A fun and educational look at animals around the world.
Alligator
alligatr
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alligatr
Alligators are large lizards. They live in swamps, streams, and lakes. The largest alligator ever seen was 19 feet long, but that is uncommon. Alligators were in danger of becoming extinct (which means there would be no alligators alive at all) because hunters could sell their skin for expensive leather. They were protected from hunters in 1969, and now they are no longer in danger. Alligators eat shellfish, small birds, and fish. They've been known to live as long as 50 years. Contrary to the stories that you hear, alligators rarely attack humans - usually only when the human is teasing or bothering them.
Bat
bat
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bat
Bats are one of the few mammals that can fly like birds. They are closely related to mice. Most bats sleep during the day and fly at night. Because of this they have developed a type of radar to help them see in the dark. The way they do it is they make squeaking noises, and listen for the echo. They are not blind though, and have very good sight and a keen sense of smell. Larger bats can have a wing span of 67 inches (over 5 1/2 feet!). Most bats are dark brown or gray, and live in caves or hollow trees. In the Southwest U.S. there are some caves that have millions of bats nesting in them!
Bear
bear
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bear
There are many types of bears and they live in many parts of the world. The bear has an excellent sense of smell but poor hearing and vision. They often look clumsy because of their short stumpy legs, but can run as fast as 25 miles an hour. They usually have loose skin with shaggy fur. Most bears live in forests, except for the polar bear that lives in the Arctic snow. Bears can weigh as much as 1,700 pounds. Many bears hibernate in the winter. That means they take a long nap until the weather gets warmer. Baby bears or cubs are born while their mothers hibernate. Bears eat small animals, nuts, berries - and when they can get their hands on it - honey!
Bee
bee
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bee
Bees are small insects. They fly around from flower to flower. Bees eat the nectar from the flowers and they help the plants produce new seeds. Because of this, bees are very important. Some bees take the nectar from the flower and produce honey. Many bees live together in houses called hives, which can contain as many as 80,000 bees! The honeybee is one of the few insects that are domesticated, meaning they are kept by man. Some other types of bees live alone in trees or in the ground. Bees usually only sting a human if the human bothers them.
Blackbird
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rwbbird
The blackbird, especially the red-wing blackbird, is a welcome sight in spring. Red-wing blackbirds are very pretty birds with glossy black bodies and red patches on their wings. They are related to orioles. Only the males have the red coloring on their wings. Females are brown striped to blend in with the background when they are nesting. They live in marshes and fields. Blackbirds eat insects and grass. These birds like to have groups of nests with other birds of their type.
Blue Jay
bluejay
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bluejay
The blue jay is a member of the crow family, and you can recognize it by its call. However, the blue jay is much prettier. It is bright blue with white and black markings. It has a ridge of feathers on its head called a crest. Blue jays are usually about a foot long. They are very noisy and aggressive and sometimes drive other birds away. They eat seeds nuts, insects and sometimes eggs.
Bobcat
bobcat
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bobcat
Bobcats are cats, but not the kind that you would want for a pet. They are related to the mountain lion, although much smaller. Their fur is dark yellow with black spots, and their underside is white. Most bobcats live in the eastern U.S., in the mountains. They usually live in caves or abandoned houses. They can grow up to 34 pounds, and 2 feet high. Bobcats, also called lynx, eat small animals. Like many wild cats, bobcats will not attack a human unless attacked first.
Bull
bull
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bull
A bull is another word for a male cow. Bulls, like cows, are found all over the world. Their primary use is in breeding baby cattle. They are also grown for their meat and skin, and in some countries are used to pull plows and do farm work. Bulls have a reputation for being mean, but that is mostly because in some countries they have a sport called bullfighting where they tease the bull into attacking. Bulls have four stomachs so they can digest grass and other plants.
Camel
camel
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camel
In drier parts of the world a camel takes the place of a horse for carrying people and things. This is because camels can go for several months without drinking water. There are two types of camels - one kind has two humps on its back, and the other kind has only one. These humps are filled with fat and help the camel cool off in the hot desert. A camel can get as big as 1500 pounds. Camels live in Africa and Asia now, but they used to live in North America - 2 million years ago, that is.
Canary
canary
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canary
The canary gets its name from the Canary Islands, where they were first found. They are very popular pets, because they are so colorful and have a pretty song. Canaries come in blue, yellow, green and many other colors, although the wild canary is only a dull green. Canaries average about 5 inches long. They mostly eat seeds.
