Pig

Pig

Mammal. Pigs may have been domesticated as early as 10,000 B.C. They have four toes on each hoof but walk on only two toes on each foot, so they appear to be walking on their tiptoes. Wild pigs are fast runners, good swimmers and strong fighters when cornered, using their tusks as weapons. They are mainly active at night. Because they do not have sweat glands, pigs cool themselves in hot weather by rolling around in mud or water. Many experts regard pigs as the most intelligent of domesticated animals. They are capable of problem solving and learning new skills quickly.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Sus scrofa	12 to 27 years
Diet
Omnivore. Bird eggs, snakes, grasshoppers, mice, roots, shrubs, weeds, tubers, and fungi.
Predators and Threats
Mountain lions, coyotes, dogs, and humans.
Habitat
Domesticated; found nearly everywhere except Antarctica. Wild habitat is generally moist forests, swamps and shrublands, especially oak forests and regions where reeds are abundant.

Shetland Pony

Shetland Pony

Mammal. Relative to their size, the Shetland pony is recognized as the strongest Equid in existence. Shetlands can pull twice their own weight, giving them about twice the power of most heavy horses. They originated in the harsh climate of the Shetland Islands, far north of the Scottish mainland. For many centuries Shetland ponies lived in the open, with only their thick hair to protect them from the elements. They were domesticated around 500 B.C. and have been used all over the world for diverse purposes, from a riding horse to a plow or pack pony. The Shetland pony is one of the most popular horses in the world.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Equus caballus var.	20 years
Diet
Herbivore. Grasses and other plants.
Predators and Threats
Cougars and humans.
Habitat
Originated in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Now distributed worldwide.

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

Insect. There are approximately 1,800 species of praying mantis in the world. Their most striking feature is the grasping front legs that look like they are praying, and are well-designed for grabbing and holding prey. Harmless to humans, this insect actually helps farmers by eating insects that destroy crops. Their eggs are laid in masses that can include hundreds of eggs and are often insulated with a foamy material that protects them over winter.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Mantis religiosa	Less than 1 year
Diet
Carnivore. Aphids, mosquitoes, flies, roaches, bees, crickets, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders.
Predators and Threats
Bats, birds, frogs, spiders; fish and aquatic insects eat larvae and pupae.
Habitat
Bushy fields and gardens, tropical and temperate rainforests; Northern Africa, Southern Europe, Asia, and North America (introduced).

Puffin

Puffin

Bird. Cousins of the penguin, Atlantic puffins are true seabirds and spend most of their time swimming, diving, and feeding at sea. Puffins swallow their food underwater, but they can carry up to 30 small fish at once when bringing food home to their young. Thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of puffins nest together in large colonies. Each pair of puffins digs a burrow about 90 cm (3 ft) long into a soft slope near the sea. The male builds a nest in the burrow, and the female lays one egg in it. During the winter, puffins live out on the ocean, not returning to land until the next breeding season.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Fratercula arctica	20 years
Diet
Carnivore. Fish, crustaceans, squid, and marine worms.
Predators and Threats
Mink, foxes, great black-backed gulls, and humans. Herring gulls will take puffin eggs and chicks from their nesting burrow.
Habitat
North Atlantic Ocean; Iceland, Norway, the Faeroe Islands, British Isles, Northern U.S., and eastern Canada.

Raccoon

Raccoon

Mammal. Mostly solitary, raccoons forage at night and sleep in their dens during the day. Their excellent night vision and hearing make them especially alert. Using sensitive, five-fingered forepaws, raccoons easily manipulate and open things. They are strong, though reluctant, swimmers and good climbers not afraid of dropping from a height of 12 meters (40 ft). Adults measure 46-66 cm (18-26 in) in length, plus a striped tail that's 23-35 cm (9-14 in) long. Females are usually smaller than males. When first born both their ears and eyes are closed, taking 18 to 24 days to open. After 4 to 6 weeks they can walk.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Procyon lotor	5 to 6 years in the wild
Diet
Omnivore. They eat almost anything that's edible including fruit, acorns, nuts, corn and other grains, crayfish and other water animals, frogs, birds and bird eggs, small mammals, and even garbage.
Predators and Threats
Many raccoons are hit by cars. Predators include foxes, owls, bobcats and coyotes.
Habitat
They prefer wetland areas near streams, marshes, lakes, swamps, and rivers. Highly adaptable, they can also be found in urban and suburban areas. Raccoons range from Canada into northern South America.

Raven

Raven

Bird. Ravens are the largest members of the crow family, and the largest songbirds. They are considered among the most intelligent of all birds. Ravens are called wolf birds because they are known to lead wolves to prey and then feed alongside them. Ravens also hunt in packs like wolves, but they usually do not gather together in large flocks. Unlike many other birds, they do not migrate. Raven pairs mate for life and use the same nest each year. They build their nests in trees, on cliffs, and on power lines. They can learn to imitate a variety of sounds, including the human voice.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Corvus corax	7-15 years, 30 in captivity
Diet
Omnivore. Insects, seeds, berries, and small mammals.
Predators and Threats
Owls, eagles, and hawks.
Habitat
Wooded areas; worldwide.

White Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros

Mammal. The white rhinoceros is the second largest land mammal in the world, after the elephant. White rhinos can weigh over 2,000 kilograms (2 tons) and stand as tall as 1.8 meters (6 feet). There were once over 30 species of rhino, but today there are only five and all are endangered. White rhinoceros are calmer and more sociable than other species of rhino, and they often live in small, territorial groups. Females and juveniles are rarely alone. Rhinos communicate using a wide variety of sounds, including grunts, growls, snorts, squeaks and bellows. Because of their hump, white rhinos cannot swim.
Scientific Name	Lifespan
Ceratotherium simum	35 to 40 years
Diet
Herbivore. Grasses.
Predators and Threats
Humans.
Habitat
Grassland, open areas; Southern Africa.