Mammals

The Andean bear is also known as the spectacled bear because the white stripes around its eyes look a bit like glasses. It is the only bear that lives in South America, and spends more time in trees than any other bear species. This is partly due to its love of fruit!

The American bison, or buffalo, is a national icon and the largest land mammal in North America. Millions of bison once roamed great distances across the continent. But over-hunting reduced the population to fewer than 1,000 individuals by the end of the 19th century. Since the founding of the American Bison Society at the Bronx Zoo in 1905, the species has been the subject of a great—if still incomplete—conservation success story.

The loudest voices in the ocean may be the gregarious sea lion. Though clumsy on land, this marine mammal is a strong swimmer and diver, aided by its oar-like flippers and torpedo-shaped body. Sea lions are considered “pinnipeds,” which means “fin-footed” and refers to their long, flat hands and feet.

As the fastest land animal in North America, these lithe antelope migrate annually across tremendous distances, at speeds of up to 54 miles per hour. Pronghorn get their name from the horns of the males and most females. The horns can grow up to a foot long in males and have a prong at the top. The shorter horns of females do not have prongs.