Orange is a color that seems to energize any space it’s in. And in nature, this bright shade is a truly spectacular sight! Orange animals everywhere grace the forests, plains, and oceans they call home.
Here are some of nature’s most beautiful animals with orange coloration:
1. Clownfish
- Latin name: Amphiprioninae subfamily
- Habitat: Warm areas of the Indian Ocean where anemones can be found
- Size: 2.75″-6.5″ depending on species
- Diet: Various plant and animal matter partially digested by their host anemones
- Colorful feature: These fish come in a range of patterns, but the most famous clownfish have a bright orange base color marked with three black-outlined bands of white.
The term “clownfish” can actually refer to several species within the subfamily Amphiprioninae. But most of us are familiar with fish colored like the one from Finding Nemo: the body is incredibly vivid orange, while the three bands of white set them apart from many other marine creatures. In the wild, clownfish form symbiotic relationships with sea anemones, so you may sometimes hear them called “anemonefish.”
2. Painted Bat
- Latin name: Kerivoula picta
- Habitat: Forested areas of India and Southeast Asia
- Size: Wingspan is about 7″-12″
- Diet: Primarily small insects
- Colorful feature: True to its name, the painted bat looks like it has been painted with bright streaks of orange. Its wings are especially beautiful, as lines of orange seem to follow the bones of the wings. Mature male bats tend to be the most colorful of all.
This beautiful bat species has only recently been rediscovered. Until recently, the painted bat hadn’t been seen since 1888, when it was spotted in Bangladesh. Since it hadn’t been seen in so long, it was believed to be extinct until it was seen again in June of 2021 in Madhupur National Park.
3. Yellow-Backed Oriole
- Latin name: Icterus chrysater
- Habitat: Many different habitat types in parts of Central America and South America
- Size: About 8.5″ long
- Diet: Mostly insects, though they sometimes eat bananas and some types of nectar
- Colorful feature: As you likely gathered from the name, this species often has a yellow body. But some individuals like the one in the picture are a vivid yellowish orange. And like most oriole species, their black marks create a beautiful contrast with the brighter colors.
Many people are familiar with the Baltimore oriole, but not everyone knows that there are various species of orioles that can be found in many other areas of the world. This species isn’t picky when it comes to habitat, though it seems to prefer relatively open woodlands.
4. Monarch Butterfly
- Latin name: Danaus plexippus
- Habitat: Can be found from Canada to South America, as well as the Caribbean; populations also exist in Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding areas
- Size: Wingspan about 3″-4″
- Diet: Larvae eat only milkweed; adults drink nectar from a wide range of plants
- Colorful feature: This lovely species is a rich tiger-orange in color. The wings are outlined and laced in black. The black outline is sprinkled with spots of white.
The monarch is one of the most easily recognizable butterfly species in Noth America. Many people know it thanks to its annual migration to the southern United States and Mexico. This migration happens in late summer or autumn, and it’s caused solely by instinct.
5. Clown Nudibranch
- Latin name: Triopha catalinae
- Habitat: Can be found in much of the western Pacific
- Size: About 3″-6″ long
- Diet: Small aquatic invertebrates
- Colorful feature: Like many species of sea slugs, this one can vary a bit when it comes to coloration. But many individuals look like the ones in the photo; they are bright white with orange-tipped protrusions all along the body.
Nudibranchs are among some of the most colorful sea creatures. This one prefers warmer, shallower waters and can often be found in and around coral reefs. If you happen to be diving or snorkeling, this sea slug should be easy to spot!
6. Broad-Headed Skink
- Latin name: Plestiodon laticeps
- Habitat: Can be found in much of the southeastern United States, especially areas with live oaks
- Size: About 6″-13″ long
- Diet: Mostly smaller invertebrates
- Colorful feature: Like many lizard species, male broad-headed skinks get even brighter during mating season. Their broad, triangular heads turn vivid orange to red-orange.
The broad-headed skink is more arboreal than similar species. It prefers to live near live oak trees because it will often nest in pre-existing holes in the tree. Nesting this way helps protect it from predators. But it also has another highly effective means of protecting itself: when attacked by a predator, it can detach its tail. The tail is able to continue to move, helping to distract the predator while the skink escapes.
