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Sunday, 12 July 2026

Global Animal Guide

Themed lists

Collections & lists

Animals grouped by what makes them extraordinary — from the most endangered species to the fastest, biggest, and deadliest. A quick way to explore the guide by theme.

Curated

Data-driven collections

Pangolin curled into a defensive ball showing keratin scales

Adult silverback gorilla sitting in a green rainforest clearing in dappled sunlight

Hawksbill turtle on coral reef

Black rhinoceros with hooked lip browsing on acacia scrub

88 animals

Most Endangered Animals

Species fighting hardest for survival

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Black mamba with mouth open showing dark interior in savanna habitat

Large saltwater crocodile resting at the edge of a tropical river with mouth open

Hippopotamus half-submerged in an African river with its mouth slightly open

Bengal tiger walking through tall green grass, staring directly forward

8 animals

Deadliest Animals

Nature's most dangerous predators and defenders

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Peregrine falcon perched on a cliff ledge with slate-grey back and barred chest

Golden eagle perched on a rocky crag showing golden-brown nape feathers and powerful talons

Red-tailed hawk perched on a branch showing its rust-red tail and hooked beak against a blue sky

Bald eagle with a white head and yellow beak perched on a branch

8 animals

Fastest Animals

The quickest movers on land, in air, and in water

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Blue whale swimming near the ocean surface seen from above, dwarfing the surrounding water

Fin whale surfacing with asymmetric jaw in cold ocean waters

Sperm whale with wrinkled head breaching in open ocean

Humpback whale breaching out of the open ocean with spray

8 animals

Biggest Animals

The largest giants in the guide

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Orca killer whale breaching out of the ocean with a burst of spray

Mountain gorilla silverback in misty cloud forest

Bottlenose dolphin leaping out of sparkling blue ocean water

Adult silverback gorilla sitting in a green rainforest clearing in dappled sunlight

8 animals

Smartest Animals

The most intelligent minds in the wild

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Blue whale swimming near the ocean surface seen from above, dwarfing the surrounding water

Humpback whale breaching out of the open ocean with spray

Shortfin mako shark with a sleek metallic-blue body swimming through open blue ocean water

Bottlenose dolphin leaping out of sparkling blue ocean water

19 animals

Ocean Animals

Life beneath and around the waves

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Adult male lion with a full mane resting on the African savanna at golden hour

Bengal tiger walking through tall green grass, staring directly forward

Leopard resting on a tree branch with rosette spots in dappled light

Clouded leopard with cloud-shaped spots on a tree branch

16 animals

Apex Predators

The hunters at the top of the food chain

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Grizzly bear standing in a shallow river with pine forest behind

Brown bear standing in a mountain meadow with forest behind

European hedgehog walking through autumn leaves and grass at dusk

Bat with outstretched skin-membrane wings flying against a dark night sky

8 animals

Animals That Hibernate

Winter sleepers and torpor specialists

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Bright blue and black poison dart frog sitting on a wet green leaf

Pufferfish inflated into a spiky round ball underwater

Translucent moon jellyfish drifting in deep blue ocean water

Monarch butterfly with orange and black wings perched on a purple flower

7 animals

Poisonous Animals

Toxic if touched or eaten — not venomous bites

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Barn owl with a heart-shaped white face perched on a wooden post at dusk

Bald eagle with a white head and yellow beak perched on a branch

Peregrine falcon perched on a cliff ledge with slate-grey back and barred chest

Monarch butterfly with orange and black wings perched on a purple flower

7 animals

Migratory Birds

Champions of seasonal long-distance travel

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Dark deep-sea anglerfish with a glowing lure and large toothy mouth

Giant squid with long tentacles and huge eye in deep dark ocean water

Blobfish specimen with its characteristic droopy, gelatinous appearance after being brought to the surface from the deep sea

Blue whale swimming near the ocean surface seen from above, dwarfing the surrounding water

7 animals

Deep Sea Creatures

Life in the ocean's midnight zone

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In depth

Ranked listicles

Data-backed articles on record-holders and extremes.

10 Deadliest Animals to Humans

Ranked by estimated deaths per year — the answer isn't lions or sharks

Most Venomous Animals in the World

Box jellyfish, inland taipan, blue-ringed octopus — and the venom vs poison distinction

Rarest Animals in the World

Species on the very edge — some with fewer than 10 individuals remaining

7 Biggest Spiders in the World

Goliath birdeater by mass, giant huntsman by leg span — and which are actually dangerous

Endangered Animals Explained

What IUCN Red List categories actually mean, with an example at each level

Nocturnal Animals: 20 Real Examples

What 'nocturnal' really means — and the crepuscular animals (cats, rabbits) most lists get wrong

The Longest-Living Animals in the World

From a 507-year-old clam to a jellyfish that resets its age — ranked by lifespan