Featured Creatures

What large bird has an intimidating appearance, but is actually very docile, bows to show respect, and makes bill clattering sounds reminiscent of a machine gun?

What creature feeds hundreds of deep-sea animals for a century, builds its own coral-reef-like ecosystem from scratch, and locks away tons of carbon in the process?

What bird is the tallest in North America, is named for the calls it emits, and has small white airplanes to thank for its comeback from near extinction?

What animal was considered a cryptid for decades, has a foot-long black tongue, and looks like someone crossed a zebra with a giraffe?

What creature has a nose like a bloodhound, locks or releases carbon into the soil based on where it lives, and was caught on camera freeing one of its own from a trap?

What creature is considered a trickster in Indigenous culture, and the namesake for one of the most popular superheroes of all time?

What animal can outrun an Olympic sprinter, cares only for its own young despite living in communal dens, and looks like a cross between a rabbit and an antelope?

What thread is longer than the galaxy is wide but is hidden six inches underground, holds soil together, and has been in a successful relationship for close to 500 million years?

What microscopic creature can survive space and bullets, and may offer a way for humans to survive on other planets?

What insect clones itself, gives birth to live young, and sometimes already has the next generation developing inside it?

What creature is the largest terrestrial animal in North America, an icon of the American prairie, and has one of the great conservation success stories of modern times?

What animal grows old, can be injured or face environmental stress, and simply start its life over again?

What organism can take control of another animal’s body, force it to climb to a precise height, lock itself in place, and then use that body to spread its own offspring?

What animal floats upside down on the ocean’s surface, feeds on one of the most venomous sea creatures, and then steals the venom to use as its own defense?

What creature spends its entire life underwater, yet is related to Earth’s largest land animal, will approach boats and swimmers out of pure curiosity, and can sadly be individually identified by striking white scars made by boat propellers?

Which creature is a land animal closely related to marine mammals, carries its own pharmacy in its skin, and is the latest social media star?

What animal eats sunlight, lives like a plant, and looks like a tiny animated sheep grazing underwater?

What creature looks like a cartoon elephant, lives nearly four miles beneath the ocean’s surface, and moves by “flying” through the water?

What animal’s nose doubles as a megaphone and a built-in water recycler?

What animal evolved ears on its ribcage, can detect sounds far beyond the range of human hearing, and performs dazzling aerial evasive maneuvers in total darkness—all to avoid being eaten mid-flight? 

What tree isn’t really a tree at all, has no annual growth rings, no taproot, and no branches — yet can outlast almost everything around it in hurricane-force winds?

What animal gained fame in a 1990s children’s TV show, and whose leaping abilities bring to mind a graceful human dancer?

What animal is covered in scales made from the same material as our hair and nails, can extend its tongue as much as 16 inches (40 cm), and is sadly, the most trafficked in the world?

What animal travels over 100 miles for food and, due to warming temperatures, is suffering from insomnia?

What creature can knock a human off their feet, soars at heights beyond the naked eye, and is known as the “leopard of the air?”

What creature has a lifespan of over 250 years and catches prey by suction?

What animal votes by sneezing before going out to hunt, has incredible hearing, and engages in cooperative breeding?

What creature is unable to jump and is known as a “speed goat”?

Can you name a carnivore that eats no meat, has a pseudo opposable thumb, but is not a primate?

What stands like a kangaroo, has stripes like a tiger, and is found everywhere in art but nowhere in nature?

What animal is the “Superhero of the Desert,” reshaping entire ecosystems simply by eating, roaming, and . . . pooping?

What small owl blends perfectly into tree bark, has a song that trembles through the night like a soft trill, and thrives everywhere from Texas forests to New York City parks?

What lizard is among the largest in the Western Hemisphere, has striking red eyes to reduce the sun’s glare, and has been called the “Gardener of the Forest” in their native ecosystem?

What creature is nicknamed the “river wolf?”

What tree wears needles in summer, gold in autumn, and nothing at all in winter, yet never forgets to bloom again?

What ubiquitous little parasite purposely changes the behavior of its host, through some method researchers can’t even agree on?

What animal was revered and worshipped by ancient American civilizations, whose name means “he who kills with one leap”, and who has the strongest bite force relative to size among the big cats?

What river-dwelling goddess could navigate by sound alone, survived twenty million years of environmental change, yet disappeared within a few decades of human industrial expansion?

Which species of bear is the smallest and most arboreal, has the longest tongue of all bears, and are so smart, they can pick locks with their claws?

What species is an expert diver and well known for its haunting wail?

