Amphibians (16)
Amphibians (Class Amphibia) include fascinating creatures such as salamanders, newts, caecilians, frogs, and toads. Amphibian larvea are often aquatic and go through a complex metamorphosis process as they grow to adulthood. They have moist skin and do not have scales, feathers or hair.
Birds (61)
Birds (Class Aves) are unique creatures having wings, feathers, hollow bones, and other adaptations for an arial lifestyle. Flight consumes a great deal of energy and consequently these warm-blooded animals have high metabolic rates. Many of their bones are fused for strength and stability.
Fishes (10)
Find information about fish such as sharks, trout, tuna, and paddlefish. Explore links to ichthyology web resources and view shark webcams.
Invertebrates (138)
Invertebrates are an extraordinarily diverse group of animals that include over 30 phyla. Invertebrates do not have a backbone, nor a bony skeleton. This large group of animals includes sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, roundworms, segmented worms, molluscs, echinoderms, and arthropods.
Mammals (123)
Mammals (Class Mammalia) are characterized by mammary glands, hair, a diaphram, a four-chambered heart, and a large cereberal cortex. 70 million years ago when reptile diversity declined, mammals took over habitats once unavailable to them.
Reptiles (23)
Reptiles (Class Reptilia) are cold-blooded vertebrates that diverged from ancestral amphibians about 340 million years ago. Ancient reptiles diverged into two distinct lineages, one that gave rise to modern mammals and the other gave rise to modern reptiles and birds. Modern reptiles include turtles, snakes, lizards, worm lizards, alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gavials.
Animal Facts / Trivia (2)
Animal Facts / Trivia
Animal Identification (24)
The process of animal identification requires a keen sense of observation as well as a good set of resources. Field guides, classification keys, and other reference materials (photographs, track patterns, recordings of calls) all help to pinpoint a species of interest.
Conservation (139)
A great deal of our understanding of animal biology, behavior, and evolution can be applied to reestablish and ensure the health of wild animal populations. Find out more about the research and organizations that bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Wildlife Habitats (49)
Find out more about a variety of animal and wildlife habitats including grasslands, deserts, tundra, woodlands, mountains, ponds, streams, marshlands, coastal wetlands, shores, oceans, and more.
Zoology Basics (168)
Zoology is the study of animals and involves research in many aspects of animal life such as behavior, diet, evolution, classification, and distribution.
Zoology Glossary (545)
The science of zoology has a language of its own with thousands of terms that are rarely used by non-experts. This collection of definitions and word lists should help as you try to understand the vast language that has developed for the study of animals.
