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Vertebrates

Vertebrates are animals with backbones and internal skeletons. They include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, covering familiar animals on land, in the air and in water.

Which animals are vertebrates?

Examples range from bears, wolves, dolphins and elephants to vultures, frogs, crocodiles, snakes, sharks and tuna. The category helps explain a basic division in animal classification.

A

An aardvark walking across sandy ground

AardvarkOrycteropus afer

African grey parrot with a black bill, pale face and grey feathers perched on a branch

African grey parrotPsittacus erithacus

African wild dogLycaon pictus

albatross

AlbatrossDiomedeidae

alligator

AlligatorAlligator

alpaca

AlpacaVicugna pacos

Black-furred American black bear walking among moss-covered rocks

American black bearUrsus americanus

Male Andean condor with a bare head, fleshy comb, white feather ruff and black plumage

Andean condorVultur gryphus

anteater

AnteaterVermilingua

antelope

AntelopeBovidae (antelope groups)

Blue-and-yellow macaw in flight with spread wings and a black bill

arctic fox

Arctic foxVulpes lagopus

arctic hare

Arctic hareLepus arcticus

arctic wolf

Arctic wolfCanis lupus arctos

armadillo

ArmadilloCingulata

Silvery asp with an elongated body and large mouth, seen from the side underwater

AspLeuciscus aspius

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) swimming in an aquarium

Atlantic salmonSalmo salar

axolotl

AxolotlAmbystoma mexicanum

aye-aye

Aye-ayeDaubentonia madagascariensis

B

baboon

badger

BadgerMeles; Taxidea; Mellivora

Adult bald eagle with a white head, hooked yellow bill and dark brown plumage

Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus

Common wombat seen from the side with its face turned towards the camera

Bare-nosed wombatVombatus ursinus

bat

bear

A central bearded dragon with a triangular head, sturdy limbs and a long tapered tail resting on a rock

Bearded dragonPogona vitticeps

beaver

BeaverCastor fiber; Castor canadensis

Large grey beluga sturgeon with a short snout, barbels and rows of bony plates swimming in blue water

Beluga sturgeonHuso huso

Beluga whale facing the camera underwater, showing its rounded forehead and pectoral flippers

Beluga whaleDelphinapterus leucas

bengal fox

Bengal foxVulpes bengalensis

bengal tiger

Bengal tigerPanthera tigris

Blue and red betta fish with long, spread fins in an aquarium

Betta fishBetta splendens

bison

BisonBison bison; Bison bonasus

Black mamba with raised head and the dark interior of its open mouth visible

Black mambaDendroaspis polylepis

black panther

Black pantherPanthera pardus or Panthera onca (melanistic individuals)

Flat, sand-coloured turbot with both eyes on its upper side lying on the seabed

Black Sea turbotScophthalmus maeoticus

Black stork with dark glossy plumage, a white belly and a red bill

Black storkCiconia nigra

blackbird

BlackbirdTurdus merula

blanford's fox

Blanford’s foxVulpes cana

Yellowish-brown blotched snake with dark markings, head raised

Blotched snakeElaphe sauromates

blue whale

Blue whaleBalaenoptera musculus

Young black-furred bonobo with large eyes resting against its mother in the forest

BonoboPan paniscus

Dark grey Ancistrus with pale spots resting on gravel at the bottom of an aquarium

Bristlenose plecoAncistrus

brown bear

Brown bearUrsus arctos

Brown trout (Salmo trutta), showing its spotted body and body shape.

Brown troutSalmo trutta

A green budgerigar with a yellow head, blue cere and black throat spots

BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus

buffalo

BuffaloBubalus; Syncerus

C

Grey-olive caiman resting on a riverbank

CaimanCaimaninae

camel

A yellow domestic canary with folded wings and a narrow tail perched on a branch

CanarySerinus canaria

cape fox

Cape foxVulpes chama

Capuchin monkey with brown fur and a black cap holding food in its hands

Capuchin monkeyCebinae

Capybara with brown fur and a broad muzzle

CapybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Caracal with reddish fur and long black tufts at the tips of its ears

CaracalCaracal caracal

carpathian red deer

Carpathian red deerCervus elaphus

Cassowary with black plumage, a blue neck, red wattles and a horny casque

CassowaryCasuarius

cat

chameleon

ChameleonChamaeleonidae

chamois

ChamoisRupicapra rupicapra

cheetah

CheetahAcinonyx jubatus

chicken

ChickenGallus gallus domesticus

chimpanzee

ChimpanzeePan troglodytes

A grey chinchilla with rounded ears, dark eyes and long whiskers

ChinchillaChinchilla spp.

