almost complete extinction. These large rodents almost completely disappeared from Europe and Asia until the early 20th century, when numbers wildlife was about 1000 individuals. Beavers were highly valued for their fur and beaver stream, which they use to mark territory and communicate. Beaver reintroduction and protection programs have helped save the species from extinction.

In addition to the beaver, the following animals represent the order of rodents on the territory of Russia: arctic ground squirrel, water vole, red squirrel, hazel dormouse, field mouse, vole, gray rat etc.

Hedgehog

The common hedgehog is a small, spine-covered mammal from the hedgehog family. Young hedgehogs are born with soft needles hidden under the skin; a full cover of needles appears at 2 weeks of age. Hedgehogs are not picky when it comes to food: worms, slugs, frogs, insects, bird eggs and even small mammals are included in the main diet of these cute animals. When threatened, hedgehogs curl up into a ball, which provides prickly protection from predators.

Except common hedgehog On the territory of Russia, another member of the hedgehog family is found - the long-eared hedgehog. They are faster and more aggressive than their brothers. Their long ears provide acute hearing that helps early detect the presence of predators and prey.

Brown hare

The brown hare is one of the largest species of the hare family. They use their powerful hind legs to avoid predators (hares are known to reach speeds of up to 72 km/h). The brown hare is widespread throughout the European part of Russia and some southern regions of the country.

forest cat

One of the ancestors of domestic cats, the forest cat is believed to be the most widespread feline across its geographic range, which extends from Western Europe to India. Human encroachment on their habitat and interbreeding with domestic cats have reduced their numbers forest cats. The diet of these mammals mainly consists of rodents, but they also hunt more large mammals, birds, lizards, frogs and fish. Sometimes they bury their prey so that they can return to it later.

Fox

Foxes have surpassed gray wolves as the most common mammal in the wild. Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, foxes adapt well and occupy new territories in deserts and tundras, and even urban areas. They live in family groups and have a varied diet, including small mammals, fruit, carrion and the contents of garbage cans. Foxes have excellent vision, smell and touch, which also plays an important role in the process of adaptation to various habitats.

Walrus

Walruses are famous for their tusks and are the only pinnipeds (true seals, eared seals, and walruses) to have them. The canines are capable of growing up to 1 m in length, and males tend to have larger canines than females. The tusks are used to support breathing holes in the ice and fights, and also help walruses pull their bulky carcasses out of the water onto slippery ice.

Common mole

The common mole is a hard-working digger and can create 20 meter tunnels in a single day. Large chambers inside the tunnel system are covered with dry grass and are used for nesting and resting. The mole's diet mainly consists of earthworms, although it does not refuse other invertebrates, as well as snakes and lizards. live common moles V deciduous forests, in pastures and farmland - anywhere the soil is deep enough for tunneling.

Common arctic fox

Lives in the most extreme conditions on the planet. This animal is perfectly adapted to living in the cold: it has the best insulating fur in the entire animal kingdom and increased blood circulation to its paws, which help it survive at temperatures below -50º C. Populations of common arctic foxes are directly dependent on the presence of lemmings, which form the basis of their diet.

Saiga

Saigas are strange-looking antelopes with a large trunk-like nose that allows them to survive in the extreme conditions of their habitat. Large pouches in the nose help extract valuable moisture from the exhaled air, as well as warm the cold air inhaled.

Reindeer

Reindeer is a species from the deer family, widespread in the northern latitudes of the planet. Thanks to the warm insulating layer of fur and large hooves, reindeer are one of the most adapted animals to life in harsh conditions Arctic. This is the only deer species that has antlers on both males and females.

In Russia, such species from the deer family as red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, muntak, sika deer, etc. also live.

Gray wolf

Gray wolves have long been unable to claim the title of the most widespread mammal after humans. Unfortunately, they lost most of their former lands. Nevertheless, gray wolves still occupy a range of habitats, including arctic tundra, prairies and forests.

