🌎Continental Habitat

North America Wildlife

Discover the 124+ species native to North America. Explore complete biological profiles, range maps, conservation status, and fascinating behavioral facts for every creature from this continent.

North America Species (124 cataloged)

AvesLC

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Diet: Insectivore and aerial predator
Wild lifespan: Often much shorter, but the banding record exceeds 12 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Alligator

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ActinopterygiiNE

Alligator Gar

Atractosteus spatula

Diet: Large opportunistic piscivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: Females can exceed 90 years; males generally live fewer decades

ReptiliaLC

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Diet: Carnivore and opportunistic predator
Wild lifespan: Often 30–50 years in the wild

AmphibiaLC

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Diet: Carnivore as an adult; tadpoles graze algae and organic material
Wild lifespan: Often about 7–9 years

MammaliaLC

American Mink

Neogale vison

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 3–4 years in the wild; longer records occur

AmphibiaLC

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Often several years in the wild; exceptional individuals live longer

AvesLC

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Diet: Primarily small fish, with other aquatic prey taken opportunistically
Wild lifespan: Can live more than 20 years; the oldest banded bird exceeded 23 years

AvesLC

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Diet: Primarily piscivorous wetland predator
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity record exceeds 12 years

MammaliaLC

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 3–6 years in the wild; exceptional individuals live longer

ReptiliaLC

Arizona Black Rattlesnake

Crotalus cerberus

Diet: Venomous ambush predator
Wild lifespan: Potentially two decades or more in the wild; exact maximum is uncertain

ReptiliaLC

Arizona Coral Snake

Micruroides euryxanthus

Diet: Specialized predator of small reptiles and snakes
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented; likely several years or more

ReptiliaCR

Aruba Island Rattlesnake

Crotalus unicolor

Diet: Ambush predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is uncertain; managed rattlesnakes may live well over a decade

AmphibiaCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Poorly documented in the remnant wild population

ReptiliaLC

Baird's Rat Snake

Pantherophis bairdi

Diet: Constricting predator of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is uncertain; managed rat snakes may live 15–20 years or more

AvesLC

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Diet: Carnivore and opportunistic scavenger
Wild lifespan: Often 20–30 years in the wild

AvesLC

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 4–8 years in the wild, with some much older

MammaliaLC

Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years for females; males commonly live fewer years

ReptiliaLC

Black Rat Snake

Pantherophis obsoletus

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; managed individuals may exceed 20 years

ArachnidaAnimal group

Black Widow Spider

Latrodectus

Diet: Carnivore; mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: No single genus-wide lifespan; females outlive males in studied species

ReptiliaLC

Blue Belly Lizard

Sceloporus occidentalis

Diet: Active hunter of terrestrial invertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often about 4–7 years in the wild, with many young lost earlier

AvesLC

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Many live several years; the oldest known banded wild bird exceeded 26 years

ActinopterygiiVU

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live about 20 years and males around 10 years; estimates vary by ocean and method

MammaliaEN

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Diet: Baleen-filtering carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 70–90 years; some live longer

InsectaNE

Boxelder Bug

Boisea trivittata

Diet: Seed-feeding herbivore
Wild lifespan: About one year, with adults surviving winter

ReptiliaLC

Bullsnake

Pituophis catenifer sayi

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor specializing in small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 12–15 years; individuals in managed care may live longer

MammaliaNT

Bush Dog

Speothos venaticus

Diet: Carnivore specializing in medium-sized vertebrate prey
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly known; captive animals can live more than 10 years

AvesLC

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Diet: Omnivore, mainly insectivore
Wild lifespan: Several years; banded individuals have lived more than seven years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Caiman

Caimaninae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

California Kingsnake

Lampropeltis californiae

Diet: Generalist constrictor and snake predator
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; managed individuals may exceed 20 years

MammaliaLC

California Sea Lion

Zalophus californianus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: About 20–30 years; females generally live longer than males

MammaliaVU

Caribou

Rangifer tarandus

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; some may exceed 20

MammaliaLC

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Commonly 40–60 years; females often outlive males

ReptiliaAnimal group

Crocodile

Crocodylidae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

Diamondback Water Snake

Nerodia rhombifer

Diet: Aquatic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented

CephalopodaAnimal group

Dumbo Octopus

Grimpoteuthis

Diet: Deep-sea carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown for most species

AvesAnimal group

Eagle

Accipitridae

Diet: Carnivore and scavenger; prey differs by species
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; many large eagles can live for decades

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Fence Lizard

Sceloporus undulatus

Diet: Primarily insectivorous
Wild lifespan: Average around 4 years; some individuals may live more than 5 years

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus ventralis

Diet: Carnivore of invertebrates and small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known; 4–15 years recorded in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Hognose Snake

Heterodon platirhinos

Diet: Specialist predator of toads and other small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 8–12 years in the wild; longer lives occur in managed care

