10 Most Beautiful Animals

These ten beautiful animals were chosen strictly based on their popularity.

1. FOX

Foxes belong to the family of Canidae and they are usually a little smaller than your everyday domestic dog. There are about 37 different species that can be referred to as a fox. They usually have a narrow snout and a bushy tail. Of the 37 species only 12 actually belong to the original line of foxes. The most common species of foxes is the red fox. Foxes are usually thought to be very cunning. All in all they are magnificent animals; they are wild but absolutely beautiful.

2. TURTLE

Turtles are basically reptiles. They are characterized by a shell that develops from their ribs and serve as a protective cover. The earliest known turtles date back to around 215 million years and are therefore considered to be the oldest members of the reptile family. The largest of turtles are aquatic though they do not lay eggs under water. They do breath under water though. When threatened these beautiful creatures can envelop inside their shells however, if rolled over they are very vulnerable.

3. POLAR BEAR

They belong to the family of bears. Polar bears primarily are natives to the Arctic Circle. They happen to be the largest carnivore on land. An adult male called a boar would usually weight between 350 to 680 kilograms. There are a total of nineteen polar bear subpopulations and eight of them are dangerously declining. They are classified as vulnerable species. This can primarily be attributed to large scale hunting. They are very important in the culture of Arctic human populations. Polar bear belong to the family or Ursidae.

4. TIGER

Tigers happen to be the largest species amongst cats with the total body length as long as 3.3 meters. They can weigh around 306 kilograms. These guys are the third largest land carnivores that roam the earth. They belong to the family of Felidae. Tigers have featured in ancient mythology and folklore and appear on many flags, coat of arms etc. It is hard to believe that the tigers are endangered. They are beautiful creatures especially so because of their coat. Their attack tactic revolves around stealth and they are pretty good at that.

5. STALLION

A male horse that has not been castrated is known as a stallion. I am actually really fond of these animals; I find them to be really graceful. A stallion is usually not an aggressive animal though that obviously depends on the kind of training. They require very careful management if you want perfection. The term stallion actually dates back to the era of Henry VII. They are herd animals but can be trained to take part in horse shows and horse racing etc.

6. LION

They belong to the family of Felidae and are one of the four big cats. Some of the male exceed 250 kilograms in weight. They happen to be the second largest living cat after the tiger. Mostly these animals can be found in Africa and parts of Asia (natively). Around 10,000 years ago they were the largest mammals (in numbers) to roam the planet. They live around ten to fourteen years in the wild however if they are in captivity their age might increase to around twenty years. The male lion is easilydistinguishable because of the mane around the neck which looks absolutely stunning in my opinion. 

7. DOLPHIN

They are aquatic mammals. Dolphins are very closely related to whales too which is weird considering the difference in their aggression. There are around forty different species of dolphins alive which vary in size. They can measure from 1.2 to 9.5 meters in length and can weigh between 40 kilograms to 10 tons. They can be found in the shallow seas and would usually feed on fish and squid. They belong to the family of Dephinidae. They are considered to be very intelligent and are quite playful too.

8. EAGLE

These birds belong to the family of Accipitridae. They have many different species with over sixty found in Eurasia and Africa. Move out from these regions and you will find around 2 species in the United States and Canada, 9 species in Central and South America and another 3 in Australia. These are birds of prey and are usually very large in size and strongly built. They usually live in nests built on high cliffs or trees; gorgeous creatures. Just so you know, an eagle is not just one bird, there are many species and the third spot goes to every single one of them.

9. LYNX

This is a name you do not frequently hear. There are around four different species of medium-sized wildcats and a lynx can refer to any one of those. The name Lynx originated in Middle English. They belong to the family of Felinae. They usually have short tails and black hair on the tips of their ears. They have a ruff right under the neck. These are the primary characteristics of a lynx. The largest among these species is the Eurasia Lynx.

10. ARCTIC WOLF

These guys are polar wolves or white wolves. They descend from the gray wolf and are mammals that belong to the family of Canidae. They can usually be found in the Canadian Arctic and parts of Alaska. You see a wolf-like creature and its pure white, you know it’s an arctic wolf. They are the only subspecies of wolf that are not threatened and that can be attributed to the fact that they rarely come across human contact.

African Elephant

Elephant

Elephants help maintain forest and savanna ecosystems for other species, and are integrally tied to rich biodiversity.

The largest land mammal on earth, the African elephant weighs up to eight tons. The elephant is distinguished by its massive body, large ears and a long trunk, which has many uses ranging from using it as a hand to pick up objects, as a horn to trumpet warnings, an arm raised in greeting to a hose for drinking water or bathing.

Asian elephants differ in several ways from their African relatives. They are much smaller in size and their ears are straight at the bottom, unlike the large fan-shape ears of the African species. Only some Asian male elephants have tusks. All African elephants, including females, have tusks. Elephants are either left or right-tusked and the one they use more is usually smaller because of wear and tear. The Asian elephant has four toes on the hind foot and five on the forefoot, while the African elephant has three on the hind foot and five on the forefoot.