7. Lesser Cylinder Anemone
- Latin name: Cerianthus lloydii
- Habitat: Can be found in relatively shallow parts of the northern and eastern Atlantic
- Size: About 6″ long
- Diet: Very small marine animals like zooplankton
- Colorful feature: This lovely anemone can come in a range of different colors. And as you can see in the photo, some individuals are a pretty, semi-translucent sherbet orange.
This unique sea anemone lives in a cylindrical tube that is buried beneath the ground. The tube protects the anemone, though its tentacles are able to reach out of the tube to help it feed.
8. Red Panda
- Latin name: Ailurus fulgens
- Habitat: Forested areas in parts of the Himalayan mountains
- Size: About 30″-40″ long
- Diet: Mostly bamboo, though it also will eat other forms of plant matter and some small animals
- Colorful feature: The red panda’s fur is an incredibly rich rusty red. Its belly and legs are stark black, and it has distinctive, mask-like white markings on the face.
The beautiful, almost catlike red panda is a beautiful forest creature, but it’s becoming more rare. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as an endangered species, but conservation and captive breeding programs around the world have been established to protect its numbers.
9. Marbled Orbweaver
- Latin name: Araneus marmoreus
- Habitat: Can be found in various habitats from Europe to Japan to North America
- Size: Females up to 0.7″ long; males up to 0.4″ long
- Diet: Various types of insects
- Colorful feature: You might sometimes hear this odd-looking creature called the “pumpkin spider.” That’s because females have a puffed-out, round abdomen that is bright pumpkin orange. Males don’t have the large orange abdomen, though their upper bodies are bright orange too.
You might not think of spiders as being beautiful, but the marbled orbweaver has beautiful orange patterning. The female’s mostly-orange abdomen is usually marbled with some amount of yellow. There is a color variant where the female’s abdomen is bright yellow as opposed to orange.
10. Koi Fish
- Latin name: Cyprinus rubrofuscus
- Habitat: Domestic
- Size: Up to about 3′ long
- Diet: Various types of plant and animal matter, including shrimp and algae
- Colorful feature: These lovely fish come in a range of colors and patterns, though most are some combination of tangerine orange, pearl white, and black.
The famous ornamental koi fish is actually just a strain of fish called the Amur carp. Thanks to selective breeding, it has evolved to be much more colorful than its wild counterpart. This fish is a common sight in backyard ponds. And if you have pet koi, you can feed them a range of human food including watermelon, grapes, and orange slices.
11. Golden Mantella
- Latin name: Mantella aurantiaca
- Habitat: Can be found in three very small areas of Madagascar
- Size: About 0.8″-1″ long
- Diet: Various types of small invertebrates
- Colorful feature: There are two color morphs of this beautiful little frog: a golden form and a red form. The “red” form looks more like a very vivid orange form, and its large black eyes stand out against its delicate face.
The golden mantella is currently endangered. Part of that comes from the fact that its natural range is very small and fragmented. It can only be found in three distinct areas near the Madagascan town of Moramanga. It’s possible that wild frogs are also caught and sold as pets.
12. Rufous Hummingbird
- Latin name: Selasphorus rufus
- Habitat: Can be found in various habitat types in the northwestern United States and along the western coast of Canada; it winters in parts of Mexico and along the Gulf Coast
- Size: About 2.8″-3.5″ long
- Diet: Primarily nectar and insects
- Colorful feature: The male rufous hummingbird has a striking metallic orange throat patch (or gorget) that blends into his reddish-orange face. The patch of glittering orange is made all the more striking by the patch of white placed below it.
Like many hummingbirds, this one expends a huge amount of energy on its daily feeding activities. It tends to hover rather than perch as it feeds. At night, it reaches a state of torpor. This allows it to conserve energy for another day of flying and foraging.
13. Japanese Spider Crab
- Latin name: Macrocheira kaempferi
- Habitat: Mostly along the coast of the island of Honshu in Japan and surrounding areas
- Size: Leg span up to about 12′; carapace size up to about 16″
- Diet: Various types of plant and animal matter, including dead animals
- Colorful feature: This massive crab can vary a bit in color. But most individuals are bright orange, and their incredibly long legs are marked with bands of white or off-white.
The massive Japanese spider crab might look like something out of a nightmare! Its leg span is larger than that of any arthropod in the world. If you happen to see one in the wild, be careful: its claws are large and strong enough to cause humans serious injury.
14. Golden Lion Tamarin
- Latin name: Leontopithecus rosalia
- Habitat: Forests along the Atlantic coast of Brazil
- Size: About 10.3″ long
- Diet: Various species of forest plants
- Colorful feature: Though its name characterizes it as being golden, this pretty monkey is often closer to being a glossy shade of orange. Its color is close to that of an orangutan, but just a touch lighter.