Which creature is one of the largest snakes in the world, a popular exotic pet, and an unwanted addition to the Florida Everglades ecosystem?

What species has a hard outer shell that protects from predation, is found across the Midwest of the United States, and inspired the name of a Big Ten mascot?

What tiny creature glows in the dark, digests cellulose, and can propel themselves up to 20 times their body length in the air without even using their legs?

What creature stands still for thousands of years, weathering wind, drought, and time itself, yet still grows inch by inch in the high mountains out west?

What charismatic seabird is known for its aerial agility and illusion of water-walking prowess? 

What species fights climate change, creates “surface-active groups,” and shares a home with the Maine lobster?

I flicker and float in warm evening air,
Like nature’s own fireworks, more care than scare.
No sound, just light as I drift and play
What glowing insect lights up your way?

What animal is the largest of the wild goat species, whose name means “snake eater” in Persian, and is the national animal of Pakistan?

What species is the tallest tree in the world, produces fog, and provides habitat for many organisms?

What animal was named after an Aztec god, maintains a youthful appearance for its entire life, and can regrow limbs, organs, and even parts of its central nervous system without scarring?

I live where the forest is humid and deep, I chatter and mimic, I laugh and I weep. With feathers of gray and a mind that’s quite bright, I talk with my flock from morning to night. Who am I?

What animal, despite having the same number of vertebrae, has a neck longer than the average human, has spot patterns as unique between individuals as our fingerprints, and despite their gentle appearance, can kill lions with a karate-style kick!?

What is the second most consumed insect group in the world (by humans) that can build nests with heights up to 9 meters (29.5 feet) and has a symbiotic relationship with fungi?

What species sang part of a Mozart concerto and got its own musical tribute in return?

I’m smaller than dust, yet ancient and wise,
I thrive in the harshest of lows and highest of highs.
No mate, no death, no fear of the cold,
I borrow new genes when my own get too old.

What creature is able to control blood flow to their extremities, has eyes adapted for underwater vision, and spends 75% of its life at sea?

What plant thrives in the harshest landscapes, conserving water like a desert camel, and produces a sweet yet spiky fruit enjoyed for centuries?

I prowl the woods, both fierce and lean,
With golden eyes and coat unseen.
Once a ghost upon the land,
Now brought back by careful hand.
Who am I, wild and free,
Yet bound by fate and history?

What creature is small and round 
and with a shrill sound 
it nests in the ground, 
where it hopes not to be found?

What creature used to live on the ground but now hangs in trees, has hair that grows in the opposite direction than most mammals, and turns green because of the algae that thrives in their fur?

With leaves shaped like a spade, what plant
is known to invade and refuses to fade? 

What insect spends years hidden underground, preparing for a brief but spectacular emergence into the sunlight, filling the air with the deafening, iconic song of summer?

What animal swims upright and is one of the few where males carry the pregnancy?

What plant can also be used as a soap,
but without a certain insect, simply could not cope? 

What berries grow in crimson towers,
With tangy taste that puckers and sours?

What’s usually purple, but sometimes pink,
and in the summer you might want it in a drink?

What creature often looks blue, but isn’t, is found on every continent but Antarctica, and inspired a train’s design?

What creature grows backwards and can swallow a tree whole?

What tree has adapted to grow directly in lava rock and is a keystone species of the Hawaiian watershed?

What Mediterranean tree is uniquely equipped to withstand wildfires with armor-like bark and high, out of reach, branches?

What bog-builder can hold 15-20 times its dry weight in water?

What plant was the first to flower in space and is the most widely used model species for studying plant biology?

What acrobatic raptor was so essential to medieval public health, killing it was a crime and it became the national bird of Wales?

What plant plays an important role in the grasslands of its native hemisphere, but alters soil moisture and fire regimes when introduced in North America?

What seemingly cute, small creature is, in fact, a terrifying killer that drills a hole into their prey, liquifies it, and then sucks it out like a smoothie?

What creature has large eyes, dexterous feet, and is the only venomous primate known to exist??

What athletic creature can reach speeds of 45mph and cool itself down with large ears – all in a 2.5 kg frame?

What creature steals photosynthesis, can go a year without eating, and blurs the animal-plant boundary?

What creature carves out little pieces of tree leaves to build its nest inside hollow stems?

What 200-pound nocturnal sea creature, thought to have gone extinct millions of years ago, was resurrected in 1938? 

What creature is the world’s smallest ungulate?

What handsome creature dyes its feathers and almost exclusively eats bones?

What creature is the engine of the Portuguese economy and works hard to delight wine-lovers around the world?

Which creature who helps fight climate change has newborns the size of an adult elephant and is not a fan of boats?