Cardinal
cardinal
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cardinal
Cardinals are beautiful red birds. Most cardinals live in the Eastern U.S. and parts of Mexico. They belong to the finch family of birds and are admired for their songs as well as their beauty. The male cardinal is bright red with a black throat and a crest sticking out of the top of its head. The female is medium brown with a little red on its chest, wings and tail. The female bird is less colorful so that enemies do not spot her when she is sitting on her eggs in the nest or feeding her babies. Both males and females have a red beak. Cardinals are so pretty and cheerful that seven states have made them their state bird. Like most birds, cardinals eat seeds and insects.
Cat
cat
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cat
There are many kinds of cats. Lions and tigers are cats, but the most common cat of all is the pet house cat. Cats have been kept as pets by humans for almost 10,000 years.It is thought that cats were kept by people to keep mice out of food. Egyptians used to think that the cat was some kind of god. Cats, when left to themselves, like to sleep during the day and roam around at night. They have very good eyesight - especially in semi-darkeness. They also have excellent hearing. Some tests indicate that cats are just as smart as dogs, but they don't always feel like doing what humans want them to do.
Chicken
chicken
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chicken
The chicken is the most common bird in the world. Most chickens are raised for meat, eggs or feathers. Over 5 billion chickens are raised in the U.S. each year. An adult female chicken can lay an egg every other day. The original chickens came from a red jungle bird in Southeast Asia. They have been domesticated for at least 4000 years. Adult chickens can weigh between 1.5 and 13 pounds. Chickens eat seeds and grain.
Chimpanzee
chimp
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chimp
Chimpanzees, often called "chimps", belong to a group called the Great Apes. They are related to Orangutans and gorillas. Chimps live in central Africa. They can grow to 6 ft tall and 180 pounds, but a chimp is much stronger than a man of the same size. Chimpanzees swing through the trees on their arms - they have no tails. They eat leaves and insects, and sometimes meat. They usually live in family groups. A mother will take care of her babies for a few years after they are born. Chimps can live as long as 40 years. Chimps are very smart, and have even been taught to use sign language.
Cow
cow
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cow
The cow is the source of hamburgers and steak, as well as milk and cheese. Leather comes from cows too. In some places cows are used to pull heavy loads. Cows have been kept by humans for more than 5000 years. They were first brought to America by Columbus. The average American eats 110 pounds of beef a year, but since cows can weigh up to 1,100 pounds, one cow can feed several people for a year.
Coyote
coyote
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coyote
The coyote is related to the dog and wolf. They can weigh between 18 and 44 pounds. Their color can vary from brown to gray. Coyotes usually eat animals that are smaller than they are, or even fruit. Coyotes talk to each other by howling. When you see a coyote in the movies howling at the moon - believe it. Coyotes live in the mountains, deserts, and forests of the U.S.
Cricket
cricket
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cricket
Crickets are small, chirping, jumping insects. They are related to the grasshopper. Crickets are famous for rubbing their wings together to make their musical chirping. Usually they only start chirping after the sun goes down. Crickets hear through their legs and breathe through their sides. The most common cricket is the field cricket, but the most popular is the house cricket - like Jiminy Cricket!
Crow
crow
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crow
Most crows are dark black. The raven is a type of crow. The crow is about 20 inches long. They fly to warmer climates when the weather gets cold. Crows are found all over the United States. Crows are very intelligent birds, and very wary. Sometimes crows gather together in groups as large as 100,000. Crows eat grains and sometimes even other birds. They are useful because they help to control insects and other pests.
Dog
dog
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dog
Dogs have long been known as man's best friend. They have been kept as pets for over 10,000 years. Besides being pets, dogs have been trained to do many other things. Police dogs help policemen to do their job. Some dogs have been trained to herd sheep, and others dogs help blind people find their way around. They are related to the wild dogs such as the wolf and fox. Dogs come in all sizes, from 4 to 200 pounds, and in all colors. Dogs have very good smell and eyesight, and although many people think they are colorblind they are not. Dogs have a hard time in hot weather because they can't sweat, and they have to cool off by panting.
Dolphin
dolphin
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dolphin
The dolphin is a type of small whale. They grow up to nine feet in length and up to 440 pounds. They are considered to be smarter than dogs and monkeys, but not as smart as humans. A medium sized dolphin (220 pounds) will eat up to 66 pounds of food a day. Dolphins live in every sea and ocean. When they are swimming they usually have to come up to breathe air about every 2 minutes, but they can dive 1000 feet down.
