Mammals are vertebrate animals with hair. Vertebrates are animals with backbones. Other vertebrate animals are bony fish, sharks, amphibians, reptiles and birds. Like birds, mammals are warm-blooded.

Description: Pronghorn are the smallest ungulates (hoofed mammals) in North America. They are graceful, and fast with a large head and prominent, laterally positioned eyes. Pronghorn appear pale red-brown to tan with a white rump and two broad white bands across the throat. Adult females weigh about 75 to 105 pounds.

Two species of deer live in Colorado, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer.

The wapiti, or elk is the largest of Colorado's native deer. Commonly called "elk" in this country, wapiti, a Shawnee word meaning "white-rumped deer," is a preferred name because elsewhere in the world "elk" refers to the animal we call moose.

Description:Their body is covered with black or very dark brown hair. They have a very large head with a dewlap of skin, called a "bell," hanging down from the jaw. Moose have very long legs so they can wade into a lake and eat plants off the bottom.

Mountain Lions At A Glance

Colorado has been home to bears since their earliest ancestors evolved in North America. These large, powerful animals play an important role in the ecosystem.