What semiaquatic creature has a paddle-like tail, swims through crevices, and can even climb trees?

What creature has a venomous bite and is uniquely adapted to survive harsh desert terrain?

What unique animal could be a cross between a rabbit, a pig, an opossum, and an anteater?

What instantly recognizable songbird holds seven state titles and has the crown to prove it?

What statuesque organism is a champion of beauty, hardiness, and capacity to nurture life around it?

What mammal makes a mysterious sound that scientists can’t figure out, can jump straight up to a height eight times their body length, and loves us when we love them?

What often-overlooked creature is an expert navigator, an impressive postman, and a natural mammographer?

What striking seabird is a master of adaptability in the ocean and the air?

What long-legged creatures are known for their beauty, social habits, and fabulous flamboyance?

What species of tremendous size and grace undertakes the largest mammal migration on Earth?

What cute creature is an underground architect and an amateur meteorologist?

What common bird possesses an uncommon intelligence, including diversified communication, excellent memory, and a talent for mathematics?

What furry feline has stealthy skills, built-in snow gear, and a surprising screech?

What creature feeds on trees, spits its seeds out, and is known as a symbol of love despite being poisonous to humans?

What fascinating feline with unique adaptations roams the aquatic ecosystems of Southeast Asia?

What tree, the “Redwood of the East,” once dominated the forests of the Eastern United States, and the cultural landscape as well?

Have you ever heard of a squirrel that barks?

What organism can grow up to 35 inches in a day, conduct electricity, and survive an atomic bomb?

What is the heaviest, oldest and one of the largest creatures on the planet?

Which ancient reptile is as old as crocodiles, has equally scary teeth, and can see all the way to the heavens?

What small but fearless songbird can astonish with its aerial acrobatics and is always ready to battle much bigger birds for dominance?

What creature preys on ants and other insects, invading their bodies, seizing control of their minds, and killing them off to reproduce, all the while inspiring zombie stories that terrify us humans?

Which creature is the largest Asian antelope, considered sacred to some and pest to others?

What nocturnal creatures native to North America are known for their beauty and the fact that they don’t eat at all in their adult life?

Which creature fights fires, creates wetlands, recharges groundwater, alters landscapes, and is a climate hero?

What creature comes from Southeast Asia, is the biggest of its kind, eats animals we need, and has been tried and convicted of murder in the court of public opinion?

Which fungi creature gets its name from a bird, helps heal internal wounds, and benefits people worldwide?

What creature is the largest of its kind, sports beautiful patterns, and holds a reputation for being a ‘gentle giant’?

What creature taught humans to make paper, builds with mud and can pollinate a flower inside a fruit?

Which keystone species creates intricate burrows, is aggressive towards its own kind, and hibernates from October to May?

Which species is known for its world-renowned beauty, has a special connection to Colombia, and inspired the creation of two delicious dessert flavors?

Which creature enjoys social gatherings, is well adapted to its habitat, and can be very altruistic?

Which creature has an invisibility cloak, built-in snowshoes, and an important role in Central Asia’s mountainous ecosystems?

What plant is used around the world for its immunity-boosting properties, loves shady and moist habitat, and is loved in turn by all sorts of pollinators?

What tiny bird fits in the palm of your hand, can kill a bird twice its size, nests in a hole carved out of a cactus plant by another species, and is named for earth itself?

Which creature is a combination of two other organisms, comes in bright colors, and helps us measure air quality?

Which creature creates forests underwater, provides food and shelter for countless species, and helps stabilize the climate?

What miraculous plant, revered by ancient Israelites and once thought to be extinct, sprouted from 2,000-year-old seeds in 2005?

What iconic creature can pull sleighs, see with superhero talent, and shape entire ecosystems?

What sort of worm is festooned with sensitive tentacles all the way down its sides and – though it can’t bark – has a nasty bite?

What creatures with iconic ears have allowed humans to expand their horizons, yet are often misunderstood and underappreciated?

What creature grows tall and sturdy, cleans up its neighborhood, and defends itself from predators – all without moving a muscle?

What tiny creature brings luck to farmers and other folks all over the globe?

What creature has no mouth, is known for colorful patterns, and is famous for mimicking a deadly predator?

Which creature existed before the dinosaurs, is an aerial genius, and can detect things we can only witness through slow-motion cameras?

What brainless creature can learn, problem solve, and even hold down a job?

What creature the size of a paperclip is lethal enough to kill ten grown men?

What creatures navigate oceans, climb mountains, feed forests, and motivate us to destroy renewable energy infrastructure?