Donkey
donkey
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donkey
The donkey is an animal that is related to a horse. It is somewhat smaller than a horse, and is used to carry people and supplies for long distances over rough ground. The noise that a donkey makes is called a bray. Donkeys can weigh up to 570 pounds and are usually brown or gray. Wild donkeys are called jackasses, and they form herds of up to 1,000 animals at a time. Donkeys eat grass and seeds.
Duck
duck
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duck
The duck is a bird that can fly, swim, and walk. It usually lives near the water, and its babies can swim from the time that they are born. Ducks live near both fresh and salt water, and are on every continent except Antarctica. Ducks migrate thousands of miles each year when the winter comes. In the spring they find their way back to the same place they started from. Humans are draining many of the swamps that ducks live in so they often have to find a new place to live. Male ducks are colorful, usually green and red, female ducks are plainer so that they will blend in with the nest and enemies won't find their eggs. Ducks eat fish and plants.
Eagle
eagle
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eagle
Eagles have been admired for their power, courage, and beauty for many years. The bald eagle is the symbol of the United States of America. Eagles live everywhere but Antarctica. Eagles are noted for their strength and eyesight. They can swoop down from very high to catch food. They can grow up to 3 1/2 feet tall with a wingspan of 8 feet. Eagles are usually black, brown, or gray. The bald eagle is not really bald, but has white feathers on its head. They eat fish, birds, and snakes. Eagle nests are usually in a high tree or on a ledge. The nest can be as large as 20 feet deep and 10 feet across.
Elephant
elephant
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elephant
The elephant is a very large mammal, weighing as much as 16,500 pounds. Elephants live in the tropical forests and grasslands of Africa and Asia. Elephants eat up to 500 pounds of grass and plants every day. Elephants have a long trunk that is used for many things, like sucking up water and squirting it into their mouth when they are thirsty, squirting each other for fun, or reaching for leaves high in a tree. Most elephants have two long tusks made of ivory on either side of their mouth. Some people consider ivory to be very valuable and because of this elephants have been hunted until they are almost extinct.
Elk
elk
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elk
The elk is a member of the deer family. Elk are found only in America. They grow to 8 feet long and weigh up to 770 pounds. They have horns on their heads called antlers. Their antlers can grow up to 5 feet across. Elk have been over-hunted in North America and are now found only in Canada and a small valley in California.
Frog
frog
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frog
The frog is an amphibian. This means it can breathe and live in water and on land. Frogs have long hind legs, a large head, a short body, and no tail. Some frogs spend their entire life in water, and some mostly on land, although most frogs just go back and forth. Some frogs even live in the desert. The desert frogs only come out when it rains, and their babies have to hatch before the puddles dry up. Frogs can also survive in very cold weather, and can have up to 65% of their body fluid as ice. Some types of frogs are very strange, like the kind that keeps its babies in its stomach and coughs them up to give birth!!
Goat
goat
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goat
Goats are related to sheep. They are raised for their milk, meat, and wool. The milk is usually used to make goat cheese or butter, which are highly prized in some countries. The mohair goat produces a very fine, soft wool. Goats come in many shades of brown and white. Some goats have horns, but not all of them do. Goats have a reputation for eating anything, and they sometimes even eat rocks to help them grind down hard material. Goats live all over the world and have been domesticated for thousands of years.
Goose
goose
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goose
The goose is a large web footed bird. It is at home on land or in the water. Geese are closely related to the duck. Geese are very faithful, and when they mate, they mate for life. Both the male and female care for their eggs and babies. Geese are used for their meat, eggs and feathers. Before ballpoint pens were invented people used goose feathers as pens. Sometimes, geese on farms are kept as pets, and they have been known to attack a stranger just like a watchdog.
Gorilla
gorilla
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gorilla
The gorilla is a Great Ape, related to the chimpanzee and orangutan. It is the largest living primate (humans are also primates). Gorillas can grow up to 6 feet tall and weigh 400 pounds. Baby gorillas usually stay with their mother for 3 years. Gorillas live in family groups, usually led by a large male. Some gorillas sleep in trees, but most spend their days on the ground. Gorillas are peaceful vegetarians. Gorillas are near extinction in the wild, and the best hope for their survival is in zoo breeding programs.