This lovely, very small monkey is another example of an endangered species. Unfortunately, there are many different threats to its population. Deforestation (both for building new infrastructure and for illegal logging) has taken a toll. Deforestation destroys habitats for these monkeys, but it also makes them more accessible to predators. Golden lion tamarins are also often poached or sold into the pet trade.
15. Albino African House Snake
- Latin name: Boaedon fuliginosus
- Habitat: Relatively dry areas of Africa
- Size: Up to about 3′ long
- Diet: Various types of smaller animals
- Colorful feature: Most albino variants of animal species are white. But as you can see in the picture, the albino African house snake has faint orange patterning! This is essentially a very pale version of the dark patterning found on the normal morph.
The African house snake can grow to be somewhat large, but it’s harmless to humans. In fact, it’s docile enough that it’s become a popular pet! It’s fairly easy to feed and care for, too: while it will generally eat whatever animals it can find in the wild, it tends to do well on a diet of mice in captivity.
16. European Firebug
- Latin name: Pyrrhocoris apterus
- Habitat: Can be found in many habitat types throughout the Palearctic (from Europe’s Atlantic coast to northwestern China)
- Size: About 0.26″-0.47″ long
- Diet: Largely lime and mallow seeds
- Colorful feature: This bright bug’s unique patterning looks almost like a tribal mask at first glance. Its body has a lively orange base color and is marked with a very distinctive black geometric pattern.
Not to be confused with the firefly, the firebug is a brightly-colored insect that’s very widely distributed. Since it mainly feeds on the seeds of wild plants, it’s not generally regarded as a crop pest. It’s easy to confuse with the very similar-looking squash bug.
17. Northern Red Bishop
- Latin name: Euplectes franciscanus
- Habitat: Can be found across much of northern Africa but has been introduced to many other areas of the world
- Size: Up to about 4.3″ long
- Diet: Mostly grass seeds, though they also will eat insects
- Colorful feature: This bird is sometimes called the “orange bishop,” and the two names make sense: some individuals appear to be patterned in red while others appear patterned in orange. However, only males have this especially striking plumage.
This unique-looking bird has been successfully introduced to parts of the world far outside its natural range. In the United States, there are now introduced populations in Texas and California. There is also an introduced population in Cuba. Though it isn’t necessarily known as a pet bird, the northern red bishop may sometimes be kept in captivity.
18. Orange Peel Nudibranch
- Latin name: Acanthodoris lutea
- Habitat: Can be found along rocky shores in parts of the northeastern Pacific
- Size: Up to about 1.2″ long
- Diet: Primarily small aquatic invertebrates called bryozoans
- Colorful feature: This lovely sea slug has a very bright orange body covered in short protrusions. Its color can vary (much like an actual orange peel) from a pale yellowish orange to deep tangerine orange.
Sea slugs are some of the most colorful creatures in the world, so it’s no surprise that there’s more than one on the list! This one’s coloration serves as a warning to predators. The orange peel nudibranch is able to convert chemicals from its diet into a toxic metabolite that can harm predators.
19. Bongo
- Latin name: Tragelaphus eurycerus
- Habitat: Forests in parts of central Africa
- Size: About 3.6′-4.3′ tall
- Diet: Various types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: Bongos have richly colored orange-brown coats that are marked with streaks of white. They also have some degree of white patterning on the face. This white patterning helps them to camouflage in their forest habitats.
Not too many mammals could be considered orange, but many bongos are closer to being orange than they are to being brown. They are somewhat unique as a species in that both males and females have horns. However, males tend to have horns that are longer and heavier.
20. Question Mark Butterfly
- Latin name: Polygonia interrogationis
- Habitat: Forested areas with some open space in southern Canada and much of the eastern and central United States
- Size: Wingspan about 1.8″-3″
- Diet: Mostly sap, rotting fruit, carrion, or dung, though they will also eat nectar if needed
- Colorful feature: This beautiful butterfly’s upper wings are brilliant orange. The orange color turns darker toward the edge of the wings, and it’s interrupted by black patches. The wings also appear to be outlined in silver. Part of this outline is shaped like a question mark, giving the butterfly its name.