Led by a matriarch, elephants are organized into complex social structures of females and calves, while male elephants tend to live in isolation. A single calf is born to a female once every 4-5 years and after a gestation period of 22 months—the longest of any mammal. These calves stay with their mothers for years and are also cared for by other females in the group.

The two species of elephants—African and Asian—need extensive land to survive. Roaming in herds and consuming hundreds of pounds of plant matter in a single day, both species of elephant require extensive amounts of food, water and space. As a result, these large mammals place great demands on the environment and often come into conflict with people in competition for resources.

The seeds of many plant species are dependent on passing through an elephant's digestive tract before they can germinate. It is calculated that at least a third of tree species in central African forests rely on elephants in this way for distribution of seeds.

Elephants directly influence forest composition and density, and can alter the broader landscape. In tropical forests, elephants create clearings and gaps in the canopy that encourage tree regeneration. In the savannas, they reduce bush cover to create an environment favorable to a mix of browsing and grazing animals. 

10 Incredibly Adaptive Sahara Desert Animals

10. Jerboa

These adorable little rodents have very long legs and can jump very high. Despite their minuteness, they can run up to 16 miles per hour, making them quite challenging to catch. Amazingly, the jerboa doesn’t have to drink water—quite a useful adaptation for a desert creature. It still needs to take in water of course, like all living things, but it is able to extract enough from its foods to sufficed for its needs.

9. Fennec Fox

These foxes are nocturnal and are characterized by their very large ears. Not only do the ears help them to hear better in the desert, but they also help them to release body heat, keeping them cool. They are small and lightweight, usually weighing only a couple of pounds.

8. Monitor Lizard

This large lizard (generally; some can be quite small) is venomous and can become quite aggressive when threatened, especially during colder seasons. Monitor lizards not only include desert-thriving species in the Sahara, but also species which can live in forests or even wetlands. This makes them some of the most versatile creatures on the planet. They are extremely intelligent and can even count.

7. Ostrich

Not a lot of people think of ostriches when asked to name a desert animal, but ostriches are some of the fastest animals in the Sahara. They are able to run up to 40 miles an hour, almost as fast as the gazelles. They can travel a long ways, and can also pick up noises and see movement across vast distances, helping them spot and avoid predators. When threatened, the ostrich can fight back, kicking with its long legs.

6. Sidewinder

There are a number of species of sidewinder in various deserts around the world. The horned viper is particularly well known in the Sahara. The venom from this snake can be lethal, and also quite painful, even in cases that do not lead to death. The unique sideways movement of the sidewinder helps it to traverse the sands quickly and effectively. Sadly, changes in the environment have caused the horned viper to enter the endangered species list.

5. Death Stalker Scorpion

This type of scorpion is translucent and yellow in appearance, and is among the most venomous animals of the Sahara desert, and the entire world. They look ephemeral and fragile, but they are incredibly dangerous, capable of causing respiratory failure and death.

4. Addax Antelope

Like the gazelle, the Addax antelope is well known for its sleekness and its beauty. They are among the most endangered animals on the planet, with long, elegant horns and flat feet. Sadly they have been hunted to the point where there are only around 500 left. Global warming has also done them no favors. They are however very good at crossing the Sahara sands on their flat feet. They will probably not be able to adapt to human threats and global warming fast enough to survive however, and need our help.

3. The Scarab Beetle

Also known by the less dignifying (but perhaps more descriptive) name “dung beetle," the scarab beetle was a holy symbol to the ancient Egyptians and has some impressive adaptability. Dung beetles make creative use of animal feces. They are able to subsist almost entirely on animal waste. There are several ways that scarabs can make use of the dung they find, depending on how flexible they feel about their living situations. Dung beetles can roll dung until it makes a ball shape and then push it home, or simply dig a new burrow next to a heap of dung to live in. Some dung beetles just burrow into the dung they find and make it into a home, chewing their way out when they get hungry. Nom nom!

2. Dorcas Gazelle

Also known as the Ariel Gazelle, this animal is sleek and graceful, usually weighing around 25 kilograms. Many animals in the Sahara desert prey on gazelles, so the Dorcas gazelle has evolved to avoid them on impulse. When a predator approaches, the gazelle’s highly attuned body will automatically jump. This is known as “stotting." It serves several purposes. Firstly, it gets the gazelle out of immediate danger. Secondly, it demonstrates the gazelle’s speed and reflexes to the predator, discouraging it. Thirdly, it alerts other gazelles that a predator is approaching. If the gazelle is forced to run, it can achieve an astounding 49 miles per hour.

1. Camels

One animal you probably think about when you think about the desert is the Sahara desert camel. Camels store a large amount of fat in the humps on top of their backs (no, not water—that is a myth). The fat can be burned for energy when the camel is unable to locate any food. While most of us are searching for ways to burn off fat and slim up our bodies, camels are actually evolved by nature to carry extra fat around to survive!

The Sahara desert really is quite diverse, and as you can see, some of the most incredible species on the planet make their home there. The conditions may be daunting, but the animals that live there are up for the challenge. Even in difficult conditions, life can prevail, which is really quite inspiring. Next time you’re going through a rough patch, think about the animals of the Sahara and how you can learn from their example.