Grasshopper
locust
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grasshop
The grasshopper is a friendly sounding insect. It makes noise by rubbing its legs or wings together. Grasshoppers have long slender bodies and their hind legs are designed for jumping. One type of grasshopper that does a lot of damage to crops is called a locust. Locusts swarm in such large groups that they can even be picked up on radar. Grasshoppers eat grass and many crops.
Guinea pig
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guinea
Guinea pigs are popular pets. They are related to mice, but grow much bigger. They can get as much as a foot long and weigh up to 3 pounds. They come in a variety of colors: white, orange, brown, gray, and black. They can live as long as 8 years. Guinea pigs were first tamed by men in Peru centuries ago. In some places you can still see wild guinea pigs, which live in burrows and feed at night.
Hawk
hawk
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hawk
The hawk is a bird of prey. That means they eat other animals for food. They are related to eagles and are also known for very good eyesight and strength. Hawks aren't nearly as big as eagles though, and usually only grow as large as 14 inches. But, a hawk's wing span can be as much as 5 feet. Unlike almost all other animals, the females are bigger than males.
Horse
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horse
Horses have been used to carry people and things for thousands of years. Since their eyes are on the side of their head they can see ahead, to the side and to the rear. They have large lungs for better endurance, and even carrying a load they can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. Strangely, the horse only steps on one toe even when it is running. Horses eat grass and plants. They are social animals and guard their children until they are grown. Horses range in size from the 100 pound pony to the 2600 pound draft horse.
Lion
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lion
The lion is known as the "King of the Beasts". Lions can grow to be 8 feet long with a 3 foot tail, and weigh up to 500 pounds. The female lion is the one that does most of the hunting to feed her babies and her mate. Male lions have a mane of fur around their head that distinguishes them from females. They like to live in open grassy areas. Lions used to be found in Europe, Asia and Africa, but today they are found only in protected areas in Africa and India.
Loon
loon
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loon
The loon is a strange sounding bird. Loons live in the northern part of the northern hemisphere. Loons are also known as divers. Loons dive and swim really well, but are very clumsy at walking and running. Loons are also good flyers, but can only fly after a long run on the water. Both male and female loons are similar in color, and they both incubate the eggs and care for their young.
Mosquito
mosquito
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mosquito
The mosquito is a small, annoying, flying insect. They have two wings and are very tiny. The female mosquito is the only one that sucks blood. She does this to provide food for her eggs. Any warm blooded mammal will do, not just humans. Her mouth is modified into a long sucking tube for taking blood. Female mosquitoes are attracted to humans by warmth, odor, moisture, and carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes carry many diseases and can transmit them when they suck blood. However, male and female mosquitoes eat flower nectar most of the time. Mosquito eggs can only hatch in water.
Orangutan
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orangtan
The orangutan is a Great Ape, closely related to chimpanzees and gorillas. They are found in Borneo and Sumatra. Their name means "Man of the Woods". Orangutans have coarse reddish hair and very long arms. Adults grow up to 4 feet tall and weigh up to 220 pounds. An old (and untrue) legend says that the orangutans can talk but they don't for fear that men will put them to work. Orangutans are threatened by extinction because the forests that they live in are being cut down.
Owl
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owl
The owl is a flat faced bird with both eyes in the front of its head rather than on the sides. Because of this the owl has the ability to turn its head as much as 3/4 of the way around so that it can see on all sides. Owls usually hunt at night, and they can see very well in the dark. They can also see just as well during the daytime. They have very good hearing and can tell exactly where an animal is at just by listening to them. Because owls have such soft feathers they can fly noiselessly.
Parrot
parrot
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parrot
Parrots are very popular pets because they can mimic human speech. Parrots can be taught many phrases and can say them in context. Parrots are very colorful and beautiful birds. They eat seeds, nuts and fruit. Parrots range in size from 4 inches to 3 feet long. Green is the most common color, but they can be found in red, yellow, blue, and orange. Parrots live in the tropics. In captivity, parrots have been known to live for 80 years. Some types of parrots, the more beautiful ones, are endangered because they are captured as pets and will not breed in captivity.
Pig
pig
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pig
The pig is the source of bacon and pork on your table. Many pigs are grown on farms for food, although some of the smaller ones (40-130 pounds) are sometimes kept as pets. Pigs are very intelligent animals. They are good swimmers and can run fast. People think that pigs are dirty because they like to sit in the mud, but that is just their way of keeping cool. Pigs are usually pink or gray with curly tails. Pigs will eat just about anything. Some schools and restaurants support recycling by sending leftover food to pig farmers. Does your school?
