Animals that Start with O

Oak toads are the smallest of the toad species in North America, easily identified by a mid-dorsal, light stripe with variable black and brown spots. They have proportionally large parotoid glands. Most toads have that distinctive round vocal sound. The calling oak toad male has an elongated vocal sac. It extends significantly as they produce […] Read More

The Giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest bony fish in the world. They are found in the depths of the Mediterranean sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean and have a ribbon-like appearance. Oarfish are members of the Refalecidae family and are also known as the King of […] Read More

Unlike most sharks, the oceanic whitetip shark is known for being opportunistic and aggressive. The oceanic whitetip shark is a critically endangered species that inhabit tropical waters. They have white tips on their fins, hence the species’ name. 5 Oceanic Whitetip Shark Facts Aggressive: Unlike most sharks, many experts consider this species aggressive. As opportunistic […] Read More

“Its specific name, ocellata, refers to the spots, or ocelli, on their tail feathers.” Summary The ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula and parts of Belize and Guatemala. These birds are somewhat elusive and hard to catch, but they are noisy with distinctive gobbles. They live in tropical and evergreen forests, […] Read More

Ocelot Classification and Evolution The Ocelot is a medium-sized small cat that is native to the jungles of South America. The Ocelot is also known as the Painted Leopard due to the beautifully distinctive markings on its fur as it displays dark rosettes, along with spots and stripes. Similar in colouration to the much smaller […] Read More

The octopus holds the distinction of being the most intelligent of all invertebrate animals. With the highest brain-to-body-mass ratios of all invertebrates – higher even than those of some vertebrates – the octopus is regarded as the smartest of all invertebrate animals. These cephalopods are intelligent enough to engage in deceitful activities, including pretending to […] Read More

The Oenpelli python is a long, thin snake that reaches 16 feet and can change color. This species lives in a tiny region in Northern Territory, Australia. It is one of the rarest python species in the world. Amazing Facts About Oenpelli Pythons Oenpelli pythons change color. During the day they tend to be lighter […] Read More

Okapi is a kosher animal. Okapi Classification and Evolution The Okapi is an elusive, herbivorous animal that is found in a small pocket of tropical mountain forest in central Africa. Despite its Deer-like appearance the Okapi is actually one of the last remaining ancestors of the Giraffe, which is the tallest animal on Earth. Along […] Read More

With its big shaggy coat, obscured eyes, and white and gray color scheme, the Old English Sheepdog is one of the most recognizable breeds in the world. Its very appearance seems to radiate friendly and approachable energy. This breed originated at some point in the 19th century from the region of Cornwall in southwestern England […] Read More

These beetles are known as pests because of their harmful ability to destroy wood. Older house borers are second only to termites in terms of the damage they cause. However, despite its name, the old house borer prefers newer wood. This is because fresher wood has a higher resin content. These beetles were first identified […] Read More

The oleander hawk moth (Daphnis nerii) belongs to the hawk moth family. They’re most active at twilight. Due to their stunning appearance, Daphnis nerii is sought by naturalists, lepidopterists, and photographers. The larva of the oleander hawk moth is sometimes a pest, as it feeds on some plants such as the oleander plant (hence the […] Read More

“The olive baboon forms one of the most complex social structures in the animal kingdom.” This baboon is a type of old-world monkey (a monkey species from the Eastern Hemisphere) that roams across various habitats of Africa. They have numerous adaptations to help them survive and thrive in different environmental conditions. In this article, you […] Read More

The olive python is Australia’s third longest snake; only the Oenpelli python and amethystine python are longer. This very long but relatively docile snake is sometimes killed because people confuse it with the venomous king brown snake (Pseudechis australis). It is long and strong, and the adults often reach 13 feet long. The Pilbara olive […] Read More

“Olive sea snakes can stay underwater for two hours without taking a breath” The olive sea snake is sometimes called the golden sea snake or the olive-brown sea snake because of its coloration. It can grow up to six feet long and weigh up to six and a half pounds. It has a venomous bite […] Read More

“The longest-lived amphibian, the olm can live to be 100 years old!” One of the most fascinating creatures in a world full of fascinating creatures, the olm, like its distant relative the axolotl is a completely aquatic salamander, with gills and tailfins. It is born, lives its long lifespan, and eventually dies in the water. […] Read More

