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  • Home>
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  • Climate change>
  • Popular Climate change species

Climate change

Climate change refers to man-made changes in the world’s climate. It is often called ‘global warming’, as one of its best-known effects is rising temperatures. However, other effects of climate change include rising sea levels, melting ice at the poles, and an increase in extreme weather. With many species unable to adapt to a rapidly changing climate, some scientists predict that climate change could cause the mass extinction of numerous plants and animals.

Popular species View all climate change species »

  • Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

    Ursus maritimus (Polar bear)

    The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing up to 2.6 metres in length. The most…

    More about the polar bear »

    66 photos

    25 videos

  • Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

    Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle)

    The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world's largest turtle; the largest recorded individual weighed a massive 916 kilograms…

    More about the leatherback turtle »

    37 photos

    10 videos

  • Staghorn corals (Acropora spp.)

    Acropora spp. (Staghorn corals)

    Staghorn corals are among the fastest growing corals on reefs, and are excellent reef-builders. The name Acropora literally means a porous…

    More about the staghorn corals »

    19 photos

    4 videos

  • Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

    Aptenodytes forsteri (Emperor penguin)

    Standing over a metre in height and weighing up to 40 kilograms, the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the undisputed…

    More about the emperor penguin »

    59 photos

    6 videos

  • Common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

    Amphiprion ocellaris (Common clownfish)

    Most famed for inspiring the character Nemo in the Walt Disney film ‘Finding Nemo’, the common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is the most…

    More about the common clownfish »

    20 photos

    3 videos

  • Quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma)

    Aloe dichotoma (Quiver tree)

    The quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) is a distinctive member of a group of succulent plants known as ‘Aloes’ that grows to tree-like proportions…

    More about the quiver tree »

    22 photo

    1 video

  • Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

    Vulpes lagopus (Arctic fox)

    The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is superbly adapted for life at sub-zero temperatures. While this species is best known for its pristine…

    More about the arctic fox »

    54 photos

    11 videos

  • Golden toad (Incilius periglenes)

    Incilius periglenes (Golden toad)

    The golden toad has not been seen since 1989, and is believed to be extinct. This toad displays extreme sexual dimorphism; males are a…

    More about the golden toad »

    13 photos

    5 videos

  • Dlinza pinwheel (Trachycystis clifdeni)

    Trachycystis clifdeni (Dlinza pinwheel)

    The exceptionally striking Dlinza pinwheel (Trachycystis clifdeni) immediately stands out for the unusual whorl of bristles that…

    More about the dlinza pinwheel »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Ringed seal (Pusa hispida)

    Pusa hispida (Ringed seal)

    The smallest of all living seal species, growing to a maximum length of just over 1.5 metres, the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) is named for…

    More about the ringed seal »

    22 photos

    5 videos

  • Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

    Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon)

    The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 'the leaper', has been called the king of fish, due primarily to its spectacular ability to clear…

    More about the atlantic salmon »

    9 photos

    4 videos

  • Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    Phascolarctos cinereus (Koala)

    One of Australia’s most iconic animals, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is bear-like in appearance with a stout body and large paws, but…

    More about the koala »

    30 photos

    15 videos

  • Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

    Delphinapterus leucas (Beluga whale)

    The snow-white beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is one of the most distinctive of all cetaceans (a group that includes dolphins, whales…

    More about the beluga whale »

    39 photos

    7 videos

  • Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

    Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle)

    The Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has been exploited for thousands of years as the sole source of…

    More about the hawksbill turtle »

    39 photos

    10 videos

  • European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

    Anguilla anguilla (European eel)

    The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has a very unusual and fascinating life cycle. Adults have long, narrow bodies, with a continuous…

    More about the european eel »

    27 photos

    4 videos

  • Raso lark (Alauda razae)

    Alauda razae (Raso lark)

    With a tiny population confined to a single, small island off the west coast of Africa, the diminutive Raso lark is perilously close to…

    More about the raso lark »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Table Mountain ghost frog (Heleophryne rosei)

    Heleophryne rosei (Table Mountain ghost frog)

    Rare and elusive, the Table Mountain ghost frog is restricted to the slopes of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. It is a tiny frog with a…

    More about the table mountain ghost frog »

    5 photos

    0 videos

  • Pachnodus snail (Pachnodus velutinus)

    Pachnodus velutinus (Pachnodus snail)

