The Giraffe House building is currently closed. The giraffe and okapi are viewable outdoors as weather conditions allow.
The Giraffe House building is currently closed. The giraffe and okapi are viewable outdoors as weather conditions allow.
The bald eagle is bold, fierce, and iconic, but it is not really bald. It has a conspicuous white head that is fully feathered!
United States, Canada, Northern Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, mammals, birds, crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, carrion
Diurnal
Up to 28 yrs
1-3 eggs per clutch
28‑38 in (71‑96 cm)
Wingspan: 168‑244 cm
2.5‑6.3 kg
About twice the size of a domestic housecat, the bobcat is a fearsome predator capable of taking down prey ten times its size.
North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Rabbits, squirrels, and other small-to-medium prey
Nocturnal
About 18 years
2-4 kittens/litter average
26‑41 in
20‑30lbs on average
The cheetah is the fastest mammal on earth. Everything about it is built for speed. During a twenty-second chase, its feet barely touch the ground as it reaches a top speed of 70 mph.
Isolated populations in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Eastern and Southern
Vulnerable
Carnivore - Small to medium sized ungulates, birds, hares, small mammals
Diurnal
10‑16 yrs
1-8 per litter
44‑59 in (112‑150 cm)
77‑158 lbs (35‑72 kg)
Slender-snouted crocodiles are among the least studied and least known of the 24 crocodilian species, which include all alligators and crocodiles.
Central and West Africa, from Mauritania and Senegal to North Angola east to Zaire, Zambia, and East
Critically Endangered
Carnivore - Insects, crabs, fish, frogs
Diurnal
40 years or more
13-27 eggs per clutch
10‑13 ft (2.5‑4.2 m)
275‑716 lbs (125‑325 kg)
The blue duiker is a tiny antelope about the size of a house cat.
Central and Southern Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - Fruit, leaves, flowers, fungi, seeds, some insects and small animals
Crepuscular
Up to 10 yrs
Single offspring
1.8‑3 ft (55‑90 cm)
8‑20 lbs (3.5‑9 kg)
African elephants are the largest land animals in the world. They have the largest brains in the animal kingdom and the largest among them can top 15,000 pounds–more than four times the weight of the average car!
Central and East Africa, south of the Sahara
Endangered
Herbivore - Grasses, leaves, branches, roots, fruits, tree bark
Diurnal
About 38 years
Single young per birth (twins possible)
Male: Up to 12 ft (3‑75 m)
Female: Up to 9 ft (3 m)
Male: Up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg)
Female: 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg)
Also known as the American flamingo, the tall, slender, scarlet Caribbean flamingo is the most brightly colored and among the largest of the world’s six flamingo species.
Islands and mainland coasts of the Caribbean Sea
Least Concern
Omnivore - Small shellfish, fish, worms, insects, algae, aquatic seeds and plants
Diurnal - Nocturnal
Up to 40 years
1-2 eggs per clutch
Body: 47‑57 in (120‑145 cm)
Wingspan: 55 in (140 cm)
4.8‑6.1 lbs (2.2‑2.8 kg)
The giraffe is the tallest animal on earth. A male giraffe towers up to nineteen feet above the ground.
Eastern, Central and Southern Africa
Vulnerable
Herbivore - Leaves
Diurnal
In human care: Up to 25 yrs
Wild: 10‑16 yrs
Single young per birth (twins are extremely rare)
Male: 18 ft (5.5m) tall
Female: 14‑15 ft (4‑4.5 m) tall
Male: 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg)
Female: 1,540 lbs (700 kg)
A grizzly bear's claws are as long or longer than your fingers.
Parts of Russia, Central Asia, China, Canada, the United States (mostly Alaska), Scandinavia, and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Anatolia, and Caucasus.
Least Concern - Within the continental U.S., grizzly bears, a North American subspecies of brown bear, are listed as threatened by sub-population under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Omnivore - Nuts, berries, roots, insects, honey, fish, and mammals ranging in size from pocket gophers to moose
Diurnal
Male: 21.9 yrs
Female: 26.8 yrs
1 to 3 cubs per birth on average
5‑8 ft
Male: 300‑1,200 lbs
Female: 175‑550 lbs
A leopard’s next meal probably isn’t going to know it until it’s too late. This big cat is known for stealth.
Africa and Asia
Near Threatened
Carnivore - Large and small mammals, birds, reptiles, arthropods
Nocturnal
7‑9 yrs
1-3 cubs per litter
3.5 - 6.5 ft (1.0‑1.9 m)
66‑155 lbs (30‑70 kg)
The King (and Queen) of Beasts are justly named. Lions are dominant predators lording over the food chain wherever they roam. What they have over every other big cat, and over every other African predator, is strength in numbers. They know that when it comes to catching dinner, it pays to cooperate.
sub-Saharan Africa, mostly Eastern and Southern
Vulnerable
Carnivore
Nocturnal
15‑16 yrs
1-6 young per litter
Male: 5.5‑8 ft (1.5‑2.5 m)
Female: 4.5‑6 ft (1.4‑2m )
Male: 330‑550 lb (150‑250 kg)
Female: 264‑400 lb (120‑181 kg)
At first glance, you would think that okapi are related to zebra. The reddish-brown and cream stripes on the okapi’s hindquarters seem like a sure giveaway. In reality, the okapi’s closest relative is the giraffe!
Congolese Rainforest in Central Africa
Endangered
Herbivore - Leaves, fruits, and seeds
Diurnal
Up to 30 years
Single young per birth
5‑5.6 ft (150‑170 cm)
462‑550 lbs (210‑250 kg)
Contrary to popular belief, an ostrich never buries its head in the sand. It doesn’t need to. It is the largest living species of bird on the planet and the fastest animal on two legs. It can’t fly, but it can sprint up to 40 mph and land a very powerful kick!
Africa, North and South of equatorial forest belt
Least Concern - Common
Herbivore - Green grass, browse on shrubs, succulents, seeds, few insects
Diurnal
20‑30 years
Clutch averages 13
Multiple females lay in the same nest for incubation
Male: 6.5‑8 ft (2‑2.5 m)
Female: 5‑6.5 ft (1.5‑2 m)
Male: 242‑330 lbs (110‑150 kg)
Female: 198‑242 lbs (90‑110 kg)
Beautiful, mysterious, and rare, Panamanian golden frogs have been revered as good-luck tokens in their native country of Panama since pre-Columbian times.
Cordilleran mountains of Western-Central Panama
Critically Endangered - Quite possibly extinct in the wild
Carnivore - Insects and other small invertebrates
Diurnal
About 8 years
200-600 eggs per clutch
1‑2 in (2.5 - 5.1 cm)
Under 1 lb
Prairie dogs take their common name from where they live and what they sound like when alarmed. They go by many other nicknames as well, including wishtonwish, mound yapper, yaprat, yek-yek, tousa, pispiza, ping-sping-sa, and sod poodle.
