The fauna of the United States of America is all the animals living in the Continental United States and its surrounding seas and islands, the Hawaiian Archipelago, Alaska in the Arctic, and several island- territories in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. The U.S. has arguably the most diverse fauna in the world and has many distinctive indigenous species found nowhere else on Earth. With most of the North American continent, the U.S. lies in the Nearctic faunistic realm, a region containing an assemblage of species similar to northern parts of Africa and Eurasia. [1] An estimated 432 species of mammals characterize the fauna of the continental U.S. [2] More than 800 species of bird [3] and there are more than 100,000 known species of insects. [4] There are 311 known reptiles, 295 amphibians and 1154 known fish species in the U.S. [5] Known animals that exist in all of the lower 48 include white-tailed deer, bobcat, raccoon, muskrat, striped skunk,barn owl, American mink, American beaver, North American river otter and red fox. The red- tailed hawk is one of the most widely distributed hawks not only in the U.S., but in the Americas.Continental United StatesHawaiian ArchipelagoAlaskaisland- territoriesNearcticnorthern parts of AfricaEurasia [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]white-tailed deerbobcatraccoonmuskratstriped skunkbarn owlAmerican minkAmerican beaverNorth American river otterred foxred- tailed hawk

Huge parts of the country with the most distinctive indigenous wildlife are protected as national parks. In 2013, the U.S. had more than 6770 national parks or protected areas, all together more than 1,006,619 sq. miles (2,607,131 km 2 ). [6] The first national park wasYellowstone National Park in the state of Wyoming, established in Yellowstone National Park is widely considered to be the finestmegafauna wildlife habitat in the U.S. There are 67 species of mammals in the park, including the gray wolf, the threatened lynx, and thegrizzly bear [6]Yellowstone National Parkmegafaunagray wolflynxgrizzly bear

Contents 1 Western United States 1.1 Channel Islands 2 Southern United States 3 Central United States 4 Eastern United States 5 Hawaiian Islands 6 Alaska 6.1 Aleutian Islands 7 Territories 7.1 American Samoa 7.2 Virgin Islands 7.3 Guam 7.4 Northern Mariana Islands 7.5 Puerto Rico 8 Articles by area 8.1 Insular areas 9 Sources

In the western United States mule deer, white-tailed antelope squirrels, cougars, American badgers, coyotes, hawks and several species of snakes and lizards are common. While the American black bear lives throughout the U.S., the brown bears and grizzly bears are more common in the northwest and in Alaska. Along the West Coast there are several species of whales, sea otters,California sea lions, eared seals and northern elephant seals. In the dry, inland desert areas of states such as California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico there are some of the worlds most venomous lizards, snakes and scorpions. The most notorious might be the Gila monster and Mohave rattlesnake, both found in deserts in the Southwest. The Sonoran Desert has eleven species of rattlesnakes - more than anywhere else in the world. [8] Along the southwestern border there are jaguars and ocelots. Other mammals include the Virginia opossum, which occurs throughout California and coastal areas in Oregon and Washington.mule deerwhite-tailed antelope squirrelscougarsAmerican badgerscoyoteshawksAmerican black bearbrown bearsgrizzly bearsnorthwestWest Coastsea ottersCalifornia sea lionseared sealsnorthern elephant sealsGila monsterMohave rattlesnakeSouthwest [8]jaguarsocelotsVirginia opossum

The North American beaver and mountain beaver live in forested areas of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. The kit fox lives throughout Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, while the gray fox occurs throughout the Western U.S. The red fox occurs mostly in Oregon and Washington, while the island fox is a native to six of the eight Channel Islands in Southern California. These islands are also famous for their marine life and endemic species such as the Channel Islands spotted skunk, Garibaldi, island fence lizard,island scrub jay, bald eagle, and their non-native Catalina Island bison herd. The raccoon and spotted skunk occur throughout the Western U.S., while the ring-tailed cat occurs throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Western Texas, Utah, Colorado, and most of California. The American black bear occurs in most western states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Colorado.North American beavermountain beaverkit foxgray foxred foxisland foxChannel IslandsChannel Islands spotted skunkGaribaldiisland fence lizardisland scrub jaybald eagleCatalina Island bison herdraccoonspotted skunkring-tailed catAmerican black bear

