56 National Geographic Animals in the Wild ...

By Neecey4 Comments

National Geographic animals are amazing photographic studies of wildlife. They capture animals in their natural habitat, situations that most of us are ever likely to see in real life. Exotic and beautiful, National Geographic animals have been educating us about wildlife for more than a century.

1 Reef Squid

Reef Squid Via The Galactic Squid - Traveler ...

The holographic colors of this squid are incredible. Wildlife photographers of National Geographic animals have a skilled way of capturing amazing features.

Frequently asked questions

2 Chameleon

Chameleon Via National Geographic Photo Contest 2012: ...

Entitled "Lovely Dinosaur." That's a great caption for this contest entry because a chameleon does have the features of a dinosaur even though it is a fraction of the size.

3 Zebra

Zebra Via National Geographic Prints I National ...

Getting up close and personal with a stripy pajama horse.

4 Lion

Lion Via m0rtality

That it's black and white doesn't diminish the majesty of the beast known as the King of the Jungle by one iota.

5 Dragonfly

Dragonfly Via FIRE QUEEN Photo by Santanu ...

The photographer called this "Fire Queen."

6 Lemur

Lemur Via National

Named the Black and White lemur for obvious reasons, this darling creature is of one of the endangered species of Madagascar.

7 Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale Via A well traveled woman

This action of a whale launching itself out of the ocean and flopping back in is called breaching.

8 Horses

Horses Via Untitled

Wild ponies at play in Iceland.

9 Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Red-Eyed Tree Frog Via photography.nationalgeographic.com

Tree frogs are common animals in the world's rainforests.

10 Sloth

Sloth Via A picture taken by Nina ...

Here's a fun fact for you. Some sloths have a green tinge to their fur and it is in fact mold. The sloth moves so slowly, that mold spores have time to grow!

11 White Lion

White Lion Via Herthen

Albinos of all species are among the most amazing National Geographic animals.

12 Dolphins

Dolphins Via Dolphins - National Geographic Photo ...

Who doesn't find dolphins adorable?

13 Kangaroo

Kangaroo Via 30+ Award winning collection of ...

Kangaroos are such characters. This guy is as laid back as the people of Australia.

14 Armadillo

Armadillo Via COUNTERFEIT-MESS

I just wonder how long it took for the photographer to capture this astonishing shot.

15 Oustalet's Chameleon

Oustalet's Chameleon Via Buy Fine Art Prints by ...

The chameleon's coat of many colors, which provides camouflage from predators.

16 Common Octopus

Common Octopus Via One-of-a-Kind Sea Creature Photos -- ...

Because they have no bones, an octopus can squeeze itself
through incredibly small holes.

17 Orangutans

Orangutans Via I Gotchya, Baby.

Orangutan means "old man of the forest."

18 LYNX

LYNX Via sun-hawk.tumblr.com

The Lynx (known in the US as the bobcat) is a medium-sized big cat and lives in North America and Europe.

19 Whale Shark

Whale Shark Via Arabian Seas - Photo Gallery ...

This magnificent creature is the largest fish species.

20 Anemone Fish

Anemone Fish Via 10 Stunning Standouts in National ...

The anemone fish hides from prey in the ocean plant that gives it its name.

21 African Elephant

African Elephant Via Buy Fine Art Prints by ...

Some of the National Geographic pictures of animals sum up our visions of the places they live. The elephant is captured at dawn in Botswana's Chobe National Park.

22 Cephalopod

Cephalopod Via Friday Cephalopod: It’s watching you

Cephalopods are among the creatures that live in the deepest, darkest depths of the oceans, which makes their colors even more remarkable.

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These marine marvels, including octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish, boast extraordinary adaptations for survival. Their chromatophores allow them to change color and pattern at will, seamlessly blending with their surroundings to evade predators or ambush prey. As consummate escape artists, some can even jet propel through the water with surprising bursts of speed. The intelligence of cephalopods is equally impressive; many species show remarkable problem-solving skills, making them a fascinating subject for researchers and underwater photographers alike.

23 Otter

Otter Via thestar.blogs.com

Cute and oh so furry. I was lucky to regularly see a family of otters when I was a kid. They lived in a small river in woods close to my childhood home.

24 Gray Wolf

Gray Wolf Via artflakes.com

How can something that looks so cute and cuddly be such a wild creature?

25 Christmas Tree Worms

Christmas Tree Worms Via Colorful Sea Creature Photos -- ...

I won't be inviting these home for the holidays. Although, you can't deny they're beautiful.

26 Icebergs & Polar Bear

Icebergs & Polar Bear Via Sony World Photography Awards 2011 ...

The magnificent bear of the ice world.

27 Elephants

Elephants Via I Love Ugly

Elephants exist in big family units. All the females act as mothers , sisters, aunts and cousins in bringing up the babies. This wondrous sight was shot in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.

28 Suwannee Cooter

Suwannee Cooter Via vintagenatgeographic.tumblr.com

This is one of the species of freshwater turtles.

29 Narwhals

Narwhals Via Vintagenatgeographic:National Geographic December 1988

The narwhal's distinctive single tusk is actually an elongated molar which grows in helical form. It can reach up to 10 feet in length in a mature male.

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This magnificent tooth is more than just a spiral spectacle; scientists believe it serves various purposes, including helping males to attract females during mating season or to battle rivals. Strikingly, the tusk is also sensory, containing up to 10 million nerve endings that may detect changes in the environment, potentially guiding the animals through the icy Arctic waters they call home. Despite their mystical allure, narwhals are facing threats from climate change and human interference, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for these unique creatures of the sea.