Narrow bands of short-grass prairie from Central Texas north to the U.S.-Canada border
Least Concern
Herbivore - Wheatgrass, grama, buffalo grass, scarlet globemallow, rabbitbrush, prickly pear cactus, thistle
Diurnal
5‑8 years
3-4 per litter
14‑17 in (350‑425 mm)
1‑3 lbs
Prairie dogs take their common name from where they live and what they sound like when alarmed. They go by many other nicknames as well, including wishtonwish, mound yapper, yaprat, yek-yek, tousa, pispiza, ping-sping-sa, and sod poodle.
Narrow bands of short-grass prairie from Central Texas north to the U.S.-Canada border
Least Concern
Herbivore - Wheatgrass, grama, buffalo grass, scarlet globemallow, rabbitbrush, prickly pear cactus, thistle
Diurnal
5‑8 years
3-4 per litter
14‑17 in (350‑425 mm)
1‑3 lbs
Sitatunga are swamp antelope. They are adapted to survive where few other antelope could. Their long, splayed hooves allow them to walk across islands of floating vegetation and wet terrain without sinking. They are strong swimmers and can even hide underwater with only their nostrils (and maybe eyes) showing.
Central Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - Reeds, sedges, grasses, leaves, fallen fruit
Crepuscular
10‑15 yrs
Single young per birth
Male: 60‑67 in (152‑170 cm)
Female: 53‑61 in (135‑155 cm)
Male: 154‑275 lbs (70‑125 kg)
Female: 110‑126 lbs (50‑57 kg)
River otters are the only truly amphibious members of the weasel family.
Throughout North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, rodents, rabbits, insects
Diurnal - Diurnal and nocturnal
8‑9 yrs
1-6 per litter
18‑32 in (460‑830 mm)
6‑31 lbs (3‑14 kg)
When warthogs run, their tails stick straight up in the air!
sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - Grass, roots, berries, bark of young trees, occasionally carrion
Diurnal
12‑15 yrs
1-8 per litter
35‑59 in (900‑1500 mm)
110‑331 lbs (50‑150 kg)
The white rhino is the third largest land mammal in the world, dwarfed only by the Asian elephant and the African elephant. White rhinos weigh between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds and stand 5 to 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Their heads alone can weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
South Africa
Near Threatened
Herbivore - grasses
Diurnal
In human care: 40 yrs
Wild: 35 yrs
Single young per birth
118‑150 in (300‑380 cm)
Male: up to 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Female: up to 4,500 lb (2,041 kg)
To think of a zebra as a striped horse is not quite right, but not quite wrong either. Zebras are members of the horse family Equidae. Zebras are also unmistakably striped! Each zebra has a distinct pattern of stripes, as unique as a person’s fingerprints.
Eastern and Southeastern Africa
Near Threatened
Herbivore - Grasses
Diurnal
15‑20 yrs
Single young per birth
Up to 59 in (1.5 m) at shoulders
500‑800 lbs (227‑363 kg)
Rats are quite social, and can live in large groups of 100 individuals or more.
Worldwide
Least Concern
Omnivore - Birds, mice, small lizards, eggs, fish, tubers, roots, fruits, and seeds
Nocturnal - Nocturnal and crepuscular
1‑2 years
Up to 14 pups per litter
About 1 ft, including the tail
0.5‑1 lb
Although these snakes are non-venomous and unrelated to rattlesnakes, they can mimic some rattlesnake behaviors when threatened.
Florida, southern Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi
Near Threatened - Federally listed as Threatened
Carnivore - amphibians, mammals, small birds, other snakes
Diurnal
About 12 years
4-12 eggs per clutch
About 7 ft.
2‑10 lbs
Southern Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fruits, seeds
Nocturnal
5‑9 years
1-5 cubs per litter
2‑3.5 ft
2‑6 lbs
Manitoba east to Maine and south to northern Florida and central Texas
Least Concern
Carnivore - Small invertebrates
Nocturnal
Up to 7 years
Up to 2,000 eggs
1.25–2 inches
About 7 grams
These rodents get their name from their well-developed cheek pouches.
Tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - insects, fruits, seeds, tubers
Nocturnal
6‑8 years
2-4 pups
27–31 inches, including the tail
2‑3 lbs
With a nine-foot wingspan, these are the second largest pelicans in the world.
Southeastern Europe, Africa, and western Asia
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish
Diurnal
About 10 years
1-3 chicks per year
About 4 ft tall
10‑30 lbs
The opossum is one of the only marsupials found outside of Australia.
Central and Eastern United States, down to Costa Rica
Least Concern
Omnivore - Small vertebrates and invertebrates, fruits, vegetables
Nocturnal
About 2 years
4–25 per litter
1–2 feet
4–6 lbs
These Arctic birds have razor-sharp talons and beaks built for ripping flesh.
Circumpolar north
Vulnerable
Carnivore
Diurnal
About 10 years
3–11 eggs per clutch
21–28 in. (52–71 cm)
3.5–6.5 lbs (1.6–3.0 kg)
The lappet-faced vulture is named for the loose, fleshy, ear-like lappets that hang from the sides of its bare pink head.
Middle East and throughout Africa, from the southern Sahara to the Sahel
Endangered
Carnivore - Mainly carrion; also bird eggs, small mammals, some insects
Diurnal
About 23 years
1 egg per year
31–45 inches
10–21 lbs
A white stork can regulate its body temperature by defecating on its legs, with evaporation cooling the bird.
Europe, southwestern Asia, northwest Africa, sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, small birds and mammals, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, eggs
Diurnal
About 17 years for males, about 13 years for females
3-5 eggs per clutch
Heights 3‑4 ft, wingspan 6‑6.5 ft.
5‑10 lbs
These prickly, vocal rodents are master tree climbers.
Southern half of Canada, and northern and western U.S; scattered populations throughout the eastern U.S; parts of northern Mexico
Least Concern
Herbivore - Roots, stems, leaves, berries, seeds and grasses, tree bark
Nocturnal
Up to 18 years
1
2–3 ft
11–20 lbs
The southern three-banded armadillo is one of only two armadillo species that can curl into a ball completely.
Central South America
Near Threatened
Carnivore - mainly ants and termites
Nocturnal
18–20 years
1 per year
12–14 inches
2–3 lbs
Red-tailed guenons have cheek pouches in which they can temporarily store about as much food as their stomachs will hold.
East-central Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - Mostly fruit, also leaves and some animal prey
Diurnal
Up to 28 years
Single offspring
Female: About 13–18 in (32–46 cm)
Male: About 16–25 in (40–63 cm)
3–4 kg (6.6–8.8 lbs)
Skinks are a type of lizard found on every continent except Antarctica. There are four skink species native to Maryland, and the broad-headed skink is the largest.