The upper sides of the wings of this butterfly are incredibly bright, but the underwings look entirely different. They are dull brown and textured. That, combined with the uneven wing edges, makes the butterfly look like a dead leaf. It’s a very effective way to camouflage!
21. Everglades Rat Snake
- Latin name: Pantherophis alleghaniensis ssp. quadrivittata
- Habitat: Various habitat types with trees, usually east of the Appalachian Mountains
- Size: Aout 36″-72″ long
- Diet: Mostly birds, frogs, lizards, rodents, and eggs
- Colorful feature: The snake in the picture is a subspecies of the eastern ratsnake. It’s called the “yellow rat snake,” but as you can see in the photo, some individuals are closer to being orange. Most other subspecies of this snake are black.
These pretty snakes are generally harmless to humans, and they typically won’t attack unless provoked. If one is startled, it will usually freeze. If it continues to be accosted, it can release an especially terrible-smelling musk. And if the predator still will not retreat, the snake will shake its tail and possibly strike.
22. Gila Monster
- Latin name: Heloderma suspectum
- Habitat: Scrubby areas, deserts with succulents, and oak forests in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico
- Size: Up to about 22″ long
- Diet: Largely small mammals and reptiles, birds, frogs, and eggs
- Colorful feature: This beautiful lizard is covered in patches of black and orange. Its skin appears beaded or textured, adding an exciting dimension to its unusual color.
The Gila monster has a reputation for being quite dangerous. But even though it’s venomous, it moves relatively slowly and doesn’t pose a threat to humans. Its venom is almost never fatal to adults, but it’s reputed to have the most painful venom produced by any vertebrate. Research has indicated that the Gila monster’s venom contains four separate toxins that are potentially lethal.
23. Orangutan
- Latin name: Pongo sp.
- Habitat: Rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia
- Size: Up to about 4.5′ tall
- Diet: Fruit, insects, honey, bark, eggs, and various types of vegetation
- Colorful feature: Thanks to their silky orange coats, orangutans are some of the most striking primates. Some individuals are more of a rich orange in color, while others are closer to a deep red.
Though they can be hard to differentiate, there are actually three separate species of orangutans. Unfortunately, all are critically endangered. These primates have declined in numbers due to habitat destruction, poaching, and even capture for the illegal pet trade. However, there are several organizations dedicated to rehabilitating orangutans and supporting their survival in the wild.
24. Goldfish
- Latin name: Carassius auratus
- Habitat: Native to freshwater bodies in East Asia, though they are kept as pets in many parts of the world
- Size: About 1″-14″ long
- Diet: Mostly insects, small crustaceans, and various types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: There are many colors and varieties of goldfish, but the most common color is bright metallic orange. Goldfish can also be black or white, and some are a combination of the three colors.
Goldfish are some of the most popular pet fish in the world. Many people don’t know that their color comes from pigments produced in response to light. (This is similar to humans becoming tan after spending time in the sun.) If a goldfish is kept in the dark for an extended period of time, its colors will fade to gray.
25. Ailanthus Webworm Moth
- Latin name: Atteva fabriciella
- Habitat: Can be found throughout India, China, and Sri Lanka
- Size: Wingspan about 0.5″-1.25″
- Diet: Primarily Ailanthus trees
- Colorful feature: Though it’s often considered to be a pest, this moth is especially beautiful! As you can see in the photo, it has a rich orange base color. It’s also covered in ornate swirls of black and white. If you look closely, the markings look a bit like roses.
Many moths are pests of various plants, but this moth is especially deadly to the various species of Ailanthus trees. And since the larvae go through five different stages before pupating and becoming adults, it has plenty of time to defoliate its host trees.
26. Venezuelan Troupial
- Latin name: Icterus icterus
- Habitat: Can be found in the Caribbean and parts of northern South America
- Size: About 9″ long
- Diet: Mostly insects, eggs, and smaller birds
- Colorful feature: This stunning bird has a body that is mostly vivid orange. Its head, wings, and tail are all black, and each wing has a bright bar of white. Around each eye, there’s a patch of bright blue skin.
This bird is the national bird of Venezuela, and it’s easy to see why. But even though the Venezuelan troupial is beautiful, it’s extremely fierce toward other birds. The troupial is a “nest pirate,” meaning it will either take over an empty nest or drive other bird species out of their own nests.
27. Red Slug
- Latin name: Arion rufus
- Habitat: Many habitat types across western Europe
- Size: Up to about 6″ long
- Diet: Various types of plant and animal matter
- Colorful feature: Though this creature is called a “red” slug, it looks orange more often than not. Its large size and bright coloration make it a real standout!