The Onagadori chicken of Japan has the longest tail in the world, with feathers growing up to 27 feet in length! The ornamental Onagadori chicken originated centuries ago in the Kochi Prefecture in Japan. These extremely long-tailed chickens were bred to preserve a mutation which prevented tail feathers from molting. This mutation allowed the birds […] Read More

One of the things studying earth’s ancient fossils has revealed is that the planet had some pretty odd creatures millions of years ago. Opabinia is one of such strange-looking creatures that swam the earth’s oceans 500 million years ago. Unearthed from Canada’s Burgess Shale, this ancient arthropod had an odd appearance; it looked like something […] Read More

The opah is a large, colorful fish that makes a prize catch and a tasty meal. Opah are a family of large, circular fish that live mostly in tropical waters. They are brightly colored with red-orange fins and silvery bodies. They can grow up to 6 feet, making them a great catch for fishermen who […] Read More

Opossums hold the distinction of being the only marsupial that lives in the United States and Canada! Throughout much of United States history, opossums were animals that were widely hunted and consumed by people. Although this remains true in some areas of the southern U.S., these savvy marsupials are now better known as pests due […] Read More

Summary The Oranda goldfish is a fascinating breed of goldfish from the Carp family that was developed in the aquarium trade industry and originated from China and Japan. The Oranda is a type of ornamental goldfish that is known for its wen- which resembles a large jelly-like growth on their heads. This type of goldfish […] Read More

Orang-utan Classification and Evolution The Orang-utan is one of the largest primates in the world and is the only member of the Great Ape family that is found outside of Africa. There are three species of Orang-utan found in the steamy jungles on the islands Borneo and Sumatra which are the Bornean Orang-utan, the Sumatran […] Read More

The orange baboon tarantula is both orange and ornery. The orange baboon tarantula (OBT) is covered in bright orange bristles. Their faces resemble furry, orange baboons. OBT’s, as they are sometimes referred to, are known to have an ornery disposition and can act aggressively. They can grow to be similar in size to the Mexican […] Read More

The orange dream ball python is a popular color morph that started as a mutation. These snakes have bright orange instead of brown markings with a white belly. One of hundreds of color mutations in ball pythons, orange dream combines with others to create bright and beautiful color patterns. Orange Dream Ball Python Facts The […] Read More

“It lives in the lowlands of the Amazon rainforest.” Summary The orange tanager (orange-headed tanager) is a small bird native to the neotropical region of South America. It spends its days foraging in trees and shrubs for insects, often with a small group. Though relatively uncommon, they have an extensive range and learn to adapt […] Read More

The orange-crowned warbler is a unique songbird who primarily lives in the western hemisphere. This bird has a high-pitched trill for a song, and males even have different songs to differentiate them from each other. Both parents take care of the young, though only the mother incubates the eggs for just under 2 weeks. Orange-Crowned […] Read More

The Orb Weaver is a spider commonly found outside homes, in hedges, tall grasses, and trees. They are a helpful predator who feeds off the pest bugs we don’t like, such as mosquitoes, beetles and other bothersome flying insects. They build elaborate, circular webs and are most often seen in late summer and early fall. […] Read More

“They are easy-going birds who show little aggression toward other bird species.” Summary The orchard oriole (Icterus spurius) is a small passerine bird native to North and South America, inhabiting orchards and woodland edges. These social birds are easy-going and show little aggression, often joining mixed-species groups. Listen for the male’s rapid musical songs during […] Read More

The ori-pei is a hybrid mix breed of purebred parents, namely the Chinese shar-pei and pug. The ori-pei originated in North America in the year 1970. A Chinese shar-pei breeder, Aaron Silver, grew very fond of the shar-pei breed but disapproved of their health issues. At that time, he decided to create a hybrid breed […] Read More

Unlike other cockroach species that live indoors living off humans, oriental cockroaches are outdoor scavengers.  Summary The Oriental cockroach is a large, shiny cockroach with a dark brown or almost black color. Like other cockroach species, oriental cockroaches are scavengers. However, they live in outdoor habitats rather than indoors. Oriental cockroaches are also called water […] Read More

“They like to live near forest streams and ponds with plenty of canopy shade.” Summary The oriental dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca), also known as the black-backed kingfisher, is a tiny bird only slightly bigger than a hummingbird. They live in southeast Asia, where they inhabit evergreen and deciduous forests near streams and ponds. They stay […] Read More

