Hey there! Are you interested in learning about some fantastic brown animals? There are lots of amazing creatures in the animal kingdom that come in shades of brown. In this post, we’ll examine ten different brown animals and some interesting facts about them. From furry mammals to slithering reptiles, these brown critters are pretty neat. Let’s get started!
Grizzly Bear
One of the most iconic brown animals is the grizzly bear. These big bears can weigh up to 800 pounds! Grizzly bears live in North America in Canada, Alaska, and Wyoming. They have thick brown fur that can range from blonde to nearly black. This helps grizzlies blend into their forest and mountain environments.
Grizzly bears are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and meat. Their favourite foods are berries, nuts, roots, and fish. But they also hunt for elk, moose, and other large mammals. Grizzlies need to eat a ton of food before hibernating for the winter, up to 20,000 calories per day!
Male grizzlies are called boars, and females are called sows. Sows give birth to one to four cubs while in hibernation. The cubs stay with their mom for two to three years, learning how to hunt and survive. Grizzlies can live around 30 years in the wild.
Capybara
The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Native to South America, these funny-looking critters can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds! Capybaras have barrel-shaped bodies with short legs and small heads. Their fur is dense and ranges from brown to reddish-brown.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic, meaning they live part of their life in water. They can be found in swamps, marshes, rivers, and ponds. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to 5 minutes! They have webbed feet, and their eyes, ears, and nostrils are near the top of their head so they can stick out of the water.
These rodents live in large family groups that can contain over 100 capybaras! They are herbivores and graze mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Capybaras are crepuscular, most active around dawn and dusk. They can make dog-like barks to communicate with each other.
Capybaras are quite gentle and tame. In some areas, they are kept as pets! But in the wild, they still need to watch out for predators like jaguars, caimans, and eagles.
Bushpig
Found in sub-Saharan Africa, the bushpig has a reputation as one of the ugliest brown animals out there. They have a long snout, small eyes, and a scruffy brown coat. But what they lack in looks, they make up for in smarts. Bushpigs are very intelligent and adaptable.
These pigs use their long snout to dig up roots, tubers, fruits, and crops to eat. They have sharp tusks they use for defending themselves and fighting for mates. If hungry, Bushpigs will eat almost anything, even meat from dead animals.
One cool fact about bushpigs is that the females synchronize birthing. When one sow gives birth to a litter, it triggers the other sows to give birth around the same time. This helps protect the piglets from predators through strength in numbers.
Walrus
Can you picture a 1-ton sea mammal with huge tusks? That’s the walrus! These giants live in the icy Arctic waters of the North Pole region. Walruses have brown, wrinkly skin and a very thick layer of blubber to keep warm in frigid temperatures. Their most notable feature is those long ivory tusks.
Walruses use their tusks to break through ice, pull themselves onto land, and show dominance. Both male and female walruses have tusks, but the males are much larger, up to 3 feet long! The tusks are also used to protect themselves from predators like polar bears and killer whales.
These marine mammals spend two-thirds of their life in water searching for food. Walruses use their sensitive whiskers to find shellfish like clams, snails, and crabs on the ocean floor. They crush the shells with their powerful jaws. Walruses can hold their breath for 30 minutes while diving!
You’ll see walruses gathered in large groups, called herds, on land or ice. They use their tusks and bodies to protect babies and establish territory. Walruses make grunting, bell-like sounds to communicate with each other in the noisy Arctic.
Mountain Lion
Few brown animals are as feared and respected as the mountain lion. Also called cougars, panthers, and pumas, these big cats are known for their power and stealth. They have muscular, deep brown bodies that blend perfectly into wooded or rocky environments.
Mountain lions are about 7-8 feet long and weigh 75-150 pounds on average. Their hind legs are larger than their front legs, giving them incredible jumping power. Mountain lions can leap 40 feet straight up and cover 50 feet in one bound! This helps them take down prey like deer and elk.
