Least Concern Animals

Least Concern is an animal classification established by the International Union for the Conservation. Species classified as “least concern” are not a focus of conservationists because they don’t appear to be facing any imminent threats. The IUCN will not add species to the Least Concern list unless scientists have evaluated them. Additionally, LC animals are not red-listed, but they still have a category.

Currently, 14,033 species of animals are on the Least Concern list.

Least Concern Species

Aardvark

Can move 2ft of soil in just 15 seconds!

Adelie Penguin

Eats up to 2kg of food per day!

African Bullfrog

The African bullfrog is one of only three species of frog that have “teeth.”

African Civet

Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!

African Clawed Frog

A particularly ferocious amphibian!

African Palm Civet

Solitary but gathers in groups!

African Tree Toad

Found in tropical moist lowland forests!

Alligator

They have two sets of eyelids!

Alligator Gar

The alligator gar has toxic eggs to protect against predators

Alpaca

They can spit up to 10 feet.

Alpine Goat

Alpine goats are the most common type of goat used for milk, cheese, and other dairy products

American Robin

The color “Robin egg blue” is named after the hue of their eggs.

American Toad

They secrete a milky poisonous liquid that can make many animals sick.

Anglerfish

The anglerfish has a glowing lure on its head to attract unsuspecting prey

Angora Goat

Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antarctic scale worm

Similar in length to a rat or squirrel

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Arctic Fox

Extremely thick winter fur!

Arctic Hare

Eats berries found in the snow!

Arctic Wolf

Incredibly versatile and adaptive!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Australian Gecko

Geckos have 100 teeth and continually replace them.

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Baboon

Can travel more than four miles a day!

Banana Spider

People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.

Barb

There are over 2,000 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Barnacle

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Barracuda

Can grow to nearly 2 meters long!

Barramundi Fish

Scale rings indicate age

Barred Owl

Like other owls, the barred owl swallows its prey whole.

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bea-Tzu

The Bea-Tzu has a fast-growing coat

Beabull

An excellent companion for cats!

Bearded Dragon

Can grow to up 24 inches long!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn rams can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour when fighting for dominance.

Bird Of Paradise

There are around 50 different species!

Black Wasp

The great black wasp is a species of digger wasp.

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Blister Beetle

Blister Beetles are attracted to lights at night.

Blue grosbeak

Blue grosbeak parents take off the head, legs and wings of an insect before feeding it to their baby.

Blue Jay

Blue jays rub ants on their feather to remove harmful acids

Blue-Ringed Octopus

The blue-ringed octopus produces some of the deadliest poison in the world

Bobcat

About double the size of a domestic cat!

Bonito Fish

May eat squid or other small invertebrate ocean life

Bonnethead Shark

Bonnetheads are the only hammerhead sharks that use their pectoral fins to swim.

Booby

Seabirds found across the South Pacific!

Bottlenose Dolphin

Stays in groups from 15 to 2,000 in number!'

Bowfin

The bowfin is a primitive fish that first evolved in the Jurassic

Bowhead Whale

Bowhead Whales can make hundreds of distinct songs they use to communicate with one another.

Budgerigar

Natively found in Australia!

Buffalo

Has no real natural predators!

Bull Shark

Unpredictable and aggressive temperament!

Bullfrog

Has loud cow-like calls!

Burrowing Frog

Found close to marshes, streams and lakes!

Bush Baby

In a series of leaps, this creature can cover almost 30 feet of distance in just a few seconds.

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Caiman

Can grow to up 6 meters long!

Caiman Lizard

Caiman lizards are among the largest lizards.

Camel

Can survive without water for 10 months!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Camel Spider

Fast, carnivorous arachnid with a painful bite.

Canada Lynx

They have natural snowshoes

Capybara

Excellent at both diving and swimming

Caracal

Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!

Carp

The carp is one of the most popular pond fishes in the world

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cashmere Goat

Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan

Cassowary

Can reach speeds of 30mph!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chamois

Natively found in the European mountains!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Chimaera

Also called ghost shark

Chinese Geese

They are excellent “guard geese”

Chinstrap Penguin

There are 7 million breeding pairs!

Chipmunk

There are 25 different species!