Wolf cubs are born completely dependent on their mothers, the pack, warmth and food, but already at the age of about one year, they take part in group hunting for large prey (deer, bison, etc.).

Seal

The harbor seal is the most common species of the true seal family. Inhabits the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. As a rule, these are solitary animals that gather in small groups on rocky shores and beaches for breeding and molting. The harbor seal does not chew its food, but simply tears it into pieces or even swallows it whole.

IN coastal waters ah Russia, the following members of the family of true seals also live: the long-faced seal, ringed seal, Baikal seal etc.

Birds

More than 700 species (about 500 are nesting) of birds are found in Russia, or 7% of the world diversity of species of this class of animals.

Common cuckoo

These are the big ones migratory birds, which often fly in large V-shaped wedges. The whooper swan has a larger body than the little swan, and unlike the mute swan, it has a lemon rather than red-orange beak color. All three of the above-mentioned species of swans are found in Russia.

mountain goose

Due to physiological and biochemical adaptations, bar-headed geese are able to reach extreme altitudes (where oxygen levels and temperatures are very low) while migrating through the Himalayas. Surprisingly, these geese fly higher than Mount Everest (8848 m), which makes them the record holders for the highest flight altitude among birds.

Brent goose

The brant goose is a small member of the Anseriformes family, with a short beak and tail. The black color of the head and neck is diluted by two small white spots at the base of the head.

Other representatives of the genus of goose found in Russia include the following species: barnacle goose, little Canada goose and red-breasted goose.

Rock pigeon

The rock pigeon is a domesticated species of pigeon that has returned to life in wild or semi-wild conditions. Some of them were domesticated for food, others as carrier pigeons, and others for their beautiful plumage. Wild pigeons typically feed on seeds, but their diet has been diversified by people feeding pigeons in city parks.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The spotted woodpecker is the most common and numerous representative of the woodpecker family in Russia. Their range covers almost the entire country, from Great Britain in the west to Japan in the east, reaching North Africa and Canary Islands in the southwest.

Sparrowhawk

These birds got their name because of their food preferences. Their diet consists of 98% other birds. They are small carnivorous birds with short, wide wings and a long tail.

The following species from the subfamily of hawks also live on the territory of the country: goshawk, short-toed hawk, European hawk, Japanese sparrowhawk, etc.

Common pheasant

Pheasants are one of the most colorful birds in Russia. They are distributed throughout Western Europe, in Central Asia and China. The diet of the common pheasant consists of seeds, berries and insects. The preferred habitat is wooded agricultural lowlands, which can provide shelter and food.

Black grouse

Like their close relatives, the wood grouse, male grouse have impressive, glossy black plumage. These are fairly common birds that prefer wooded areas bordering open spaces.

Finch

The finch is one of the most numerous bird species in Europe. These are small songbirds, with the males' characteristic rufous-brown cheeks and breast, as well as a blue-gray nape; both sexes have distinctive white spots on their wings.

Bullfinch

Bullfinches are small, plump, colorful birds with a bright pink-red breast and cheeks, white undertail and short beak. Usually they come in pairs or small family groups, with the exception of the spring period, when they gather in flocks of 50 or more individuals. Bullfinches are widespread throughout Europe and Asia.

Owl

Eagle owl is one of the most large species from the owl family in the world. They are easily identified due to their long body length (56-75 cm), ear-like tufts on the head and bright orange eyes. Found in different environments habitat in most of the country.

Gray crane

The most widespread species of cranes with a breeding range from Western Europe to Siberia. These are large birds with gray-bluish plumage, black flight feathers, light beaks and dark legs.

Other types of cranes living in the Russian Federation: sandhill crane, Japanese crane, white crane, black crane and white-naped crane.