ReptiliaLC

Eastern Indigo Snake

Drymarchon couperi

Diet: Generalist vertebrate predator with a strong preference for other snakes
Wild lifespan: About 8–12 years in the wild; up to 25 years in managed care

AvesLC

Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

Diet: Mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: Oldest known wild record at least 5 years 10 months

ReptiliaLC

False Coral Snake

Anilius scytale

Diet: Specialist predator of elongated fossorial and aquatic vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is unknown; likely more than a decade for surviving adults

ReptiliaNE

Fer-de-Lance Snake

Bothrops asper

Diet: Ambush predator whose diet shifts from ectotherms to mammals with age
Wild lifespan: Likely 15–20 years in managed care; wild lifespan is poorly quantified

MammaliaVU

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly 80–90 years, with some individuals living longer

MammaliaAnimal group

Flying Squirrel

Pteromyini

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Several years in the wild; longer in protected care

MammaliaLC

Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

Diet: Omnivore, primarily seeds and plant material
Wild lifespan: Many die young; successful adults may live several years and captive records approach 18 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Garter Snake

Thamnophis

Diet: Carnivorous, with prey varying strongly among species
Wild lifespan: Different among member species; several can live beyond a decade in protected conditions

ChondrichthyesEN

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

Diet: Filter-feeding carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 40–45 years is plausible; exact maximum remains uncertain

CephalopodaNE

Giant Pacific Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Usually about 3–5 years

CephalopodaLC

Giant Squid

Architeuthis dux

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Probably around 3–5 years, based on growth studies and comparison with related squids

ReptiliaNT

Gila Monster

Heloderma suspectum

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years or more

AvesAnimal group

Goose

Anserini

Diet: Primarily herbivorous waterfowl
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; banding records show some wild geese surviving more than 20 years

ReptiliaVU

Gopher Tortoise

Gopherus polyphemus

Diet: Primarily herbivorous browser and grazer
Wild lifespan: Often 40–60 years, with some individuals living longer

MammaliaLC

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 6–8 years in the wild; some exceed 13 years

ChondrichthyesCR

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Common estimates exceed 30 years, with some individuals aged beyond 40 years

ReptiliaLC

Great Plains Rat Snake

Pantherophis emoryi

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; captive individuals may live longer

ChondrichthyesVU

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 70 years is possible, with major uncertainty among estimates

ReptiliaLC

Green Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 10–20 years in the wild

ReptiliaEN

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Diet: Adults mainly herbivorous; juveniles more omnivorous
Wild lifespan: Likely 60–80 years or more

AvesVU

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 25–35 years in the wild

AmphibiaVU

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 25–30 years and potentially longer

InsectaNE

Hercules Beetle

Dynastes hercules

Diet: Detritivore as a larva and frugivore as an adult
Wild lifespan: Larval development often one to two years; adults live several months

ActinopterygiiLC

Humpback Anglerfish

Melanocetus johnsonii

Diet: Deep-sea carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown

MammaliaLC

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 45–80 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Iguana

Diet: Primarily herbivorous
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; green iguanas may live more than a decade

MalacostracaAnimal group

Isopod

Isopoda

Diet: Detritivores, scavengers, grazers, predators or parasites depending on lineage
Wild lifespan: Depends on the individual species and environment

AvesAnimal group

Jacana

Jacanidae

Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates plus seeds and plant material
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no reliable family-wide figure

MammaliaNT

Jaguar

Panthera onca

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild

ReptiliaLC

Jaragua Dwarf Gecko

Sphaerodactylus ariasae

Diet: Tiny invertebrate predator
Wild lifespan: No dependable wild lifespan estimate is available

Multiple medusozoan classesAnimal group

Jellyfish

Medusozoa

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: From weeks to several years, depending on species and life stage

AvesLC

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Diet: Omnivore, mainly fruit
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years

MammaliaDD

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live 50–80 years or more; males often 30–60 years

ReptiliaVU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Diet: Carnivore specialized on gelatinous prey
Wild lifespan: Uncertain; likely several decades

MammaliaAnimal group

Lynx

Diet: Obligate carnivore
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; often roughly 7–15 years for surviving adults

ReptiliaEN

Mexican Alligator Lizard

Abronia graminea

Diet: Arboreal predator of invertebrates and small animals
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known; managed individuals may live more than a decade

InsectaVU

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Diet: Herbivore as a larva; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Most breeding adults live two to five weeks; migratory overwintering adults may live six to nine months

MammaliaLC

Moose

Alces alces

Diet: Herbivore and browser
Wild lifespan: Commonly 10–15 years in the wild; some exceed 20

MammaliaLC

Mountain Goat

Oreamnos americanus

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years; females generally outlive males

MammaliaLC

Narwhal

Monodon monoceros

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 25 years and potentially 50 or more

AvesLC

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Diet: Omnivore dominated by seeds and fruit
Wild lifespan: Most live only a few years, but the longevity record exceeds 15 years