Central and southeastern U.S. in open and often moist wooded areas
Least Concern
Carnivore - Mainly insects, spiders, other invertebrates; occasionally mollusks, small reptiles and mammals
Diurnal
Unknown, but likely about 4 years
8-13 eggs/clutch
6‑12 in.
1‑2 oz.
California kingsnakes are highly variable in color and appearance, but the most common “morph” is black-and-white banded.
California and neighboring states, from southern Oregon to northern Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore - Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and eggs
Crepuscular
10‑15 years on average
3-24 eggs/clutch
2.5‑3.5 ft on average
Up to 3.3 pounds
Tarantulas may appear scary at first glance, but never fear! The venom from these large arachnids won’t harm people.
Central Pacific coast of Mexico - Arid habitats such as desert, scrubland, and dry forests
Near Threatened
Carnivore - Insects, frogs, small lizards, and mice
Nocturnal
Males: 5‑10 yrs; Females: 25‑30 yrs
200-400 eggs/clutch
5 inches
0.5 oz
To attract females, male red-footed tortoises make a clucking sound that sounds remarkably like a hen.
Central and South America; several Caribbean islands
Vulnerable
Omnivore - Primarily fruit; grasses, fungi, carrion, invertebrates
Diurnal
50+ yrs
2-15 eggs/clutch
12‑16 in
Up to 11 lbs
Geckos possess more complex vocal structures than other lizards, allowing them to chirp and click as well as hiss, bark, and growl.
Iran, Iraq, northern Syria, southeastern Turkey
Data Deficient
Carnivore - Insects, spiders, other arthropods, possibly eggs and small reptiles
Nocturnal
Unknown
Unknown
8‑9.5 in
55‑70 g
Egyptian tortoises are no bigger than baked potatoes.
Libya, desert and semi-desert
Critically Endangered
Herbivore - Leaves and flowers of desert plants
Diurnal
Unknown
1-5 eggs/clutch
Up to 5 in (12.7 cm)
5.5‑12.5 oz (156‑354 g)
The magnificent peacock, known far and wide, is actually a male Indian peafowl. The female is a peahen.
Native to India and neighboring countries
Least Concern
Omnivore - Seeds, fruit, insects, occasional reptile or small rodent
Diurnal
20 years
4-6 eggs per clutch
6‑7.5 feet
6‑13 pounds
The Chinese name for this alligator is yowlung, which means “dragon.”
Lower Yangtze River basin, China
Critically Endangered
Carnivore - Fish, snails, clams, occasional duck or rodent
Nocturnal
50‑70 yrs
10-40 eggs/clutch
Up to 5 ft.
Up to 90 lbs
Tawny frogmouths are odd birds whose looks are owl-like and whose mouths are frog-like (hence the name).
Australia and Tasmania
Least Concern
Carnivore - Primarily insects; also invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles, frogs, and birds
Nocturnal
15‑20 years
1-3 eggs per clutch
13‑20 inches; Wingspan: 25‑38 inches
Up to 1.5 pounds
Kunekune means “fat and round” in Maori, a language spoken by indigenous New Zealanders.
Worldwide
Domesticated - Rare but rebounding
Herbivore - Grass, hay, grain
Diurnal
8‑16 years
6-12 piglets per litter
Up to 4 ft.
130‑220 lbs.
American badgers are super-fast diggers that can burrow underground and out of sight in a matter of seconds.
Central and western North America, from southern Canada to Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore - Rodents, birds, bird eggs, reptiles, amphibians, insects
Nocturnal
4‑10 yrs
1-5 cubs per litter
16‑28 in.
8‑26 lbs
Spur-winged lapwings are known as “foot tremblers” – they stomp their feet to flush prey from hiding.
Central, sub-Saharan Africa; eastern Mediterranean
Least Concern
Carnivore - Primarily insects, insect larvae, and small invertebrates
Diurnal - Variably diurnal or nocturnal
17 yrs on average
2-4 eggs per clutch
10‑11 in
Wingspan: 27‑32 in
4.5‑6 oz
What’s a skink, you ask? Generally speaking, a skink is a large, short-limbed, practically no-necked lizard. The prehensile-tailed skink is the largest of all skinks.
Solomon Islands, tropical rain forest
No Listing
Herbivore - Leaves and fruit
Crepuscular
Up to 15 years
1-2 offspring
2.5 ft
Approximately 2 lbs
Ruddy ducks are small-winged ducks that have to get a running start across water in order to take flight.
Summer: Mid-Western U.S. and Canada, and much of Central America; Winter: along Atlantic, Pacific
Least Concern
Carnivore - Aquatic insects and invertebrates; pondweed, algae, wild celery, seeds of other aquatic plants
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
8 eggs/clutch on average
13–17 in
10–30 oz
The face of a prehensile-tailed porcupine is irresistible – two dark round eyes and a curiously large, bulbous, whiskered nose set in a soft ball of speckled spines. Resist the urge to cuddle, though.
North/Northwest South America
Least Concern - Stable
Herbivore - Bark, leaves, fruit, buds, root vegetables
Nocturnal
About 15 yrs
Usually single offspring
30 to 40 in, including tail
4‑11 lbs
Save your loathing because Madagascar hissing cockroaches are not pests. Like the vast majority of all cockroach species, they will not take up residence in your house.
Madagascar
Least Concern
Omnivore
Nocturnal
2‑5 yrs
20-60 per brood
2‑3 in
0.8 oz
The marbled teal, also known as the marbled duck, is an elegant, medium-sized duck with a speckled brown body and dusky eye patch.
Scattered across Northwest Africa, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and Central Asia
Vulnerable
Omnivore - Mall seeds, aquatic invertebrates
Crepuscular
Unknown
4-12 eggs per clutch
15‑19 in (38‑48 cm)
8.5‑21.5 oz (240‑600 g)
Wood turtles are skilled earthworm hunters. They stamp the ground alternately with their front feet to bring earthworms to the surface, and then grab them quickly.
Southeastern Canada, Northeastern U.S., Great Lakes region
Endangered
Omnivore - Insect larvae, fish, invertebrates, crayfish, plant matter
Diurnal
40+ yrs
6-8 eggs per clutch on average
Carapace (top shell): 6‑9 in
1‑3 lbs
Timber rattlesnakes are one of 27 species of snake native to Maryland, but they have become exceedingly rare here and in many other parts of their historic range.
Eastern U.S., historically
Vulnerable
Carnivore
Nocturnal
10‑20 yrs
6-12 live young per clutch
3‑4 ft
1‑3 lbs
The Sulcata tortoise, also known as the African spurred tortoise, is the third largest species of tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise and the Aldabra giant tortoise. It is the largest of all mainland tortoises.
Central Africa, from Southern Sahara, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Chad to Ethiopia
Vulnerable
Herbivore - Grasses, weeds, cactus
Crepuscular
50+ years
15-30 per clutch
24‑30 in (61‑76 cm)
70‑200 lbs
Spotted turtles are one of 19 species of turtle native to Maryland.
