221 Amazing Wild Animals Encyclopedia

Common name : Bonobo, Pygmy chimpanzee, Gracile chimpanzee, Dwarf chimpanzee Scientific name : Pan paniscus Family : Hominidae Native to : Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa Interesting fact : Rare in natural habitat, but commonly found in captivity, due to breeding Conservation status : Endangered Its trademark pink lips and parted long hair are unique […]

Common name : Abyssinian bohor reedbuck Scientific name : Redunca redunca Family : Bovidae Native to : Central Africa Interesting fact : Its horns are prized possessions Conservation status : Least Concern They live near watering holes and vegetation and graze on reed shoots, a diet rich in protein and low in fibre-content. The female

Common name : Wild cat, Bay lynx Scientific name : Lynx rufus Family : Felidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : Prized for its fur Conservation status : Critically Endangered It lives in semi deserts and forests, even swampy regions. It is favoured for its contribution in pest control; it hunts rodents voraciously.

Common name : Wild boar Scientific name : Sus scrofa Family : Suidae Native to : Europe, North-West Africa, Asia Interesting fact : Breeding females and their young live in ‘sounders’ Conservation status : Critically Endangered These omnivorous scavengers eat berries, roots, tubers and even small reptiles and birds. The boar has visible tusks, which

Common name : Gnu, Poor Man’s Buffalo Scientific name : Connochaetes taurinus Family : Bovidae Native to : Central, Southern and Eastern Africa Interesting fact : They are born in large numbers (almost 5,00,000) just before the onset of the monsoons Conservation status : Critically Endangered These animals have a formidable physical presence, reaching lengths

Common name : Black-headed spider monkey Scientific name : Ateles fusciceps Family : Atelidae Native to : African Sahara Interesting fact : Its tail acts as a ‘thumb’, helping it to grip things and branches. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Various species of these monkeys live in the tropical forest regions of Central and South

Common name : Hook-lipped rhino Scientific name : Diceros bicornis Family : Rhinocerotidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : A group of rhinos is called a ‘crash’. Conservation status : Critically Endangered (since 2011) The rhino can get very aggressive; despite its size, it is a fast runner and charges with force. They are

Common name : American bison or Wisent (Europe) Family : Bovidae Native to : African Sahara Interesting fact : Rare in natural habitat, but commonly found in captivity, due to breeding. Conservation status : Endangered/Vulnerable They are the largest land animals in these regions. Although they seem similar yet there are differences between the two

Scientific name : Ovis canadensis Family : Bovidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : Cater to needs for minerals by seeking natural salt licks Conservation status : Least Concern It lives in alpine meadows, forages on grassy slopes and finds shelter in foothills of rocky cliffs. Their diet consists of grass and shrubs.

Common name : American Beaver Scientific name : Castor canadensis Family : Castoridae Native to : North America and Europe Interesting fact : They have been hunted for their fur as far back as the 17th century. Conservation status : Critically Endangered They are Nature’s own ‘engineers’, building dams and lodges in their riparian habitat

Scientific name : Ursidae Family : Ursidae Native to : Worldwide in the Northern Hemisphere Interesting fact : Rare in natural habitat, but commonly found in captivity, due to breeding. Conservation status : Endangered Mostly omnivorous, the exceptions are the panda bear which feeds on bamboo and the polar bear which is entirely carnivorous. They

Scientific name : Chiroptera Native to : Every part of the world, except the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and some Oceanic Islands. Interesting fact : Bat guano or droppings are used as fertilizers. It has been used for making gun powder as well. Conservation status : Least Concern Bats are the only mammals capable of

Common name : Barroo or Barkless dog Scientific name : Canis lupus familiaris Family : Canidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : They are like cats; they groom themselves, and do not have the characteristic ‘doggy smell’. Conservation status : Critically Endangered The basenji is characterized by forward pointing ears. It belongs to the

Common name : Swamp deer Scientific name : Rucervus duvaucelii Family : Cervidae Native to : South-Western Nepal and some parts of India Interesting fact : It is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh Conservation status : Vulnerable Their population has dwindled in Arunachal Pradesh in India. The male stag is known to have many

Common name : Long-nosed Bandicoot Scientific name : Perameles nasuta Family : Peramelidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : It is a marsupial. Conservation status : Least Concern A bandicoot resembles a rodent, but should not be confused with it. They are the size of a rabbit, and feed on a diet of insects,