The whole library
Animals A to Z
All 188 animals in the library, from mammals and birds to insects and fish. Search by name, filter by type, diet or habitat, or jump straight to a letter.
A17 animals
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Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
Lives up to 23 years in captivity; around 10 years in the wild
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Addax
Addax nasomaculatus
Lives about 19 years in the wild; up to 25 in captivity
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Affenpinscher
Canis familiaris
Lives 12-15 years
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African Elephant
Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis
Lives 60-70 years
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African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus
Lives 10-12 years in the wild
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Agama Lizard
Agama agama
Lives 8-15 years
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Airedale Terrier
Canis familiaris
Lives 11-14 years
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Akita
Canis familiaris
Lives 10-14 years
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Alaskan Husky
Canis familiaris
Lives 10-15 years
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Alaskan Shepherd
Canis familiaris
Lives 10-13 years
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Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Aldabrachelys gigantea
Lives over 100 years; possibly 200
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Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis and Alligator sinensis
Lives 30-50 years in the wild
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Alpaca
Vicugna pacos
Lives 15-20 years; some reach 25
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Alusky
Canis familiaris
Lives 10-15 years
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Anaconda
Eunectes murinus
Lives about 10 years in the wild; up to 30 in captivity
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Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater); suborder Vermilingua
Lives about 14 years in the wild; mid-20s in captivity
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Ape
Hominoidea (superfamily, about 20-26 species)
Lives 35-60 years in the wild
B7 animals
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Bear
Ursidae (family, eight species)
Lives 20-30 years in the wild
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Betta Fish
Betta splendens
Lives 2-4 years, occasionally 5
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Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor
Lives 20-30 years; over 40 in captivity
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Bull
Bos taurus
Lives 20-25 years naturally; breeding bulls are usually kept only a few seasons
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Bumblebee Bat
Craseonycteris thonglongyai
Lifespan: Unknown in the wild; estimated 5-10 years
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Bushbaby
Galagidae (family, about 18-20 species)
Lives 4-8 years in the wild; up to about 16 in captivity
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Butterfly
Rhopalocera (clade in the order Lepidoptera, about 18,500 species)
Lives about a week to 10 months as an adult, depending on species
C16 animals
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Caecilian
Gymnophiona (order, about 200 species)
Lifespan: Poorly known; over 10 years in captivity
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Camel
Camelus dromedarius, Camelus bactrianus and Camelus ferus
Lives 40-50 years
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Cat
Felis catus
Lives 13-17 years indoors, often 20; far less outdoors
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Cattle
Bos taurus
Lives 20-25 years naturally; most farmed cattle live far less
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Chameleon
Chamaeleonidae (family, about 200 species)
Lives 2-7 years; larger species up to 10
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Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Lives 10-12 years in the wild
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Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus
Lives 8-10 years; commercial birds far less
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Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
Lives 35-45 years in the wild; over 60 in captivity
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Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris and relatives
Lives 6-10 years in the wild; over 20 in aquariums
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Cobra
Naja (Indian cobra: Naja naja)
Lives about 20 years in the wild
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Cockatoo
Cacatuidae (sulfur-crested: Cacatua galerita)
Lives 40-60 years in the wild; longer in captivity
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Codfish
Gadus morhua
Lives 12-25 years; records past 30
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Cow
Bos taurus
Lives 20-25 years naturally; most dairy cows retire at about 5
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Crocodile
Crocodylidae (family, about 14-16 species)
Lives 30-70 years, depending on species
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Crow
Corvus (genus, about 45 species)
Lives 7-8 years in the wild; over 30 in captivity
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Cuckoo
Cuculidae (common cuckoo: Cuculus canorus)
Lives 4-6 years
D7 animals
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Deer
Cervidae (family, about 50 species)
Lives typically 10-20 years, varies by species
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Dog
Canis familiaris
Lives 7-16 years; small breeds live longest
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Dolphin
Delphinidae and other families (bottlenose: Tursiops truncatus)
Lives 20-60 years; female orcas 80-90
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Donkey
Equus asinus
Lives 30-40 years when well kept; 50 documented
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Dragonfly
Anisoptera (suborder, about 3,000 species)
Lifespan: Years as a nymph; weeks to months as an adult
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Duck
Anatidae: Anas platyrhynchos and about 120 other species
