Kids love to read about animals. This collection of fascinating articles covers all types of zoo animals from polar bears and capybaras to pythons and jaguars. These articles are written at a 3rd through 5th grade reading level.
Mammals
Aardvarks MemberEven though it is sometimes called earth pigs, aardvarks aren't really related to pigs at all.
Armadillos MemberLearn about the armored mammals called armadillos, which can be found in various areas throughout North and South America.
Camels MemberLearn why camels have humps, how their coat helps them to survive, and other interesting camel facts.
Capybara MemberLearn about our planet's largest species of rodent, the capybara.
Chipmunks MemberDiscover what's unusual about a chipmunk's cheeks, along with other interesting chipmunk facts.
Elephant Seals MemberFind out why these strange animals are called elephant seals and learn about their unusual hunting habits.
Fennec Fox FreeThe bushy-tailed, big-eared fennec fox in an amazing species that is adapted to live in desert climates.
Groundhog or Woodchuck? MemberDid you know groundhogs are great swimmers? And they can climb trees too! They can also bark and whistle. Learn these and many more interesting facts about groundhogs in this article.
Hedgehogs MemberDiscover everything you wanted to know about spiny hedgehogs.
Honey Badgers MemberThe honey badger is arguably the most fearless animal on Earth. It eats porcupines and poisonous snakes, raids beehives for honey, kidnaps baby cheetahs, and steals food from hungry lions.
Hyenas MemberHyenas are neither cats nor dogs, but in a family all their own. These fierce scavengers gobble up leftovers left by other animals.
Jaguars MemberDiscover how jaguars live and hunt, and learn why these beautiful animals are endangered.
Koalas MemberThe cutest mammals in Australia actually have very sharp claws and they spend more time asleep than they do awake.
Llamas MemberLlamas are are very helpful to man. They work as pack animals that carry heavy goods. They also provide wool for clothing. Some even help ranchers protect their sheep from coyotes.
Mandrills MemberMandrills, with their bright blue and red noses, are perhaps the most colorful mammals in the world.
Muntjac (Barking Deer) MemberHave you ever heard of a barking deer? If you visit South America you may see muntjacs - small deer that like dogs.
Orcas (Killer Whales) MemberOrcas, or killer whales, are known as wolves of the sea because of their hunting practices.
Platypus MemberLearn about the unusual life of world's strangest-looking mammal.
Polar Bears MemberDiscover how polar bears have adapted to live in the Arctic.
Polecats MemberLearn about the weasel-like animal known as the polecat.
Porcupines FreeIt rattles like a rattlesnake and it it gives off a fowl odor like a skunk. What is it? A porcupine!
Skunks MemberLearn dozens of fascinating facts about stinky, smelly skunks.
Sloths MemberRead about the slow-moving sloth from Central and South America.
Spectacled Bear MemberBears don't wear glasses, but the spectacled bear from South America has circular markings that make it look like it's got spectacles.
Spiny Anteaters (Echidnas) MemberEchidnas are one of only two mammals they lay eggs. Females also have a pouch to carry their babies, just like kangaroos.
Tamanduas MemberThis strange looking animal has four legs, a long snout, large ears,and lurks in the forests of Central and South America.
Wolverines MemberThe wolverine is a solitary, but fierce, hunter who lives in snowy, northern climates across the world.
Reptiles
Alligators and Crocodiles MemberLearn how alligators and crocodiles are different and how they're similar.
Boas and Pythons MemberLearn the similarities and differences between boas and pythons with this compare/contrast article.
Chameleons MemberChameleons can change color, rotate their eyes, and have toes that are specially adapted for climbing.
Gila Monster MemberLurking in the deserts of the Southwestern United States is a colorful monster with a forked tongue, big head, and powerful claws.
Horned Lizards MemberLearn tons of fascinating facts about iguanas in this article.
Iguanas MemberLearn tons of fascinating facts about iguanas in this article.
Tamanduas MemberA tamandua is an unusual-looking animal with four legs, a long snout, big ears, and a flexible tail.
Tuatara MemberThe tuatara is a rare reptile found only in New Zealand. While it looks like a lizard, it's really more closely related to a snake.