Great Lakes region and Atlantic seaboard, from Southern Canada to Florida
Endangered - Per IUCN listing
Omnivore - Invertebrates, fish, frogs, algae, aquatic plants
Diurnal
30+ yrs
3-4 eggs per clutch on average
Carapace (top shell): 3‑5 in (7.5‑12.5 cm)
Under 1 lb
The Northern pine snake is a large, non-venomous snake that is harmless to people.
Northern and East-Central United States from New Jersey to Alabama
Least Concern - but threatened in New Jersey
Carnivore - Mainly small rodents, birds, bird eggs
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
Several dozen eggs per clutch
5‑7 ft
4‑9 lbs
Due to their coloration, many mole kingsnakes are mistakenly identified as venomous copperheads.
Eastern and Gulf Coast states of the U.S.
Least Concern - Stable
Carnivore - Mainly mice, snakes, and lizards
Nocturnal
About 20 yrs
10-12 eggs per clutch
30‑40 in (76‑102 cm)
.5‑1.0 lb
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder perhaps, but few could behold the wood duck and not consider it the most beautiful of all North American ducks.
Southern Canada and most of the United States, Mexico, and Cuba
Least Concern
Omnivore
Diurnal
About 4 yrs
10-15 eggs/clutch on average
18.5‑21 in
1‑2 lbs
The Waldrapp ibis, also known as the northern bald ibis, is one of the most critically endangered birds in the world.
A small area in Morocco
Critically Endangered
Omnivore - Reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and insects; some fruits and seeds
Diurnal
20‑30 yrs
1-2 eggs/clutch
70‑80 cm
8‑10 lbs
To cool off, a white-breasted cormorant will flutter its gular pouch, located just below the beak.
sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish with the occasional crustacean or amphibian
Diurnal
Unknown
2-6 eggs per clutch
35 in (90 cm)
Wingspan: 35 in (90 cm)
7.2 lbs (3.3 kg)
This small member of the hornbill family is named after the German explorer Baron Karl Klaus von der Decken, who first described it in his journals.
Eastern Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - Snails, mice, nestling birds, lizards, tree frogs, seeds, fruit, berries, insects
Diurnal
Unknown
Usually 2 eggs per clutch, sometimes 3 or 4
1‑2 ft
4‑6 oz (120‑212 g)
When threatened, turkey vultures protect themselves by hissing and vomiting powerful stomach acids.
North, Central, and South America
Least Concern
Carnivore
Diurnal
Up to 16 yrs
1-3 eggs/clutch
2‑3.5 ft
Wingspan: About 6 ft
4‑4.5 lbs
The trumpeter swan is the largest swan in the world and the largest waterfowl in North America.
United States, Canada, Mexico
Least Concern
Omnivore - Submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation, grasses, grain, occasional invertebrates
Diurnal
15‑25 yrs on average
4-6 eggs/clutch on average
Approximately 4 ft
Wingspan: 6‑8 ft
20‑30 lbs
Saddle-billed storks are quintessential storks: tall, graceful wading birds with long legs, long bills, and a striding gait. They are, in fact, the tallest stork in Africa.
sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, crustaceans, small reptiles
Diurnal
12 years
1-5 eggs per clutch
55‑59 in (139‑150 cm)
11‑16 lbs (5‑7.5 kg)
Red-crested pochards are the only ducks known to engage in a feeding ritual whereby the male dives and brings food offerings to his mate while she swims on the surface.
Scattered across North Africa, Europe, and Asia
Least Concern
Omnivore - Aquatic vegetation supplemented by aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, small fish
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
8-10 eggs per clutch on average
22 in (57 cm)
1‑1.1 kg
Contrary to popular belief, an ostrich never buries its head in the sand. It doesn’t need to. It is the largest living species of bird on the planet and the fastest animal on two legs. It can’t fly, but it can sprint up to 40 mph and land a very powerful kick!
Africa, North and South of equatorial forest belt
Least Concern - Common
Herbivore - Green grass, browse on shrubs, succulents, seeds, few insects
Diurnal
20‑30 years
Clutch averages 13
Multiple females lay in the same nest for incubation
Male: 6.5‑8 ft (2‑2.5 m)
Female: 5‑6.5 ft (1.5‑2 m)
Male: 242‑330 lbs (110‑150 kg)
Female: 198‑242 lbs (90‑110 kg)
Northern pintail start to nest earlier than almost any other duck species in North America. They are among the first ducks to migrate south in the fall and north in the spring.
North and South America
Least Concern
Herbivore - Grain, seeds, weeds, aquatic insects, crustaceans, and snails
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
3-12 eggs/clutch
20–30 in (51–76 cm)
17.5–51 oz (500–1450 g)
Northern ground hornbills are large black birds, about the size of wild turkeys, with bold facial markings and long eyelashes.
Central Africa, North of the equator and South of the Sahara Desert
Vulnerable
Carnivore - Reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and insects; carrion; some fruits and seeds
Diurnal
About 17 years
1-2 eggs/clutch
Up to 3 ft
8‑10 lbs
The leopard tortoise is Africa’s most widely distributed tortoise.
sub-Saharan Africa, from Sudan south to the Cape Province of South Africa
Least Concern - Stable
Herbivore - Grasses and succulents
Crepuscular
50+ years
5-30 eggs/clutch
16‑18 in (40‑50 cm)
Average 40 lbs (18 kg)
Eastern hognose snakes play dead when threatened.
Eastern North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Small prey of many types
Diurnal
Unknown
15-25 eggs/clutch on average
20‑35 in (50‑85 cm)
Under 1 lb
The box turtle gets its name from its unique ability to clamp its upper and lower shells shut like a box.
Eastern-Central United States from Southern Maine to Florida and into Central U.S. in Michigan, Illinois, Eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
Vulnerable
Omnivore - Snails, insects, berries, carrion, fungi, slugs, worms, roots, flowers, fish, frogs, snakes, salamanders, birds, and eggs; young are primarily carnivorous, adults are primarily herbivorous
Diurnal
Up to or exceeding 100 yrs
3-8 eggs per clutch
4‑9 in (10‑22 cm)
1‑2 lbs (311‑523 g)
The corn snake supposedly got its name from the resemblance of its belly markings to kernels of maize or Indian corn. It is also called the red ratsnake, in recognition of its coloration and its common prey.
Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S.
Least Concern
Carnivore - Rodents, birds, bats, lizards, frogs
Nocturnal - primarily
About 20 years
10-20 eggs per clutch
2‑6 feet
1‑3 lbs
The bog turtle is the smallest and rarest turtle in North America.
Isolated colonies ranging from upstate New York to Georgia
Critically Endangered
Omnivore - Insects, slugs, worms, crayfish, frogs, snakes, snails, carrion, and some plant matter
Diurnal
Unknown
1-6 eggs per year
Up to 4 in long (10 cm)
1.5 g
Black rat snakes are known to some as “pilot snakes” for the mistaken belief that they lead other snakes, including rattlesnakes, to suitable winter denning areas.