Lives 5-10 years in the wild
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Dugong
Dugong dugon
Lives 60-70 years; oldest recorded 73
E6 animals
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Eagle
Accipitridae (several groups, about 60 species)
Lives 20-30 years in the wild
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Eel
Anguilliformes (order, about 800 species)
Lives 10-20 years; some over 50
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Elephant
Elephantidae: Loxodonta africana, Loxodonta cyclotis, Elephas maximus
Lives 60-70 years
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Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris and Mirounga leonina
Lives 14-20 years; males usually less
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Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Lives 10-20 years in the wild
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Etruscan Shrew
Suncus etruscus
Lives about 2 years
F5 animals
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Firefly
Lampyridae (big dipper firefly: Photinus pyralis)
Lives 1-2 years in total; only 2-4 weeks as an adult
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Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (family, six species)
Lives 20-30 years in the wild; much longer in captivity
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Fox
Vulpes and related genera (about 37 species)
Lives 2-5 years in the wild; up to 14 in captivity
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Frilled Lizard
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Lives 10-20 years in captivity; less in the wild
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Frog
Anura (order, about 7,500 species)
Lives 2-10 years; some toads over 30
G9 animals
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Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus
Lives 50-60 years
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Giant Panda
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Lives 15-20 years in the wild; over 30 in captivity
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Gila Monster
Heloderma suspectum
Lives 20-30 years in the wild; over 35 in captivity
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Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
Lives 20-25 years in the wild
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Goat
Capra hircus
Lives 15-18 years
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Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Lives 10-20 years; record 43
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Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei (two species)
Lives 35-40 years in the wild
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Guitarfish
Rhinobatidae and related families (about 50 species)
Lives 15-20 years or more
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Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Lives 1-3 years
H7 animals
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Hare
Lepus (European brown hare: Lepus europaeus)
Lives 3-4 years in the wild; up to 12
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Hen
Gallus gallus domesticus
Lives 8-10 years; commercial laying hens far less
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Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Lives 40-50 years in the wild
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Hoopoe
Upupa epops
Lives about 10 years
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Horse
Equus caballus
Lives 25-30 years; some into their late 30s
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House Lizard
Hemidactylus frenatus
Lives about 5 years; longer indoors
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Hummingbird
Trochilidae (family, about 360 species)
Lives 3-5 years; some over 10
I6 animals
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Ibex
Capra (genus); figures from the Alpine ibex, Capra ibex
Lifespan: Males about 16 years; females about 20
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Ibis
Threskiornithidae (family, 29 ibis species); figures from the African sacred ibis
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Iguana
Iguanidae (family); figures from the green iguana, Iguana iguana
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Indri
Indri indri
Lives 15-20 years in the wild
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Isopod
Isopoda (order, over 10,000 species)
Lifespan: Varies widely by species
J2 animals
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Jaguar
Panthera onca
Lives 12-15 years in the wild; over 20 in captivity
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Jellyfish
Scyphozoa (true jellyfish, about 200 species)
Lives a few months to a year as an adult
K6 animals
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Kangaroo
Macropodidae: Osphranter and Macropus (four species)
Lives 8-25 years, depending on species
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King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
Lives about 20 years
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Kingfisher
Alcedinidae, Halcyonidae and Cerylidae (common kingfisher: Alcedo atthis)
Lives 6-10 years
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Kite
Milvus migrans and Milvus milvus, plus related genera
Lives 10-25 years
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Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
Lives 10-15 years in the wild
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Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis
Lives about 30 years
L3 animals
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Ladybug
Coccinellidae (seven-spot: Coccinella septempunctata)
Lives a few weeks to a year, depending on whether it overwinters
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Leopard
Panthera pardus
Lives 12-17 years in the wild; over 20 in captivity
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Lion
Panthera leo
Lives 10-14 years in the wild; up to 25 in captivity
M8 animals
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Macaw
Ara and five other genera (scarlet macaw: Ara macao)
Lives 30-50 years in the wild; 50-80 in captivity
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Manatee
Trichechus (three species)
Lives 50-60 years
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Mandrill
Mandrillus sphinx
