The cheetah is the fastest land animal. It can reach speeds up to 70 mph (113 km/h) in short bursts covering about 1,500 feet (460 meters). Cheetahs have specialized adaptations: a flexible spine, large nostrils, and non-retractable claws for traction. What is the fastest land animal?

The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth. It can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and weigh up to 200 tons (400,000 pounds). Its heart is the size of a small car, and its tongue weighs as much as an elephant. What is the largest animal on Earth?

The giraffe is the tallest land animal. Males can reach up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall. Their long necks (about 6 feet / 1.8 meters) allow them to eat leaves from tall trees (acacias). Giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans (7), but each vertebra is much longer. What is the tallest land animal?

The sailfish is the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of speeds up to 68 mph (110 km/h). Its large dorsal fin (sail) can be raised to intimidate prey or reduce drag when folded. What is the fastest fish?

The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. It can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and weigh up to 350 pounds (160 kg). Ostriches cannot fly, but they can run at speeds up to 43 mph (70 km/h). They lay the largest eggs of any bird (about 3 pounds / 1.4 kg). What is the largest bird?

The elephant is one of the longest-living land mammals, with a lifespan of 60-70 years. However, the longest-living mammal is the bowhead whale (over 200 years). Among land mammals, elephants and humans are among the longest-lived. Which land mammal can live up to 70 years?

The inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) is the most venomous snake in the world. A single bite contains enough venom to kill about 100 adult humans. However, it is very shy and lives in remote areas of Australia. What is the most venomous snake?

The kangaroo rat (a small desert rodent) can survive without drinking water. It gets all the water it needs from the seeds it eats (metabolic water). It has highly efficient kidneys that produce very concentrated urine. What animal can survive without drinking water?

The giant squid has the largest eyes of any animal. Its eyes can be up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter – about the size of a dinner plate! These large eyes help it detect light and movement in the deep, dark ocean. What animal has the largest eyes?

Axolotls (a type of salamander) can regenerate entire limbs, tail, spinal cord, heart, and even parts of their brain without scarring. They are studied for regenerative medicine research. What animal can regenerate body parts?

Animals are living things that cannot make their own food. Unlike plants, animals must eat other living things (plants or other animals) to survive. Animals can move from place to place (they have muscles and a nervous system). There are millions of kinds of animals – from tiny ants to giant whales. Which of these is an animal?

Scientists group animals into categories called classes. Mammals are animals that have fur or hair, are warm-blooded (they keep the same body temperature no matter the weather), and the mothers feed their babies milk. Humans are mammals! Dogs, cats, elephants, and whales are also mammals. Which of these is a mammal?

Birds are animals that have feathers, a beak (instead of teeth), and wings. Most birds can fly, but some cannot (like penguins and ostriches). Birds lay eggs with hard shells. They are warm-blooded like mammals. Which of these is a bird?

Fish are animals that live in water. They have gills to breathe underwater (instead of lungs), scales to protect their skin, and fins to swim. Fish are cold-blooded – their body temperature changes with the water around them. Most fish lay eggs. Which of these is a fish?

Reptiles are animals that have dry, scaly skin. They are cold-blooded – they need to bask in the sun to warm up. Most reptiles lay eggs with leathery shells. Snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators are reptiles. Which of these is a reptile?

Amphibians are animals that start their lives in water (breathing with gills) and later develop lungs to live on land. They have smooth, moist skin (not dry and scaly like reptiles). Frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts are amphibians. The word "amphibian" means "double life." Which of these is an amphibian?

Insects are small animals with three main body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), six legs, and usually two pairs of wings. They have a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton (skeleton on the outside). There are more kinds of insects than any other group of animals – over one million species! Ants, butterflies, bees, beetles, and grasshoppers are insects. How many legs does an insect have?

Animals are grouped by what they eat. Herbivores eat only plants (cows, rabbits, deer). Carnivores eat only meat (lions, wolves, sharks). Omnivores eat both plants and meat (bears, humans, pigs). What do you call an animal that eats only plants?

A habitat is the natural home of an animal. Different animals live in different habitats because they are adapted to survive there. A polar bear lives in the cold Arctic with ice and snow. A camel lives in the hot, dry desert. A monkey lives in the warm, rainy rainforest. Which animal would most likely live in the ocean?

Some animals go through an amazing change called metamorphosis. A butterfly starts as an egg, hatches into a caterpillar (larva), then forms a chrysalis (pupa), and finally emerges as a beautiful butterfly. This is called complete metamorphosis. What is the correct order of a butterfly's life cycle?