Nasua nasua coati with its long snout near the ground and ringed tail raised

Grey cockatiel with an orange cheek patch and raised crest feeding on a branch

CockatielNymphicus hollandicus

White sulphur-crested cockatoo with a yellow crest and dark bill perched on a sloping branch

CockatooCacatuidae

Common barbel with an elongated snout and mouth barbels swimming near the bottom

Common barbelBarbus barbus

Silvery common bream showing its deep, laterally flattened body underwater

Common breamAbramis brama

Common carp showing its large scales and barbels beside the mouth

Common carpCyprinus carpio

Common chaffinch male with a blue-grey crown, pink-brown breast and white wing markings

Common chaffinchFringilla coelebs

A common clownfish with an orange body, three white bars and a rounded tail beside an anemone

Common clownfishAmphiprion ocellaris

Brown common degu with rounded ears and a tufted tail standing on a branch

Common deguOctodon degus

Coiled European adder among grasses, showing its zigzag pattern

Common European adderVipera berus

Female kestrel with barred and spotted rufous-brown plumage standing on a rock

Common kestrelFalco tinnunculus

Common kingfisher in flight with blue wings spread and a long pointed bill

Common kingfisherAlcedo atthis

Common moorhen with a red forehead, yellow-tipped bill and long green toes

Common moorhenGallinula chloropus

Silvery common roach with an orange-red iris and reddish lower fins

Common roachRutilus rutilus

Common starling perched on a mossy branch, showing a pointed yellow bill, pink feet and green-violet iridescent feathers

Common starlingSturnus vulgaris

Common swift in flight with long sickle-shaped wings and a dark body

Common swiftApus apus

Common toad with warty skin and copper eyes sitting on a rock

Common toadBufo bufo

cormorant

CormorantPhalacrocoracidae

Orange corn snake with black-edged red blotches coiled on moss

Corn snakePantherophis guttatus

corsac fox

Corsac foxVulpes corsac

Corydoras catfish with a dark white-spotted body and orange fins on the aquarium floor

Corydoras catfishCorydoras

cougar

CougarPuma concolor

cow

CowBos taurus (domestic cattle)

coyote

CoyoteCanis latrans

coypu

CoypuMyocastor coypus

crane

Crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) resting on the ground

Crested porcupineHystrix cristata

crocodile

CrocodileCrocodylidae

crow

cuckoo

CuckooCuculus canorus

culpeo

CulpeoLycalopex culpaeus

D

deer

dingo

DingoCanis familiaris (dingo); taxonomic treatment varies

Blue discus with a round body, red eye and fine fin markings

DiscusSymphysodon

Model of a dodo with a round grey-brown body, large hooked bill and yellow legs

DodoRaphus cucullatus

dog

DogCanis lupus familiaris

dolphin

DolphinDelphinidae and several river-dolphin lineages

domestic sheep

Domestic sheepOvis aries

donkey

DonkeyEquus africanus asinus

dromedary

DromedaryCamelus dromedarius

duck

DuckAnatidae (ducks in several genera)

Grey dugong with a downturned muzzle in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt

DugongDugong dugon

E

A brown eagle with golden nape feathers perched on a rock

EaglesSeveral genera in Accipitridae

echidna

EchidnaTachyglossidae

Grey edible dormouse with large black eyes and a bushy tail on a branch with red berries

Edible dormouseGlis glis

elephant

ElephantLoxodonta africana; Loxodonta cyclotis; Elephas maximus

Male elephant seal with a large inflated nose raised on a beach near females and pups