Central and Eastern U.S.
Least Concern - Stable
Carnivore - Primarily mice and other small rodents; also frogs, lizards, birds, eggs
Diurnal - or nocturnal, depending on season
Unknown
12-30 eggs per clutch
3‑5 ft on average
3‑4 lbs
Slender-snouted crocodiles are among the least studied and least known of the 24 crocodilian species, which include all alligators and crocodiles.
Central and West Africa, from Mauritania and Senegal to North Angola east to Zaire, Zambia, and East
Critically Endangered
Carnivore - Insects, crabs, fish, frogs
Diurnal
40 years or more
13-27 eggs per clutch
10‑13 ft (2.5‑4.2 m)
275‑716 lbs (125‑325 kg)
Hooded mergansers can chase fish underwater for up to two minutes!
North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Mostly fish, aquatic insects, crawfish, some plant material
Diurnal
10‑20 yrs
5-44 eggs/clutch
15.7–19.3 in (40–49 cm)
16–31 oz (453–879 g)
Social and lethal, Harris’s hawks are aptly described as “wolves of the air.”
Southwestern US, Mexico, Central and South America
Least Concern
Carnivore
Diurnal
10‑15 years
1-5 eggs/clutch
1.5‑2.5 ft
1.5‑2.5 lbs
The all-brown hamerkop has a long, flat crest on its head that gives it the unmistakable look of – you guessed it – a hammer.
sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar
Least Concern
Carnivore - Amphibians, fish
Diurnal
10‑20 yrs
3-7 eggs/clutch
22 in (56 cm)
14.5‑15.1 oz (415‑430 g)
The hadada ibis is named for its distinctive call, “Ha-da-da, ha-da-da, ha-da-dee.”
sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Carnivore
Diurnal
Unknown
2-3 eggs/clutch
1‑1.5 ft
2‑3 lbs
Macaws are the largest of all parrots, and the green-winged macaw is the second largest of all macaws.
Southern Central America and Northern South America
Least Concern
Herbivore - Fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, minerals and salt from clay licks
Diurnal
35‑40 years
1-3 eggs per clutch
26 – 37 in (65 - 92.5 cm) including tail
43.8 - 59.5 oz (1,250 - 1,700 g)
The fulvous whistling duck is a duck of the world, represented on four continents!
Global
Least Concern
Herbivore - Aquatic seeds and fruits, bulbs, leaf shoots, buds and the structural parts of aquatic plants such as grasses and rushes; occasionally, small aquatic insects
Diurnal - Diurnal and nocturnal
Unknown
8-12 eggs/clutch
18‑21 in (45–53 cm)
675‑690 g on average
When threatened, an eastern screech owl tightens its feathers, sits very still, and gives a convincing impression of a tree branch stub.
Southern Canada, Eastern US, Northern Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore - Insects, frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, small birds, rodents
Nocturnal
8‑10 years
2-6 eggs per clutch
8‑9 in (20.32‑22.86 cm)
7‑7.3 oz (200‑208 g)
Ravens are the largest songbirds in the world.
Throughout Northern Hemisphere
Least Concern
Carnivore - Animal carcasses, rodents, grains, seeds
Diurnal
20 years or more
4-6 eggs per clutch
22‑27 in (56‑59 cm)
24‑58 oz (689‑1,625 g)
Also known as the American flamingo, the tall, slender, scarlet Caribbean flamingo is the most brightly colored and among the largest of the world’s six flamingo species.
Islands and mainland coasts of the Caribbean Sea
Least Concern
Omnivore - Small shellfish, fish, worms, insects, algae, aquatic seeds and plants
Diurnal - Nocturnal
Up to 40 years
1-2 eggs per clutch
Body: 47‑57 in (120‑145 cm)
Wingspan: 55 in (140 cm)
4.8‑6.1 lbs (2.2‑2.8 kg)
In flight, the blue-winged teal reveals its most striking coloration – a powder-blue underwing patch.
Much of North and Central Americas, and Northern South America
Least Concern
Herbivore - Aquatic plants, seeds, invertebrates
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
6-14 eggs/clutch
14.2 – 16.1 in (36‑41 cm)
8.1 – 19.2 oz (230‑545 g)
Blue-bellied rollers and other “true” rollers are so named because of their spectacular, tumbling courtship flights.
Western and Central Africa, from Senegal to Southern Sudan
Least Concern
Carnivore - Insects and other invertebrates, small snakes and other reptiles, oil-palm fruits
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
2-3 eggs/clutch
11– 12 in (280‑300 mm)
3.8‑5.3 oz (110‑150 g)
Black-crowned night herons are the most widespread herons in the world.
Global, except Australia and Antarctica
Least Concern
Carnivore
Nocturnal
20 yrs
3-4 eggs/clutch on average
2 ft
1‑2 lbs
The bald eagle is bold, fierce, and iconic, but it is not really bald. It has a conspicuous white head that is fully feathered!
United States, Canada, Northern Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, mammals, birds, crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, carrion
Diurnal
Up to 28 yrs
1-3 eggs per clutch
28‑38 in (71‑96 cm)
Wingspan: 168‑244 cm
2.5‑6.3 kg
Black crowned cranes roost in trees, which is unusual for cranes.
Broadly distributed in equatorial West Africa, North of the Congo Basin from Senegal East to Lake Chad, and South to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Northern Cameroon
Vulnerable
Omnivore - Tips of grasses, seeds, insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates
Diurnal
30 years or more
3-4 eggs per clutch
37‑40 in (95‑101 cm)
6.6 -8.4 lbs (2.9 kg-3.8 kg)
The African spoonbill starts life with a short bill but within a few short weeks – by the time the young bird leaves the nest and starts to fly – its bill has grown long and distinctively spoon shaped.
Most of sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Carnivore - Small fish, shellfish, insects, and aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and water beetles
Diurnal
Unknown
3-5 eggs per clutch
90 cm
Wingspan: 365‑403 mm
45‑73 oz (1.3‑2.1 kg)
African grey parrots have an unparalleled ability to mimic human speech and other sounds.
Central and West Africa
Endangered
Herbivore - Fruits, berries, seeds and nuts
Diurnal
50 yrs on average
1-4 eggs per clutch, on average
About 1 ft (33 cm)
About 1 lb
Beautiful, mysterious, and rare, Panamanian golden frogs have been revered as good-luck tokens in their native country of Panama since pre-Columbian times.
Cordilleran mountains of Western-Central Panama
Critically Endangered - Quite possibly extinct in the wild
Carnivore - Insects and other small invertebrates
Diurnal
About 8 years
200-600 eggs per clutch
1‑2 in (2.5 - 5.1 cm)
Under 1 lb
The brilliantly colored juveniles of this salamander species are called "red efts."
