Goats are versatile, domesticated animals kept for meat, milk and fiber. They are intelligent, social and difficult to herd. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo exhibits Nigerian dwarf goats.
Certain breeds have straight noses, while others have convex or slightly dished noses
Picture an intelligent mammal. One whose smarts are not only key to their survival but also, in certain situations, to that of humans.
“Many people wonder why we have Norway rats on exhibit at the Zoo, but the truth
Raise your trunks for the world’s largest land mammal: the elephant! Find out how animal keeper, Rebecca Riley, cares for Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Asian elephant herd.
Image: Both female and male African elephants have tusks.
The prehensile-tailed skink is a tree-dwelling species of lizard native to the Solomon Islands, a group of islands north of Australia. This animal is mostly vegetarian and lives in small, communal groups.
Male prehensile-tailed skinks tend to have a broader head and a more slender body
Guam rails are classified as extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but staff at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and partners are working to change the birds’ fate.
Royer: Animal keepers have an amazing opportunity to work with endangered species
A supersized salamander recently debuted at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Reptile Discovery Center. Get the scoop on these freshwater giants from keeper Kyle Miller.
Japanese giant salamanders breathe through their skin, have impossibly small eyes
Tokay geckos are one of the largest living gecko species. They are found in south and southeast Asia, where they often live in the same areas as humans and eliminate unwanted insect pests.
They have been found in Madagascar and have been transported to North America, Singapore
We’re leaping for joy and celebrating World Lemur Day at Smithsonian’s National Zoo! This special holiday—which takes place the last Friday in October—is the perfect occasion for learning all about our lemur friends.
Unlike other primates, such as monkeys, apes and humans, prosimians usually have
Smithsonian scientists discuss the impact of the first federal law designed to save endangered and imperiled animals from extinction.
Dozens of species, like the Hawaiian kauaʻi ʻōʻō, have been lost forever.
Japanese giant salamanders are the second-largest salamander species in the world. These long-lived amphibians lurk in Japan’s rocky, fast-flowing streams.
Some appear quite dark, while others have lighter patches of browns.