30 Giraffe

Giraffe Via artflakes.com

A fine fellow taking a drink in Samburu National Park, Kenya.

31 Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer Via news.nationalgeographic.com

He looks like he's posing for the camera.

32 Olindias Formosa Jellyfish

Olindias Formosa Jellyfish Via LET'S LOOK 4 TREASURE

The non-scientific name for this sea creature is the Flower Hat jellyfish. It lives in the Western Pacific off Japan.

33 Cheetahs

Cheetahs Via A female cheetah and her ...

A cub gets playful with Mom in Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa

34 Tiger

Tiger Via Les 14 photographies gagnantes du ...

This was the winner of the National Geographic Wildlife Photo Contest in 2012. Absolutely outstanding.

35 Seahorse

Seahorse Via TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Pregnant male seahorses

You may be wondering why this doesn't look like the seahorses you are familiar with. That's because it is a male and it is pregnant. Seahorses belong to the family Syngnathidae where uniquely, the males give birth - this includes the pipe fish and sea dragons.

36 Cats

Cats Via Eleutheria

National Geographic animals aren't always wild. There are domestic pets too.

37 Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros Via National Geographic Found

The photographer took this shot in 1910 while the rhino was charging at him.

38 Bongo Antelope

Bongo Antelope Via artflakes.com

The bongo is one of many species of antelope in Africa. This one calls the Dzanga Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic home.

39 Beluga Whale

Beluga Whale Via The Little French Bullblog

Recognizable by its color and distinctive head shape (and its grin!), the beluga belongs to the same family as the narwhal.

40 Bison

Bison Via Ghostly Bison in Steam During ...

The bison's hugely thick, woolly coat keeps him warm at the height of winter in Yellowstone National Park.

41 Snow Monkeys

Snow Monkeys Via Snow Monkeys (macaca by National ...

Even though these snow monkeys have a woolly coat it is not as effective as the bison's and they regularly go for a soak in the natural hot springs of Japan.

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These delightful primates, known scientifically as Macaca fuscata, have captured hearts with their intelligent eyes and human-like behaviors. Watching them bask in the warmth of geothermal waters is an enchanting experience, especially as snowflakes gently fall around their serene retreat. Despite the harsh winters, they thrive by maintaining intricate social structures and displaying remarkable adaptability. The sight of their tiny infants clinging to mothers' fur as steam rises around them is a truly endearing spectacle. Indeed, these creatures embody the resilient spirit of Japan's wildlife.

42 Chrysalis

Chrysalis Via artflakes.com

The chrysalis protects the body of the caterpillar while it metamorphoses into a magnificent butterfly.

43 Fox

Fox The red of the fox is a startling contrast to the snowy landscape.

44 Bowhead Whales

Bowhead Whales Via EVERYBODY TALKS

This species of whale has the largest mouth of any animal on Earth.

45 Cassiopea Xamachana

Cassiopea Xamachana Via Nature - Week 3 Gallery ...

Wonderful! This warm water-loving jellyfish belongs to a class of upside jellyfish.

46 Cougar

Cougar Via Cougar - National Geographic Photo ...

Now this is a real cougar! Not an older woman preying on younger men.

47 Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish Via National Geographic Photo Contest 12 ...

Known as fugu in Japan, it is a delicacy but only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it as it is deadly poisonous.

48 Bornean Dragon

Bornean Dragon Via Bornean dragon - National Geographic ...

I love it when grandiose names are given to small creatures.

49 Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle Via Vintage National Geographic

Once majorly endangered, there are many conservation areas for turtles around the world.

50 Elephant and Lion

Elephant and Lion Via Magical Nature Tour, Richard Davies ...

I wonder who will win the standoff at the waterhole.

51 Jaguar

Jaguar Via artflakes.com

Hunted for his magnificent coat, it's good to see a stunningly beautiful creature at rest, safe in his forest home.

52 Puma

Puma Via Liv's Animals | vintagenatgeographic: Puma ...

This picture taken in Colombia in 1970 shows us just how much the quality of photography has changed.

53 Gorilla

Gorilla Via Funny Wildlife • funnywildlife: vintagenatgeographic: ...

He was christened "Snowflake" and somehow he seems cuter and less forbidding than his black gorilla cousins.

54 Snake

Snake Via wiadomosci.gazeta.pl

This stunning picture won the first place in the amateur section of the National Geographic Photo Contest of 2013. Just shows you don't have to be a pro to capture a stunning wildlife photo if the moment is right.

55 Tiger

Tiger Via haygirlhey.tumblr.com

All cats love to climb trees whether they're an urban tabby or a Siberian tiger.

56 Viscacha

Viscacha Via artflakes.com

This adorable cuddly creature is of the same family as the chinchilla and has similar characteristics but also looks like a rabbit.

I do hope you've enjoyed this short foray into our world's wildlife. What are your favorite animals?

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The Viscacha is a species of large rodents native to the grasslands and desert regions of South America. They are a member of the chinchilla family and their closest relatives are guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus. Viscachas are highly social animals, living in large colonies of up to 30 individuals. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses, leaves, and other vegetation.

Viscachas have long, soft fur that can range from yellowish-brown to black in color. They have long, powerful hind legs and short, stubby front legs. Their ears are large and round, and their tail is short and fluffy. They have a distinctive black mask around their eyes.

Viscachas are active during the day, and they spend most of their time foraging for food and playing. They are also known to be vocal animals, communicating with each other through a variety of chirps and whistles. They are also known to be curious and playful animals, often interacting with humans and other animals.

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