Animal Species Profiles:
Mammals, Birds, Reptiles & More
Explore wildlife from around the world with the species profiles on WildlifePhotographer. Mammals, birds, reptiles… For each species, you’ll find key information such as habitat, observation periods, distribution, and photography tips. Want more details and advanced features? Download the full app for the complete experience.
Yellow Baboon
Papio cynocephalus
The yellow baboon, Papio cynocephalus, is a medium-sized primate known for its yellow-brown coat and elongated face. It primarily inhabits the savannas and open woodlands of East Africa. Yellow baboons are social animals, living in groups that can number up to 200 individuals. They have a complex social structure with well-established hierarchies. Omnivorous, they feed on fruits, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates. Their behavior is marked by great adaptability, allowing them to thrive in various environments. Yellow baboons play a crucial role in their ecosystem, particularly in seed dispersal.
Yangtze river dolphin
Lipotes vexillifer
The baiji, or Yangtze river dolphin, was a freshwater mammal endemic to China’s Yangtze River, measuring 2–2.5 m in length and weighing 135–230 kg, with a streamlined pale grey-blue body and a long, slightly upturned beak. It relied on echolocation to feed on fish and shrimp in the river’s turbulent, silt-laden waters.
Yunnan snub-nosed monkey
Rhinopithecus bieti
The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) is a large arboreal primate measuring 74–83 cm in body length (excluding tail) and weighing 14–17 kg, distinguished by its striking black-and-white coat, pink lips and flattened nose lacking nasal bones. Endemic to the alpine coniferous and mixed forests of southwestern China at elevations between 3000 and 4500 m, it feeds mainly on tree lichens, supplemented by bamboo leaves, buds and occasional fruits. This dietary specialization and dense, insulating fur enable survival in subzero temperatures. Living in cohesive troops often exceeding 400 individuals, these monkeys exhibit synchronized group displays and vocal congregations that reinforce social bonds during long, harsh winters.
Yellow-necked mouse
Apodemus flavicollis
The yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis, is a small rodent belonging to the Muridae family. It is characterized by a distinctive yellow band around its neck, contrasting with its reddish-brown back and white belly. Primarily nocturnal, it inhabits forests, hedgerows, and sometimes gardens. Its diet includes seeds, fruits, and insects. Agile and fast, it can evade predators effectively. It reproduces several times a year, with litters of 4 to 7 young. Although common, it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds and controlling insect populations.