Identifying an animal
Missouri is home to nearly 20,000 types of creatures, including insects and other bugs; mammals and birds; fish, including jellyfish and mollusks; and amphibians and reptiles. Use these pages to help you identify the critters you see at home or in the field, as well as to learn more about their habitat needs and the pressures that threaten them.
Another source of online critter-identification information is the Missouri Fish and Wildlife Information System. It contains information about the habitat, status and distribution of the state's vertebrate species as well as selected plants and aquatic mollusks. Currently it contains information about 824 species, which you can search by county.
The animal you saw in your yard or out in the field may be an invasive species or an endangered species. Please use these pages to learn more about Missouri’s wildlife and what you can do to protect them. By creating and enhancing native habitat and preventing the spread of exotic invasives, you can play an important role in conserving Missouri’s wonderful wildlife for future generations.
Browse by Subject
- Animals
- Learn about Missouri's wildlife.
- Plants
- Discover Missouri's botanical treasures.
- Backyard wildlife
- Discover what creatures might be living in your backyard.
- Natural communities
- Explore Missouri's many types of habitats.
- Endangered species
- Find out what species are in danger of becoming extinct.
- Invasive species
- Learn to ID and control the species that threaten Missouri's natural diversity.