ChondrichthyesVU

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Diet: Carnivorous bottom feeder
Wild lifespan: At least several decades; exact wild maximum remains uncertain

MammaliaLC

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

Diet: Carnivore specializing in small and medium prey
Wild lifespan: Often 7–10 years in the wild; can exceed 20 in managed care

ReptiliaVU

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Lepidochelys olivacea

Diet: Omnivorous marine forager with a strong invertebrate component
Wild lifespan: Unknown; commonly estimated at 30–50 years or more

MammaliaDD

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Diet: Carnivore and apex marine predator
Wild lifespan: Females often 50–80 years and can reach about 90; males often 30–60 years

AvesLC

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 8–15 years in the wild

MammaliaAnimal group

Pibble

Canis lupus familiaris

Diet: Domestic dog diet appropriate to age and health
Wild lifespan: Not applicable to a domestic-dog nickname

MammaliaVU

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 15–25 years in the wild

ActinopterygiiLC

Queen Angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Diet: Sponge-specialist omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years; precise wild longevity is difficult to measure

ActinopterygiiLC

Queen Parrotfish

Scarus vetula

Diet: Herbivorous reef scraper
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is not represented by one well-established universal estimate

ReptiliaLC

Queen Snake

Regina septemvittata

Diet: Crayfish specialist
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly known; one captive exceeded 19 years

MammaliaLC

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often only a few years in the wild; exceptional wild individuals can live much longer

AmphibiaLC

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Agalychnis callidryas

Diet: Nocturnal insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly measured; managed individuals may live several years

InsectaNE

Red-legged Grasshopper

Melanoplus femurrubrum

Diet: Generalist herbivore with a preference for broad-leaved plants
Wild lifespan: Usually one annual generation; adults die with hard frost

ArachnidaNE

Regal Jumping Spider

Phidippus regius

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Usually about 1–2 years

InsectaAnimal group

Rhinoceros Beetle

Dynastinae

Diet: Species-dependent herbivore, sap feeder or decomposer
Wild lifespan: From months to several years including the larval period, depending on species

AvesLC

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Diet: Primarily herbivore with opportunistic animal food
Wild lifespan: Often 40–50 years in the wild

MammaliaEN

Sea Otter

Enhydra lutris

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live 15–20 years; males often 10–15 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Skink

Scincidae

Diet: Mostly insectivorous or omnivorous; some species are herbivorous
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no valid family-wide lifespan

AvesVU

Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often at least 10 years in the wild

MammaliaVU

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 60 years and possibly longer

ActinopterygiiNE

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Diet: Ambush predator of fish and mobile invertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 8–12 years, with some individuals older

ReptiliaLC

Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Diet: Specialized insectivore
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at several years in the wild

AmphibiaLC

Tiger Salamander

Ambystoma tigrinum

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Potentially more than a decade, but wild survival varies strongly among populations

AvesLC

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Diet: Primarily insectivore
Wild lifespan: Many migrants die young, but banded individuals can survive for years

MammaliaEN

Utah Prairie Dog

Cynomys parvidens

Diet: Primarily herbivore
Wild lifespan: Wild survival is variable; many juveniles die in their first year while some adults live several years

CephalopodaNE

Vampire Squid

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

Diet: Detritivore and opportunistic suspension feeder
Wild lifespan: Exact wild lifespan is unknown but appears much longer than the one-to-two-year lives of many shallow-water cephalopods

MammaliaLC

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Diet: Opportunistic omnivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: Usually about 1.5–2 years in the wild; often 3–4 years in human care

MammaliaEN

Volcano Rabbit

Romerolagus diazi

Diet: Specialist herbivore
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly documented; several years are possible under managed care

MammaliaVU

Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus

Diet: Benthic carnivore specializing on clams and other seafloor invertebrates
Wild lifespan: Commonly 30–40 years

ChondrichthyesEN

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

Diet: Filter-feeding carnivore
Wild lifespan: Estimated at many decades, possibly 80 years or more; exact longevity remains uncertain

AvesLC

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Many die young; birds surviving early hazards can live several years

MammaliaLC

Wolverine

Gulo gulo

Diet: Opportunistic carnivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: Often about 7–12 years in the wild; some survive 15 years or more

MammaliaNT

Wood Bison

Bison bison athabascae

Diet: Herbivore and ruminant grazer
Wild lifespan: Often around two decades in the wild, with substantial variation

AvesLC

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

Diet: Omnivore with a strongly plant-based diet
Wild lifespan: Most live much shorter lives, but the longevity record exceeds 22 years

AmphibiaLC

Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Usually 4–5 years, sometimes longer

AvesLC

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

Diet: Primarily fish-eating wetland predator
Wild lifespan: Wild record at least 22 years 6 months

AvesLC

Xantus's Hummingbird

Basilinna xantusii

Diet: Nectarivore and insectivore
Wild lifespan: Exact wild maximum is poorly documented; small hummingbirds often survive several years if they pass the vulnerable first year