    The now extinct Pachnodus velutinus was one of a number of land-snail species endemic to the Seychelles islands. A diminutive species, the…

    More about the pachnodus snail »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis)

    Branta ruficollis (Red-breasted goose)

    With beautifully defined blocks of colour, the red-breasted goose is one of the most attractive goose species in the world, but also one of…

    More about the red-breasted goose »

    15 photos

    6 videos

  • Boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis)

    Montastraea annularis (Boulder star coral)

    Prior to 1994, the wide variability exhibited in the appearance of Montastraea annularis was attributed to the different environmental…

    More about the boulder star coral »

    10 photos

    0 videos

  • Caspian seal (Pusa caspica)

    Pusa caspica (Caspian seal)

    One of the smallest of all seals, the Caspian seal is unusual in being confined to the inland, entirely landlocked Caspian Sea, the largest…

    More about the caspian seal »

    10 photo

    1 video

  • Tuamotu sandpiper (Prosobonia cancellata)

    Prosobonia cancellata (Tuamotu sandpiper)

    The Tuamotu sandpiper is a small, short-winged wader with a variably mottled brown and buff plumage, a bold creamy-white stripe above the…

    More about the tuamotu sandpiper »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Wightman’s robber frog (Eleutherodactylus wightmanae)

    Eleutherodactylus wightmanae (Wightman’s robber frog)

    Wightman’s robber frog (Eleutherodactylus wightmanae) is an endangered amphibian found only in the upland forests of Puerto Rico. A rather…

    More about the wightman’s robber frog »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Queen of the Andes (Puya raimondii)

    Puya raimondii (Queen of the Andes)

    The largest bromeliad in the world, the Queen of the Andes (Puya raimondii) is best known for its spectacular flower spike, which can reach…

    More about the queen of the andes »

    6 photo

    1 video

  • Ctenella coral (Ctenella chagius)

    Ctenella chagius (Ctenella coral)

    An ancient survivor from the Cretaceous period, Ctenella chagius is the only coral species of the family Meandrinidae found within the…

    More about the ctenella coral »

    6 photos

    0 videos

  • Dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso)

    Dendrolagus mbaiso (Dingiso)

    Discovered as recently as 1994, the dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso) is a tree kangaroo, a group of animals that, like their well-known…

    More about the dingiso »

    6 photos

    0 videos

  • Glittering demoiselle (Calopteryx exul)

    Calopteryx exul (Glittering demoiselle)

    This member of the broad-winged damselflies (Calopterygidae spp.) closely resembles the banded demoiselle (C. splendens) and has been…

    More about the glittering demoiselle »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Western Prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara)

    Platanthera praeclara (Western Prairie fringed orchid)

    A characteristic plant of North American tallgrass prairies, the Western Prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is a beautiful plant…

    More about the western prairie fringed orchid »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Florida perforate reindeer lichen (Cladonia perforata)

    Cladonia perforata (Florida perforate reindeer lichen)

    Occurring only in the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida perforate reindeer lichen (Cladonia perforata) is an Endangered lichen threatened…

    More about the florida perforate reindeer lichen »

    2 photos

    0 videos

  • Dragon's blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari)

    Dracaena cinnabari (Dragon's blood tree)

    Arguably the most famous and distinctive plant of the island of Socotra, the evocatively named dragon’s blood tree has a unique and bizarre…

    More about the dragon's blood tree »

    17 photos

    0 videos

  • Darwin’s frog (Rhinoderma darwinii)

    Rhinoderma darwinii (Darwin’s frog)

    Discovered by Charles Darwin in the thick, gloomy forests of southern-central Chile, Darwin’s frog (Rhinoderma darwinii) possesses a…

    More about the darwin’s frog »

    20 photos

    7 videos

  • Powder blue damsel (Arabicnemis caerulea)

    Arabicnemis caerulea (Powder blue damsel)

    For a desert region, southern Arabia has a remarkable number of dragonflies and damselflies. One particularly striking damselfly, discovered…

    More about the powder blue damsel »

    14 photos

    0 videos

  • Humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)

    Cromileptes altivelis (Humpback grouper)

    This extraordinary-looking fish is often called the panther, or ‘polka-dot’ grouper for its striking colour pattern of bold black spots…

    More about the humpback grouper »

    10 photo

    1 video

  • Santiago Galapagos mouse (Nesoryzomys swarthi)

