Mammals
African bush elephant
Loxodonta africana
The African bush elephant is the largest land animal, with bulls weighing about 5–7 tonnes. Facts on its size, tusks, herds, diet, calves, range and threats.
Conservation status · 26 species
Endangered animals
Species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, according to the IUCN Red List.
Species profiles
Birds
African gray parrot
Psittacus erithacus
The African gray parrot is a gray, red-tailed parrot of Central and West African rainforests, famed for its intelligence and speech. Size, diet and threats.
Mammals
African wild dog
Lycaon pictus
The African wild dog, or painted wolf, is an endangered pack hunter of Africa's savannas. Its coat, pack life, hunting, pups, range and why so few remain.
Reptiles
Alligator snapping turtle
Macrochelys temminckii
The alligator snapping turtle is North America's largest freshwater turtle. Facts on its ridged shell, worm-like tongue lure, size, lifespan, range and threats.
Mammals
Asian elephant
Elephas maximus
The Asian elephant is Asia's largest land animal, smaller-eared than African elephants and Endangered. Facts on its size, tusks, diet, herds, range and threats.
Fish
Basking shark
Cetorhinus maximus
The basking shark is the second-largest fish, usually 7–8.5 m (23–28 ft) long. Facts on its plankton diet, migrations, summer sightings and Endangered status.
Mammals
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
The blue whale is the largest animal known to have lived, up to about 30 m long. Facts on its size, krill diet, deep calls, calves, range and slow recovery.
Mammals
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
The chimpanzee is an endangered great ape of equatorial Africa and, with the bonobo, our closest relative. Facts on size, diet, tools, social life and range.
Birds
Emperor penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
The emperor penguin is the largest penguin and the only bird that breeds on Antarctic sea ice in winter. Size, diving, huddles, chicks, range and threats.
Mammals
European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
The European rabbit is the wild ancestor of every domestic rabbit breed. Facts on its size, warrens, diet, breeding, lifespan and Endangered status in Iberia.
Fish
Giant oceanic manta ray
Mobula birostris
The giant oceanic manta ray is the world's largest ray, up to about 7 m (23 ft) across. Its size, plankton diet, big brain, slow breeding and Endangered status.
Amphibians
Golden poison frog
Phyllobates terribilis
The golden poison frog of Colombia's Pacific rainforest may be the most poisonous animal alive. Its batrachotoxin, diet, color forms, dart use and status.
Reptiles
Komodo dragon
Varanus komodoensis
The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard, found only on a few Indonesian islands. Facts on its size, hunting, venom, virgin births and Endangered status.
Mammals
Large flying fox
Pteropus vampyrus
The large flying fox is one of the world's biggest bats, with wings up to 1.5 m (5 ft) across. Facts on its fruit and nectar diet, eyesight, roosts and threats.
Mammals
Little brown bat
Myotis lucifugus
The little brown bat is a small North American insect-eating bat that can live over 30 years. Size, echolocation, colonies, hibernation and white-nose syndrome.
Mammals
Pygmy hippopotamus
Choeropsis liberiensis
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small, shy forest hippo of West Africa, mainly Liberia. Facts on its size, night life, diet, calves, Endangered status and Moo Deng.
Mammals
Ring-tailed lemur
Lemur catta
The ring-tailed lemur is an Endangered primate from southern Madagascar with a black-and-white striped tail. Size, troops led by females, diet, stink fights.
Birds
Secretary bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
The secretary bird is an African bird of prey with an eagle's body on crane-like legs that kills prey by stamping. Facts on its size, diet, nesting and status.
Fish
Shortfin mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
The shortfin mako is a fast, warm-bodied ocean shark found worldwide, usually 2–3.2 m long. Its speed, leaps, diet, slow breeding and Endangered status.
Mammals
Tasmanian devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
The Tasmanian devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial, a noisy scavenger found only in Tasmania. Size, bite, diet, young and facial tumor disease.
Fish
Whale shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish, recorded at about 18.8 m (62 ft). Facts on its spots, plankton diet, warm-sea range, gatherings and Endangered status.