All 30 species of sunfish
are found in North America.
They are all very sensitive
to changes in temperature.

The barbels or “whiskers” around
catfish’s mouths are covered
with taste buds.  Many of the
2000 species are nocturnal.

Native to North American
Pacific coast.  Get their
name from the broad band
of color along their side.

Often kept in garden ponds
as a sort of decoration.
Colors range from white
to orange to deep red.

Also called “blowfish.”
Can inflate their
stomachs with water or
air to swell to about
twice their normal size.

Found in all oceans but
Antarctic.  Eaten around
the world, but rarely in
the U.S.  There are about
250 species of sharks.

Found worldwide in tropical and
temperate oceans.  Can swim up
to perhaps 97 kph (60 mph).

Found in shallow waters
of temperate oceans.
Can reach 183 cm (6 ft)
and 227 kg (500 lbs).

Born partially albino, most
develop “points” on their
tail, muzzle, ears, legs and
feet.  Points can be red,
seal, chocolate and lilac.

Color variants of
the leopard whose
dark spotting is
visible under
certain lighting.

The largest and most
powerful members
of the cat family.

Small and fierce; range from
southern Canada to northern
Mexico.  They eat rodents and
rabbits but can also leap onto
deer’s backs and kill them.

Female lions do the
hunting and are the center
of the pride.  Lions prefer
grassy plains and avoid
dense forest.

Also called “mountain lions” or
“cougars.”  Excellent climbers
and jumpers, they often drop
from trees onto their prey.

Mostly nocturnal and
solitary, but will
hunt in pairs during
the breeding season.

The fastest land animals,
reaching speeds of 112
kph (70 mph).  They use
their long tails to
balance when turning.

Believed to have originated
in Iran (formerly Persia).
Their coats tend to stand
away from their bodies.

Found in many regions of
the world.  Strong fliers
and swimmers.  The skin
in the bottom of their
bills is very expandable.

Among the oldest domesticated
animals, nearly all parrots are
monogamous.  They may live for
70-80 years.

Native from the Philippines
to Australia and Malaysia. 
Most cockatoos eat roots,
fruits and vegetables.  All
types can raise or flatten
their feathered chests at
will.

Probably the most common
birds in the world.  Fully
domesticated about 4000
years ago from red jungle
fowl of Southeast Asia.

Feed by turning their
heads upside down in the
mud underwater, using their
bills to strain minute
animals and plants.  Highly
gregarious:  flocks may
reach two million birds.

Have large, heavy, hooked bills
and strong, sharp talons.  They
nest in precipices because their
young remain helpless for a
relatively long time.

Have the largest beaks
of any bird.  Their beaks
are sometimes actually
longer than their bodies.

Swim with their wings, using
their feet and tails as
rudders.  They breed in
large noisy colonies in
the Southern Hemisphere.

Mate for life, and
both parents care
for their young.

Wolf packs usually have
only two to eight members,
though they may include
as many as 36.  A strong
hierarchy of dominance and
submission maintains order
within the pack.

Herding dogs, originated
in Scotland.  Four color
types:  sable & white,
tri-color (black, white
and brown), blue merle,
and white.

One of the oldest known
breeds of dog, they are
used for hunting, especially
hare.  Greyhound racing
became popular around 1876.

The desert fox, arctic
fox and sand fox are
highly adapted to their
respective environments.

Named for the Mexican
state.  The smallest
breed of dog recognized
by canine associations.

From German “pudel,” meaning
water.  The “Poodle clip” was
designed to increase their
effectiveness as water dogs.

Hospice monks in the
Swiss Alps developed
this breed as a work dog.

Forerunners of this terrier
have been used in Scotland
for hundreds of years to go
underground after foxes and
other vermin.

Originally bred in
England for bullbaiting,
a “sport” outlawed in
the U.S. in 1835.

Different species range
from 20 cm to 3.4 m (8 in to
11 ft) long.  They can greatly
enlarge their mouth cavities
by dropping their lower jaws.

Live everywhere except
the deep sea and lands
of perpetual snow.

Can close their nostrils
and ears at will.  Crocs
have an extra set of
eyelids, transparent enough
to see through underwater.

Date back to the
Triassic period, 200
million years ago.

Members of the salamander
family, newts may have
“warty” skin and are
often brightly colored.

Skin contains many glands.
Some secrete mucus to keep
the skin moist; others
produce a toxic or
irritating substance when
the animal is frightened.
Lifespan is 1-60 years,
depending on the species.

Found on every continent except
Antarctica.  Various species
brood their young in unusual
places, such as their stomachs
or vocal sacs.