Description & Size of the Ornithomimus Ornithomimus is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaur, and its name translates from Greek to mean “bird mimic.” As you imagine what you think of a dinosaur, you’ll be surprised to find that the Ornithomimus looks nothing like it. Compared to other dinosaurs, the Ornithomimus was a medium-sized animal. When […] Read More

“The Ortolan Bunting is The Little Bird That is Forbidden Food” Of all the weird gastronomic traditions humans indulge in, eating this inoffensive little bird is one of the weirdest and frankly, one of the cruelest. Yet it is a rite of passage for the well-heeled, as can be seen in TV shows such as […] Read More

“An Intelligent and companionable fish.” People who own Oscar fish might have bought one or two for their beautiful colors, but soon they’re surprised to see that the fish has a personality. They’ll notice their pet Oscar seems to be watching them as they go about their business. They may even believe that their Oscar […] Read More

“Their wings make an “M” shape when seen from below.” Summary The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large raptor inhabiting every continent except Antarctica. They live near bodies of water abundant with fish, such as coastal estuaries and salt marshes. Look for them soaring above the water and diving feet first to catch their prey […] Read More

The ostrich is among the largest types of birds in the world. The ostrich bird looks like an unusual chimera cooked up in a lab. When writing about the ostrich, the Greek philosopher Aristotle did not know whether to classify it as a bird or a mammal. But in fact, the ostrich belongs to that […] Read More

“Giant otters are notorious chatterboxes“ Just like many people, there are giant otters that are considered chatterboxes for their species. Though they can’t form words, they have a vocabulary that consists of 22 recognizable noises. Each noise is used to address a different type of situation. This is how giant otters effectively communicate with each […] Read More

Otterhounds have webbed feet and are expert swimmers! The history of this shaggy dog dates all the way back to 14th century England. These dogs were bred to hunt otters and remove them from streams and lakes. This is so otters couldn’t steal the fish away from fishermen in the area. Bloodhounds and French hounds […] Read More

The ovenbird is named for its unusual nest, which is shaped like an oven! The ovenbird is kind of punk rock. It wears a jacket of olive feathers and has an orange mohawk-like stripe down the middle of its crown, lined on either side in black. When it gets agitated it can raise this stripe […] Read More

The Oviraptor is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur. The name is Latin for “egg thief,” which is what scientists originally believed it to be. However, additional research suggests that the parents of this species were quite protective, protecting a nest instead of attacking it as food. Oviraptors ruled in big numbers during the late Cretaceous […] Read More

Owls are exceptional hunters that can spot potential prey from up to half a mile away. The owls are a diverse group of animals that belong to their own separate order. There are more than 200 recognized species all around the world. With their highly developed binocular vision and accurate flying abilities, they have several […] Read More

“The ox is the heavy-duty machinery of the animal world.” This ox animal, for the most part, is a domesticated animal. As huge mammals, these creatures once moved in herds. Considered cattle, they transverses North America, India, Asia, Australia, and Africa. While there is the rare wild bull animal, in most of their habitats, oxen […] Read More

The oxpecker, known as the rhino’s guard, alerts its host to danger with a loud commotion! The oxpecker is a native of sub-Saharan Africa that spends most of its life on the backs of its hosts. It feeds on ticks, larvae and other parasites that infest large mammals like the black rhinoceros, African buffalo, hippopotamus […] Read More

Oysters make up a family of a large number of salt-water bivalve mollusks. Oysters are marine animals that are often found in brackish habitats. They are very irregular in shape and the valves of some are highly calcified. They belong to the phylum Mollusca. Oysters are animals that eat algae and other food particles that […] Read More

“The oyster toadfish is also known as the ugly toad.” The oyster toadfish is a strange-looking (some may even say ugly) fish that makes its home in the secluded holes and hiding spots along the shore of the eastern United States. The bumpy skin, long mouth, and bulging eyes have earned it very appropriate comparisons […] Read More

“Ozark bass only inhabit the tributaries of White River, and very little is known about them.” Summary Native to White River tributaries in Arkansas and Missouri, Ozark bass populations do not reach far. The fish species is unique in that they cannot be found anywhere else in the United States. Their concentrated population has not […] Read More