The red slug is both larger and brighter than most other slug species in the world. It also has a strange habit that’s a bit uncommon in the slug world. If annoyed or agitated, it will start to dramatically sway side to side.
28. Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Can be found in various habitats across the Northern Hemisphere, though it has been introduced to Australia
- Size: About 14″-20″ tall
- Diet: Mostly smaller rodents, though they also eat a variety of plant matter
- Colorful feature: Red foxes come in an impressive range of color morphs. But the most common (and most famous) color is bright, rich orange. These foxes have black legs and ears, and their bushy tails are tipped in white.
The beauty of the red fox has captivated cultures across the world. So it’s no wonder that the red fox has actually been domesticated to some extent. The domestication of the species started with an experiment in Russia. And today, some breeders produce these domestic foxes. These animals tend to be expensive and can sometimes be difficult to keep in captivity.
29. Cave Salamander
- Latin name: Eurycea lucifuga
- Habitat: Mostly rocky areas in parts of the southeastern and central United States
- Size: About 4″-8″ long
- Diet: Mostly various types of smaller invertebrates
- Colorful feature: This little salamander is especially pretty, especially for a lizard that mostly lives in caves! Its entire body is rich orange to reddish-orange, and it’s covered in differently-shaped spots and dashes.
The lovely cave salamander can spend a good bit of time in its larval stage before becoming an adult. Depending on the conditions of its environment, it can spend between six and 18 months as a larva! In this stage, it has both gills and tail fins.
30. Sira Poison Dart Frog
- Latin name: Ranitomeya sirensis
- Habitat: Humid parts of the Amazon rainforest in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru
- Size: About 0.75″-1″ long
- Diet: Various small invertebrates
- Colorful feature: This striking poison dart frog has a bright orange upper body striped with black. Its hind legs are soft blue-green and marked with black spots.
Thanks to its beautiful and unique coloration, this little frog is sought after by enthusiasts. However, it can be a challenge to raise in captivity, as its tadpoles are very sensitive.
31. Flame Robin
- Latin name: Petroica phoenicea
- Habitat: Cooler areas in southeastern Australia
- Size: About 4.7″-5.5″ long
- Diet: Mostly various types of insects
- Colorful feature: These striking birds look like flaming versions of the typical robin. Their breasts are an extremely bright flame orange and their upperparts are a mixture of charcoal gray, black, and white.
These beautiful birds are somewhat common within their range. And while males are especially bright, females don’t have the same flame-orange breast. Females of this species can be hard to distinguish from females of other robin species.
32. Colorado Soldier Beetle
- Latin name: Chauliognathus basalis
- Habitat: Many habitat types in the central part of North America
- Size: About 0.35″-0.47″ long
- Diet: Mostly pollen, nectar, and insect larvae
- Colorful feature: This beautiful beetle has a vivid orange base color marked with patches of deep black. As you can see in the picture, the contrast is incredibly striking.
Unlike many beetle species, the Colorado soldier beetle is not a pest. It does not feed on plants, and it’s a highly effective pollinator. And by eating the eggs and larvae of other species, it actually helps to control potential pest populations.
33. Frilled Lizard
- Latin name: Chlamydosaurus kingii
- Habitat: Mostly humid parts of northern Australia and southern New Guinea
- Size: About 2.8′ long
- Diet: Mostly insects and some small vertebrates
- Colorful feature: Much of this lizard’s body is brown in order to help it blend in with its environment. But as you can see in the picture, its frill is often bright orange.
This unusual lizard has a skill that few lizards have: it’s able to run on only two legs! It rarely needs to do so, as it primarily stays in trees: it only comes down to hunt for food or to chase other lizards from its territory.
34. Assassin Bug
- Latin name: Pselliopus sp.
- Habitat: Can be found throughout the New World; exact range depends on the species
- Size: Varies depending on exact species
- Diet: Various types of invertebrates
- Colorful feature: There are many species of assassin bugs. Many, like the one in the picture, are extremely bright, fiery orange. Most species have some type of black markings as well.
The assassin bug makes a great asset to any garden! It preys on invertebrates including aphids and other garden pests. It helps protect your plants from pests, and it’s also harmless to humans.