Eastern North America
Least Concern - Per IUCN listing
Carnivore - Aquatic insects and insect larvae; small invertebrates; amphibian eggs
Diurnal
10‑15 yrs
200-300 eggs per clutch
2.5‑5.5 in (6.5‑14 cm)
0.2‑0.4 oz (5‑11 g)
Tiger salamanders are among the largest terrestrial, or land-dwelling, salamanders on earth.
U.S., Canada, and Mexico
Least Concern
Carnivore
Nocturnal
12‑15 yrs
100-1,000 eggs/clutch
7‑14 in
About 4.5 oz
Sitatunga are swamp antelope. They are adapted to survive where few other antelope could. Their long, splayed hooves allow them to walk across islands of floating vegetation and wet terrain without sinking. They are strong swimmers and can even hide underwater with only their nostrils (and maybe eyes) showing.
Central Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - Reeds, sedges, grasses, leaves, fallen fruit
Crepuscular
10‑15 yrs
Single young per birth
Male: 60‑67 in (152‑170 cm)
Female: 53‑61 in (135‑155 cm)
Male: 154‑275 lbs (70‑125 kg)
Female: 110‑126 lbs (50‑57 kg)
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. They belong to the order Chiroptera, which means hand-wing.
Central and South America
Least Concern - Common
Herbivore - Fruit, pollen, some insects
Nocturnal
2.6‑10 yrs (over 50% die in first 2 yrs)
Single young per birth
1.8‑2.5 in
0.35‑0.7 oz (10‑20 g)
Lemurs, including red ruffed ones, share a unique behavioral trait (and an unusual one for primates). In their world, females are dominant.
Northeastern Madagascar
Critically Endangered
Herbivore - Fruit mostly, sometimes varied with leaves, nectar, and seeds
Diurnal
Up to 19 yrs
2-6 offspring per litter
20‑22 in (51‑56 cm)
Females are larger than males.
7‑10 lbs (3.2- 4.5 kg)
Worldwide, more people drink goat milk than any other kind of milk.
Worldwide
Domesticated
Herbivore - Hay, grain, grasses, shrubs
Diurnal
15 yrs on average
1-3 per birth (average 2)
45‑46 in (115‑170 cm)
24‑249 lbs (9‑113 kg)
To think of a zebra as a striped horse is not quite right, but not quite wrong either. Zebras are members of the horse family Equidae. Zebras are also unmistakably striped! Each zebra has a distinct pattern of stripes, as unique as a person’s fingerprints.
Eastern and Southeastern Africa
Near Threatened
Herbivore - Grasses
Diurnal
15‑20 yrs
Single young per birth
Up to 59 in (1.5 m) at shoulders
500‑800 lbs (227‑363 kg)
At first glance, you would think that okapi are related to zebra. The reddish-brown and cream stripes on the okapi’s hindquarters seem like a sure giveaway. In reality, the okapi’s closest relative is the giraffe!
Congolese Rainforest in Central Africa
Endangered
Herbivore - Leaves, fruits, and seeds
Diurnal
Up to 30 years
Single young per birth
5‑5.6 ft (150‑170 cm)
462‑550 lbs (210‑250 kg)
River otters are the only truly amphibious members of the weasel family.
Throughout North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, rodents, rabbits, insects
Diurnal - Diurnal and nocturnal
8‑9 yrs
1-6 per litter
18‑32 in (460‑830 mm)
6‑31 lbs (3‑14 kg)
Dwarf goats are about the same size as pygmy goats but are distinct and separate breeds.
Worldwide
Domesticated - Recovering, as listed by the American Livestock Conservancy
Herbivore - Hay, grain, browse
Diurnal
10‑15 yrs
1-4 kids per birth
17‑23 in (43‑58 cm)
65‑85 lbs (29‑39 kg)
The full-grown horns of a miniature Texas longhorn, tip to tip, can measure greater than the animal’s height.
Worldwide
Domesticated
Herbivore - Hay and grass
Diurnal
10 yrs
Single offspring per birth
Maximum of 45 inches at withers
350‑800 lbs
Once called the “miniature Mediterranean donkey,” this breed is uniquely American.
Worldwide
Domesticated - Recovering
Herbivore - Hay, grain, grass, shrubs, desert plants
Crepuscular
25‑30 yrs
Single offspring per birth
78 in (200 cm)
550 lbs (250 kg)
Lesser kudu are one of eight species of African spiral-horned antelope.
Northern East Africa
Near Threatened - Lower Risk / Conservation Dependent
Herbivore - Twigs, leaves, fruits, grasses
Nocturnal
7‑8 yrs
Single young per birth
43‑55 in (110‑140 cm)
Male: 202 - 238 lbs (92‑108 kg)
Female: 123 - 154 lbs (56‑70 kg)
Lesser hedgehog tenrecs are one of 30 species of tenrec found on the island of Madagascar. Tenrecs are the most diverse mammalian family on the island.
Southern and Southwest Madagascar
Least Concern
Omnivore
Nocturnal
5‑10 yrs
5-7 per litter, average
5‑6.5 in
Up to 1 lb
A leopard’s next meal probably isn’t going to know it until it’s too late. This big cat is known for stealth.
Africa and Asia
Near Threatened
Carnivore - Large and small mammals, birds, reptiles, arthropods
Nocturnal
7‑9 yrs
1-3 cubs per litter
3.5 - 6.5 ft (1.0‑1.9 m)
66‑155 lbs (30‑70 kg)
Cotswold sheep are a long-haired breed of sheep native to England but with roots in Ancient Rome.
Worldwide
Domesticated
Herbivore - Hay, grain, browse
Diurnal
10‑15 yrs
1-3 lambs per birth (twins common)
Approximately 35 in (89 cm)
Ewes: 175‑225 lbs (79‑102 kg)
Rams: 275‑300 lbs (125‑136 kg)
When a sifaka feels threatened, it warns others by shrieking “shee-fauk!”
Northwestern Madagascar
Critically Endangered
Herbivore - Leaves, flowers, bark, fruit
Diurnal
About 11 years
Single young per birth
9‑22 in (70‑100 cm)
4‑9 lbs
When warthogs run, their tails stick straight up in the air!
sub-Saharan Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - Grass, roots, berries, bark of young trees, occasionally carrion
Diurnal
12‑15 yrs
1-8 per litter
35‑59 in (900‑1500 mm)
110‑331 lbs (50‑150 kg)
Black and White Colobus monkeys rarely touch their feet to the ground. They are the most arboreal, or tree-dwelling, of African monkeys.
Equatorial Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - Mostly leaves, some fruit
Diurnal
About 20 yrs
Single young per birth
17.7‑28.3 in (45‑72 cm)
11‑31 lbs (4‑14 kg)
Chinchillas maintain their soft, thick, luxuriant fur by bathing in volcanic ash!