Elephant sealMirounga

emu

EmuDromaius novaehollandiae

Male bullfinch with a rosy-red breast, black cap and grey back on a branch

Eurasian bullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula

Eurasian collared dove with pale grey-beige plumage and a black half-collar

Eurasian collared doveStreptopelia decaocto

Dark grey Eurasian coot with a red eye and white forehead standing on a bank

Eurasian cootFulica atra

Golden-yellow male oriole with black wings among fig leaves

Eurasian golden orioleOriolus oriolus

Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) with pinkish-brown plumage and barred blue wing feathers

Eurasian jayGarrulus glandarius

Eurasian magpie, Pica pica, perched on a branch with white shoulder and belly patches and a long iridescent tail

Eurasian magpiePica pica

Male siskin with yellow-green plumage, a black cap and black wing bars on a branch

Eurasian siskinSpinus spinus

White Eurasian spoonbill with a long spoon-shaped bill feeding in shallow water

Eurasian spoonbillPlatalea leucorodia

Small, slender silvery anchovy with a bluish back on a sandy seabed

European anchovyEngraulis encrasicolus

European bee-eater flying with a yellow throat, blue underparts and spread wings

European bee-eaterMerops apiaster

european bison

European bisonBison bonasus

European chub with large scales, an elongated body and a broad head in an aquarium

European chubSqualius cephalus

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) with a long body and fins continuous around the tail

European eelAnguilla anguilla

European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) perched on a wooden post

European goldfinchCarduelis carduelis

Green male lizard with a blue head and throat among dry leaves

European green lizardLacerta viridis

european hamster

European hamsterCricetus cricetus

european hare

European hareLepus europaeus

European perch (Perca fluviatilis) viewed from the side underwater

European perchPerca fluviatilis

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) perched on a branch

European robinErithacus rubecula

Blue European roller with a reddish-brown back perched on a dry branch

European rollerCoracias garrulus

Bright green tree frog with a dark side stripe clinging to a twig

European tree frogHyla arborea

European turtle dove with chestnut-and-black patterned wings and striped neck patches

European turtle doveStreptopelia turtur

F

Unverified RO bird image; identity review pending

FalconFalco spp.

Male fallow deer with a white-spotted reddish coat and broad antlers on grass

Fallow deerDama dama

fennec fox

Fennec foxVulpes zerda

flamingo

FlamingoPhoenicopteridae

Grey flying squirrel with large dark eyes on a piece of wood

Flying squirrelPteromyini

A fossa at Bioparc Valencia, photographed by Ran Kirlian

FossaCryptoprocta ferox

Silver freshwater angelfish with orange patches and dark markings beside aquatic plants

Freshwater angelfishPterophyllum scalare

frog

G

Head of a grey-skinned giant Galápagos tortoise chewing green leaves

Galápagos tortoiseChelonoidis niger

Slender light-brown gazelle with a white belly and ringed horns among grasses

Giant oceanic manta ray seen from the front and side in blue water with broad fins spread

Giant oceanic manta rayMobula birostris

giant panda

Giant pandaAiluropoda melanoleuca

giraffe

GiraffeGiraffa spp.

goat

GoatCapra aegagrus hircus

Grey-brown round goby with a large head and high-set eyes resting on a bed of mussels

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) with orange scales

GoldfishCarassius auratus

goose

GooseAnser and Branta (geese)

gorilla

GorillaGorilla spp.

Silvery-blue gourami with a dark spot on its side and white-spotted fins

GouramiTrichopodus

Coiled grass snake, Natrix natrix, with pale patches behind the head

Grass snakeNatrix natrix

Great tit on a mossy branch showing white cheeks and the black stripe down its yellow breast

Great titParus major

great white shark

Great white sharkCarcharodon carcharias

Grey partridge with an orange face, grey breast and chestnut bars along its sides

Grey partridgePerdix perdix

ground squirrel

Ground squirrelSpermophilus citellus

A short-haired guinea pig with a rounded muzzle and small folded ears

Guinea pigCavia porcellus

guineafowl

GuineafowlNumida meleagris

gull

GullLaridae (gulls in several genera)

Male guppy with blue-green markings and a patterned yellow tail among aquatic plants