The Channel Islands National Park consists of five out of the eight California Channel Islands. The Channel Islands are part of one of the richest marine biospheres of the world. Many unique species of plants and animals are endemic to the Channel Islands, including fauna such as the island fox, Channel Islands spotted skunk, island scrub jay, ashy storm- petrel, island fence lizard, island night lizard, Channel Islands slender salamander, Santa Cruz sheep, San Clemente loggerhead shrike and San Clemente sage sparrow. [9] Other animals in the islands include the California sea lion, California moray, bald eagle, Channel Islands spotted skunk and the non-native Catalina Island bison herd.Channel Islands National ParkCalifornia Channel Islandsendemicisland foxChannel Islands spotted skunkisland scrub jayashy storm- petrelisland fence lizardisland night lizardChannel Islands slender salamanderSanta Cruz sheepSan Clemente loggerhead shrikeSan Clemente sage sparrow [9]California sea lionCalifornia moraybald eagleChannel Islands spotted skunkCatalina Island bison herd

The South has a large variety of habitats, from swampland in Louisiana, coastal marshes and pine forests in the east in the Carolinas, hills throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, desert in Western Texas, mountains of West Virginia, and grassland prairie in Missouri, Oklahoma, and the Texas Panhandle. Animal species occurring throughout the region include the Virginia opossum,collared peccary, ring-tailed cat and nine-banded armadillo. The American alligator lives in every coastal state between North Carolina and Texas, while the less widespread American crocodile is only found in southern Florida. The alligator snapping turtle and more than forty other species of turtle are found in the swampland of the southern U.S. The coypu is an intrusive species which also thrives in the swamp areas. Some of the other species thriving in the southern wetlands include the Carolina anole, razor-backed musk turtle, broad-headed skink, and the coal skink. The gray- and red fox are found throughout the South, while the swift fox is found in northern Texas and Oklahoma.SouthVirginia opossumcollared peccaryring-tailed catnine-banded armadilloAmerican alligatorAmerican crocodilealligator snapping turtlecoypuCarolina anolerazor-backed musk turtlebroad-headed skinkcoal skinkgrayred foxswift fox

The white-nosed coati is found in southern parts of New Mexico and Texas. There have also been records of jaguars and ocelots in southern New Mexico and Texas. Other mammals include the American black bear, which is found in the woodlands of states such as Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and the Carolinas, and the white-tailed deer which is found in all the southern states. The Texas longhorn is the official state mammal of Texas, and the North American porcupine andAmerican beaver can be found throughout the South with the exception of Florida. Rabbits are common in the South; the eastern cottontail is found throughout the region, while the desert cottontail and black- tailed jackrabbit is primarily found in Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The swamp rabbit is found in wetlands of states like Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas. Tens of thousands desert bighorn sheep live in the southwestern U.Swhite-nosed coatijaguarsocelotsAmerican black bearwhite-tailed deerTexas longhornstate mammalNorth American porcupineAmerican beavereastern cottontaildesert cottontailblack- tailed jackrabbitswamp rabbitdesert bighorn sheep

In the American prairie in the Central United States lives mostly animals adapted for living in grasslands. Indigenous mammals include the American bison, eastern cottontail, black-tailed jackrabbit, plains coyote, black-tailed prairie dog, muskrat, opossum,raccoon, prairie chicken, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, swift foxes, pronghorn antelope, the Franklin's ground squirrel and several other species of ground squirrels. Reptiles include bullsnakes, common collared lizard, common snapping turtle, musk turtles, yellow mud turtle, painted turtle, western diamondback rattlesnake and the prairie rattlesnake. Some of the typical amphibians found in the region are the three-toed amphiuma, green toad, Oklahoma salamander, lesser siren and the plains spadefoot toad. In the Rocky Mountains and other mountainous areas of the inland is where the bald eagle is most observed, even though its habitat includes all of the Lower 48, as well as Alaska.American prairieCentral United StatesAmerican bisoneastern cottontailblack-tailed jackrabbitplains coyoteblack-tailed prairie dogmuskratopossumraccoonprairie chickenwild turkeywhite-tailed deerswift foxespronghorn antelopeFranklin's ground squirrelbullsnakescommon collared lizardcommon snapping turtlemusk turtlesyellow mud turtlepainted turtlewestern diamondback rattlesnakeprairie rattlesnakethree-toed amphiumaOklahoma salamanderlesser sirenplains spadefoot toadRocky Mountainsbald eagleLower 48