In addition to the above birds, Russia serves as a home or temporary refuge for the following types: honey buzzard, ptarmigan, Steller's eagle, golden eagle, short-eared owl, marsh harrier, great bittern, great grebe, great gray owl, bearded vulture, water rail, raven, capercaillie, blue kingfisher, little owl, bustard, green woodpecker, moorhen, crossbill Spruce, Nightjar, Wren, Gyrfalcon, Blue Tit, Accentor, Coot, Mandarin Duck, Sea Gull, Muscovy, Dove, Common Kestrel, Goldeneye, Common Harrier, Common Starling, Dipper, Spectacled Eider, tree sparrow, Arctic tern, fieldfare, peregrine falcon, buzzard, hooded crow, tawny owl, gray heron, osprey, whiskered tit, long-eared owl, hobby hobby, black-headed warbler, black-throated loon, black-billed loon, black-necked grebe, black swift and others.

Reptiles

About 70 species of reptiles live in the open spaces Russian Federation. Below is a list of the most common representatives of this class.

Common viper

One of the most numerous poisonous snakes countries, the common viper uses its venom to immobilize prey such as lizards, amphibians, birds and small mammals. Although its venom poses little danger to a healthy adult, the bite is very painful and requires immediate attention. medical care. Area common viper extends further north than any other snake and is the only species found inside the Arctic Circle.

Viviparous lizard

Viviparous lizards are capable of both laying eggs (in warm climates) and giving birth to live young (in cold climates). Their range extends throughout Northern Asia, Central and Northern Europe. These lizards are good underwater swimmers and can also shed their tails to deceive predators. At night, viviparous lizards take refuge under logs, stones and metal sheets. They winter from October to March, usually in groups formed during warm periods.

Common snake

Widespread not only in Russia, but throughout Europe, common grass snakes are usually found near water, where there is shelter, food and warmth. morning sun. They winter in cold weather winter months. It's pretty large reptiles, with a body length of up to 2 meters. Diet common snake consists of frogs, small mammals and fish.

Brittle spindle

View legless lizards, which looks like snakes. One way to identify brittle spindle is to see if it has eyelids. Lizards, unlike snakes, have hard eyelids.

Common copperhead

Although the copperhead is harmless to humans, reptiles and small mammals there is something to fear. Like boas, copperheads hold and kill their prey by coiling themselves around it. They overwinter in groups, and after leaving their shelters, males fight for females. They push their opponents to the ground and wrap themselves around each other until one refuses to compete any further.

Amphibians

About 30 species of amphibians have been recorded in Russia, which is less than 1% of the world's diversity.

Common toad

These toads secrete small quantity toxins to protect against most predators, although the poison does not stop snakes and hedgehogs. If they are lucky enough to avoid voracious predators, then common toads can live up to 40 years.

lake frog

Lake frogs spend all their time directly in the water, or at a distance of several jumps from the reservoir. They are good swimmers and jumpers, often just standing in the mud, ready to jump into the water at the first sign of danger.

Crested newt

A relatively large species of newt. Females are larger than males and can reach 16 cm in length. Crested newts have gray-brown backs and sides, and are almost entirely covered in dark spots. Males are distinguished from females by the presence of a serrated crest during the breeding season.

Siberian salamander

The Siberian salamander is the only amphibian species found within the Arctic Circle. This unique amphibian is capable of replacing water inside the body with glycerol, which allows it to survive long periods of hibernation at temperatures below -35° C.

Fish

IN fresh waters There are about 400 species of fish in the country; taking into account sea ​​fish, living in coastal zone about 3000 species.

Three-spined stickleback

The threespined stickleback is a fish species that is native to most inland and coastal waters north of 30° northern latitude. Most populations are anadromous (they live in sea ​​water, but breed in fresh or salt water) and perfectly adapt to changes in water salinity.

Brown trout

Brown trout begins its life cycle, feeding on small invertebrates, but later some individuals may switch to fish. Large predatory fish sometimes called spiny trout, and were even once thought to be different species. Sea trout and river trout are also the same species, but the marine population spends most of its life at sea and migrates to rivers to spawn.

