Earth is a pretty miraculous place. It’s just the right distance from our Sun to host a wide range of lifeforms. If it were farther away, we would freeze. If it were closer (like Venus or Mercury), it would be uninhabitable. As far as we know, life exists nowhere else in our solar system. And life doesn’t just exist here; it’s exploded into millions of amazing species that live on land, in the water, and even in the air. There are nearly 200 sovereign nations in the world today, and each one has chosen a National Animal that is representative of that respective nation’s habitats and biomes. Let’s look at just a few:

CHINA

There are many interesting animal species in China, but perhaps none more famous than its national animal, the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca). More commonly known as panda bear or simply panda, the giant panda is native to south central China. Giant pandas are primarily herbivores, with 99% of their diet consisting of bamboo shoots and leaves.

INDIA

Asian elephants and one-horned rhinos are native to India, but India’s national animal is a more ferocious predator – the Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris). Its roar can be heard up to 2 miles, making it one of Earth’s loudest creatures. Bengal tigers are commonly found in deep forests and swamplands, and – unlike other cat species – they are actually very powerful swimmers.

GREECE

Brown bear, Eurasian lynx, and western roe deer all roam the mountainous terrain of Greece, but none of these are the national animal. Would you believe that their national animal is an aquatic species? That’s right, the national animal of Greece is the Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis). Much of Greece is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, and dolphins have actually played a role in Greek culture for thousands of years.

Ready to learn about more national animals? Check out this Carport Direct infographic, which highlights 47 National Animals from Around the World! Carport Direct is the best Online Metal Carports Dealer across the US.