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

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

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 with having a relatively long […] 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

“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

“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

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

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-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

“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

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 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 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 are […] 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