Rabbits live throughout the Great Plains and neighboring areas; the black-tailed jackrabbit is found in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas, the white-tailed jackrabbit in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the swamp rabbit in swampland in Texas, and the eastern cottontail is found in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and every state in the Eastern U.S. Virginia opossum is found is states such as Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas. The nine-banded armadillo is found throughout the South and states such as Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The muskrat is found throughoutCentral U.S., excluding Texas, while the American beaver is found in every central state. The groundhog is widespread throughout Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota.Great Plainsblack-tailed jackrabbitwhite-tailed jackrabbitswamp rabbiteastern cottontailVirginia opossumnine-banded armadilloSouthmuskratCentralAmerican beavergroundhog Maybe the most iconic animal of the American prairie, the American buffalo, once roamed throughout the central plains. Bison once covered the Great Plains and were critically important to Native-American societies in the Central U.S. They became nearly extinct in the 19th century, but have made a recent resurgence in the Great Plains. Today, bison numbers have rebounded to about 200,000, which live on preserves and ranches. [11] Some of the species that occupy every central state include the red fox, bobcat, white-tailed deer, raccoon, eastern spotted skunk, striped skunk, long-tailed weasel, and the American badger and beaver. American buffalo [11]red foxbobcatwhite-tailed deerraccooneastern spotted skunkstriped skunklong-tailed weaselAmerican badgerbeaver

In the Appalachian Mountains and the Eastern United States are many animals native to the forest. That includes for instance deers, rabbits, rodents, squirrels, hares, woodpeckers, owls, foxes and bears. The New England region is particularly famous for its crab and the American lobster live along most of the Atlantic Coast. The bobcat, raccoon and striped skunk live in every eastern state, while the American alligator lives in every coastal state between North Carolina and Texas. Some species of mammals found throughout the Eastern U.S. includes the red- and gray fox, the North American beaver, North American porcupine, Virginia opossum, eastern mole, coyote, white-tailed deer, American mink, North American river otter, and long- tailed weasel. The American black bear lives throughout most of New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Virginias, and parts of the Carolinas and Florida. Shrews are common: the cinereus shrew, long-tailed shrew and American water shrew are widespread in the New England region, while theNorth American least shrew and southeastern shrew are common in the southeastern states. The American pygmy shrew, smoky shrew, and northern short-tailed shrew are found from the Appalachian Mountains to New England. The star-nosed mole lives throughout the Eastern U.S., while the hairy-tailed mole is more common from the Appalachians to New England in the north.Appalachian MountainsAmerican lobsterbobcatraccoonstriped skunkAmerican alligatorredgray foxNorth American beaverNorth American porcupineVirginia opossumeastern molecoyotewhite-tailed deerAmerican minkNorth American river otterlong- tailed weaselAmerican black bearcinereus shrewlong-tailed shrewAmerican water shrewNorth American least shrewsoutheastern shrewAmerican pygmy shrewsmoky shrewnorthern short-tailed shrewstar-nosed molehairy-tailed mole

Hares are also common: the snowshoe hare thrives from the Appalachians to New England, the Appalachian cottontail is only found in the Appalachians, the New England cottontail is only found in New England, while the eastern cottontail is widespread throughout the east. While the white-footed mouse and muskrat are common throughout the east, with the exception of Florida, the meadow voleis found from the Appalachians to New England and the southern red-backed vole is found in New England. The brown rat and thehouse mouse were both introduced and their habitat range throughout the Eastern U.S. Weasels such as the fisher and short-tailed weasel are found in the northeast. The eastern chipmunk, fox squirrel, eastern gray squirrel and the woodchuck are found throughout the region, while the southern flying squirrel and northern flying squirrel are more common in the southeast, the American red squirrelis more common in the northeast. The least weasel is native to the Appalachian Mountains. The wild boar is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig and found in most of the southeastern region. The Canada lynx is found in parts of New England. Species of bats found throughout the east includes the eastern pipistrelle, silver-haired bat, eastern red bat, hoary bat, big brown bat, little brown bat,northern long-eared myotis, and in most regions the eastern small-footed myotis, gray bat and Indiana bat.snowshoe hareAppalachian cottontailNew England cottontaileastern cottontailwhite-footed mousemuskratmeadow volesouthern red-backed volebrown rathouse mousefishershort-tailed weaseleastern chipmunkfox squirreleastern gray squirrelwoodchucksouthern flying squirrelnorthern flying squirrelAmerican red squirrelleast weaselwild boarCanada lynxeastern pipistrellesilver-haired bateastern red bathoary batbig brown batlittle brown batnorthern long-eared myotiseastern small-footed myotisgray batIndiana bat