Christmas Island Red Crab

During the breeding season, roads can dangerous for cars as well as the crab. Their shells are so hard they can puncture tires.

Cichlid

There are more than 2 000 known species!

Clownfish

Also known as the anemonefish!

Coati

Found in dense forests and wet jungles!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Collared Peccary

Form bands of up to 12 individuals!

Colossal Squid

Can survive eating a single fish for months

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Frog

Found throughout the European continent!

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Loon

Also known as the Great Northern Diver

Common Raven

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Common Toad

Most active in wet weather!

Cookiecutter Shark

The cookiecutter shark takes its name because it leaves a cookie-shaped bite hole in its prey.

Cooper’s Hawk

Eyes change color as they age

Cougar

Largest feline in North America

Coyote

Also known as the Prairie Wolf!

Crab-Eating Macaque

Found throughout the South-East Asian jungles!

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crabeater Seal

The crabeater seal doesn’t actually eat crab at all, but instead krill

Crappie Fish

The crappie is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America.

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Desert Locust

Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.

Dik-Dik

A dik-dik is named after a sound it makes when it is frightened

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Doxle

Doxles have long floppy ears

Draco volans

Beneath the lizard’s “wings” are a pair of enlarged ribs for support.

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eastern Bluebird

Bluebirds drop straight down on their prey from their perch, much like leopards.

Eastern Fence Lizard

Females are usually larger than males.

Eastern Phoebe

This passerine bird can sing its song without ever hearing another bird vocalize first.

Echidna

Also known as the Spiny Anteater!

Edible Frog

Are known to guard the muddy banks!

Electric Eel

Despite its powerful shock, electric eels have terrible vision.

Elephant Seal

The largest species of seal in the world!

Elephant Shrew

Found exclusively on the African continent!

Elk

Adult males can jump eight feet vertically

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest species of penguin!

Emperor Tamarin

Has an elegant white moustache!

Emu

The largest bird in Australia!

Ermine

A very bold and ferocious predator!

Fallow deer

The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Fangtooth

Has the largest teeth compared to body size of any known fish

Fennec Fox

Found in the African Sahara Desert!

Ferruginous Hawk

The ferruginous hawk comes in both light and dark morphs

Fiddler Crab

The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fire salamander

Its name comes from the fact that people once believed it was born in fire

Fish

Respire through the gills on their heads!

Fisher Cat

The fisher is an agile climber and makes its home in tree hollows

Flamingo

Sleeps on just one leg!

Florida Gar

The Florida gar has toxic eggs to protect against predators

Flounder

A flat fish found in the Atlantic and Pacific!

Fluke Fish (summer flounder)

The chameleon of the seas!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Fish

Can glide in the air for hundreds of feet

Flying Lemur

The second pair of upper incisors in a flying lemur has a double root, which is unique for mammals.

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Frigatebird

Found inhabiting tropical islands and coasts!

Frilled Lizard

Mainly lives in the trees!

Frilled Shark

Frilled Sharks got their name from the six rows of gills on their throat that look like ruffled collars.

Frogfish

The frogfish can change colors, but it takes several weeks to do so

Fruit Bat

Among the largest bats in the world

Gar

Can grow to more than 3m long!

Garden Eel

Garden eel colonies are made up of hundreds to thousands of individuals.

Genet

The Genet has retractable claws like a cat

Geoffroys Tamarin

Has distinctive V shape on head!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

Ghost Crab

Their eyestalks, which are sometimes horned, can swivel 360 degrees

Giant African Land Snail

The biggest snail species on land!

Giant Salamander

Cryptobranchus giant salamanders breathe mostly through their skin.

Glass Frog

You can see their internal organs.

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Goblin Shark

Goblin Sharks are called a living fossil because their family, Mitsukurinidae, can be traced back 125 million years.

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Grasshopper Mouse

The grasshopper mice attack predators using the poison of their venom.

Gray Fox

The gray fox has retractable claws and a rotating wrist that allow it to climb trees with some proficiency

Gray Tree Frog

Survives freezing temperatures by producing glycerol and maintaining slower metabolic processes

Great Blue Heron

Their wingspan is larger than an eagle’s; both males and females help hatch the eggs; rich in symbolism

Green Anole

It communicates with head movements, color and dewlap

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Green Frog

Green frogs will eat any animal that they can fit in their mouth.

