Mammals Found in North, Central and South America

alpaca noun

a South American animal with a long neck and long hair that is related to the llama

armadillo noun

a small wild animal from hot parts of North and South America whose body is covered with pieces of a hard substance forming a shell

beaver noun

a small North American animal that has a wide flat tail and thick fur. Beavers cut down trees with their teeth and build dams walls across streams.

bobcat noun

a large wild cat that lives in North America

caribou noun

a large brown animal with long thin legs and horns on its head that lives in northern North America

chinchilla noun

a small South American animal with soft grey fur

cougar noun

a large wild cat that lives in mountain areas of North and South America

coyote noun

a small wild dog that lives in North America

coypu noun

an animal with fur used for making clothing, that lives mainly in South America

gopher noun

a small furry animal mainly found in North and Central America. It has a short tail and lives in holes that it digs in the ground.

grizzly bear noun

a very large bear with brown fur that lives in the mountains of the north-western US

groundhog noun

a small furry animal with short legs that is found in North America and lives in holes in the ground

jackrabbit noun

a wild animal like a large rabbit that lives in open areas of the US

llama noun

a large South American animal with a long neck and a thick coat, used for wool, meat, and carrying things

mountain goat noun

a type of goat that lives in the mountains of western North America

mountain lion noun

a large wild cat with light brown fur that lives in the mountains of western America

muskrat noun

a North American animal hunted for its thick brown fur

pack rat noun

a small North American animal similar to a mouse that collects small objects

prairie dog noun

a small brown animal that lives in holes in the ground on the prairies of North America

puma noun

a large brown-grey wild cat that lives in the mountain areas of North and South America

raccoon noun

a small animal with a black and white face and a long tail that lives mainly in North and Central America

Racoon

another spelling of raccoon

skunk noun

a small black and white North American animal with a long thick tail. It produces a bad smell when it is threatened.

sloth noun

an animal that lives in trees and moves very slowly. It lives in South and Central America.

snapping turtle noun

a small animal with powerful jaws and a hard shell covering its back that lives in lakes in Northern and Central America

vicuna noun

a South American animal similar to a llama

wapiti noun

an elk large type of deer that lives in North America

woodchuck noun

a groundhog

 

General Animal Types  

adult noun

a completely grown animal

amphibian noun

biology an animal such as a frog or toad that lives mainly on land, but produces its eggs and develops into its adult form in water

animal noun

biology any living thing that can move independently and that has senses for recognizing and reacting to the environment around it. Animals are divided into two groups, vertebrates and invertebrates

arachnid noun

biology a member of a type of animal called arthropods that have four pairs of legs. Spiders and scorpions are arachnids.

arthropod noun

biology a type of animal that has jointed legs, a body divided into several parts, and a skeleton on the outside. Insects are arthropods.

bear noun

used in the name of some animals that are similar to bears

beast noun

mainly literary an animal, especially a dangerous or strange one

beast of burden noun

old-fashioned an animal that is used for carrying heavy things, for example a donkey or a camel

big game noun

large wild animals such as lions that people hunt as a sport

biped noun

biology an animal that walks on two legs

bird noun

an animal covered in feathers, with two wings for flying and a hard pointed mouth called a beak or a bill. Birds build nests, in which female birds lay eggs.

breed noun

a group of animals that have particular characteristics that make them different from others of the same species. The characteristics have often been produced in a controlled way by mating particular animals.

brute noun

a big strong animal

brute noun

an animal that you do not like or that frightens you

clone noun

biology an exact copy of an animal or plant created in a laboratory from the animal’s or plant’s dna

companion animal noun

an animal that someone keeps for company and enjoyment. The more usual word is ‘pet’.

cross noun

an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds

crossbreed noun

biology an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds

crustacean noun

biology a sea animal such as a crab or a lobster with a hard shell and several pairs of legs

endangered species noun

a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct disappear from the world

flyer noun

a bird, insect, or animal that flies in a particular way

fowl noun

an old word for ‘bird’

game noun

wild animals, birds, and fish that people hunt, usually for food

gastropod noun

a mollusc such as a snail that moves by using one large flat foot

grey noun

an animal that is grey in colour, especially a horse or a cat

hermaphrodite noun

biology a person, animal, or plant that has both male and female sex organs

hominid noun

a human, or an ancient creature from which humans developed

insect noun

a small animal that has six legs and often has wings There are many different types of insects, such as bees, flies, and beetles.

invertebrate noun

biology a small animal without a backbone, for example an insect or a worm

jumper noun

a person or animal that jumps

mammal noun

biology an animal that is born from its mother’s body, not from an egg, and drinks its mother’s milk as a baby Humans, dogs, and cows are all mammals.

marsupial noun

biology an animal whose babies live in a pocket in the mother’s skin on the outside of her stomach until they are completely developed

migrant noun

a bird or animal that travels to a different part of the world for warmer weather at a particular time of the year

mollusc noun

biology an animal that has a soft body with no bones and is usually covered by a hard shell, for example a snail or an octopus

