Animal Comparisons

Side-by-side comparisons of animals people often confuse or pit against each other, with a data table for every pair and a plain-English account of what actually sets them apart.

Lion vs Tiger The main difference between lions and tigers is that lions are social cats of open African savanna that live in prides, while tigers are solitary, striped hunters of Asian forests. Cat vs Dog The main difference between cats and dogs is that cats are solitary, strict meat-eaters descended from the African wildcat, while dogs are social, more omnivorous animals descended from wolves. Alligator vs Crocodile The main difference between alligators and crocodiles is the snout and teeth: alligators have a broad, U-shaped snout that hides the lower teeth, while crocodiles have a narrower, V-shaped snout with teeth showing even when the mouth is shut. Cheetah vs Leopard The main difference between a cheetah and a leopard is build and lifestyle: the cheetah is a slim, long-legged daytime sprinter with solid black spots, while the leopard is a stockier, more powerful night hunter with rosette markings. Turtle vs Tortoise The main difference between turtles and tortoises is that tortoises live entirely on land, while most other turtles spend much or all of their lives in water. Frog vs Toad The main difference between frogs and toads is skin and build: typical frogs have smooth, moist skin and long legs for leaping, while toads have dry, warty skin, stout bodies and short legs for hopping. Rabbit vs Hare The main difference between rabbits and hares is how their young are born: baby rabbits arrive blind, hairless and helpless in a fur-lined nest, while baby hares are born fully furred with open eyes, ready to move within hours. Eagle vs Hawk The main difference between eagles and hawks is size: eagles are larger and heavier, with longer, broader wings and bigger beaks and feet, so they can take larger prey. Butterfly vs Moth The main difference between butterflies and moths is the antennae: butterflies have thin antennae ending in a small club, while moths have feathery or tapering antennae with no club. Bee vs Wasp The main difference between bees and wasps is diet: bees are vegetarians that feed their young on pollen and nectar, while wasps are predators and scavengers that feed their larvae on insects and other animal protein. Seal vs Sea Lion The main difference between seals and sea lions is that sea lions have small external ear flaps and can walk on all four flippers, while true seals have only ear holes and wriggle on their bellies on land. African vs Asian Elephant The main difference between African and Asian elephants is that African elephants are larger, with huge ears shaped a little like the African continent, while Asian elephants are smaller, with smaller, rounder ears and a twin-domed head. Gorilla vs Chimpanzee The main difference between gorillas and chimpanzees is that gorillas are much larger, mostly plant-eating apes that live in stable family groups led by a silverback, while chimpanzees are smaller, omnivorous and live in large, shifting communities. Dolphin vs Whale The main difference between dolphins and whales is mostly one of size and naming, because dolphins are in fact small toothed whales. Grizzly Bear vs Polar Bear The main difference between grizzly bears and polar bears is that polar bears are marine hunters of the Arctic sea ice that eat mostly seals, while grizzlies are inland omnivores that eat roots, berries, insects, fish and meat. Jaguar vs Leopard The main difference between jaguars and leopards is geography and build: jaguars live in the Americas and are stockier, with a broader head and a more powerful bite, while leopards live in Africa and Asia and are slimmer and longer-tailed. Wolf vs Coyote The main difference between wolves and coyotes is size: a gray wolf is far bigger and heavier than a coyote, with a broad muzzle, shorter rounded ears and large feet. Llama vs Alpaca The main difference between llamas and alpacas is size and purpose: llamas are roughly twice as heavy and were bred as pack animals, while alpacas are smaller and were bred for their fine, soft fleece. Donkey vs Horse The main difference between donkeys and horses is that donkeys are smaller, desert-adapted animals with very long ears, an upright mane and a loud bray, while horses are larger, faster grassland animals with a flowing mane and tail. Crow vs Raven The main difference between crows and ravens is size and shape: ravens are much larger, with a heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers and a wedge-shaped tail, while crows are smaller with a fan-shaped tail. Orca vs Great White Shark The main difference between an orca and a great white shark is that the orca is a warm-blooded, air-breathing mammal, the largest member of the dolphin family, while the great white is a cartilaginous fish that breathes through gills. King Cobra vs Black Mamba The main difference between the king cobra and the black mamba is that the king cobra is a snake-eating Asian species, the world's longest venomous snake, while the black mamba is a faster, slimmer African hunter of mammals and birds. Python vs Anaconda The main difference between pythons and anacondas is that pythons are Old World snakes that lay eggs, while anacondas are South American boas that give birth to live young. Moose vs Elk The main difference between moose and elk is size and antler shape. Bison vs Buffalo The main difference between bison and buffalo is that bison have a large shoulder hump, a shaggy coat and a beard, while true buffalo have none of these and carry much larger horns. Hippo vs Rhino The main difference between hippos and rhinos is that hippos are semi-aquatic, even-toed mammals with huge tusk-like teeth, related to whales, while rhinos are land-dwelling, odd-toed mammals with horns on the snout, related to horses. Chimpanzee vs Bonobo The main difference between chimpanzees and bonobos is social behavior: chimpanzee society is male-dominated and can be violent, while bonobo society is led by females and is more peaceful, with sex widely used to ease tension. Dromedary vs Bactrian Camel The main difference between dromedary and Bactrian camels is the number of humps: the dromedary has one, and the Bactrian has two. Octopus vs Squid The main difference between an octopus and a squid is that an octopus has eight arms and a rounded, finless body, while a squid has eight arms plus two longer feeding tentacles and a torpedo-shaped body with fins. Rat vs Mouse The main difference between rats and mice is size. Sheep vs Goat The main difference between sheep and goats is how they feed: sheep are grazers that crop grass close to the ground, while goats are browsers that prefer leaves, twigs, shrubs and weeds. Emu vs Ostrich The main difference between emus and ostriches is that the ostrich is a two-toed African bird and the largest living bird, while the emu is an Australian bird with three toes and is much smaller.