Much of the fauna in Hawai'i has developed special adaptations to their home and evolved into new species. Today, nearly 90% percent of the fauna in Hawai'i are endemic, meaning that they exist nowhere else on Earth. [19] Kauaʻi is home to the largest number of tropical birds, as it is the only island free of mongooses. The small Asian mongoose is widespread throughout the archipelago, except on the islands of Lanaʻi and Kauaʻi. Famous birds include ʻiʻiwi, nukupuu, Kauaʻi ʻamakihi and ʻōʻū. The hoary bat is found in the Koke'e State Park on Kauaʻi, wild horses live in the Waipio Valley, wild cattle by the Mauna Kea and the Australian brush-tailed rock-wallaby live by theKalihi Valley on Oʻahu. The Hawaiian monk seal, wild goats, sheep and pigs live throughout most of the archipelago. In Hawai'i, three species of sea turtles are considered native: honu, honuea and the leatherback sea turtle. Two other species, the loggerhead sea turtleand the olive ridley sea turtle, are sometimes observed in Hawaiian waters. [20] The Hawaiian green sea turtle is the most common sea turtle in Hawaiian waters. As well as turtles, the sea life consist of more than forty species of shark [19] and the Hawaiian spinner dolphin is widespread. Hawaii's coral reefs are home to over 5000 species, and 25 percent of these are found nowhere else in the world [19]mongoosessmall Asian mongooseʻiʻiwinukupuuKauaʻi ʻamakihiʻōʻūhoary batKoke'e State ParkWaipio Valleywild cattleMauna Keabrush-tailed rock-wallabyKalihi ValleyHawaiian monk sealhonuhonuealeatherback sea turtleloggerhead sea turtleolive ridley sea turtle [20]green sea turtle [19]Hawaiian spinner dolphin

Main article: Fauna of AlaskaFauna of Alaska Grizzley bears Grizzley bears are found throughoutAlaska, parts of Montana and on the Canadian border in Idaho. They're also found in Yellowstone National Park.AlaskaMontanaIdahoYellowstone National Park The wildlife of Alaska is abundant, extremely diverse and includes for instance polar bears, puffins, moose, bald eagles, Arctic foxes, wolves, Canadian lynx, muskox, snowshoe hare, mountain goats, walrus and caribou. Life zones in Alaska range from grasslands, mountains, tundra to thick forests, which leads to a huge diversity in terrain and geology throughout the state. Alaska has also over 430 species of birds and the largest population of bald eagles in the nation. From pygmy shrews that weigh less than a penny to gray whales that weigh 45 tons, Alaska is the "Last Frontier" for animals as well as people. Many species endangered elsewhere are still abundant in Alaska.wildlife of Alaskapolar bearspuffinsmoosebald eaglesArctic foxesCanadian lynxmuskoxsnowshoe harewalruscaribou The Aleutian Islands are home to an abundance of large bird colonies; more than 240 bird species inhabit in Alaska's Aleutian Archipelago. [22] Large seabird colonies are present on islands like Buldir Island, which has 21 breeding seabird species, including the Bering Sea-endemic red-legged kittiwake. [23] Large seabird colonies are also present on Kiska Island, Gareloi Island, Semisopochnoi Island, Bogoslof Island, and several others. The islands are also frequented by vagrant Asiatic birds, including the common rosefinch,Siberian rubythroat, bluethroat, lanceolated warbler, and the first North American record of the intermediate egret. Other animals in the Aleutian Chain include the Arctic fox,American mink, porcupine caribou, northern sea otter, horned puffin, tufted puffin, Steller sea lion, spotted seal, ringed seal, northern fur seal and many more. [24]Aleutian Islandsbird coloniesAleutian Archipelago [22]Buldir Islandred-legged kittiwake [23]Kiska IslandGareloi IslandSemisopochnoi IslandBogoslof Islandcommon rosefinchSiberian rubythroatbluethroatlanceolated warblerintermediate egretArctic foxAmerican minkporcupine caribounorthern sea otterhorned puffintufted puffinSteller sea lionspotted sealringed sealnorthern fur seal [24]

Because of its remote location, diversity among the terrestrial species is low. The Archipelago has a huge variety in Animals and more than 9,000 acres is a nationalpark: National Park of American Samoa. The park stretches over three of the six islands in the archipelago: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega and Taū. Eight mammal species have been recorded at American Samoa, of which none of them are critically endangered. [25] The mammals include several species of native bats, including the Samoa flying fox and insular flying fox. The avifauna includes 65 species of bird [26] where the more unusual distinctive ones are the blue-crowned lorikeet, the spotless crake, the many-coloured fruit dove, the wattled honeyeater, tropical pigeons, the samoan starling, white tern, black noddy and thered- tailed tropicbird. [27] There are many reptiles in the islands, including five species of geckos, eight species of skinks and two species of snakes: the Pacific boa and the Australoasian blindsnake. [28] The marine life is magnificent and much concentrated around the colorful coral reefs. The Samoan ocean is a home to sea turtles as hawksbill sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle and the green sea turtle. Five species of dolphins live in the area: spinner dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin, bottlenose dolphin,pantropical spotted dolphin and striped dolphin. [28]TutuilaOfu-OlosegaTaū [25]Samoa flying foxinsular flying fox [26]blue-crowned lorikeetspotless crakemany-coloured fruit dovewattled honeyeatersamoan starlingwhite ternblack noddyred- tailed tropicbird [27]Pacific boaAustraloasian blindsnake [28]hawksbill sea turtleolive ridley sea turtleleatherback sea turtlegreen sea turtlespinner dolphinrough-toothed dolphinbottlenose dolphinpantropical spotted dolphinstriped dolphin [28]