Western South America
Critically Endangered
Herbivore - Seeds, grasses, other native plants
Nocturnal
10 years on average
2-6 offspring on average
12‑21 inches
Male: About 17oz (.48 kg)
Female: About 28oz (79 kg)
Chimpanzees and humans are very closely related, sharing over 98% of the same genetic material. Similarities between the two species are striking, but so are differences.
Western and Central Africa
Endangered
Omnivore - Primarily fruits, vegetable and plants, but occasionally meat
Diurnal
About 40 yrs
Single young occasionally twins
2‑4 ft (70‑100 cm)
100‑185 lbs (45‑84 kg)
The cheetah is the fastest mammal on earth. Everything about it is built for speed. During a twenty-second chase, its feet barely touch the ground as it reaches a top speed of 70 mph.
Isolated populations in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Eastern and Southern
Vulnerable
Carnivore - Small to medium sized ungulates, birds, hares, small mammals
Diurnal
10‑16 yrs
1-8 per litter
44‑59 in (112‑150 cm)
77‑158 lbs (35‑72 kg)
About twice the size of a domestic housecat, the bobcat is a fearsome predator capable of taking down prey ten times its size.
North America
Least Concern
Carnivore - Rabbits, squirrels, and other small-to-medium prey
Nocturnal
About 18 years
2-4 kittens/litter average
26‑41 in
20‑30lbs on average
The spines and quills of a porcupine are modified hairs that are soft at birth but then harden.
Central and Southern Africa
Least Concern
Herbivore - fruit, bulbs, roots, bark, crops, sometimes carrion
Nocturnal
12‑15 years
1-4 per litter
1.5‑3 ft.
20‑65 lbs
The blue duiker is a tiny antelope about the size of a house cat.
Central and Southern Africa
Least Concern
Omnivore - Fruit, leaves, flowers, fungi, seeds, some insects and small animals
Crepuscular
Up to 10 yrs
Single offspring
1.8‑3 ft (55‑90 cm)
8‑20 lbs (3.5‑9 kg)
Prairie dogs take their common name from where they live and what they sound like when alarmed. They go by many other nicknames as well, including wishtonwish, mound yapper, yaprat, yek-yek, tousa, pispiza, ping-sping-sa, and sod poodle.
Narrow bands of short-grass prairie from Central Texas north to the U.S.-Canada border
Least Concern
Herbivore - Wheatgrass, grama, buffalo grass, scarlet globemallow, rabbitbrush, prickly pear cactus, thistle
Diurnal
5‑8 years
3-4 per litter
14‑17 in (350‑425 mm)
1‑3 lbs
Alpacas are a South American relative of camels.
Worldwide
Domesticated
Herbivore - Grasses, cushion plants, weeds, woody shrub
Diurnal
5‑10 yrs
Single offspring per birth usually
4.5‑5 ft
120‑150 lbs (55‑65 kg)
The King (and Queen) of Beasts are justly named. Lions are dominant predators lording over the food chain wherever they roam. What they have over every other big cat, and over every other African predator, is strength in numbers. They know that when it comes to catching dinner, it pays to cooperate.
sub-Saharan Africa, mostly Eastern and Southern
Vulnerable
Carnivore
Nocturnal
15‑16 yrs
1-6 young per litter
Male: 5.5‑8 ft (1.5‑2.5 m)
Female: 4.5‑6 ft (1.4‑2m )
Male: 330‑550 lb (150‑250 kg)
Female: 264‑400 lb (120‑181 kg)
The Addra gazelle, also known as the Dama gazelle, is the largest and tallest of all gazelles. “Gazelle” is a name shared by a number of small, swift antelopes.
Sahara desert, from Sudan to Mauritania
Critically Endangered
Herbivore - Herbs, shrubs, coarse desert grasses
Diurnal
10‑12 yrs
Single young per birth
55‑66 in (140‑168 cm)
88‑187 lbs (40‑85 kg)
The white rhino is the third largest land mammal in the world, dwarfed only by the Asian elephant and the African elephant. White rhinos weigh between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds and stand 5 to 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Their heads alone can weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
South Africa
Near Threatened
Herbivore - grasses
Diurnal
In human care: 40 yrs
Wild: 35 yrs
Single young per birth
118‑150 in (300‑380 cm)
Male: up to 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Female: up to 4,500 lb (2,041 kg)
The African penguin, or black-footed penguin, is also nicknamed the “jackass penguin” because its mating call sounds like a braying donkey.
Islands and coast of Southwest Africa
Critically Endangered
Carnivore - Fish, cephalopods, crustaceans
Diurnal
Up to 20 years
2 eggs per clutch
Height: 24‑28 in (52‑72 cm)
6‑9 lbs (3‑4 kilograms)
A grizzly bear's claws are as long or longer than your fingers.
Parts of Russia, Central Asia, China, Canada, the United States (mostly Alaska), Scandinavia, and the Carpathian region (especially Romania), Anatolia, and Caucasus.
Least Concern - Within the continental U.S., grizzly bears, a North American subspecies of brown bear, are listed as threatened by sub-population under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Omnivore - Nuts, berries, roots, insects, honey, fish, and mammals ranging in size from pocket gophers to moose
Diurnal
Male: 21.9 yrs
Female: 26.8 yrs
1 to 3 cubs per birth on average
5‑8 ft
Male: 300‑1,200 lbs
Female: 175‑550 lbs
Sandhill cranes are known for their elegant and energetic courtship dances.
North America
Least Concern
Omnivore - seeds, grains, insects, small vertebrates and invertebrates
Diurnal
20+ years
1-3 eggs per clutch
Height: 2.5‑4 ft
7.5‑11 lb
The kookaburra is a kingfisher that does not fish.
Eastern Australia
Least Concern
Carnivore - insects, worms, snakes and other reptiles, amphibians, rodents
Diurnal
In human care: Up to 20 years
1-5 eggs per clutch
Up to 18 in (46 cm)
13‑16 oz (368‑455 g)
The hellbender is the largest salamander in North America, and the third largest in the world.
Isolated parts of Appalachia, from Southern and Western NY southward to Northern GA, AL, MS, and westward to Central Missouri and possibly Southeastern Kansas
Near Threatened
Carnivore - Mostly crayfish; also insects, earthworms, snails, tadpoles, fish eggs, hellbender eggs
Nocturnal
Up to 30 yrs
200-400 eggs per egg mass
11‑20 in
3‑4 lbs (1.35‑1.81 kg)
Northern copperheads are one of only two species of venomous snake in the state of Maryland. The other is the timber rattlesnake.
Eastern United States, from Massachusetts south to Georgia and Alabama and west to Illinois
Least Concern
Carnivore - mice, small birds, lizards, frogs, caterpillars, insects, especially cicadas
Diurnal
In human care: 18 years
3-14 live young
22‑53 in (60‑134.5 cm)
4‑12 oz (113‑340g)
The giraffe is the tallest animal on earth. A male giraffe towers up to nineteen feet above the ground.