Red salmon

Sockeye salmon live in the North Pacific Ocean but breed in fresh water. They return to the freshwater systems where they were born between June and July. During spawning, each female lays about 2,000 eggs, and soon after spawning, both males and females die. The newly born generation remains in its native body of water for up to 2 years, and then goes to the ocean. There are also populations of sockeye salmon that always live in fresh waters, although they have access to deep water.

Insects

On the territory of Russia there are from 70 to 100 thousand species of insects.

bumblebees

Vital pollinators of crops and wildflowers, bumblebees are particularly effective on tomatoes as their buzzing frequency encourages release more pollen. All bumblebees form small colonies, visiting flowers within a 2 km radius to feed on nectar and collect pollen. Typically, only the queen survives the winter, so bumblebees do not need significant supplies of honey.

Common wasp

Common wasps are easily recognized by their yellow and black stripes. They are social insects and live in underground nests. Wasps do not build their nests, but choose existing ones, for example, in an abandoned animal burrow, corner garden house or attic.

Honey bee

European honeybees have been introduced by humans to almost every part of the world, but are believed to be native to India. Insect colonies can exist for many years. The bees live on collected supplies and huddle in large clusters during cold winter weather.

Forest ants

Wood ants are usually found in places where there is a lot of dead wood for nest construction. However, some choose to live on open spaces. Their distinctive mounds provide protection from predators and the elements, and provide a safe and convenient place for eggs to incubate. Wood ants are very social insects, living in colonies of up to one and a half million individuals, most of which are females.

Cabbage (butterfly)

These butterflies are common in gardens and other flowering places where they do no harm. However, their caterpillars are capable of causing damage to vegetable gardens and farms, so quickly they gnaw cabbage down to the very head.

Arachnids

About 10 thousand species of arachnids are found in Russia.

Crab spiders

Crab spiders do not spin webs to catch their prey. Instead, they rely on camouflage and set up an ambush. These colorful spiders blend into the surrounding vegetation, where they lie in wait for unsuspecting victims. Some species can even change color, masquerading as a leaf or flower.

Scorpios

Scorpions were among the first animals to adapt to life on land, 420 million years ago. They are the oldest arachnids found in fossils. Scorpions are especially recognizable by their large, powerful claws, which are necessary for capturing prey. The famous stinging tail contains a pair of venom glands and is used to paralyze its prey. About 2,000 species have been described, living on all continents except Antarctica.

Orb-weaving spiders

Orb weavers weave classic round webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. Their wheel-shaped networks are made up of concentric circles with spokes radiating out from the center and can be about a meter wide. A beautiful large colored abdomen and a small head are observed in females of most species. Males tend to be smaller, do not spin webs, and spend most of their time wandering in search of a mate.

Jumping spiders

There are about 5,000 species in the jumping spider family, they are widespread throughout the planet and have even been found on Everest. They are active hunters with excellent eyesight and do not use webs to catch their prey.

Hunter bordered

These spiders use the surface of the water in a way that other spiders use their webs. Ripples from insects on the surface of the water are caught by the numerous hairs on the spider's legs. Short, velvety, water-repellent hairs covering the body and legs help walk on water. Spiders quickly glide across the surface of a pond and attack their prey.

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The entire living world can be divided into plants and animals. How do animals differ from plants? It would seem a very simple question. Animals are able to move, but they are also unable to synthesize nutrients from inorganic compounds. Animals eat organic matter, or plants, or other animals.

The animal world is very diverse. From simple single-celled organisms to huge organisms with complex nervous system. According to various estimates, there are from 1.5 to 2 million species of different animals on the planet. Most of all insects - the diversity of their species is enormous!

Animals of different continents are very diverse. On this page you will find photos of animals from all continents, as well as photos of sea animals.

Photos of African animals

Animal world Africa itself is quite diverse, as Africa is made up of very different regions. Deserts, savannas and equatorial forests inhabit completely different groups of animals. You can see this by looking at the photos of African animals below.

Deserts are located in the north and south of the mainland. In the deserts northern Africa approximately the same animals live as in the deserts of Asia. The species of animals living in the deserts of southern Africa are very different from the inhabitants of the northern deserts. There are many endemics here, and many species of turtles also live here.

