Animals

Birds

100

This bird is known for its ability to mimic human speech.

Parrot

200

This bird is the fastest animal in the world.

peregrine falcon

300

This bird is capable of flying backward, a trait unique among birds.

hummingbird

400

This bird lays the largest eggs of any living bird.

Ostrich

500

This bird is famous for migrating thousands of miles each year.

Artic Tern

600

This bird has specialized feathers that help it fly quietly at night.

Owl

700

This bone structure helps birds reduce weight while maintaining strength.

hollow (pneumatic) bones?

800

This bird has the largest wingspan of any living species.

wandering albatross

Amphibians

100

Amphibians usually lay their eggs in this environment.

Water

200

This brightly colored frog is poisonous to predators

Poison Dart Frog

300

Amphibians are considered indicators of environmental health because their skin does this easily.

Absorbs Pollutants

400

This amphibian stays in its larval form for its entire life 

axolotl

500

Frogs breathe through their skin using this process.

cutaneous respiration

600

This amphibian is known for its ability to regrow limbs.

Salamander

700

Amphibians typically begin life in water and later undergo this process.

Metamorphosis

800

This amphibian can survive being frozen solid by using glucose as a natural antifreeze.

Wood Frog

Reptiles

100

This reptile is known for changing its skin color

Chameleon

200

This protective body covering helps reptiles prevent water loss.

Scales

300

This giant reptile is the largest living lizard species.

Komodo dragon

400

This reptile defense involves shedding the tail to escape predators.

Autotomy

500

Snakes smell using this sensory organ located in the roof of the mouth.

Jacobson's Organ

600

Crocodilians are more closely related to this group than to lizards or snakes.

Birds

700

This venomous reptile uses heat-sensing pits on its face to detect warm-blooded prey in total darkness.

Pit Viper and Rattle Snake

800

This desert reptile inflates its body and hisses loudly to scare off predators.

Frilled Lizard

Mammals

100

This mammal is known for playing dead when threatened.

opossum

200

This mammal is known for using echolocation to hunt in complete darkness.

Bat

300

This marine mammal is known for using tools, like rocks, to open shells.

Sea Otter

400

This mammal can lower its heart rate dramatically to survive cold Arctic waters.

Seal

500

This mammal can sleep for over 20 hours a day due to its low-energy diet.

Koala

600

This mammal has a four-chambered stomach to digest cellulose-rich plants.

Cow

700

This is the only mammal known to lack vocal cords entirely.

Giraffe

800

This mammal can shut down parts of its brain while sleeping so it can continue swimming and avoid predators.

Dolphin

Fish

100

Fish breathe using these specialized organs.

Gills

200

This fish can inflate its body to scare predators.

Pufferfish

300

This fish can generate electric fields to navigate and locate prey.

Electric Eel

400

This fish is known for jumping upstream during migration.

Salmon

500

This deep-sea fish uses a bioluminescent lure to attract prey.

anglerfish

600

This fish must keep swimming to force water over its gills and avoid suffocation.

Shark

700

This is the fastest recorded fish, capable of bursts exceeding 60 mph.

Sailfish

800

This fish can survive out of water for days by breathing through its skin and “walking” short distances on land.

Mud Skipper