GuppyPoecilia reticulata

H

hammerhead shark

Hammerhead sharkSphyrnidae

hamster

HamsterCricetinae

Grey harbour porpoise with a short snout and small triangular dorsal fin swimming in greenish water

Harbour porpoisePhocoena phocoena

Hawfinch with a massive bill, orange-brown head and black throat patch

HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes

hawk

HawkAccipitridae; includes Accipiter and Astur

hedgehog

HedgehogErinaceinae

hippopotamus

HippopotamusHippopotamus amphibius

hoopoe

HoopoeUpupa epops

horse

HorseEquus ferus caballus

House martin with a glossy blue-black back and white underparts beside a mud nest

House martinDelichon urbicum

Black-furred howler monkey walking along a branch among leaves

Howler monkeyAlouatta

hummingbird

HummingbirdTrochilidae

humpback whale

Humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliae

hyena

I

iguana

IguanaIguanidae; Iguana for green and Lesser Antillean iguanas

impala

ImpalaAepyceros melampus

indochinese tiger

Indochinese tigerPanthera tigris

An indri in Andasibe-Mantadia, photographed by Christophe Germain

IndriIndri indri

J

jackal

JackalCanis and Lupulella

jaguar

JaguarPanthera onca

K

kangaroo

KangarooMacropodidae

kit fox

Kit foxVulpes macrotis

kiwi

KiwiApteryx spp.

koala

KoalaPhascolarctos cinereus

Bright orange koi with black spots swimming in grey water

KoiCyprinus rubrofuscus

komodo dragon

Komodo dragonVaranus komodoensis

L

lark

LarkAlauda arvensis

Black and yellow-brown Norway lemming crouching on a lichen-covered rock

lemur

LemurLemuriformes (several families)

leopard

LeopardPanthera pardus

A leopard gecko with dark spots, visible eyelids and a tapering banded tail on rough rock

Leopard geckoEublepharis macularius

lion

LionPanthera leo

Lionfish with red and white stripes and long feather-like fins on a dark background

LionfishPterois

White little egret with a black bill and yellow toes perched on a trunk

Little egretEgretta garzetta

Small brown little owl with white spots and yellow eyes perched on a rock

Little owlAthene noctua

lizard

LizardSquamata (lizards)

llama

LlamaLama glama

Long-eared owl with orange eyes and streaked plumage among branches and leaves

Long-eared owlAsio otus

Rosy-faced lovebird with green plumage and a pale bill perched on a branch

LovebirdAgapornis

Yellow-and-black lowland streaked tenrec, photographed by Bernard DUPONT

Lowland streaked tenrecHemicentetes semispinosus

lynx

M

Barbary macaque with yellowish-brown fur sitting on a rock

malayan tiger

Malayan tigerPanthera tigris

mandrill

MandrillMandrillus sphinx

Common marmoset with a dark face and white ear tufts

MarmosetCallithrix

marmot

MarmotMarmota spp.

marten

MartenMartes spp.

Silvery horse mackerel with large eyes and a lateral line of bony scutes on ice among other fish

Mediterranean horse mackerelTrachurus mediterraneus

meerkat

MeerkatSuricata suricatta

Illustration of a giant megalodon shark with an open, tooth-filled mouth at the sea surface

MegalodonOtodus megalodon

mink

MinkMustela lutreola (European mink); Neogale vison (American mink)

minke whale

Minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata

mole

Grey, finely spotted mollies swimming among green aquatic plants

MollyPoecilia sphenops

Brown Mongolian gerbil with pale underparts sitting upright at a burrow entrance

Mongolian gerbilMeriones unguiculatus

mongoose

MongooseHerpestidae

monkey

Monkeys and apesSimiiformes (monkeys and apes)

moose

MooseAlces alces

Brown moray eel with round yellowish spots poking its head out of a reef crevice

Moray eelMuraenidae

mouflon

MouflonOvis gmelinii complex; European mouflon naming varies between taxonomic treatments

mouse

MouseMus spp.; Mus musculus is the house mouse

Male muskox with long shaggy hair and heavy horns in Dovrefjell, Norway

MuskoxOvibos moschatus

N

narwhal

NarwhalMonodon monoceros

Neon tetra with a bright blue stripe and red lower rear half

Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi

nightingale

NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos

Northern lapwing with a long crest, white belly and green-purple wing reflections

Northern lapwingVanellus vanellus

Northern pike (Esox lucius), showing its elongated snout and pale body markings.

