Consider this your quick and dirty guide to correctly identifying similar animal pairs.
Whether youre headed outdoors or doing animal-themed coloring pages with your kids, your knowledge is sure to impress.
Rabbits vs. hares
Rabbits hide from predators.
Hares have longer ears and will make a run at outrun their predators.
Alligators vs. crocodiles
Alligator snouts are shaped like the letter U. Crocodile snouts are long and V-shaped.
Bonus:If its in a body of fresh water, its an alligator.
If its in salt water, its a crocodile.
Moths vs. butterflies
Butterflies have slender antennae with a slightly larger, rounded end.
Moths have feathery or tapered antennae.
Dolphins vs. porpoises
Dolphins have pointed faces and curved dorsal (top) fins.
Porpoises have rounded faces and triangular dorsal fins.
Leopards are bigger and stockier than cheetahs and have spots that are clustered instead of evenly spread.
Jaguars have a broad head, and their spot clusters have dots inside them.
Bonus:Leopards and jaguars can beblack instead of spotted, so remember their body shape hints.
Pumas vs. mountain lions
That ones a trap!
Its two names for the same cat.
They are a solid brown or reddish-brown color, with a white belly.
Bonus:Pantheris a general term for cats with coats that are one color (not spotted).
Llamas vs. alpacas
Llamas can weighup to 400 poundsand have long, curved ears.
Alpacas weigh up to 175 pounds and have short ears.
If you dont have a scale handy, stick to the ear indicators.
Seals vs. sea lions
Sea lions have visible ear flaps and hang out in a crowd.
Seals dont have protruding ears and just want to be alone.
Turtles vs. tortoises
Turtles hang out in the water.
They have webbed feet or flippers.
Tortoises hang out on land and have short, sturdy legs.
Mules vs. donkeys
Mules have ears are that are longer than a horses.
They are tall like a horse.
Donkey ears are even longer than mule ears and are dark at the edges.
Their tails only have long hair on the end.
BonusFun fact:Mules are actually half horse, half donkey.
Bees vs. wasps
Bees are fuzzy and have a chunky body.
Wasps have an hourglass figure, are smooth, and can get away from me.
Frogs vs. toads
Frogs have smooth skin and huge eyes.
Toads have bumpy skin and shorter legs.
Ravens vs. crows
Crows hang out in crowds and have fan-shaped tails.
Ravens have wedge-shaped tails and are seriously huge.
They travel in pairs.
Bonus:Crows have smooth feathers on their throats, while ravens have textured ones that look ruffled.
