Animals are one of the most important parts of our ecosystem. Animals vary in shape, size, color, eating habits, and even their residents. The animals that prefer living on the land are known as terrestrial animals and the ones who live in water bodies are called aquatic animals. Here I am presenting some of the amazing land and water animals in the world.
Land And Water Animals In The World
1. Ducks
Ducks are webbed-foot birds that belong to the family Anatidae. As of now, 90 species of duck are known to humans that are seen across the world. Ducks have stout bodies with short legs and the feet are webbed which is designed for swimming. The bill of ducks is broad and flat along with high-positioned nostrils. Ducks’ dietary habits are omnivorous and love to feed on seeds, insects, worms, small water snails and amphibians, and even crustaceans such as crayfish. The avarage lifespan of ducks is between 5 to 10 years in the wild.
Also Read: 10 Most Common Farm Animals In The World
2. Geese
Geese are also land and water animals similar to ducks that belong to the family of Anatidae. As of now, 29 species of geese are known to humans and can be seen across the world. Geese are generally larger than ducks, however, feet are suitable for swimming. The bill of geese is shorter with low-positioned nostrils. The dietary habits of geese are herbivores in nature and they feed on grass and shrubs. The avarage lifespan of geese is between 10 to 20 years in the wild.
Image Source: Wikimedia
Also Read: A List Of 15+ Fishes With Big Lips
3. Lungfish
Lungfish scientifically known as Dipnoi is a solitary animal that belongs to the kingdom Animalia. It loves to prey on worms, crustaceans, insects, amphibians, plants, and even other lungfish. One of the fish with legs loves to thrive in areas of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and streams. The avarage lifespan of lungfish is up to 20 years in the wild. It is believed that the lungfish evolved almost 400 million years ago. It can grow up to 7 feet and its average weight is up to 37 lbs. The animal species come in different colors such as brown, grey, yellow, blue, and green.
Image Source: Wikimedia
Also Read: Top 10 Ugliest Fishes In The World
4. Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus weighs between 130-320 Kg and measures about 209-505 cm and its tail length is about 35 cm. The skin tenor of the Hippopotamus is generally purple-grey with brownish eyes and thick hair. The standard life duration of the Hippopotamus is around 55 years.
One of the amazing land and water animals in the world, Hippos are terrifically destructive due to which they even bother boats in rivers if they are tremendously aggressive they can even show aggression to crocodiles and lions. Their gigantic size and large teeth make them a stern menace. Regardless of such enormous bodies hippos can run at a pace of 20 mph and can hound humans as well.
5. Polar bear
The stunning Polar bears are the largest carnivores on the Earth pondering around 720 Kg and length of about 7-10 feet. Polar bears are generally found in the islands, seas in the Arctic Circle, and the vast icebergs. One of the most amazing land and water animals in the world, Polar bears are brawny swimmers and spend major of their lives on seas.
These animals of the polar regions can cover up to around 63 miles in the Arctic Sea with the help of their potent paws. The only enemies of Polar Bears are humans. But remember Polar bears can kill you with the help of their powerful paws. Polar bear prefers living on land and spend approximately half of their life there.
Also Read: 31 Types Of Winter Animals In The World
6. Sea cucumber
Sea cucumber is one of the animals without brains which is about 6.5 feet elongated and has life anticipation of 5-10 years. It resembles a cucumber and has tiny tentacles all over the body for feeding and locomotion. It is generally blue, black, red, or brown. It largely nourishes minute food items present in the ocean, algae, and food particles. To preserve itself, it exposes its hook resembling structure, and it gets intricate for predators to gobble it. It is also listed as one of the strange and terrifying Mariana trench animals.
7. Electric eel
The electric eel is 6-8 feet long and weighs up to 44 pounds. It is found in shady waters and mud-spattered places. As its name articulates as eel, it is not an eel. It is more likely a carp and a cattle fish. The electric eel has meager vision and so, they are assisted with electric signals which facilitate it to follow the map and hit upon its chow. It emancipates around 650 volts of potent electric charges and brings it into play to stagger its quarry and safeguard it. It is also listed as one of the most amazing aquatic animals in the world.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. River Otters
River Otters are one of the animals that live in lakes scientifically known as Lutra canadensis and are mammals that are relatives to the stoats, weasels, mink, badgers, and wolverines. The animal species can grow more than a meter long and the average weight is upto 14 kg.
They are mostly seen near rivers, streams, and lakes in the regions of Columbia, Yakima, and Walla Walla and are hence also listed as freshwater animals in the world. The dietary habits are carnivorous and they feed on snakes, water insects, snails, worms, small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, turtles, and any aquatic invertebrates. The avarage lifespan of river otters is less than 10 years in the wild and in captivity is between 10 to 15 years.
9. Penguins
Penguins are flightless water-diving birds and they have flippers instead of wings. As of now, 20 known species of penguins are known to humans and they all are seen in the Southern hemisphere of Antarctica, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and many Pacific islands as well.
The only penguin visible in the Northern hemisphere is the Galapagos penguin and this happens rarely when the food in the South hemisphere is scarce. They are animals that can live on both land and water and see better under the water than on the ground. The natural predators of penguins are orcas, seals, sharks, and snakes. The avarage lifespan of penguins is between 15 to 20 years that depend on the different species.
10. Platypus
The platypus is one of the animals with small eyes in the world that looks like a combination of duck, beaver, and otter. The animal species can be seen in the regions of Eastern Australia and Tasmania and prefers to stay near freshwater lakes and streams.
