WELCOME TO THE WILD
The animal kingdom is full of surprises. Some animals can sleep standing up, others have tongues longer than their bodies, and a few have abilities that sound almost impossible.
The wild gets weirder the closer you look.
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
With millions of animal species on Earth, scientists need a way to make sense of them all.
One of the biggest differences is something you can't always see: whether an animal has a backbone.
Animals with backbones are called vertebrates and include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Animals without backbones are invertebrates, and they make up the vast majority of animal species. This enormous group includes insects, spiders, crabs, snails, jellyfish, and many more.
From an elephant to a butterfly, every animal has a place in the animal kingdom.
WHAT AM I?
Looks can be deceiving in the animal kingdom. Can you figure out what these animals really are?
RED PANDA: NOT A PANDA
Despite its name, the red panda isn't closely related to the giant panda. It belongs to a family all its own, called Ailuridae.
KILLER WHALE: ACTUALLY A DOLPHIN
Orcas may be called whales, but they're actually the largest members of the dolphin family.
KING COBRA: NOT A TRUE COBRA
Despite the name, the king cobra isn't one of the ‘true cobras.’ It belongs to its own genus, Ophiophagus, and is actually the world's longest venomous snake.
GUINEA PIG: NOT A PIG
Nope. Guinea pigs are rodents, and despite the other half of their name, they didn't originate in Guinea either.
WILD SUPERPOWERS
Animals don't need capes to do things that seem impossible. From regenerating body parts to incredible eyesight and disappearing into their surroundings, the animal kingdom is packed with abilities humans can only dream about.
AXOLOTL: BUILT TO REGROW
Axolotls can regenerate lost limbs and even repair parts of their heart, spinal cord, and other organs, often without leaving the kind of scars humans would.
EAGLE: EYES MADE TO HUNT
Eagles can see much more detail at a distance than humans can. From high above the ground, its powerful eyes can pick out small prey that would be incredibly difficult for a human to spot.
OCTOPUS: MASTER OF DISGUISE
An octopus can rapidly change the color and even texture of its skin, helping it disappear into rocks, coral, and the seafloor right before your eyes.
MEET THE GIANT
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
The African elephant is the largest land animal on Earth, but its enormous size is only part of what makes it remarkable.
An elephant's trunk contains tens of thousands of muscles and can do everything from pulling down branches to delicately picking up something small.
Those enormous ears have a job, too. Elephants can flap them to help release body heat and stay cooler in Africa's warm climate.
And elephants are incredibly social. Families communicate using trumpets, rumbles, touch, and even very low-frequency sounds that can travel long distances.
KEEP THE DISCOVERY GOING
The animal kingdom is full of strange behaviors, surprising adaptations, and creatures that are nothing like they first appear.
Little Known Truths Zoo Trivia Cards bring fascinating animal facts into kids' hands with realistic imagery and bite-sized facts made for curious minds.
WHERE WILL YOU EXPLORE NEXT?
There's always something new to discover.