Northern pikeEsox lucius

Brown nose-horned viper with a dark dorsal zigzag resting on rock

Nose-horned viperVipera ammodytes

O

Silver-grey ocean sunfish with a tall flattened body and long top and bottom fins

Ocean sunfishMola mola

Ocelot with elongated black-bordered spots and rounded ears

OcelotLeopardus pardalis

AI illustration of an okapi with a brown body and striped hindquarters

OkapiOkapia johnstoni

opossum

OpossumDidelphimorphia; Didelphis virginiana is one species

orangutan

OrangutanPongo pygmaeus, Pongo abelii and Pongo tapanuliensis

orca

OrcaOrcinus orca

Large dark Oscar fish with orange patches and a red eye on a black background

Oscar fishAstronotus ocellatus

ostrich

OstrichStruthio camelus (common ostrich); Struthio molybdophanes is the Somali ostrich

otter

OtterLutrinae; Lutra lutra is the Eurasian otter, Lontra canadensis the North American river otter

owl

OwlStrigiformes

P

pale fox

Pale foxVulpes pallida

Pangolin with overlapping scales and a narrow snout

PangolinManidae

parrot

ParrotPsittaciformes

peacock

PeacockPavo spp.; Afropavo congensis is the Congo peafowl

pelican

PelicanPelecanus spp.

pheasant

PheasantPhasianus colchicus

pig

PigSus scrofa domesticus

pigeon

PigeonColumba livia (domestic and feral forms)

piranha

PiranhaSerrasalmidae: piranhas, including Pygocentrus and Serrasalmus

platypus

PlatypusOrnithorhynchus anatinus

Blue poison dart frog with black spots on the ground

Poison dart frogDendrobatidae

polar bear

Polar bearUrsus maritimus

polecat

PolecatMustela (polecats and related ferrets)

Old illustration of a Pontic shad, an elongated fish with large scales and a forked tail

Pontic shadAlosa immaculata

pony

PonyEquus caballus (domestic horse; also Equus ferus caballus)

Black-tailed prairie dog at a burrow entrance, holding food with its front paws

Prairie dogCynomys

Prussian carp seen from the side underwater

Prussian carpCarassius gibelio

White-spotted pufferfish with a small mouth swimming beside coral in blue water

PufferfishTetraodontidae

Q

quail

QuailCoturnix coturnix (common quail); quail also includes other species

quetzal

QuetzalPharomachrus spp.; Pharomachrus mocinno is the resplendent quetzal

quokka

QuokkaSetonix brachyurus

R

rabbit

RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus

raccoon

RaccoonProcyon lotor

Raccoon dog with dense grey-brown fur and dark facial markings around the eyes

Raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoides

A brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, with whiskers and a scaly tail curved on the ground

raven

RavenCorvus corax

red fox

Red foxVulpes vulpes

Pinkish-silver red mullet with red blotches and two chin barbels on a sandy seabed

Red mulletMullus barbatus

Red panda with a pale face, reddish fur and a ringed tail

Red pandaAilurus spp.

Water turtle with yellow stripes and a red patch behind the eye on a rock

Red-eared sliderTrachemys scripta elegans

reindeer

ReindeerRangifer tarandus

rhinoceros

RhinocerosRhinocerotidae

roe deer

Roe deerCapreolus capreolus; Capreolus pygargus

rooster

RoosterGallus gallus domesticus

S

salamander

SalamanderCaudata (also called Urodela)

sawfish

SawfishPristidae

Sea otter with thick brown fur and a pale head floating on its back in the water

Sea otterEnhydra lutris

seahorse

SeahorseHippocampus

seal

Serval with large rounded ears and a yellowish coat covered in black spots

ServalLeptailurus serval

shark

SharkSelachimorpha (sharks within Chondrichthyes)

