Animals

Vulnerable

Giraffa camelopardalis

With their long napes and lanky legs, giraffes are literally head and shoulders above the rest – towering over the arid African savannahs, they are the tallest mammals roaming the Earth.

Vulnerable

Bradypus

Sloths are the slowest mammals to call this planet home, but their laidback lifestyle isn’t the only feature that makes them extraordinary.

Endangered

Elephantidae

The elephant is the largest living land animal. This giant, plant-eating mammal lives in family groups with complex social orders and is capable of remarkable feats of memory – they do say elephants never forget!

Least Concern

Equus ferus caballus

The horse is a four-legged herd animal. Various breeds of the animal have been domesticated and are used for work, riding and as a source of food and milk. Historically, the domestication of horses helped humans to spread across the world and also improved their ability to farm.

Least Concern

Formicidae

Despite their tiny size, ants have long intrigued scientists with their exceptional work ethic and resourcefulness, and their sophisticated social structures.

Least Concern

Araneae

Despite their creepy-crawly reputation, spiders are astoundingly diverse, ingeniously resourceful, and often surprisingly endearing.

Vulnerable

Anthophila

Honeybees and bumblebees are the iconic representatives of this busy and buzzy insect, but there are actually more than 20,000 different species of bee.

Least Concern

Sparassidae

Huntsman spiders are famous the world over for their distinctive appearance: long legs, flat bodies, and hairy backs make them some of the most recognisable and feared spiders. But they’re far less aggressive than their name suggests...

Vulnerable

Selachimorpha

Sharks are often characterised as vicious killers, but in reality, they’re a diverse and endangered group of creatures that add tremendous value to marine ecosystems.

Least Concern

Siluriformes

With thousands of species and countless individuals, catfish are among the most abundant and adaptable freshwater fish on Earth. These remarkable creatures don’t just swim – they can walk on land, climb walls, and even breathe air, making them one of the most surprising fish in nature. 

Vulnerable

Myliobatoidei

Stingrays are flat, disk-shaped fish with venomous barbed tails. They can typically be found gliding along the floor of shallow, coastal waters in temperate and tropical seas. 

Least Concern

Oncorhynchus, Salmo salar

Salmon are sleek, powerful fish found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and rivers across all continents except Antarctica. They are known for their strong migratory instincts – returning to the rivers in which they were born, and their athleticism to leap great heights out of water.

Endangered

Anuran

Frogs and toads are the largest and most diverse group of amphibians. They’re known for their long leaps, intriguing life cycle, and wide range of sophisticated croaks. 

Least Concern

Serpentes

Snakes are often maligned for their sharp fangs and toxic venom, but these slithering reptiles are exceptional examples of adaptability, elegance and diversity.

Endangered

Crocodylidae

Crocodiles are among the most fearsome reptile predators – but there's more to these powerful ambush hunters than just their bite.

Endangered

Testudines

Turtles are a marvel of evolution: they’re the only vertebrate with a shell. From tiny, swamp-dwelling species to gentle tortoise giants, these tough reptiles are some of the longest-lived animals on Earth.

Least Concern

Molluscs

Octopuses are so unique they’ve even been branded as "alien". They are some of the smartest yet farthest removed creatures from humans, and they are masters of camouflage and great puzzle solvers.

Endangered

Spheniscidae

With sophisticated modes of speech, extraordinary displays of parental devotion and an uncanny ability to power nap, the penguin is one our most cherished but endangered birds – and full of surprises. 

Endangered

Psittaciformes

Parrots are loud, raucous birds, famous for their bright colourful plumage, fierce intelligence, and ability to mimic human speech. Parrots are extremely social animals and live surprisingly long lives for their size. Some even use tools to prise open nuts and display intelligence comparable to chimpanzees.

Vulnerable

Trochilidae

With some measuring as small as a human thumb, these lightning-fast birds are named after the “humming” sound their wings make as they beat at over 3,000 times a minute. Hummingbirds can fly forwards and backwards, and even hover in mid-air like tiny helicopters. These miniscule birds have such high metabolisms that to survive they must consume a colossal volume of nectar, equivalent in human terms to around 300 pounds in weight of hamburgers a day.

Endangered

Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are faithful birds, returning to the same remote outcrop year after year to breed with the same partner. These behemoths of the bird world use their long wingspan to glide on the ocean winds, travelling thousands of miles without ever seeing land. In fact, albatrosses can fly nearly 5 million miles – 10 times to the moon and back – during their lifetime. However, the numbers of these long-lived creatures are rapidly dwindling due to fishing practices and climate change.