Alphabet-Animals Chart
ca. 1984
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This poster was produced by English Teaching Forum: A Journal for the Teacher of English Outside the United States, published by the U.S. Department of State.
Transcript
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZA
armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo lives in the arid grasslands and semidesert climates of the southern United States and Central and South America. It has an armor like, jointed covering of between 8 and 10 bony plates. It spends the day in its burrow, emerging at night to search for food.
B
bison
Bison live on the prairies or open woodlands of North America. They live in herds that vary from a family group to several thousand. Bison spend their mornings and evenings feeding and other times either chewing their cud or wallowing in mud. Called buffalo in the United States, bison are easily recognized by their large heads and high humped shoulders.
C
chameleon
Chameleons are arboreal (tree dwellers), although a few species live on the ground. They are found in savanna vegetation, and no matter what size they are they all have the same characteristics: a body that is flattened from side to side, a head that has crests or horns, and large protruding eyes that can be moved independently of each other to locate insects or prey.
D
dingo
Dingos, wolflike wild dogs descended from domesticated dogs, are found in sandy deserts and forests in Australia. They live in family groups, other gathering into larger groups to hunt.
E
egret
The great egret--also known as the American egret--is found worldwide. It is white, with a long body and long legs and a broad wingspan. The egret hunts for its food in water, either wading or standing motionless.
F
falcon
The falcon's habitat is worldwide and varied; it is often found on mountains and sea cliffs. It is distinguished by long pointed wings and a hooked beak with a toothlike notch on each side of the upper bill. The falcon's chief prey is other birds. The peregrine falcon is almost unequaled in its speed and precision of flight. E
G
giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest land animal, and is found on the savanna of Africa south of the Sahara in troops of 6 to 12. Its characteristic coloration is light skin and dark irregular spots that can vary from one geographic location to another or even from animal to animal. Some giraffes may be almost white or black or even have no spots at all.
H
hummingbird
Hummingbirds live in woodlands and gardens worldwide. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are found in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. They are small, bright, iridescent nectar-sipping birds that can hover in front of a flower, their wings beating so fast that they appear motionless.
I
impala
Impalas are found in the woodlands and acacia savannas of Africa from North Africa south to Kenya and Uganda. They are graceful, medium-sized antelopes that can be found in herds of 200 or more. Impalas are able to make amazing leaps, sometimes as far as 10 meters and as high as 3 meters.
J
jackrabbit
The jackrabbit makes its home on the prairie lands of the United States, from Oregon east to South Dakota and Missouri and south to New Mexico. It has long ears and a large tail, and with its powerful hind limbs it can reach speeds up to 56 km/h.
K
koala
The koala is one of Australia's best-known marsupials. It is a tree dweller whose diet is limited to the leaves of the eucalyptus tree; it climbs down to the ground only to cross from one tree to another. Koalas live singly or in small family units.
L
lynx
The lynx lives in coniferous forests throughout Europe, Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. A member of the cat family, the lynx has a short tail and tufted ears. It is a solitary animal and stalks its prey on the ground, hiding in the vegetation.
M
manatee
Manatees are plant-eating aquatic mammals. They have two flippers in front and a broad spoon-shaped tail. They feed at night, foraging for food by touch and smell. Manatees are social animals and live in family groups. The American Manatee is found in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Guyana. E
N
numbat
The numbat is an insect eater somewhat like an anteater. It lives in the forests of southwestern Australia and feeds primarily on termites. E
O
orangutan
Orangutans are large primates found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. They are reddish brown and have strong, heavily built bodies. Orangutans live alone, in pairs, or in small groups, and they feed on fruits, leaves, and seeds. E
P
puffin
Puffins live out on the open sea and rocky coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic coasts of eastern North America to Western Eurasia. They are small, round-bodied marine birds with large heads and colorful striped bills. They feed on fish and shellfish.
Q
quetzal
The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala. It is found in the high-altitude rainforests of Mexico and Central America. An arboreal, solitary bird, it eats fruits and various small insects. At one time the quetzal's plumage was used in ceremonies by the ancient Mayas and Aztecs. E
R
rhinoceros
Rhinoceros (rhinos for short) are found in Africa from Chad and the Sudan to South Africa. There are five species of rhinoceros, including the Black Rhinoceros, which is found in Africa and lives alone. Despite its massive form, the rhinoceros can sprint at more than 55 km/h. It feeds on vegetation, one of its favorite foods being the acacia thorn. Rhinos have huge heads and one or two horns, with prehensile lips to help them browse on tough plant material. E
S
sea horse
The sea horse can be found in the shallow waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida through the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean. It feeds on small crustaceans and larvae. With its prehensile tail, elongated snout, and head bent at right angles, the sea horse is easily recognized.
T
tarsier
The tarsier lives in the secondary forest and scrub of Sumatra, Borneo, and the Philippines. It is a small arboreal, nocturnal primate with a long tail, large immobile eyes, and prominent pads on its fingers and toes. The tarsier sleeps during the day and awakens at dusk to prey on insects.
U
unicorn fish
The unicorn fish can be found in the coastal waters and coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific oceans from East Africa to Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. It is part of the surgeonfish family. Despite its name, the unicorn fish does not grow horn on its head. It swims in small schools and grazes on algae and coral.
V
vicuña
Vicuña live in the semiarid grasslands at altitudes over 4,000 meters in South America from Peru to northern Chile. They are fast, graceful animals capable of maintaining speeds of 47 km/h over long distances. They live in groups of up to 15, and they feed on grass and small plants. E
W
walrus
Walrus are large marine mammals that live on the pack ice and rocky islands of the Arctic Ocean. With their flippers, large tusks, and tough, wrinkled skin they navigate through the arctic seas, feeding on mollusks, crustaceans, starfish, and even other mammals.
X
xenosaurus
The xenosaurus lives in the rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala. Related to the crocodile lizard family, it has a flat head and powerful body. The xenosaurus spends much of its time hidden under tree roots or rocky crevices. It feeds at night on insects, especially winged termites and ants.
Y
yak
Wild yaks live in the desolate mountain country of western China on the Tibetan plateau and in northern India near the city of Kashmir. Large, stock-shaped, shaggy-haired wild oxen with large curved horns, they are usually found in large groups. E
Z
zorilla
The zorilla lives in the savanna and open country of Africa, from Senegal and Nigeria to South Africa. It is primarily a nocturnal creature and feeds on rodents, reptiles, and bird eggs. Easily recognized for its black and white coat, it is also called the striped polecat.
[inside box]
E A species in danger of extinction, as determined by the U. S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wild Life Service, Endangered Species Act of 1973. The service is charged with preserving jeopardized life as well as the natural resources on which life depends, thereby determining through "the condition of plant and animal species. . . .how much of our world still supports a healthy environment."
Animal drawings from Macmillan Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia, Philip Whitfield, editor.
Copyright © 1984 by Macmillan Publishing Co. Reprinted by permission.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
FORUM
[inside the O in the word Forum] English Teaching Forum A Journal for the Teacher of English Outside the United States
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Information Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 88693906
Full Citation: Poster 306-PAR-9-104B; English Teaching Forum. Sponsored posters: Alphabet-Animals Chart; ca. 1984; Posters Created or Acquired for Outpost Use, ca. 1960 - ca. 1994; Records of the U.S. Information Agency, Record Group 306; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/alphabet-animals, September 7, 2024]Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
