This Fourth of July, we’re honoring the creatures that make the United States rich—in biodiversity, that is.
To date, scientists have identified more than 32,000 distinct animal species living in the country, from thousands of species of beetles to just one marsupial (it’s the Virginia opossum).
According to NatureServe, an organization that keeps tabs on North American flora and fauna, more than 7,000 of those species are endemic, meaning they’re native to the U.S. and nowhere else—and researchers are certain that’s an underestimate. (Learn more about July 4th and its history.)
We’re proud to call these animals our neighbors, whether the U.S. is their only home in the world or just a stopover on a grand migration.
From the mountains
Whether it’s the alpine slopes of Washington State or the mesas of the Mojave Desert, the bighorn sheep makes scaling sheer cliffs look like a walk in the park.
With their enormous, curved horns, the bighorn ram is a symbol of stubbornness and persistence. To establish pecking order during mating season, rams spend half the year running headlong into their rivals.
While a deer’s antlers are solid bone, the bighorn sheep’s headgear is composed of a bony core covered by keratin, the same protein that makes up our hair and fingernails. And since the sheep never shed their horns, dark stripes on the horns called annuli can be counted to determine a ram’s age—just like the rings of a tree. (Read how bighorn sheep are bouncing back in California.)
To the prairies
Tipping the scales at as much as 2,200 pounds, the American bison was the king of the plains until overhunting by settlers pushed them to the brink of extinction. By 1889, only a few hundred survived of the more than 50 million that Plains Indians had hunted sustainably for centuries.
Captive breeding programs and reintroduction in national parks and refuges have bolstered the wild population to more than 20,000 bison in the U.S. If you’re lucky enough to see one roaming free, keep a respectful distance. They may seem like big, lumbering beasts, but American bison have been clocked at speeds up to 35 miles an hour. (See beautiful photos of bison.)
Today, bison share the grasslands with the prairie chicken, a critically endangered member of the grouse family that knows how to put on a show. When it’s time to wow the ladies, the male prairie chicken stages a complicated courtship display: He inflates bright yellow air sacs on either side of his neck to create low, resonant hoots called “booms” and slaps his feet on the ground in what looks like a frantic tap dance. Irresistible.
To the oceans, white with foam
Native Hawaiians call it Ilio holo I ka uaua, meaning “dog that runs in rough water,” while 18th century scientists saw a friar’s habit in its rounded head and smooth, dark pelt.
The Hawaiian monk seal made international headlines back in 2018 when a handful of juveniles were spotted with eels stuck up their noses. Native only to the Hawaiian archipelago, the Hawaiian monk seal makes a living by cruising coral reefs. Surprisingly, this slippery predator has only 16 teeth, half as many as the average human—though that probably seems like plenty to the fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods that make up the monk seal’s diet.
Our home, sweet home
Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about the animals that share our country, from the Gila monster—who needs a new public relations strategy—to the vernal pool fairy shrimp.
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
History & Culture
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
- See how ancient Indigenous artists left their markSee how ancient Indigenous artists left their mark
Science
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
- Every 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost timeEvery 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost time
- How do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tipsHow do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tips
- Why outdoor adventure is important for women as they ageWhy outdoor adventure is important for women as they age
Travel
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture
- This royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala LumpurThis royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur
- This author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomadsThis author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomads
- Slow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capitalSlow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capital