The types of stingrays make up one of the most varied groups of cartilaginous fish, with somewhere between 220 and 370 species, depending on how the group is defined. Stingrays are flattened relatives of sharks, with skeletons made of cartilage, wing-like pectoral fins and, in most species, a venomous barb on the tail. The group … Read more

The snakes that look like copperheads are among the most commonly mistaken animals in the eastern United States, and the confusion costs harmless snakes their lives every year. The copperhead is a stout, venomous pit viper that usually measures 24 to 36 inches long, with a coppery head and a wedge-shaped skull. Its most famous … Read more

The types of foxes include about two dozen species, along with color morphs, regional subspecies and a few extinct or vanishing forms, spread across every continent except Antarctica. Foxes are small to medium-sized members of the dog family, with slender muzzles, pointed ears and bushy tails. Only 12 species belong to the genus of true … Read more

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