35. Spot-Breasted Oriole
- Latin name: Icterus pectoralis
- Habitat: Forested areas of parts of Central America and South America
- Size: About 8.3″-9.4″ long
- Diet: Mostly insects, nectar, and berries
- Colorful feature: Of all oriole species, this one just might be the brightest. Most of its face and body are colored in electric orange. The face has a “mask” of black and the top of the breast is dotted in black as well.
This bird is not native to the United States, but there is an introduced population on Florida’s Atlantic coast. There are enough spot-breasted orioles here that the American Birding Association considers it a “countable” species.
36. Yellowtail Coris
- Latin name: Coris gaimard
- Habitat: Tropical areas of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean
- Size: Up to about 16″ long
- Diet: Largely crustaceans and some other marine animals
- Colorful feature: This striking fish is covered in a variety of colors. The head and upper body are a bright orange that gradually becomes incredibly dark closer to the tail. This darker part of the body is dotted with electric-blue spots, and the tail is lemon yellow.
This fish is beautiful enough to be a popular choice for public aquariums. And while it’s a bit large for the casual aquarist, it can be found in personal collections as well.
37. Bearded Dragon
- Latin name: Pogona vitticeps
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid parts of eastern and central Australia
- Size: Up to about 24″ long
- Diet: Mostly invertebrates and various types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: Bearded dragons, especially those raised in captivity, come in a wide range of colors. Some of them are bright tangerine orange. Many of these dragons have bluish or brownish tiger-like stripes along the sides.
Bearded dragons are some of the most popular pet lizards in the world, as they are docile and often enjoy interacting with their owners. Exporting dragons from Australia is not legal, although many pets across the world descended from lizards exported illegally in the 1970s.
38. Western Spindalis
- Latin name: Spindalis zena
- Habitat: Largely forested areas in the western Caribbean and southeastern Florida
- Size: Up to about 5.9″ long
- Diet: Mostly fruit, leaves, insects, and even small lizards
- Colorful feature: Males of this species are incredibly bright thanks to a patch of blazing orange on the breast. This fades into a patch of olive on the back.
You might sometimes hear this little bird called the “stripe-headed tanager.” Both males and females have the distinctive two stripes on each side of the head. However, the heads of the males are black while those of females are gray.
39. Orange Cup Coral
- Latin name: Tubastraea coccinea
- Habitat: Can be found in cold ocean water across much of the world
- Size: Up to about 1″ diameter
- Diet: Mostly zooplankton
- Colorful feature: These corals are bright orange and shaped like cups. At night, they become even more striking, as they stretch out translucent orange tentacles to catch prey.
This distinctive coral is not one that typically builds reefs. It’s also able to develop in completely dark, deep waters as long as there are enough food sources available. The orange cup coral is a robust, hardy species that can sometimes displace native species of coral.
40. Siberian Tiger
- Latin name: Panthera tigris tigris
- Habitat: Forests and taigas in southeastern China, the Russian far East, and potentially in North Korea
- Size: Total length up to about 122″
- Diet: Mostly larger hooved animals and small mammals
- Colorful feature: This stunning tiger’s body is primarily deep reddish orange, though it’s also marked with unique, wavy black stripes. The coat fades to a whitish color along the belly, the underside of the neck, and parts of the face.
Siberian tigers, also called Amur tigers, are a localized population of mainland Asian tigers. Their population has declined significantly over the past several decades. However, thanks to captive breeding and conservation efforts, the Siberian tiger appears to have a population that is at least relatively stable.
41. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
- Latin name: Rupicola peruvianus
- Habitat: Cloud forests in the Andes Mountains of South America
- Size: About 13″ long
- Diet: Mostly insects and fruit, though they may sometimes eat lizards and frogs
- Colorful feature: Male Andean cocks-of-the-rock are extremely bright orange, and they have rounded crests that almost entirely cover their beaks. Their eyes are bright crystal blue, and their black wings form a sharp contrast with their bright bodies.
The males of this species are so bright and uniquely shaped that they almost don’t look real. Much of that brightness is to attract mates, but the males do more than sit and look pretty. If a female appears, males will often launch into a “lek,” or a group display meant to attract females. During a lek, they launch into what could be described as a dance battle.
Orange Creatures From Around the World
Hopefully you’ve discovered some orange creatures you didn’t know existed (as well as noticed some familiar ones). Wherever you are in the world, we hope these vivid bursts of color have brightened your day!
Explore beautiful creatures of all colors and types in this list of colorful animals.