siberian tiger

Siberian tigerPanthera tigris

skunk

SkunkMephitidae

sloth

Glossy copper-brown legless slow worm coiled on a rock

Slow wormAnguis fragilis

Fossil Smilodon skull with two very long, curved upper canines

Smilodon (saber-toothed cat)Smilodon

Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) on damp ground

Smooth newtLissotriton vulgaris

Grey-brown smooth snake coiled on dry leaves and pine needles

Smooth snakeCoronella austriaca

snake

AI illustration of a snow leopard with dark rosettes and a bushy tail

Snow leopardPanthera uncia

White snowy owl with black flecks and yellow eyes perched on a branch

Snowy owlBubo scandiacus

south china tiger

South China tigerPanthera tigris

Yellow platy with red tones, a red head and black-edged fins on a dark background

Southern platyfishXiphophorus maculatus

sparrow

SparrowPasser domesticus (house sparrow); other sparrow species are also discussed

sperm whale

Sperm whalePhyseter macrocephalus

squirrel

SquirrelSciuridae (squirrels)

Stoat (Mustela erminea) with a black tail tip among vegetation

StoatMustela erminea

Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), a sturgeon with a pointed snout and bony scutes

SturgeonAcipenseridae

Small grey sugar glider with a black head stripe and large eyes on a branch at night

Sugar gliderPetaurus breviceps

sumatran tiger

Sumatran tigerPanthera tigris

swallow

SwallowHirundinidae; Hirundo rustica is the barn swallow

swan

SwanCygnus spp.

swift fox

Swift foxVulpes velox

swordfish

SwordfishXiphias gladius

T

Inland taipan with a dark head and brown body curved across sandy ground

TaipanOxyuranus

tapir

TapirTapiridae: Tapirus spp.

Philippine tarsier with large eyes and rounded ears clinging to a branch beneath a green leaf

TarsierTarsiidae

tasmanian devil

Tasmanian devilSarcophilus harrisii

Tawny owl with streaked grey-brown plumage, a round head and dark eyes

Tawny owlStrix aluco

Olive-green tench with a reddish eye swimming underwater

TenchTinca tinca

Black-and-white photo of a thylacine with dark stripes on its back in a zoo enclosure

ThylacineThylacinus cynocephalus

tibetan sand fox

Tibetan sand foxVulpes ferrilata

tiger

TigerPanthera tigris

AI illustration of a toco toucan with an orange bill and white throat

ToucanRamphastidae

tuna

TunaThunnini (within Scombridae)

turkey

TurkeyMeleagris

turtle

TurtleTestudines

V

A pale-necked brown vulture perched on a rock

VulturesSeveral species: Accipitridae and Cathartidae

W

wallaby

WallabyMacropodidae (wallabies in several genera)

walrus

WalrusOdobenus rosmarus

Grey warthog with curved tusks and facial warts on dry ground

WarthogPhacochoerus

water shrew

Water shrewNeomys fodiens

weasel

WeaselMustela nivalis

Wels catfish (Silurus glanis) swimming underwater

Wels catfishSilurus glanis

Black male capercaillie with a fanned tail and red eyebrow during display

Western capercaillieTetrao urogallus

whale

Side view of a white-spotted whale shark swimming through blue water among smaller fish

Whale sharkRhincodon typus

white stork

White storkCiconia ciconia

White wagtail with a white face, black bib and grey back perched on a branch

White wagtailMotacilla alba

Dark-furred white-handed gibbon with a pale ring around its face at Philadelphia Zoo

White-handed gibbonHylobates lar

wild boar

Wild boarSus scrofa

wildcat

WildcatFelis silvestris (European wildcat)

wolf

WolfCanis lupus

Brown wolverine sitting in grass, showing rounded ears and a bushy tail

WolverineGulo gulo

woodpecker

WoodpeckerPicidae

Life-size model of a woolly mammoth with long brown fur and large curved tusks

Woolly mammothMammuthus

Y

Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) in a mountain landscape

YakBos grunniens

Z

Zander (Sander lucioperca) with its elongated body and large eyes

ZanderSander lucioperca

zebra

ZebraEquus quagga, Equus zebra and Equus grevyi

Several small, slender zebrafish with blue and silver stripes along the body

ZebrafishDanio rerio