Komodo Dragons MemberAre dragons real? You bet they are. Indonesians know all about the fierce lizard known as the Komodo dragon.
Birds
Bee Hummingbird FreeThe world's smallest bird - the bee hummingbird - can hover in place, fly upside down, and even fly backwards.
Eagle MemberThe American bald eagle has such good eyesight, it can spot a fish from a mile away! It is also a national symbol of the United States.
Flamingo MemberThe flamingo is one of the most recognized birds in the world because of it's unusual body shape and hot-pink feathers.
Flightless Birds MemberLearn about several birds that run and walk and swim instead of fly.
Peacocks (Peafowl) MemberDid you know that all peacocks are male? Female peacocks are called peahens. In this article students will learn many fascinating facts about peafowl.
Penguins FreeLearn about two different penguin species - the Emperor penguin and the Galapagos penguin. One of them lives in frigid Antarctica. The other lives on the tropical Equator.
Secretary Bird MemberThe secretary bird is a large, terrestrial raptor from Africa. It eats mice, hares, mongooses, lizards, and even snakes.
Toucans MemberA toucan's colorful bill is certainly beautiful, but did you know that it also helps the toucan in many ways?
Fish
Flying Fish MemberIt's not a bird, nor a plane. It's a flying fish! Learn all about these strange animals.
Great White Sharks MemberLook out! The world's second largest, and most ferocious shark may be swimming in an ocean near you.
Seahorses MemberYour students will learn lots of interesting and unusual facts about seahorses when they read this article.
Amphibians
Frogs and Toads MemberDiscover the similarities and differences between frogs and toads.
Amphibians and Reptiles MemberCan your students tell a reptile from an amphibian? This compare and contrast article will help students learn the differences between these two vertebrate groups.
Insects, Spiders, and Bugs
Grasshoppers MemberAre grasshoppers a farmer's friend or foe? Actually, both. Find out how grasshoppers can help and harm humans.
Leaf Cutter Ants MemberLearn all about leaf cutter ants, and their highly developed insect society.
Ladybugs MemberLearn how ladybugs got their name, and why some farmers love them.
Mealworms MemberFind out how to build a mealworm habitat and raise your own darkling beetles.
Monarch Butterfly MemberFind out how monarch butterflies protect themselves and learn about their transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.
Moths and Butterflies MemberLearn the similarities and differences between butterflies and moths.
Pill Bugs MemberLearn all about roly-poly pill bugs, which curl up in a ball to protect themselves.
Pseudoscorpions MemberPseudoscorpions are tiny, harmless scorpion-like creatures that can sometimes be found in bathrooms. Read about these interesting arachnids and answer the questions. (non-fiction)
Tarantulas MemberTarantulas are different from other spiders because they don't spin webs to trap food and they live in underground burrows.
Spiders, Beetles, and Centipedes MemberFind out about three different subgroups of arthropods- insects, arachnids, and myriapods.
Stink Bugs MemberDiscover the stink bug - an animal that uses a noxious odor to scare enemies away.
Other Animals
Octopus FreeI bet you didn't know that an octopus can vanish in a cloud of smoke. It's just one of the unique ways an octopus can defend itself.
Peter Pan Jellyfish MemberA fascinating article about a special type of jellyfish that can revert back to infancy and begin its life all over again.
Animal Topics
Camouflage MemberMany animals use camouflage to hide from predators and to avoid being seem while hunting.
Hibernation MemberMany animals in northern climates hibernate, or slow down and sleep, during the winter months.
Migration MemberFind out why animals migrate from one place to another.
Nocturnal Animals MemberThis passage is about animals who are adapted to sleep during the day and become active during the nighttime hours.
Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores MemberCompare and contrast contract herbivores, carnivores, and onivores.
See also:
Third Grade Reading ComprehensionThird grade stories, articles, passages and poems
Fourth Grade Reading Comprehension WorksheetsFourth grade reading stories, articles, and poems
Fifth Grade Reading Comprehension WorksheetsFifth grade reading stories, articles, and poems
Science: Animal WorksheetsAnimal (vertebrate) classification worksheets
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