The Virgin Islands National Park covers approximately 60% of the Island of St. John and nearly all of Hassel Island. The national park has more than 140 species of birds, 302 species of fish, 7 species of amphibians and 22 species of mammals. [29] The tropical Virgin Islands are home to a huge variety of wildlife, including many unique species endemic to the archipelago. There are three species of sea turtles in the USVI that inhabit the local waters and utilize beaches for nesting: the green sea turtle, the hawksbill sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle. [30] Several species of sharks, manatees and dolphins roam the seas.Virgin Islands National ParkSt. JohnHassel Island [29]endemicarchipelago [30] Shorty after World War II, the brown tree snake was introduced to the island of Guam and caused much of the endemic wildlife to become extinct. Due to an abundance of prey species and lack of predators, the brown tree snakes population exploded and reached nearly 13,000 snakes per square mile at most. [31] Ten out of twelve endemic bird species, ten lizards and two bats all became extinct as a result of the introduction of the brown tree snake. In recent years, a lot has been done by the U.S. government to decrease the number of brown tree snakes on the island. For instance in 2013, a $1 million program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dropped more than 2000 mice filled with poison on the island. [32] In 2013, it is estimated to be more than two million brown tree snakes on the island. [32] Other introduced species include the Philippine deer, the Asiatic water buffalo, the marine toad and thegiant African land snail. [31] Several native species of skinks, geckos and monitor lizards are still found on the island.brown tree snake [31]U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [32] Philippine deerAsiatic water buffalomarine toadgiant African land snail [31]

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is home to 40 indigenous and introduced bird species. Some endemic bird species are the Mariana fruit dove, the Mariana swiftlet, the Rota white-eye, the Tinian monarch, the bridled white-eye and the golden white-eye. Other common, but introduced species, include the collared kingfisher, the rufous fantail, the fairy tern and the uniform swiftlet. The Mariana fruit bat is endemic to both Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The sambar deer is the largest mammal and lives on several of the islands. The monitor lizard, ranging up to 3 feet long, is also present on the island of Rota. The oceans are home to more than a thousand species of marine life, [33] including for instance the coconut crabs, the mahi-mahi, the barracuda, tridacna,marlin and tuna.Mariana fruit doveMariana swiftletRota white-eyeTinian monarchbridled white-eyegolden white-eyecollared kingfisherrufous fantailfairy ternuniform swiftletMariana fruit batsambar deermonitor lizard [33]coconut crabsmahi-mahibarracudatridacnamarlintuna Puerto Rico has 349 bird species, 83 mammals, 25 amphibians, 61 reptiles and 677 species of fish. Birds found nowhere else on earth include for instance the Puerto Rican screech owl, the Puerto Rican woodpecker, the Puerto Rican tody, the green mango, the Puerto Rican emerald, the Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo, the Puerto Rican nightjar and many more. All current endemic 13 land mammals are bats, which includes for instance the greater bulldog bat, the Antillean ghost-faced bat and the Parnell's mustached bat. Extinct native mammals include the plate-toothed giant hutia and the Puerto Rican cave rat. Reptiles unique to Puerto Rico include the Puerto Rican boa, the guanica blindsnake, the Mona Island iguana, the Puerto Rican worm lizard, the Puerto Rican galliwasp and the Nichols dwarf gecko. Amphibians native to the island include the Puerto Rican crested toad, the common coqui, the locust coqui, the wrinkled coqui, the forest coqui, the elfin coqui and the bronze coqui. Endemic fish include the Puerto Rican snake eel and the Puerto Rico coralbrotulaPuerto Rican screech owlPuerto Rican woodpeckerPuerto Rican todygreen mangoPuerto Rican emeraldPuerto Rican lizard cuckooPuerto Rican nightjargreater bulldog batAntillean ghost-faced batParnell's mustached batplate-toothed giant hutiaPuerto Rican cave ratPuerto Rican boaMona Island iguanaPuerto Rican worm lizardgalliwaspPuerto Rican crested toadcommon coquilocust coquielfin coquibronze coqui