Green Tree Frog

Green tree frogs breathe through their skin

Grey Mouse Lemur

The largest species of mouse lemur!

Groundhog (Woodchuck)

They whistle to each other to warn of approaching danger!

Grouse

Feathered legs and toes!

Guinea Fowl

Found in a vairety of African habitats!

Guinea Pig

Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!

Guppy

Also known as the Millionfish!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Harbor Seal

Harbor seals can dive as deep as 1400 feet

Hardhead Catfish

The hardhead catfish has a sharp spine near its fin to inject venom

Harp Seal

The harp seal can migrate up to 3,000 miles every year

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Highland Cattle

Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!

Hoary Bat

The hoary bat travels hundreds of miles south for the winter

Honey Badger

One of earth's bravest creatures!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Hornbill

The bird has a massive horn on its bill!

Horned Frog

Natively found in South America!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

House Finch

The house finch can become redder depending on what it eats

House wren

The wren’s epithet, aedon, comes from a Greek queen who accidentally killed her only son. She was actually aiming for her nephew, and Zeus took pity on her and turned her into a nightingale.

Howler Monkey

Spends 80% of it's time resting!

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Humpback Whale

There are thought to be 80,000 left in the wild!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Impala

Able to jump over 10 feet high

Imperial Moth

Since the imperial moth doesn’t eat, it does die shortly after it lays its eggs. Its lifespan is only about one week.

Indian Giant Squirrel

Indian giant squirrels use their large tail to help them balance.

Indian Palm Squirrel

Natively found in parts of India and Sri Lanka!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jackal

Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Jackson’s Chameleon

Have jousting battles with their horns.

Jaguarundi Cat

These cats are expert swimmers.

Japanese Beetle

Can clear an entire fruit tree in 15 minutes in a swarm

Japanese Squirrel

The Japanese squirrel hoards its food for the winter

Jellyfish

Have tentacles around their mouths!

Jerboa

Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!

Keel-Billed Toucan

It's beak can reach nearly 20 cm long!

King Penguin

More than 2 million breeding pairs!

Kinkajou

The kinkajou is a nimble forest-dwelling mammal of Central and South America.

Koala

Spends up to 80% of the time sleeping or resting!

Kookaburra

The laughing kookaburra is one of four kookaburra species.

Kudu

Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!

Lamprey

Not related to the eel

Lemur

Natively found on the island of Madagascar!

Leopard Cat

There are 11 different species!

Leopard Frog

They can jump up to three feet

Lionfish

Females can release up to 15,000 eggs at a time!

Little Penguin

The smallest species of penguin!

Llama

Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!

Loach

Have sharp spines below their eyes

Lobster

Have been known to reach 100 years old!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Longnose Gar

The longnose gar species of the gar family has potentially existed for 100 million years.

Lorikeet

The lorikeet has a long brush-like tongue with fine hairs on it

Lungfish

The lungfish first evolved almost 400 million years ago.

Lynx

Live in dens in rocks and under ledges!

Mallard

With an appropriate tail wind, the mallard can travel hundreds of miles a day

Marble Fox

The marble fox is not a naturally occurring variant; it was created through artificial selection.

Marine Toad

Produces a toxin used in arrow darts!

Marmot

A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Masked Palm Civet

Found throughout Asia, India and China!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Meerkat

One will stand on guard to watch for predators!

Megamouth Shark

Swims with its mouth open to capture prey

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

Some colonies have millions of bats

Mexican Mole Lizard

They can break off part of their tail, but it will not grow back.

Milkfish

Females lay up to 5 million eggs at one time in warm, shallow and salty waters

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole Cricket

Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moose

Renews it's enormous antlers every year!

Moray Eel

Can grow to nearly 2 meters in length!

Mountain Bluebird

Depending on the time of the year, the mountain bird can live as far north as Alaska.

Mountain Lion

Has no real natural predators!

Mourning Dove

It is almost always the male who makes the famous sad sound, which is a wooing call

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mudpuppy

Mudpuppies never leave their larval stage. This is called neoteny.

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muntjac

The muntjac is the smallest type of deer in the world

Muskox

Muskox have several physical characteristics that allow them to survive in the Arctic climate.