The main diversity of African megafauna lives in savannas. They live here African elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, hippos, zebras, lions, cheetahs and other large animals.

The African elephant is the largest land animal. His distinctive features- this is the trunk and big ears.

African elephant.

The tallest animal on our planet is the giraffe. Its height can reach 6 meters.

Famous inhabitants of the savannas are zebras. They are shaped like horses, but their color is striped. Black and white stripes cover the body of zebras from the tip of the muzzle to the tail.

The largest birds on our planet are African ostriches. The height of an ostrich with its neck extended can be two and a half meters.

One of the largest land animals is the rhinoceros. Only elephants are larger than rhinoceroses.

In third place in terms of body size among land animals is the hippopotamus. It was also called a free-willed horse, although it bears little resemblance to horses.

Equatorial forests are not rich in terrestrial fauna. Okapi, gorillas, and pygmy hippopotamus live here. Found in these forests large number birds.

Animals of Australia

The fauna of Australia is unique and different from the fauna of the rest of the planet, this becomes clear if you look at photos of Australian animals. Marsupials live here, there are no ruminants and no monkeys.

One of the most amazing animals of Australia, as well as one of its symbols, is the kangaroo. An amazing creature, seemingly assembled from parts of other animals.

A koala looks like a living teddy bear.

One more thing cute creature Australia - wombat. This animal is capable of digging huge holes thanks to its huge claws.

One more thing amazing creature Australia, seemingly assembled from parts of other animals. A mixture of duck and beaver feels great in freshwater bodies of water.

Photo of a platypus.

Baby marsupials are born very tiny - about 1.5 centimeters. They are not capable of independent life; they move into their mother’s pouch and grow there, feeding on milk.

Lives in Australia big bird emu, similar to African ostrich. Read the description and see photos of the emu.

Animals of North America

North America - big continent, it is located in almost all climatic zones. This factor makes the fauna inhabiting this continent diverse.

In the north of the mainland, in the tundra, live polar bears, reindeer, polar wolves and hares. Muskox live on the Arctic coast.

To the south of the tundna there are taiga expanses. The fauna of these places is much more interesting. Elk are found everywhere in the taiga, there are many fur-bearing animals: merchant, mink, weasel. Inhabited by skunk and otter. Predators are represented by grizzly and black bears, wolverines, wolves, and Canadian lynxes live there. Rodents are represented by the following species: muskrat, musk rat and Canadian beaver. The large rodent Porcupine is a porcupine and is also called the North American porcupine.

In mixed and deciduous forests you can meet Virginia deer, and many small animals (squirrels, hamsters, marmots).

For example, omnivorous raccoons are very widespread in North and Central America. Very cute animals, smart and curious.

The mountainous western regions are inhabited by a large puma predatory cat. A small population of pumas remains in the eastern United States, in the state of Florida, but in the rest eastern lands the puma has been exterminated. The puma is also widespread in South America.

Southeast North America is different from the rest of the continent. Here you can meet alligators and turtles. A unique representative of the fauna of this region is the bullfrog, the length of which can reach up to 20 cm.

A significant area of ​​North America is covered by plains. Previously, they were home to huge herds of bison, but now the population of these animals has decreased significantly due to active fishing. The prairies are also home to pronghorn antelope, coyote, prairie goats and sheep.

Animals of South America

The fauna of South America is very rich and diverse. The climatic zones of this continent are also heterogeneous, and this leads to an increase in the diversity of animal species. The Andes mountain range forms an arid highland in the west of the continent, stretching through the Atacama Desert in Chile to its southern edge of the continent. To the east and north of the Andes are tropical regions with huge rivers, endless forests and extremely heavy rainfall. The fauna of these places is extremely rich.

In the southern half of the continent the climate is already more temperate. Huge spaces covered with thickets of grass, the so-called pampas, extend far to the south of the continent. Pampa is inhabited by large running rhea birds, also called American ostriches.