Lives about 20 years in the wild; over 30 in captivity
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Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Antarctic minke: Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
Lives 30-50 years; some past 60
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Mongoose
Herpestidae (Indian gray mongoose: Urva edwardsii)
Lives 6-10 years in the wild; up to 20 in captivity
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Monkey
Platyrrhini and Cercopithecidae (about 264 species)
Lives 15-30 years, depending on species
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Moth
Lepidoptera, excluding butterflies (about 160,000 species)
Lives a week to a few months as an adult
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Myna Bird
Acridotheres tristis
Lives about 4 years in the wild; over 12 in captivity
N6 animals
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Narwhal
Monodon monoceros
Lives about 50 years; some estimates considerably higher
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Newt
Pleurodelinae (subfamily, about 100 species)
Lives often over a decade; eastern newts 12 to 15 years
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Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Lives 1-3 years; ringed birds over 8
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Nightjar
Caprimulgidae (family); figures from Caprimulgus europaeus
Lives about 4 years; oldest recorded just over 12
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Nudibranch
Nudibranchia (order, about 3,000 species)
Lives a few weeks to about a year
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Numbat
Myrmecobius fasciatus
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
O5 animals
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Octopus
Octopoda (order, about 300 species)
Lives 1-3 years; up to about 5
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Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Lives 30-40 years in the wild; over 40 in captivity
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Otter
Lutrinae (Eurasian otter: Lutra lutra; sea otter: Enhydra lutris)
Lives 8-15 years; sea otter females 15-20
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Owl
Strigiformes (order, about 250 species)
Lives 5-12 years in the wild; 20+ in large species
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Ox
Bos taurus
Lives 15-20 years; often worked for 10-15 of them
P9 animals
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Parrot
Psittaciformes (order, about 400 species)
Lives 15-50 years; large macaws and cockatoos 50-80
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Peacock
Pavo cristatus (Indian peafowl); also Pavo muticus and Afropavo congensis
Lives 15-20 years in the wild; 40+ in captivity
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Penguin
Spheniscidae (emperor penguin: Aptenodytes forsteri)
Lives 15-20 years; some reach 30
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Pesquet’s Parrot
Psittrichas fulgidus
Lives 20-40 years
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Pig
Sus domesticus
Lives 15-20 years; farm pigs far less
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Pigeon
Columba livia (rock dove); family Columbidae
Lives 3-5 years in cities; 15+ for racing birds
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Polar Bear
Ursus maritimus
Lives 20-25 years in the wild
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Puma
Puma concolor
Lives 8-13 years in the wild; up to 20 in captivity
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Python
Pythonidae (family, about 40 species)
Lives 15-30 years; over 40 in captivity
Q6 animals
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Quahog
Mercenaria mercenaria (hard clam); Arctica islandica (ocean quahog)
Lifespan: Decades for hard clams; centuries for ocean quahogs, one of which reached 507 years
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Quail
Phasianidae and Odontophoridae (about 130 species)
Lives 1-2 years in the wild
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Queen Angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Quokka
Setonix brachyurus
Lives about 10 years
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Quoll
Dasyurus (genus, six species)
Lives 1-5 years, depending on species
R6 animals
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Rabbit
Leporidae: Oryctolagus cuniculus and about 30 other species
Lives 1-2 years in the wild; 8-12 as a well-kept pet
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Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Lives 2-3 years in the wild; over 20 in captivity
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Rattlesnake
Crotalus and Sistrurus (two genera, about 30-50 species)
Lives 15-20 years or more in the wild
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Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
Lives 8-10 years in the wild; up to 15 in captivity
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Rhinoceros
Rhinocerotidae (family, five living species)
Lives 35-50 years
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Rooster
Gallus gallus domesticus
Lives 8-10 years
S13 animals
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Salamander
Caudata (order, about 800 species)
Lives 3-20 years; giant salamanders over 50
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Scorpion
Scorpiones (emperor scorpion: Pandinus imperator)
Lives 3-8 years; some species up to 25
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Sea Lion
Otariinae (subfamily, six species)
Lives 20-30 years
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Seahorse
Hippocampus (genus, about 45 species)
Lives 1-5 years
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Seal
Pinnipedia (harbor seal: Phoca vitulina)
Lives 20-30 years; some species 40
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Shark
Selachimorpha (superorder, over 500 species)
Lives 20-30 years; the Greenland shark may exceed 400
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Sheep
Ovis aries
Lives 10-12 years
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Sparrow
Passer domesticus (house sparrow); family Passeridae
Lives 3-5 years; ringed birds past 13
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Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Lives 60-70 years, probably longer
