Emily Flores
America has several incredible animals with standout features, from the mountain giants that dominate treacherous regions to wonders hidden in the waters. Here are 15 of the most magnificent creatures in the US whose striking qualities will leave you in awe.
Canadian Lynx
The Canadian Lynx is native to North America, including Alaska, Canada, Maine, Minnesota, and Colorado. You could distinguish this animal by its dense fur, large paws, and black-tufted ears. This rare breed lives in snowy regions and is classed as regionally endangered in the northern parts of America.
Gila Monster
Despite its seemingly terrifying name, the Gila Monster is slow and doesn’t attack people. It was once abundant in the Gila River Basin, where it derives its name, but due to illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss, this animal now has “near threatened” status. You can tell it apart by its distinguished orange and black patches.
Bison
Officially the largest land animal in the US, they weigh up to 900 kilograms (2,000 pounds) and reach a stature of 2 meters (6 feet). Their babies are called ‘red dogs’ due to the red-orange color of their fur, and although popularly called buffaloes, they are unrelated. The only place these species have lived safely for decades is the Yellowstone National Park in America.
Arctic Wolf
Canis lupus arctos, commonly known as the Arctic Wolf, is native to Greenland, Alaska, and Canada’s High Arctic region. The coats of these wolves are white all year round, which helps them blend in with their snow-covered surroundings. It’s incredible how they can withstand the severity of the winter months and go weeks without food.
Ringtail
Although often confused with the Ringtail Lemur, the Ringtail belongs to the raccoon family. The magnificent quality about the species is that they can survive for a long time without drinking water, getting it instead from the food they eat. Its scientific name (Bassariscus astutus) translates to “ring-tailed cat” and “clever little fox” despite not being related to these animals.
Beaver
Besides being great swimmers with webbed feet, there are several other reasons why the Beaver is one of the most amazing animals in America. They have high emotional intelligence because they mate with a partner for life and only look for a new one when their companion passes away. Beavers can also slap the water with their large tails to communicate and warn their families of danger.
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Scientifically known as Macrochelys Temminckii, these turtles are the largest freshwater species in North America. Their strong jaws can bite right through a wooden broom handle and they have huge, frighteningly spiky shells similar to those of Ankylosaurus dinosaurs which make them famous. They eat predominantly carnivorous foods like fish, amphibians, mollusks, and carrion.
Javelina
Also called a peccary or skunk, it’s a hoofed animal that resembles a pig. Like many others on this list, they are at risk of extinction from extreme hunting of their meat and hides. As intelligent animals, javelinas live in groups, which helps them survive as their herds can defend their territory.
Mountain Goat
The Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) usually lives in regions over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) in height. Their ability to navigate very steep rocks and almost defy gravity makes them a magnificent species. With just one foot, they can walk across perilous areas inclined over sixty degrees, a trait that successfully keeps predators at bay.
Fisher
Fishers have long tails, brown hair, and slender, long bodies. Despite their name, they are terrestrial animals but great swimmers who can also pass off as tree climbers. As solitary creatures, Fishers are busiest at dusk and dawn and usually only come into contact with one another during the mating season.
Monarch Butterfly
Researchers are still trying to figure out how these insects manage to travel across the continent, often attributing this to the magnetic pull of Earth and the sun’s location. After mating in one region, monarchs travel three to four generations before settling, exhibiting the most evolved migration among winged insects. These butterflies are symbols of change, transformation, and hope.
Moose
The northern region of the United States is the natural home of the moose (Alces alces). These creatures are distinguishable by their enormous antlers, which grow back each spring after losing them in the winter.
American Eel
American Eels can live up to 40 years before deciding to mate and have only one breeding population. They are the only catadromous fish in North America, meaning they live primarily in freshwater but return to the ocean to spawn.
Grey Whale
These creatures are endangered due to hunting, vessel strikes, and commercial whaling for their blubber which can be used to make oil. Despite being the only living member of the baleen family, these animals still manage to be unique, beautiful, and graceful. Like humans, they play, sing, cooperate, and nurture friendships.
American Flamingo
The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), native to the US, is distinguished by its long, slender neck and legs. These amusing species get their vivid pink color from eating shrimp and algae, and they also sleep standing up on just one leg. In raising their young, flamingoes create room for one big egg in their mud nest and successfully rare their young in waters too harsh for most other creatures to survive.
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