Smithsonian- Animal Index About 1,800 animals from about 300 different species currently comprise the animal collection at the National Zoo and the Zoo's Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), which is headquartered in Front Royal, Virginia. About one-fifth of the species are endangered or threatened. Most species are on exhibit at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. A few are found only at the SCBI headquarters, which is not open to the public. Check out lists of and fact sheets about the species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish, and invertebrates in our collection. To find more information on these species and the Zoo's research and conservation initiatives for threatened and endangered species, use the links to various Animal Programs at left or go to Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Read about many Zoo species in Smithsonian Zoogoer articles and throughout the site. Zoo News Find out what's happened recently at the National Zoo.
Interactives & Games | Nature Get access to content from your local PBS station.Get sneak previews from some of your favorite shows including Masterpiece, Nova, etc.See what's on tonight at your local PBS station. Animal Keeper Job | Video Video Transcript My name is Juan Rodriguez. I'm an animal keeper here at this Smithsonian's National Zoo. When I was a kid I think the very first instance where I realize I loved animals was when my older brother would bring home injured pigeons and cats and dogs, stray animals and I just fell in love with taking care of animals since I was like seven years old. They gave me the basics of understanding what my responsibility were and what I needed to do to become a keeper and after I was a volunteer for several months I was able to get a job here, but in terms of formal training I didn't have my degree when I first started back in '97 but as time went on I eventually obtained my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. On a day to day basis the basic thing that we do is that we want to make sure when we come in the morning they're well, they're not sick, everything's normal. For example the sloth bears we can use big boomer balls.
What is an Animal? Photo credit: David Bygott, Giraffa camelopardalis. CC BY-NC-SA It is estimated that around 9 or 10 million species of animals inhabit the earth; the exact number is not known and all estimates are rough. Animals range in size from no more than a few cells to organisms weighing many tons, such as the giant squid. All animals are members of the Kingdom Animalia, also called Metazoa. Animal cells lack the rigid cell walls that characterize plant cells. The development of most animals is characterized by distinctive stages, including a zygote, formed by the product of the first few divisions of cells following fertilization; a blastula, which is a hollow ball of cells formed by the developing zygote; and a gastrula, which is formed when the blastula folds in on itself to form a double-walled structure with an opening to the outside, the blastopore. Research continues on the evolutionary relationships of the major groups of animals. References Hickman, C.P. and L.
Electronic Zoo Animal Species Text and Non-Netscape Browsers, [Start Here] Select a Species from the Pick List, the Image Map above, or the Menu below. Return to: SeaWorld Animal Bytes Each byte is a one-page fact sheet specifically designed to help you quickly find information about some of the interesting creatures found in the animal kingdom. Most species files include coverage regarding scientific classification, basic physical traits, fun facts, and conservation/ecological value. Where available, links to more in-depth species coverage via our online infobooks are provided. Can't find the answer to your animal question here? If you are age 12 or younger, please don't email us; have an adult (parent, guardian, teacher, etc.) send us an email with your question/request/comment instead.
Animal Facts for Kids