South America is the homeland of the world's largest rodent - the capybara.

Another popular rodent in South America is the degu squirrel.

Degu squirrels at the hole.

At the junction of the Americas, nosukhi live, one species is typical of the south of North America, the second of South America. Another name for these animals is coati.

Of the predators here, it is worth noting representatives of cats. In the jungle you can find puma, jaguar (jaguar photo), jaguarundi and smaller cats.

Also in South America lives the largest snake in the world - giant anaconda. Its length can reach five meters.

The tropical forests of this continent are inhabited by many species of snakes. There's a lot here different types boas, which include anacondas.

Animals of Europe

Europe has undergone significant landscape changes. Humans have been active here for a long time, which leads to a reduction in animal habitats.

In the far north of the continent, on the coast Northern Waters millions nest seabirds. Their colonies are reliably protected by steep cliffs. There are also colonies of pinnipeds here - walruses have found their refuge and are setting up rookeries. See photo of the walrus. Also in northern Europe there are still large coniferous forests, bears, deer, and lynxes live in them.

Lynx - cat average size, is a relative of domestic cats.

The peoples of Europe created legends about wolves.

One of the endangered animal species in Europe is the bison. Large artiodactyls that look like bulls are actually more similar to yaks and buffaloes.

Sugar elk is common not only in Europe, but also in North America.

To the south, in the center of Europe, the climate is milder.

Deciduous forests of this climate zone quite rich in fauna. Here you can find woodpeckers, squirrels, bears and wolves, martens and many other species of animals.

Animals of Asia

Asia is the most large continent Earth. Her spaces include a variety of habitats. Here and Arctic belt, and taiga, and tundra, rain forests, deserts and other areas.

The fauna of Asia is very diverse. For example, in India they live Indian elephant and Indian lion. The snow-covered mountains are home to one of the rarest big cats not only in Asia, but also on the planet - snow leopard. In the steppes of China and Russia you can find rare wild cat Pallas's cat, see photo of Pallas's cat. Tigers and rare birds live in tropical rain forests.

Manul is a rare steppe cat.

SHARK The most skilled killers on the planet, they are strong hunters and can easily catch tuna weighing up to 500 kg, as well as small whales and sometimes people. There are about 350 species of sharks, most of which cannot stand still for a long time. for a long time, or move backwards, as most other fish can.

ANDEAN MOUNTAIN CAT The mountain cat can be found in the highlands of Bolivia, Peru and Chile. It is slightly larger than the average domestic cat, growing up to 60 cm in length, with a tail comprising 70% of its entire body length.

AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT- a medium-sized cat, reaching a length of up to 90 cm and weighing up to 18 kg. Although these cats were thought to feed on antelope, their main food sources are rodents and birds.

AFRICAN AANTEATER Although the anteater (aardvark), “earthen pig” is native to Africa, a similar anteater also lives in North America, but they are not connected by any kinship. Heightened hearing and sense of smell replace his weak vision. The aardvark's tongue is sticky and can extend up to 45 cm from the mouth. Its main food: termites and ants.

WARTHOG Lives in Africa. Warthogs engage in ritual duels in which they fight by butting heads. Males reach a weight of 50 kg and fights between them can be cruel and bloody. Females only have four teats, which limits the animal's litter. Each piglet has its own “personal” nipple and feeds exclusively from it. Even if one piglet dies, the other will not feed from the empty breast.

BUFFALO African buffalo- a representative of the Big Five, which includes the elephant, rhinoceros, lion and leopard. They reach a weight of 700 kg. Buffaloes are unpredictable and dangerous when they find themselves in a difficult situation. They were known to ambush people and were often accused of brutality and planned attacks. But they are quiet and serene when they are alone.

WATERBUCK (AFRICA ANTELOPE) Despite the name it bears, the great waterbuck does not quite like water, like the sitatunga or lechwe. The mother hides her babies for 3 weeks, taking them out of hiding to feed 4 times a day. Feeding lasts only 5 minutes, during which the mother cleans the baby so that no odors remain on it that attract predators.