Mollusk

the American spelling of mollusc

mutant noun

biology a plant or animal that is different from others of its type as a result of a change in its genes

pachyderm noun

a large animal with thick skin, for example an elephant or a rhinoceros

pack animal noun

an animal such as a horse or donkey that is used for carrying heavy loads

parasite noun

biology a plant or animal that lives in or on another type of animal and feeds on it

parent noun

an animal or plant that produces a new animal or plant

pedigree noun

an animal whose parents, grandparents etc were all of the same breed type

pest noun

an insect or small animal that damages plants or supplies of food

pet noun

an animal or bird that you keep in your home and look after

pet noun

kept as a pet or relating to pets

polymorph noun

science an animal or plant that has different forms at different stages of its development

prey noun

an animal that is caught by another animal and eaten

primate noun

biology an animal belonging to the same group as humans, which includes monkeys and apes

quadruped noun

biology an animal that walks on four legs

reptile noun

biology a type of cold-blooded animal that gives birth to young animals as eggs and whose body is covered in scales flat hard pieces of skin. Snakes and crocodiles are reptiles.

rodent noun

a type of small animal that has long sharp front teeth, for example a mouse

runt noun

the smallest and weakest animal of a litter a group born at the same time

serpent noun

literary a snake, especially a large one

snake noun

a long thin animal with no legs and a smooth skin. Some snakes have a poisonous bite that can kill.

sport noun

science a plant or animal that is different in a noticeable way from other plants or animals of the same type

strain noun

a particular type of animal, insect, or plant

stray noun

a pet that is lost or has left its home

stuffed animal noun

American a dead animal that has been stuffed

vector noun

biology an insect or other small animal that carries diseases between larger animals and humans, but is not itself harmed by the disease

vermin noun

small animals or insects that cause damage or disease

vertebrate noun

biology an animal with a backbone, for example a mammal, a bird, or a fish

anthropoid noun

purebred noun

Freak of nature

an animal or plant that develops physical features that are not normal for its type

Our feathered friends

humorous birds

 

Wild Cats  

alley cat noun

a cat that lives in the streets of a town and is not looked after by anyone

big cat noun

a large wild cat such as a lion or a tiger

bobcat noun

a large wild cat that lives in North America

cat noun

a wild animal that looks like a large cat, for example a lion or tiger

cougar noun

a large wild cat that lives in mountain areas of North and South America

feline noun

biology a cat or other member of the cat family

jaguar noun

a large wild cat with yellow fur and black spots that lives mainly in the western US and in Central and South America

leopard noun

a large wild animal from Africa and Southern Asia that has golden fur with black spots

lynx noun

a wild cat that has a short tail, long hair on the ends of its ears, and dark spots

mountain lion noun

a large wild cat with light brown fur that lives in the mountains of western America

ocelot noun

an American wild cat that has yellow-brown fur with black spots

panther noun

a leopard with black fur

Persian cat noun

a cat with long soft hair and a flat face

puma noun

a large brown-grey wild cat that lives in the mountain areas of North and South America

tiger noun

a large Asian wild animal that has yellowish fur with black lines and is a member of the cat family. The female tiger can be called a tiger or tigress. A young tiger is called a tiger cub.

wild cat noun

a wild animal that is similar to a pet cat but larger

wild cat noun

any member of the cat family that lives in natural conditions, rather than with people

 

The Young of Animals

baby noun

a very young animal

brood noun

a group of young birds who all have the same mother and were born at the same time

bullock noun

a young male cow that has been castrated had part of its sex organs removed

calf noun

a young cow. Its meat is called veal.

calf noun

a young animal such as a young elephant, whale, or giraffe

chick noun

a baby bird

colt noun

a young male horse

cub noun

a young bear, lion, fox, wolf, or other wild animal

fawn noun

a young deer

filly noun

a young female horse

foal noun

a young horse, or a young donkey or mule

heifer noun

a young cow that has not given birth to a calf

joey noun

a young kangaroo, wallaby, or possum

juvenile noun

science a young animal or plant

kid noun

a young goat

kitten noun

a young cat

lamb noun

a young sheep

litter noun

a group of baby cats, dogs, or other animals that are born at the same time

nestling noun

a baby bird that has not learned to fly

offspring noun

the baby or babies of an animal

piglet noun

a young pig

porker noun

a young pig that has been made fat so that it can be eaten as pork

progeny noun

very formal the young animals or plants produced by a particular parent

pullet noun

a chicken that is less than a year old

pup noun

a very young dog

pup noun

a very young canine an animal in the same group as dogs

pup noun

a very young seal an animal that lives near the sea or similar animal

puppy noun

a very young dog

puppy noun

a very young canine an animal in the same group as dogs

steer noun

a young male cow that has had its sex organs removed

suckling noun

mainly literary a baby or young animal that still drinks milk from its mother

suckling pig noun

a young pig that still drinks milk from its mother, and is sometimes cooked as a special meal

whelp noun

an old word meaning a very young animal, such as a young dog, bear,or wolf, that is still being fed by its mother

yearling noun  - a young cow, deer, or horse that is between one and two years old

young noun -   a group of young animals who belong to the same family