One of the animals with big lips can grow between 1.3 to 1.6 feet in length and its average weight is between 2.2 to 3.3 pounds. Platypus looks strange because of their rubbery bill, webbed feet, long, flat tails, and fur. The body is covered with a double layer of fur to provide warmth and prevent it from reaching the skin. The avarage lifespan of a platypus is upto 6 years in the wild and between 10 to 15 in captivity.
Image Source: Wikimedia
11. Spotted Turtles
The spotted turtle scientifically known as Clemmys guttata is a turtle species known for its bright yellow spots that dot its dark shell. The turtle species feeds on algae, soft aquatic plants, water lily seeds, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, and insect larvae. The natural predators of spotted turtles are raccoons and muskrats. The average lifespan of spotted turtles is between 65 to 110 years in the wild.
Image Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region
12. Beavers
Beaver is one of the largest rodents in the world and exists in two species namely, American and Eurasian. These small eared animals can grow between 3-4 feet and its body is covered with dark brown and thick fur. The avarage wieght of weight of a Beaver is between 35 to 60 pounds. One of the amazing land and water animals can swim 5 miles per hour and spend 15 minutes underwater without returning to the surface of the water. They have transparent eyelids that function as natural goggles that help them to see underwater. The avarage lifespan is between 16 to 24 years in the wild.
13. American Alligators
American alligators are sneaky animals scientifically known as Alligator mississippiensis can grow between 10 to 15 feet in length and their average weight is upto 1,000 pounds. They are large crocodiles mostly seen in the United States. The dietary habits are carnivores in nature and feed on fish, invertebrates, frogs, birds, and mammals. The avarage lifespan of the American alligator is between 30 to 50 years in the wild.
Also read: All You Need To Know About Alligators vs Crocodiles
14. Capybaras
Capybaras are one of the largest rodents and the cutest animals are mostly seen in Central and South America. It can grow upto 4 feet in length and weighs upto 140 pounds. Capybara eating habits are herbivores in nature and eat mostly plants. They are also seen eating their feces to provide bacteria that help in the digestion of food. The avarage lifespan of a capybara is between 8 to 10 years in the wild and up to 12 years in captivity. It is also listed as one of the famous animals of South America.
15. Crabs
A crab is an invertebrate that belongs to the crustacean family. As of now, 4500 species of crabs are known to humans and most of them thrive in salty, fresh, or brackish waters. The Pea Crab is the smallest in the world and can grow between 0.27 to 0.47 inches in length. The Japanese Spider Crab is the largest known crab in the world and has a legspan of 12 feet. Crabs are also known as decapods because they have 10 legs. The external skeleton of a crab is known as an exoskeleton. The avarage lifespan of a crab is between 3 to 4 years in the world.
16. Frogs
Frogs are semi-aquatic amphibians that belong to the family of true frogs. It can grow between 2.4 to 3.5 inches in length and weighs upto 0.8 ounces of weight. The animal species are most active during the day, however, it is also active at night. The dietary habits are carnivorous and feed on insects, snails, slugs, and worms. The avarage lifespan is between 7 to 8 years in the wild.
Also read: All You Need To Know About Frogs vs Toads
17. Walruses
Walrus is one of the amazing land and water animals that belong to the family Pinniped which contains different types of flippered marine mammals. As of now, two subspecies of walrus are known to humans named the North Pacific walrus and the North Atlantic walrus.
The animal species of the tundra region can be seen in different regions of the Bering Sea, in northern parts of Siberia, in Svalbard, in Northern parts of the Atlantic, in the eastern parts of Hudson Bay, and the Arctic Archipelago of Canada, eastern and western parts of Greenland, and in northern Labrador. The body ranges between 12 feet in length and the average weight is between 2000 to 3000 pounds. The average lifespan of walruses is 30 years in the wild.
Image Source: Wikimedia
18. Swans
Swans are beautiful birds that belong to the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The bird species is the closest relative of geese and ducks known for its elegance and refinement. The avarage lifespan of Swans Is between 20 to 30 years in the wild. They are mostly seen in the regions across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It breeds in the habitat containing grassland, lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, and wetlands. The dietary habitat is herbivorous and primarily feeds on vegetation, and small fish, frogs, and worms.
19. Salamanders
Salamander is a type of amphibian and one of the closest relatives of frogs and toads. The animal species breed in the regions of the northern hemisphere, in the wet areas near lakes and ponds. As of now, 500 species of salamanders are known to humans, however, a large percentage of them are endangered due to habitat loss and pollution.
The species vary in size where Minute salamander is the smallest salamander in the world and can reach upto 1.1 inches in length and the Chinese giant salamander is the largest salamander in the world can reach upto 6 feet in length and weighs upto 140 pounds. Salamanders have a large lifespan and the Chinese giant salamander can live up to 55 years.
Image Source: Peter
20. Toads
Toads are one of the amphibian species also known as European toad because it is mostly seen in the European region except in northern Scotland and on the Mediterranean islands. The body ranges between 4 to 7 inches in length and 0.7 to 2.8 ounces in weight. The avarice lifespan of a common toad is between 20 to 40 years in the wild and over 50 years in captivity. The animal species is mostly active during the night and spends most of the time the solid ground.
21. Slow worm
The slow worm scientific name Anguis fragilis is a reptile native to western Eurasia. It is also known by different names such as a deaf adder, a slowworm, a blindworm, or regionally, a long-cripple and hazelworm. The species is mostly active during the twilight and occasionally basks in the sun, but is more often found hiding beneath rocks and logs. The body ranges upto 50 cm in length and the average weight is between 20 to 10 gms, The avarage lifespan of slowworms is between 30 to 54 years in the wild. It is one of the unique land and water animals in the world.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are the land and water animals in the world. Kindly share and post your comments.