Eastern, Central and Southern Africa
Vulnerable
Herbivore - Leaves
Diurnal
In human care: Up to 25 yrs
Wild: 10‑16 yrs
Single young per birth (twins are extremely rare)
Male: 18 ft (5.5m) tall
Female: 14‑15 ft (4‑4.5 m) tall
Male: 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg)
Female: 1,540 lbs (700 kg)
African elephants are the largest land animals in the world. They have the largest brains in the animal kingdom and the largest among them can top 15,000 pounds–more than four times the weight of the average car!
Central and East Africa, south of the Sahara
Endangered
Herbivore - Grasses, leaves, branches, roots, fruits, tree bark
Diurnal
About 38 years
Single young per birth (twins possible)
Male: Up to 12 ft (3‑75 m)
Female: Up to 9 ft (3 m)
Male: Up to 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg)
Female: 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg)
Board the Zoo’s passenger train and enjoy a leisurely 10-minute ride! The train is open daily from 10am-4pm year round, weather permitting. Rides are included with Zoo admission or membership. The train is wheelchair accessible but cannot accommodate strollers or motorized scooters.
Experience the fun of a real old-fashioned carousel ride! Children of all ages will enjoy this famous classic. Carousel rides are included with Zoo admission or membership. The carousel operates, weather permitting, daily during the regular season, and is accessible.
Stop by the Roost food truck in Zoo Central for delicious chicken tenders and sandwiches. (Open seasonally)
Choose from a wild array of traditional fare including hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, and artisan pizzas. Healthier selections include our signature salads and wraps. Located in Zoo Central’s food court, Whistle Stop Grille is open year-round.
Sidetrack is the spot to stop if you are craving soft serve or hand-scooped ice cream. Sidetrack is located in Zoo Central’s food court near the Train Station. (Open seasonally)
See what it’s like to stand eye to eye with a giraffe! For $5 ($4 for Zoo Members) you can feed the giraffes a leafy branch of browse. Giraffe Feeding Station is open daily 10:30-12:30 & 1:30-3:00 April through October, and Friday to Sunday, November through March – weather permitting.
Sit out on our spacious deck and treat yourself to a soft pretzel or a hot dog fresh off the grill! Oasis Café is located next to Elephant Overlook. Open weekends in March, and daily from April to December from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Closed January and February.
If you love BBQ, then you must try our made to order pulled pork, chicken or pit beef, a Baltimore favorite! Railway Express is located in Zoo Central’s food court. Open on weekends April through June, and daily June through December. Closed January and February.
Try out our grilled soft pretzels, freshly made popcorn, and hand-spun cotton candy at Bait Shack, located next to Penguin Coast. Open daily March through December – closed January and February.
Go crazy over our newest flavor of dots, Safari Sunset, which is exclusively made for the Maryland Zoo. Dippin’ Dots stands are located across the Zoo and are open weekends March through April, and daily April through December. Closed January and February.
Take home a souvenir from the Zoo’s Wild Things Gift Shop, open all Zoo hours until the last guest exits the park. You may also inquire at the gift shop for stroller and wheelchair rentals.
Interact with wildlife at The Maryland Zoo and see some of the Zoo’s most curious creatures up close! Creature Encounters is open daily from 10:00am – 12:00pm and 12:30pm – 2:30pm. During the early spring season, animals can be spotted in the Penguin Education Center due to weather. Please note that due to animal care priorities, interaction times may vary.
Don’t just see wildlife, be wildlife with amazingly lifelike face painting at the Zoo! Face painting is located at the train plaza or giraffe feeding station, and is $8 for half face and $12 for full face. Open weekends only in April, May, September and October and daily Memorial Day through Labor Day – weather permitting.
Free accessible parking is available to the left of our front gate on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Maryland Zoo welcomes guests with disabilities who use service animals as determined by the Americans with Disability Act. No other animals are permitted on any Zoo grounds including the parking lots. Please review our Service Animal Guide below for more detailed information.
Restrooms are accessible, equipped with changing stations, and available in several locations throughout the Zoo. Family restrooms are located near the Whistle Stop Grille and inside Penguin Education Center.
View restrooms on our interactive map
The Zoo has two 11-passenger ADA compliant shuttles and one 14-passenger shuttle providing Zoo visitors a quick, clean ride along Buffalo Yard Road into Zoo Central. Guests looking to ride the electric shuttles can board at Eagle Gate near Celebration Hill for inbound rides and next to Naturalist Lodge for return trips.
Manual wheelchairs, electric convenience vehicles (ECV), and strollers are available for rent just inside the main entrance to the Zoo, near the Wild Things Gift Shop. See prices below:
*All rentals are first come, first serve
The Zoo accommodates the use of some OPDMDs, which are vehicles that are not wheelchairs, but rather are electric devices designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility limitations. Please be aware that the Maryland Zoo is located in Druid Hill Park and our topography is of a park setting. We ask that you use caution as you move around the Zoo on your device to ensure your safety and the safety of others and to stay on visitor paths.
In the interest of maintaining a safe and pedestrian-friendly environment while at the same time ensuring that everyone has a positive experience at the Zoo, it is prohibited to operate a mobility device at a speed significantly greater than the flow of the surrounding pedestrian traffic. Devices must operate in turtle mode, if available on the device, and must not weave in and out of pedestrian traffic. It is also prohibited to consume alcoholic beverages while operating the device.
There are some areas in the Zoo where different motions and speeds from pedestrians could cause a flight response or a heightened prey drive to some animals that could be harmful to their wellbeing. In these sections of the Zoo, OPDMDs are prohibited due to animal concerns. In addition, to the extent that your device was to upset the animals in their habitats, you should remove your device from that habitat area immediately. We ask that you do not enter the following areas with the device:
Permitted mobility devices include the following:
Prohibited OPDMDs include the following:
Notwithstanding the above list, for safety reasons we reserve the right to inspect any mobility device to determine if it is safe to operate at the Zoo. We consider various factors, included but not limited to the following: the type, size, weight, dimensions, stability, and speed of the device. Bicycles, trikes, and razor scooters are not permitted. For additional information or questions, please contact mail@marylandzoo.org or call 410-396-7102.
Our rides and attractions are all wheelchair accessible.
The Maryland Zoo is pleased to be a KultureCity sensory inclusive certified venue since 2019. KultureCity is a nationally recognized nonprofit that provides sensory inclusion training and tools to venues and large-scale events.
Sensory Bags are available upon entry at the Main Gate. They include noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys, and non-verbal cue cards.
Visit the KultureCity App to view the Zoo’s social story. The app can be downloaded here:
First Aid is provided by Zoo Security. If you require assistance, please ask a Zoo employee to notify Security or contact 410-396-7102.