Encyclopedia
A knowledge base of articles organized by category. Search or browse to learn more.
Keeled Box Turtle (alt.) (Geoemyda spengleri (Keeled Box))
(See the Geoemyda spengleri Black-breasted Leaf Turtle entry; the 'keeled box turtle' name is a common synonym…
Hooded Crane
A gray crane with a white hood and dark neck, rare and endangered.
Norwegian Elkhound
The gray Viking spitz that hunted moose—ancient, bold, and barking-bright.
Big-headed Turtle
Named for its enormous head, which is too large to withdraw into its shell, making the head disproportionately…
Siberian Crane
A pure-white crane with a red face, critically endangered, migrating long distances.
Karelian Bear Dog
A black-and-white Finnish-Russian spitz that confronts bears—fearless and primitive.
Pegu Big-headed Turtle
A recently recognised separate species within the big-headed turtle complex, differing in genetic and subtle s…
Demoiselle Crane
The smallest crane, with a white plume behind the eye, crossing the Himalayas in migration.
Lapponian Herder
A long-coated Finnish reindeer herder—the spitz type vs. the Lapphund's spaniel type.
Common Snapping Turtle
A large, powerful freshwater turtle with a massive head, strong hooked jaws, a long saw-toothed tail, and a da…
Black-necked Crane
A high-altitude crane with a black neck and red crown, nesting on the Tibetan Plateau.
Swedish Lapphund
The long, fluffy reindeer herder of Sweden—versatile, friendly, and ancient.
South American Snapping Turtle
A snapping turtle with a relatively smooth, oval carapace and an elongated snout (the specific name means 'sha…
Sandhill Crane
A gray crane with a red forehead, gathering in huge flocks during migration.
New Guinea Singing Dog
A rare, primitive dog with an eerie 'song'—a living window into early canids.
Central American Snapping Turtle
A large freshwater snapping turtle of the Caribbean lowlands of Central America, with a dark, ridged shell and…
Crested Ibis
A white ibis with a red face and crest, once nearly extinct, now protected in China.
Basenji
Africa's 'barkless dog'—a clean, cat-like primitive hound that yodels instead.
Alligator Snapping Turtle
The largest freshwater turtle in North America and one of the heaviest in the world, with a massive head, thre…
Black-faced Spoonbill
A white spoonbill with a black face and a spoon-shaped bill, globally endangered.
Peruvian Hairless Dog
Peru's ancient, mostly hairless dog—in small, medium, and large sizes.
Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle
A recently recognised species separated from the common alligator snapping turtle based on genetic and morphol…
Eurasian Spoonbill
A white spoonbill with a long flat spatulate bill, feeding by sweeping in shallow water.
Xoloitzcuintle
Mexico's ancient hairless dog—the Aztec 'Xolo', in three sizes, naked or coated.