Porcupine
porcup
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porcupin
The porcupine has sharp spines on its back. These are modified hairs that are stiff and very sharp. The sharp spines are a defense against enemies. Porcupines can control their spines with muscles on their back. They only raise them when they feel threatened. Porcupines are related to mice. Porcupines live in forests in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. They grow to about 2 feet long and up to 40 pounds. They eat leaves, bark, and twigs. Baby porcupines are born with soft fur, not spines. The spines grow later.
Raccoon
raccoon
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raccoon
The raccoon is a funny looking animal. It is gray with a black mask around its eyes and black rings around its tail. Some people say the mask around their eyes make them look like robbers, and their fondness for stealing food makes people remember them that way. Raccoons sleep in the daytime and hunt at night. They like to live in swampy areas or near water. They eat meat, vegetables, and berries. They also like to steal food from garbage cans. Raccoons live to be 7 years old in the wild.
Rhinoceros
rhino
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rhino
The rhinoceros is a very large animal that lives in Africa, standing up to 14 feet tall and weighing up to 3 tons. They have thick skin and one or two horns on their snout (nose). The rhinoceros' horn is not a horn like a cow has, but is made up of matted hair. It's a different type of hair than yours, though. Some people hunt rhinoceroses for their horns because they think they have secret powers, and rhinos have been hunted until they are almost extinct. Because of this, most rhinoceroses live in protected areas called preserves where no one can hunt them. The name rhinoceros means "wide lips".
Robin
robin
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robin
The robin is usually one of the first birds that we see in the spring. They have brown to black backs and a very cheerful reddish breast. The colonists named the robin after a smaller bird in Europe that has an orange breast. In places where the weather gets cold the robin will migrate to warmer areas for the winter, and return when it gets warm again.
Rooster
rooster
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rooster
Roosters are male chickens. They have a very different appearance, though. Roosters have a red thing on their head called a "comb". Roosters are well known for their crowing "cock a doddle doo" loudly when the sun comes up. Sometimes farmers use them instead of alarm clocks! Roosters tend to fight more than females and are often kept separated from them.
Sea Gull
seagull
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seagull
The sea gull is usually white or gray, and sometimes has black or brown on its head. Sea gulls have webbed feet so that they can swim in the water. There are 43 kinds of sea gulls. They eat a lot of different things, and are known to look for food that other birds have gotten and then steal it from them. They have a trick to open clams. They take it in their beak and fly high up and drop it on the rocks until it opens. Gulls can live to be about 30 years old.
Seal
seal
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seal
Seals are mammals that live in the water. They especially like the colder waters. They have a thick layer of fat under their skin to keep them warm. Some seals can get as large as 800 pounds. They like to climb on the rocks to sun themselves. They run slowly on land, but are fast in the water. One type of seal can hold its breath for 70 minutes and dive as deeply as 2,000 feet in the water.
Sheep
sheep
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sheep
Sheep are related to goats and cows. They have been raised for meat and wool for thousands of years. Most domestic sheep are very timid and flock together following a leader, while wild sheep tend to be much more independent. Sheep are raised all over the world, including the U.S., Australia, and South America. Their wool is valuable and is used to make clothing. The largest sheep is the wild Rocky Mountain Bighorn that is 4 ft tall and weighs 350 pounds. Sheep eat grass, fruit and vegetables. They range in color from white to brown and black.
Tiger
tiger
vtiger
tiger
The tiger is the largest and most powerful of the cat family. It can grow to up to 600 pounds. Tigers are usually a gold brown color with black or brown stripes. Tigers often hunt for food at night. Tigers can live to be 15 years old.
Turkey
turkey
vturkey
turkey
The turkey was first discovered in North America, but is now raised all over the world for food. The wild turkey is about 4 feet tall and can weigh up to 20 pounds. They eat acorns, seeds, berries and insects. There are 280 million turkeys raised for food every year in the U.S. Most people remember the turkey best as their Thanksgiving dinner.
Wolf
wolf
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wolf
Wolves are closely related to dogs. They live in mountains and forests. Wolves grow up to 3 feet tall and weigh as much as 175 pounds. They hunt in packs of 6 to 36 wolves. This lets them hunt animals much larger than they are, like deer and elk. Wolves usually have 6 pups at a time. The pups stay with their mom for the first year after they are born.