VILDEBESTE (AFRICA SIGNAL ANTELOPE) A herd of wildbeests is a breathtaking sight. There are up to 400,000 animals there. At the Wildebeests unique feature- they can sense rain from a great distance. With the first downpour, the wildebeest herd moves towards the rain at a fast pace, sometimes covering up to 2000 km. They often walk or run in a single file, but more often they prefer to stay spread out.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE Found only on the Great American Plains. The only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae. Somewhat smaller than white-tailed deer, adults weigh up to 60 kg and are extremely fast, reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h. The male develops large fork-like horns, reaching an average length of 30 cm and replacing them every year. Smaller females sometimes develop short horns, but they rarely reach the length of her ears.

WOLF Because the wolves large predators- they are hunters, and they hunt deer, elk, kuriba, and in some places American moose and bison, weighing up to 450 kg. Their powerful jaws produce twice the pressure of domestic dogs. The wolf is a very social animal; most of them live in the same pack, often their entire lives. Only the leaders, male and female, bear offspring, since any attempts on the part of ordinary wolves to do this are punished.

EAST AFRICAN ANTELOPE The giraffe gazelle lives in East Africa. A special resinous gland, secreted near the eyes, is used by them to mark territories, marking branches with it. She stands on her hind legs to reach tall bushes and uses her legs to lower the upper branches. These antelopes do not eat grass, nor do they drink water, since they get enough moisture from the plants they feed on.

CHEETAH The fastest land animal, reaching speeds of 95 km/h, but unlike other “big cats”, it does not growl. But he purrs and makes high-pitched barks, squeals and chirping sounds. They live in Africa and parts of Asia.

HYDRA Hydra is one of the few freshwater cnidarians. The body of the hydra is a cavity, the walls of which consist of two layers of cells separated by an intercellular substance. Hollow tentacles surround the hydra's mouth, and the other end of the body is a suction cup that secretes a sticky secretion with which the hydra attaches to the surface. They have stinging cells with which they capture water fleas, insect larvae, worms and tadpoles.

HIPPOPOTAMUS The yawning of hippopotamuses is not at all a sign of their fatigue or drowsiness, but, in fact, a threatening gesture. They show off their thick, sharp fangs and teeth that can easily bite a small boat in half. Fearlessly defending their babies and turf, hippos have killed more than 400 people in Africa.

GYRAX Hyrax is so different from other animals that it was separated into a separate subclass Hyracoidea. He is the closest living relative of elephants. Of the three types of hyrax, 2 are stone hyrax, and the third is an ancient hyrax. Stone hyraxes rest in the sun in the morning, after which they go on small journeys for food. They eat quickly, with the family valiantly keeping an eye out for predators.

GORILLA The largest living primate. Male gorillas weigh up to 200 kg, but they are shy and fearful. But, nevertheless, they will bravely defend their family groups. They feed on a variety of plants, including wild celery, bamboo, thistle, stinging nettle, bedstraw and some fruits. Endangered species - only about 630 left. Their path to survival was shown in the famous Dian Fossey film "Gorillas in the Mist".

DOLPHIN The most intelligent of animals, as in some species the ratio of brain mass to controlled body mass is equivalent to that of humans. Since the time of the first sailors, they have been the subject of art, literature and myths.

WILD SPOTTED CAT By appearance resembles an ocelot, but smaller. Grows up to 69 cm. Habitat extends from Mexico to Argentina. At home in the treetops, she has specialized climbing claws and ankle joints that can rotate 180 degrees, making her tree climbing as easy as that of apes.

LONG-EARED BANDICUT Once common in Australia, the bandicoot is now classified as an endangered animal. Another species, the lesser bandicoot, has become extinct. Males are twice the size of females, growing up to 55 cm and weighing 2.5 kg. Their large ears keep them cool.

animals from A to D |