221 Amazing Wild Animals Encyclopedia

Common name : Warrigal, Warang Scientific name : Canis lupus dingo Family : Canidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : They rarely bark; instead, they howl Conservation status : Vulnerable They live in packs of ten or so, although most live alone. Over time, their diet has become omnivorous; they eat what they hunt, […]

Scientific name : Madoqua Family : Bovidae Native to : Eastern and Southern Africa Interesting fact : Its name is akin to the alarm calls made by females. Conservation status : Critically Endangered The tiny dik-dik stands about 16 inches and weighs 4 kg or so. Both sexes make shrill whistling sounds when they sense

Common name : Asiatic wild dog, Indian wild dog Scientific name : Cuon alpinus Family : Canidae Native to : Central and South-East Asia, Australia Interesting fact : Rare in natural habitat, but commonly found in captivity, due to breeding Conservation status : Endangered They resemble wolves, live in clans and hunt in the same

Common name : Sika deer, Spotted deer, Japanese deer Scientific name : Cervus nippon Family : Cervidae Native to : Worldwide Interesting fact : Rub their foreheads on trees to leave their scent, instead of urinating. Conservation status : Least Concern The deer is a strictly herbivorous mammal, with a keen sense of smell and

Common name : American jackal, Prairie wolf Scientific name : Canis latrans Family : Canidae Native to : Central and North America Interesting fact : It walks on its toes, instead of the soles of its feet. Conservation status : Least Concern There are nineteen sub-species of the coyote. It is found in both the

Common name : Cattle Scientific name : Bos taurus Family : Bovidae Native to : Worldwide Interesting fact : A cow has four digestive chambers. Conservation status : Domesticated Sometimes called the ‘foster mothers’ of humans, cows are livestock which have sustained life for centuries. Dung is used for fuel and is one of the

Common name : Puma, Mountain lion Scientific name : Puma concolor Family : Felidae Native to : North and South America Interesting fact : The ‘pumpard’ is a cross between a female puma and a male leopard. Conservation status : Least Concern The cougar lives in rocky areas and under bush. It has a typical

Common name : Coatimundi, White-nosed Coati, Hog-nosed raccoon Scientific name : Nasua narica Family : Procyonidae Native to : Western North America, Central and South America Interesting fact : Its nose can rotate, and is used like a digit! Conservation status : Critically Endangered The coati is like a raccoon, and it walks on the

Common name : Musk hog Scientific name : Pecari tajacu Family : Tayassuidae Native to : North, Central and South America Interesting fact : When alarmed, they release a strong, musky smell Conservation status : Critically Endangered It resembles a pig, but is not so. Their diet consists of cacti, nuts, tubers, grasses, and even

Common name : Clouded leopard Scientific name : Neofelis nebulosa Family : Felidae Native to : Himalayan foothills, mainland South-East Asia and China Interesting fact : It is not related to the leopard. Conservation status : Vulnerable They have exceptionally long canine teeth, almost 1.6 inches. The clouded leopard is solitary, and in India, only

Common name : Toddy cat, Musang Scientific name : Civettictis civetta Family : Viverridae Native to : Africa and Asia Interesting fact : Kopi luwak or civet coffee originates from the belly of the Asian palm civet; it is partly digested coffee beans excreted by the animal. This nocturnal mammal is found in Asia and

Common name : Squirrel Scientific name : Tamias Family : Sciuridae Native to : North America, Asia Interesting fact : Contributes greatly to forest ecosystems, by hoarding seeds, helping spread the spores of rare truffles Conservation status : Least Concern All of them are striped, including facial stripes. The chipmunks usually live in burrows with

Scientific name : Canis lupus familiaris Family : Canidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : It was taken on Admiral Byrd’s maiden Antarctic expedition in 1928. Conservation status : Least Concern The chinook is a rare breed of a dog developed in New Hampshire. For chinooks, the United Kennel Club breed standard states

Common name : Jebeer gazelle, Indian gazelle Scientific name : Gazella bennettii Family : Bovidae Native to : India, Pakistan and Iran Interesting fact : They can stay without water for months, surviving only on dew drops and plant fluids Conservation status : Endangered The Indian gazelle is closely related to the blue bull or

Common name : Chin Scientific name : Chinchilla chinchilla, Chinchilla lanigera Family : Chinchillidae Native to : South American Andes Interesting fact : Named after the Chincha people of the Andes, who donned themselves in thick fur which resembled a rich velvet lining. Conservation status : Endangered They live in herds in burrows or crevices,