Animal Facts and Classification

Kangaroo/Canguro

A leaping mammal in the marsupial family. Large tail and legs and a pouch for its young.

Rattlesnake/Serpiente de cascabel

A legless reptile. Has a warning system built in to its body. Babies can be more venomous than adults.

Fox/Zorro

A mammal in the canine family. Its thick tail aids in balance, wraps around as a warm cover, and serves as a signal flag.

Chimpanzee/Chimpancé

A mammal who has 98% of the human genetic blueprint. One of the only mammals that uses tools.

Dolphin/Delfin

A marine mammal that seems is always smiling. Uses echolocation to track its prey.

Blue Marlin/Marlin azul

A member of the fish family with an unusual swordlike feature. This fish puts up a fight in the classic novel "The Old Man and the Sea." Prefers the deep blue open water of the ocean.

Bobcat/Gato montés

A nocturnal mammal. Most abundant wild cat in the United states.

Marine Iguana/Iguana marina

A reptile that Charles Darwin referred to as "the most disgusting, clumsy, hideous lizard." Lives on the Galápagos Island and must sneeze frequently to expel salt from his glands giving him a "white wig."

Bullfrog/Rana mugidora

An aquatic/land amphibian that has a deep bellow when vocalizing. Goes through a metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to its adult form.

Gorilla/Gorila

An intelligent mammal who has been taught to use simple sign language. Spends most of the time on land, not in the trees.

Cardinal/Cardenal

A colorful member of the bird family. Official bird of seven states. Color matters in finding mates in this species.

Green Iguana/Iguana verde

A delicious reptile according to people in Central America. Called "bamboo chicken or chicken of the trees." Can detach its tail if caught and grow a new one.

Seahorse/Caballito de mar

A fish that looks more equine than fish. Male bears young after mating for life.

Emperor Penguin/Pingüino

A flightless member of the bird family. Male cares for single egg without food for 2 months. Uses a cooperative grouping interior/exterior huddling rotation for warmth in its cold habitat.

Turtle/Tortuga

A land and water reptile with a bony shell. It has fins for swimming but must come up for air.

Cameleon/

In the reptile family. Changes color in response to stress, emotion or to communicate to others, but not to camouflage itself.

Otter/Nutria

Land and water loving mammal. Member of the weasel family with webbed feet.

Pelican/Pelícano

Large member of the bird family with a throat pouch to catch fish.

Condor/Cóndor

Largest flying bird in North America. A scavenger hunter that is an endangered species. There are only 127 left in the wild

Elephant/Eléfante

Largest land mammal. Hunted for ivory making these animals an endangered species in the wild.

Wolf/Lobo

Largest member of the canine family. Hunts in pack of 6 to 10 members.

Porcupine/Puerco espín

Mammal in the rodent family. Latin name means "Quilled Pig." Cannot shoot its unique protective fur as portrayed in cartoons.

Beaver/Castor

Mammal who is an excellent swimmer. Builds lodge homes. Sharp teeth and oily, waterproof fur with transparent goggle-type eyelids.

Platypus/Ornitorrinco

Only one of two mammals that lay eggs. Is a "hodgepodge" of other species. Males have spikes on their hind feet that are venomous.

Pufferfish/Pez globo

Slow swimming fish with natural toxins that ward off enemies. Also can become a spiny ball to avoid predators.

Cat/Gato

Small domestic mammal with light reflecting eyes. Human interaction with these creatures dates back to early Egyptian times.

Bat/Bate

The only flying mammal. Has excellent hearing and is not blind as the saying goes. This species has members that are as small as a fingernail to a very large bird. Fruit, insects, and blood are all foods eaten by this creature.

Ostrich/Avestruz

The world's largest flightless bird. Can sprint up to 43 miles per hour. These creatures do not "bury their head in the sand" as the saying goes.

American Alligator/Caimán

This reptile was saved from extinction and now thrives in regions of North America. Thought to have avoided extinction 150 million years ago when its prehistoric ancestors died off.

Whale/Bellena

World's largest marine mammal. Can be 100 feet long. Vocalizes to others in the species up to 1,000 miles away. Offspring gain 200 pounds a day drinking its mothers milk.

Sloth/Pereza

Worlds slowest mammal. So slow, algae grows on its fur. Gives birth hanging in the trees.

Dog/Perro

Domestic mammal in the canine family. First tame animal that is related to wolves, foxes, and jackals.

Great White Shark/Gran tiburón blanco

Earth's largest predator in the fish family. Can grow to 20 feet in length. Its powerful tail propels it forward at speeds of 15 miles an hour.