EDUCATION

The types of mountain lions are really regional populations of one remarkably adaptable big cat, which is also called the cougar, puma, panther and catamount. It has more than 40 English names, and it holds the title of the most widely distributed wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Its range stretches from the Yukon … Read more

The types of dolphins make up one of the most diverse and beloved groups of marine mammals, with about 38 oceanic dolphin species and several river dolphins spread across every ocean and some of the world’s great rivers. Dolphins are toothed whales, and they range from the 4-foot Hector’s dolphin to the 30-foot orca, which … Read more

The types of wolves are harder to count than most people expect, because scientists still argue about what counts as a species and what counts as a regional form. The wolf is the largest wild member of the dog family, and the gray wolf is by far the most widespread, ranging across North America, Europe … Read more

The types of otters range from the tiny Asian small-clawed otter to the 6-foot giant otter of South America, and they live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Otters are semi-aquatic members of the weasel family, and most authorities recognize 13 living species in 7 genera. Two of those species live in the sea, … Read more

The types of beaver species include just 2 living species, but their many regional forms and extinct giants make a much richer story. Beavers are the largest rodents in North America and among the largest in the world. They are famous for felling trees, building dams and creating ponds, and no other animal except humans … Read more

The types of peacock bird species make a shorter list than most people expect, because true peacocks are a small and remarkable group. Strictly speaking, “peacock” refers to the male, the female is a peahen and the pair together are called peafowl. Only 3 species of peafowl exist: the Indian peafowl, the green peafowl and … Read more

The types of kangaroo species make up one of the most recognizable groups of mammals in the world. Kangaroos are marsupials, which means the females carry their young in a pouch, and they live mainly in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Together with their wallaby and tree-kangaroo relatives, they belong to a family of about … Read more

The types of bison species include two living species and several extinct relatives that once roamed the grasslands, forests and frozen steppes of the Northern Hemisphere. Bison are the largest land mammals in North America and Europe, with big bulls weighing close to 2,000 pounds and standing about 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Their … Read more

The types of wild cat species form one of the most admired groups of predators on Earth. Scientists currently recognize 41 species in the cat family, and they live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. They range from the tiny rusty-spotted cat, which weighs about 2 pounds, to the tiger, which can top 600 … Read more

The different types of bobcats are regional forms of one adaptable wild cat that lives across much of North America, from southern Canada down into central Mexico. Bobcats are named for their short, bobbed tail, which measures only about 4 to 7 inches long and has a black tip on the upper side. They are … Read more