Have you ever seen a two-legged animal? No, not a person walking on their hands and feet, but an actual animal that has only two legs.
In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most amazing two-legged animals on Earth. You won’t believe your eyes!
Quick Two-Legged Animals List
- Kangaroos
- Gorillas
- Kangaroo rats
- Basilisk lizards
- Giant pangolins
- Wallabies
- Chimpanzees
- Gibbons
- Ostriches
- Flamingos
- Penguins
Two-Legged Animals
There are many different types of two-legged animals, from the well-known human to the lesser-known kangaroo. Two-legged animals come in all shapes and sizes and can be found all over the world.
Here are a few animals that walk on two legs.
1. Kangaroos
| Scientific Name | Macropodidae |
| Common Name | Kangaroo |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Leaves and grass |
| Habitat | Woodlands, forests, savannas, plains |
There are a variety of two-legged animals, but kangaroos are perhaps the most well-known. Native to Australia, these interesting creatures have long been a source of fascination for people all over the world.
Here are some interesting facts about kangaroos that you may not know.
- Kangaroos are members of the marsupial family, which means that they carry their young in a pouch[1].
- The female kangaroo has two vaginas, which is how she can mate with multiple males and also gives birth to two different litters at once.
- They are excellent jumpers and can cover distances up to 30 feet in one leap.
- They have strong back legs, giving them the ability to jump so high and far.
Related: Animals That Jump
2. Kangaroo Rats
| Scientific Name | Dipodomys |
| Common Name | Kangaroo rat |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Grass seeds and mesquite seeds |
| Habitat | Sandy soils, desert flatlands, creosote flats |
Kangaroo rats are small animals that are found in the deserts of North America. They get their name from their large hind legs which they use to hop around.
These rats live in burrows underground where it is cooler. They come out at night to avoid the heat of the day. During the day they will usually stay in their burrows unless they are looking for food.
Kangaroo rats are important to the desert ecosystem because they help disperse seeds[2]. When they hop around, they drop seeds which then grow into plants.
These plants then provide food and shelter for other animals.
3. Gorillas
| Scientific Name | Gorilla |
| Common Name | Gorilla |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Stems, fruits, bamboo shoots, termites, ants |
| Habitat | Lowland tropical forests of Central Africa |
Gorillas are large, powerful animals that live in the dense jungles of Africa. These solitary creatures are known for their long arms and agile movements. They eat a variety of plants and occasionally prey on smaller animals such as antelope or small monkeys.
Gorillas are considered to be critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting by humans.
The gorilla is one of the largest members of the great ape family, along with chimpanzees and orangutans. These large, powerful animals have long arms and agile movements, with long fingers used for climbing in their native habitats of the dense jungles of Africa.
Despite their great size, these animals can be very gentle and intelligent, making them fascinating creatures to study.
Gorillas are primarily herbivorous animals that eat a variety of plants, including fruits, flowers, nuts, and other vegetation. Occasionally gorillas prey on smaller animals such as antelope or small monkeys, but this is rare and mostly limited to young gorillas that may not have access to enough plant food.
4. Basilisk Lizards
| Scientific Name | Basiliscus Basiliscus |
| Common Name | Basilisk lizard |
| Animal Class | Reptilia |
| Diet | Insects, smaller lizards, spiders, snails, crawfish |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforests of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama |
Basilisk lizards are some of the most unique creatures on Earth. Not only are they able to run on their hind legs, but they can also swim and climb trees.
Basilisk lizards are native to Central and South America. They get their name from the Greek mythological creature, the Basilisk.
This mythical creature was said to be able to kill with just a glance, and it is thought that the lizard was named after this creature because of its ability to run on its hind legs.
Basilisk lizards are also known as Jesus Christ lizards or double-crested basilisks. They can reach lengths of up to 3 feet (1 meter) and weigh up to 2 pounds (1 kilogram).
5. Giant Pangolins
| Scientific Name | Manis Gigantea |
| Common Name | Giant pangolin |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Ants and termites |
| Habitat | Near water and other moist habitats |
Giant pangolins are two-legged animals that live in Africa. These animals are shy by nature and are not often seen in the wild.
Giant Pangolins have a long body covered with scales[3]. The front legs of these animals are much shorter than their rear legs.
They are nocturnal creatures that spend most of their time in trees. These animals are mostly found in forests, but can also be found in grasslands and savannas.
Giant Pangolins are insectivores.They use their long tongues to eat ants and other insects. They have a very sensitive sense of smell, which helps them find food in the dark.
As solitary animals, they prefer to live alone or with one mate. The females give birth to one offspring at a time after an 11-month pregnancy. Newborn Giant Pangolins can walk and feed themselves. Their long, soft scales begin to harden within three weeks of birth.
6. Wallabies
| Scientific Name | Macropodidae |
| Common Name | Wallaby |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Grass, fruits, leaves, ferns, herbs |
| Habitat | Grasslands, dense forests, and plains |
Wallabies are small to medium-sized marsupials in the family Macropodidae. They are native to Australia and New Guinea. There are around 30 species of wallaby. They are usually referred to simply as “wallabies”.
Wallabies are well-known for their powerful hind legs, long tails, and hopping abilities.
Their bodies range in size from 30 to 90 cm (12 to 35 in) and the tail can be as long again. The smallest species is the Red-necked Wallaby and the largest is the Great Gray Wallaby.
Wallabies have various color patterns including grey, brown, black, and white. Their coat colors help them hide from predators.
As herbivores, they eat a variety of grasses, leaves, and other vegetation.