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Spider
Araneae (garden orb-weaver: Araneus diadematus)
Lives under a year for most; tarantulas 20-30 years
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Squirrel
Sciuridae (family, about 280 species)
Lives 5-10 years in the wild; up to about 20 in captivity
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Starfish
Asteroidea (class, about 2,000 species)
Lives 5-10 years; some over 30
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Swan
Cygnus (mute swan: Cygnus olor)
Lives 10-20 years in the wild; over 25 recorded
T9 animals
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Tarsier
Tarsiidae (family, about 13-20 species)
Lives 12-20 years
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Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin (diamondback); terrapin is a common name, not a taxonomic group
Lives 25-40 years
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Tiger
Panthera tigris
Lives 10-15 years in the wild; over 20 in captivity
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Toad
Bufonidae (true toads, about 600 species); order Anura
Lives 10-12 years in the wild; over 30 in captivity
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Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
Lives about 20 years in the wild; over 25 in captivity
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Tortoise
Testudinidae (Galapagos giants: Chelonoidis)
Lives 50-100 years; giants over 150
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Tuatara
Sphenodon punctatus
Lives 60-100 years; a century is not unusual
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Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Lives 3-5 years in the wild
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Turtle
Testudines (order, about 360 species)
Lives 20-100 years, depending on species
U6 animals
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Uakari
Cacajao calvus
Lives up to about 30 years
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Umbrellabird
Cephalopterus (three species)
Lives 12-20 years
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Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
Lives around 8 years; oldest recorded 13
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Urchin
Echinoidea
Lives about 20 years in many species; red sea urchins can exceed 100
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Urial
Ovis vignei
Lives around 10-12 years in the wild
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Uromastyx
Uromastyx (genus, about 15 species)
Lives over 25 years; reports approaching 60
V6 animals
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Vampire Bat
Desmodus rotundus
Lives up to about 12 years in the wild; close to 20 in captivity
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Vaquita
Phocoena sinus
Lives about 20 years
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Vicuña
Vicugna vicugna (also classified as Lama vicugna)
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Viper
Viperidae (family, more than 300 species)
Lifespan: Varies widely by species
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Vole
Arvicolinae (subfamily, about 155 species)
Lives 3-16 months in the wild; up to 3 years in captivity
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Vulture
Accipitridae (Old World) and Cathartidae (New World)
Lives 20-30 years; some over 50
W4 animals
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Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
Lives 20-30 years, occasionally 40
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Water Buffalo
Bubalus bubalis (domestic); Bubalus arnee (wild)
Lives 20-25 years
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Wolf
Canis lupus
Lives 6-8 years in the wild; up to 13
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Woodpecker
Picidae (family, about 240 species)
Lives 4-11 years
X6 animals
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X-Ray Fish
Pristella maxillaris
Lives 3-5 years
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Xantus’s Hummingbird
Basilinna xantusii
Lifespan: Not well documented; small hummingbirds typically 3-5 years
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Xenopus
Xenopus laevis
Lives 15 to 16 years; up to 30 in captivity
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Xerus
Xerus rutilus
Lifespan: Unknown in the wild; over 6 years recorded in captivity
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Xingu River Ray
Potamotrygon leopoldi
Lifespan: Not established; generation time estimated near 11 years
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Xoloitzcuintli
Canis lupus familiaris
Lives 13 to 16 years
Y6 animals
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Yabby
Cherax destructor
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Yak
Bos grunniens (domestic) and Bos mutus (wild)
Lives 20-25 years
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Yellow-Eyed Penguin
Megadyptes antipodes
Lifespan: Some individuals reach 20 years
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Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Lifespan: Not well documented in the wild
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Yellowjacket
Vespula and Dolichovespula (genera in the family Vespidae)
Lifespan: Workers a few weeks; only the queen survives the winter
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Yorkshire Terrier
Canis lupus familiaris
Lives around 13 years; studies range from 12.5 to 14.3
Z7 animals
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Zebra
Equus quagga, Equus zebra and Equus grevyi (three species)
Lives 20-25 years in the wild
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Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia castanotis
Lives about 5 years in the wild; 5-9 in captivity
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Zebra Shark
Stegostoma tigrinum
Lives 25-30 years
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Zebu
Bos indicus
Lives 15-20 years
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Zonkey
Equus quagga x Equus asinus
Lives 15-25 years
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Zorilla
Ictonyx striatus
Lives 4-5 years in the wild; over 13 in captivity
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Zorse
Equus quagga x Equus caballus
Lives 15-30 years
No animals match those filters.