These solitary hunters are ambush predators. They stalk their prey patiently, often for hours, getting close enough to attack in just seconds. Mountain lions use their sharp claws and teeth to take down prey with a bite to the neck or head. They drag the carcass to a secluded area and can gorge up to 20 pounds in one sitting!
Bactrian Camel
The Bactrian camel is a unique-looking animal. Native to Asia, these camels are characterized by their two humps for storing fat and brown, shaggy coats. This helps them thrive in Mongolia and China’s harsh Gobi Desert and cold steppes.
Bactrian camels grow over 6 feet tall and weigh 1,500 pounds. Their long eyelashes, sealable nostrils, and wide feet also help with life in the desert. Bactrians can survive losing 30% of their body weight to water loss! They can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes.
Don’t let their chunky, ungainly appearance fool you. Bactrians can reach speeds over 40 mph in the open desert. They are also quite intelligent and have excellent memories, often used in the past for transporting goods along trade routes.
Bactrian camels are herbivores and use their tough lips and teeth to turn desert brush into dinner. Females give birth to a single calf each year. The calves grow rapidly on their mother’s milk, doubling in size in just two months!
Speckled Wood Butterfly
For a much smaller brown creature, check out the speckled wood butterfly. This pretty little insect lives throughout the UK and Europe. It has tawny brown wings with cream and orange spots and speckles.
Speckled woods thrive in wooded areas, forests, parks, and gardens. They especially like areas with dappled sunlight filtering through vegetation. Caterpillars feed on grasses before forming a pupa and emerging with wings as an adult after metamorphosis.
The speckled wood sips flower nectar through its long proboscis while flitting about in search of food and mates. This species isn’t threatened and enjoys living close to human habitats.
Common Myna
Let’s head to Southeast Asia to check out the common myna. These intelligent birds are brown with black heads, yellow patches, and white markings on their wings. The common myna is an omnivore and is very adaptable when finding food.
Mynas probe the ground for insects, larvae, worms, and snails. They also eat fruit, seeds, and human food scraps. Common mynas are bold birds and not shy around people. They thrive in urban areas like cities, farms, and agricultural areas.
Though native to Asia, common mynas have been introduced worldwide, sometimes becoming an invasive pest. One cool fact about these brown birds is their ability to mimic speech and sounds! They are popular pets because of their talking ability and lively personalities.
Next time you visit a city park, listen and look for the distinct squawks and whistles of the chatty, crowd-loving common myna!
Eastern Brown Snake
Australia is well known for being home to the most venomous snakes in the world. The eastern brown snake is one of the deadliest serpents found down under. Luckily, they earned their name and have a brown, slender body with a pale belly.
Eastern browns prefer habitats with lots of hiding spots and prey, like forests, woodlands, and farmlands. They hunt mice, small mammals, lizards, and birds. Eastern browns are fast movers, allowing them to strike prey rapidly before it can react.
When threatened, the eastern brown rears up and can attack with alarming speed. Their venom causes progressive paralysis and can stop a person’s breathing in minutes. Though bites are rare, this snake’s highly toxic venom makes it quite dangerous.
So next time you’re hiking in Australia, watch your step! Eastern browns like to bask in sunny patches and won’t move until approached up close. Give these camouflaged brown serpents a wide berth if spotted!
Bongo
Last up is an amazing African antelope called the bongo. They have a gorgeous red-brown coat with thin white stripes running vertically down their sides. Male bongos also have large spiralled horns.
Bongos live in dense rainforests and forage on leaves, bushes, vines, bark, and roots. Their diet provides nutrients but not much energy, so they only move around a little to conserve calories. Bongos use their long, prehensile tongue to grab foliage and avoid thorns.
These antelopes are quite shy and elusive. They are most active at night and are rarely seen. Bongos use paths carved through the rainforest to find salt licks to supplement their mineral intake. The calves can stand within an hour of birth and are soon able to follow their mothers.