7. Bears
| Scientific Name | Ursidae |
| Common Name | Bear |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Berries, fish, grains, insects, mammals, birds |
| Habitat | Tundra plains, grasslands, rainforests |
Bears are one of the most interesting and complex animals on the planet. They exist in a wide variety of forms, ranging from small bears that live in trees to massive bears that wander across huge swaths of land every day.
The first thing that most people think of when they hear the word “bear” is a large, furry animal that lives in the woods.
This image is not far from the truth, as many bears do indeed live in forested areas. Some bears live in deserts, grasslands, and even mountains. There are at least 8 different types of bears living all over the world, ranging in size from tiny sun bears to massive Kodiak bears.
8. Chimpanzees
| Scientific Name | Pan Troglodytes |
| Common Name | Chimpanzee |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Fruits, berries, leaves, seeds, blossoms, birds |
| Habitat | Tropical moist forests, savannah woodlands, grassland-forests mosaics |
Chimpanzees are fascinating creatures. They are highly intelligent and social animals that share many traits with humans. With two legs and opposable thumbs, these primates are capable of complex problem-solving, tool use, and communication.
Despite their similarities to humans, chimpanzees still have a lot of unique characteristics that set them apart as truly remarkable species.
Chimpanzees have been observed extensively in their natural habitats, as well as in captivity, and researchers have gained a great deal of knowledge about this fascinating animal through these studies.
They display complex social behaviors and can communicate with each other using a variety of physical signals, vocalizations, and facial expressions.
Chimpanzees are also known for their extraordinary ability to use tools. They have been observed using sticks to extract termites from mounds, stones to open nuts, and even grass stems as sponges to soak up drinking water.
9. Gibbons
| Scientific Name | Hylobatidae |
| Common Name | Gibbon |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Insects and leaves |
| Habitat | Rainforests in South, Southeastern, and East Asia |
Gibbons are small to medium-sized apes that are found in tropical and subtropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. They are the fastest and most agile of all the tree-dwelling, two-legged animals. Gibbons are excellent swimmers and can often be seen swimming between trees.
There are around 20 different species of gibbon, each of which has evolved to adapt to its specific habitat.
Some of the most common species include the following:
- Agile gibbons, who live in dense forests and are excellent climbers.
- Siamang gibbons, who have large, loud voices and prefer to live in smaller groups.
- White-handed gibbons, who have a very distinctive white patch on their hands.
Gibbons are sociable animals and live in small family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring. The young stay with their parents until they reach sexual maturity and then leave to find a mate of their own.
They are very territorial and often use loud calls to mark out the boundaries of their territory.
10. Ostriches
| Scientific Name | Struthio Camelus |
| Common Name | Ostrich |
| Animal Class | Aves |
| Diet | Roots, plants, leaves, lizards, insects |
| Habitat | Savanna and desert regions |
Ostriches are the largest and heaviest living bird on Earth. Though they cannot fly, they are fast runners and can cover up to 16 miles per hour. When threatened, ostriches will often hide their heads in the sand rather than confront their predators.
Ostriches are native to Africa and inhabit open grasslands and woodlands. They are omnivorous, eating a variety of plant material as well as small animals such as insects and rodents.
They also have a very long digestive tract, which helps them to digest their food more efficiently.
Ostriches may appear awkward on land, but they are graceful and powerful runners.
11. Flamingos
| Scientific Name | Phoenicopterus |
| Common Name | Flamingo |
| Animal Class | Aves |
| Diet | small seeds, tiny crustaceans, algae |
| Habitat | saline or alkaline lakes and estuarine lagoons |
Flamingos are interesting creatures. They are known for their long necks, legs, and beaks. But did you know that they are also one of the few two-legged animals?
Flamingos are native to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They live in warm climates near lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
There are six different species of flamingos, each with different physical characteristics. They are typically pink in color due to their diet of shrimp and algae.
While flamingos are generally not considered an endangered species, they can be heavily impacted by human activity. For example, changes in water levels due to damming and pollution affect their habitats and disrupt their feeding patterns.
12. Penguins
| Scientific Name | Spheniscidae |
| Common Name | Penguin |
| Animal Class | Aves |
| Diet | krill, squids, fishes |
| Habitat | ocean and coasts |
Penguins are a type of two-legged animals that live in cold climates, primarily in Antarctica. They are well adapted for life in the harsh environment of the South Pole, with their thick layer of fat keeping them warm and their colorful feathers helping them blend into their surroundings.
The first penguins evolved around 60 million years ago, during a period of global warming that caused much of the Earth’s ice to melt away.
At this time, Antarctica was an idyllic tropical paradise with abundant plant and animal life.
Penguins are flightless birds, meaning they have no wings with which to fly. This is due to their heavy bodies and small wings, which are not powerful enough to lift them into the air.
They are very well adapted to life on land and in the water. Their streamlined bodies allow them to move quickly through the water, while their heavy feathers help them keep warm even when swimming in frigid waters.
FAQs
What Animals Walk On Two Legs?
Biped animals, or animals that walk on two legs rather than four, are a fascinating and diverse group of creatures. Many different species fall into this category, including humans, kangaroos, ostriches, and birds such as penguins and flamingos.
What Is the Fastest Bipedal Animal?
The fastest bipedal animal is the ostrich. The ostrich can run up to 70 kilometers per hour. The second fastest bipedal animal is the kangaroo, which can run up to 50 kilometers per hour. Humans are the third-fastest bipedal animals, with a top speed of around 44 kilometers per hour.