Muskrat

The muskrat can stay underwater up to 17 minutes at a time

Myna Bird

For a nice price, the mynah bird makes a good pet.

Naked Mole Rat

Naked mole rats don’t get cancer

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

Nile Crocodile

When a female Nile crocodile’s hatchlings are in danger, she may hide them in a special pouch inside her throat.

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

North American Black Bear

Short claws make them good tree climbers!

Northern Alligator Lizard

Unlike other lizards, these give livebirth to their young

Northern Cardinal

Males are a bright red color, also called "cardinal red"

Ocelot

Also known as the Painted Leopard!

Octopus

There are around 300 different species!

Opossum

Thought to be immune to certain snake venom!

Ostrich

The largest bird in the world!

Oyster

Can process up to 10 litres of water an hour!

Painted Turtle

Male painted turtles have longer nails.

Parakeet

Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.

Parrotlet

Parrotlets aren't the world's tiniest parrot — that would be the pygmy parrot of Australasia.

Patas Monkey

The fastest species of primate in the world!

Peacock

Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!

Peacock Butterfly

The eyespots on this butterfly’s wings deter predators from attacking.

Pelican

Can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters!

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pike Fish

Apex freshwater predators with fearsome teeth!

Pileated Woodpecker

Pairs establish territories and remain all year

Pine Marten

A pine marten can jump from tree to tree similar to a squirrel.

Piranha

Generally found in fast-flowing streams!

Polyphemus moth

The Polyphemus moth doesn’t eat.

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Pool Frog

The rarest amphibian in the UK!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Porpoise

Surprisingly, not a dolphin!

Possum

There are 69 species on the Australian continent!

Prairie Dog

Prairie dog “towns” can consists of hundreds of individuals

Prawn

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Pronghorn

While pronghorns are the fastest runner of any Western Hemisphere land animal, they are not good jumpers.

Pufferfish

The second most poisonous creature in the world!

Puffin

Can remain in the water for up to 2 minutes!

Puma

Has longer back legs than front legs!

Purple Finch

The intensity of the plumage can change based on what the bird eats

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Raccoon

Known to wash their food before eating it!

Raccoon Dog

The only hibernating canine!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rattlesnake

It's venom digests it's prey before it even swallows it!

Red Finch

Red finches can form flocks of over 100 birds.

Red-handed Tamarin

Red hair on hands on feet!

Red Squirrel

The red squirrel has one of the most impressive memories in the entire animal kingdom

Red-winged blackbird

The male red-winged blackbird can sing to attract mates

Redback Spider

The redback spiders found in New Caledonia differ from other populations in that they don’t practice sexual cannibalism and don’t bite people as much.

Reindeer

Also known as the Caribou

Rock Crab

Males will fight each other to get to females.

Rock Hyrax

Actually related to Elephants and Manatees!

Rockhopper Penguin

There are 3 different species!

Roe Deer

The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted grosbeaks are closely related to cardinals

Roseate Spoonbill

The only Spoonbill in the western hemisphere!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbirds can beat their wings more than 50 times per second.

Saanen Goat

The saanen goat is the most popular milk breed.

Sable

Their fur has been considered a luxury item since the Middle Ages

Salmon

Returns upstream every year to spawn

Salmon Shark

Salmon sharks are related to Great Whites.

Sardines

Schools of sardines can be miles long and are often visible from an airplane

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko

They are called “phants” or “satanics” in the pet trade.

Scarlet Macaw

Like many parrots, the scarlet macaw is capable of vocal mimicry.

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Anemone

Creatures have characteristics of both animal and plant

Sea Slug

All sea slugs have both male and female sex organs

Senegal Parrot

As a pet, the Senegal parrot is capable of "talking" to its owner

Serval

Can leap more than 1 meter into the air!

Sharp-Tailed Snake

This snake uses its sharp tail to steady itself when capturing prey.

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Siamese Fighting Fish

Can live in low-oxygen environments!

Silkie Chicken

Silkie hens are excellent mothers and will tid-bit food with her young. This means she goes over to the food or treats, has a bite, then calls the chick over to her to share. Silkie hens will raise any bird as their own and have been known to patiently sit on a clutch of duck or geese eggs until they hatch.