    Nesoryzomys swarthi (Santiago Galapagos mouse)

    First described in 1906 from the island of Santiago in the Galapagos, the Santiago Galapagos mouse was believed extinct until its…

    More about the santiago galapagos mouse »

    3 photos

    0 videos

  • Spicy conebush (Leucadendron tinctum)

    Leucadendron tinctum (Spicy conebush)

    With its pleasant, spicy scented leaves, and striking green inflorescences, the spicy conebush is an attractive feature of the Cape…

    More about the spicy conebush »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)

    Monodon monoceros (Narwhal)

    Famous for its unicorn-like single tusk, narwhals have inspired legends in many cultures and are still revered across the world. The smooth…

    More about the narwhal »

    16 photos

    5 videos

  • Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa)

    Plerogyra sinuosa (Bubble coral)

    The bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) is a rather strange looking coral, aptly named because of the grape-sized bubbles that enlarge its…

    More about the bubble coral »

    15 photo

    1 video

  • Red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani)

    Plethodon jordani (Red-cheeked salamander)

    The red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani) is a medium-sized blue-black terrestrial salamander found only in the Great Smokey Mountains…

    More about the red-cheeked salamander »

    13 photos

    0 videos

  • Mushroom coral (Fungia fungites)

    Fungia fungites (Mushroom coral)

    Rather than forming colonies like most other corals, Fungia corals are usually solitary and generally free-living; that is, they are not…

    More about the mushroom coral »

    10 photos

    0 videos

  • Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis)

    Galaxea fascicularis (Fluorescence grass coral)

    Although usually growing as small cushion-shaped or domed colonies, Galaxea fascicularis is also capable of producing massive or columnar…

    More about the fluorescence grass coral »

    7 photos

    0 videos

  • Mother-of-pearl blue (Polyommatus nivescens)

    Polyommatus nivescens (Mother-of-pearl blue)

    The mother-of-pearl blue (Polyommatus nivescens) is a small, delicately-marked butterfly found only in Spain. This elegant species has pale…

    More about the mother-of-pearl blue »

    1 photos

    0 videos

  • Mountain horned agama (Ceratophora stoddarti)

    Ceratophora stoddarti (Mountain horned agama)

    The mountain horned agama is one of five Ceratophora species endemic to Sri Lanka, commonly known as ‘horn-nosed lizards’ or ‘horned…

    More about the mountain horned agama »

    11 photos

    0 videos

  • Sohal surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)

    Acanthurus sohal (Sohal surgeonfish)

    A beautiful fish of tropical reefs in the Indian Ocean, the sohal surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal) is vividly coloured with striking blue and…

    More about the sohal surgeonfish »

    8 photo

    1 video

  • Green iguana (Iguana iguana)

    Iguana iguana (Green iguana)

    The green iguana is one of the best-known reptiles due to its popularity in zoos and with private reptile keepers. It has a very…

    More about the green iguana »

    26 photos

    6 videos

  • Snowy owl (Bubo scandiaca)

    Bubo scandiaca (Snowy owl)

    Perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable of all owls, the snowy owl is characterised by its distinctive white plumage, which gives it…

    More about the snowy owl »

    46 photos

    5 videos

  • American pika (Ochotona princeps)

    Ochotona princeps (American pika)

    The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small member of the rabbit family that inhabits alpine regions of south-western Canada and the…

    More about the american pika »

    28 photos

    2 videos

  • Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

    Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Platypus)

    So seemingly incongruous was the appearance of platypus specimens shipped to England at the end of the 18th century, that many observers…

    More about the platypus »

    16 photos

    10 videos

  • Banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina)

    Laticauda colubrina (Banded sea krait)

    The banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) is an amphibious species of snake that spends most of its life at sea but comes to land to…

    More about the banded sea krait »

    16 photos

    2 videos

  • Giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa)

    Podocnemis expansa (Giant South American turtle)

    The giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa) is the largest river turtle in South America. It has a broad, domed and…

    More about the giant south american turtle »

    16 photos

    10 videos

  • Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)

    Balaena mysticetus (Bowhead whale)

    The bowhead whale is so-called because of its bow-shaped mouth and is black in colour with a whitish chin patch, broken by a 'necklace' of…

    More about the bowhead whale »

    21 photos

    7 videos

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