How many of these native BC animals can you name?

Test your knowledge of the province’s staggering biodiversity.

By Kyna Airriess, BA’26 | September 04, 2026

Gif cycling through images of animals on a blue background—specifically of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish native to BC.

When it comes to nature, British Columbia has no shortage of bragging rights. Jaw-dropping vistas. Outdoor sports for every season. A greater diversity of species than any other province or territory in Canada.

As our climate continues to change, protecting BC’s remarkable biodiversity has never been more important.

Last September, UBC celebrated the opening of a $45-million expansion of the Beaty Biodiversity Centre, which houses the Beaty Biodiversity Museum and the Biodiversity Research Centre. Made possible through generous donations from the Ross and Trisha Beaty family and Gordon B. Shrum, matched by UBC, the expanded space brings together faculty, students, and community partners to tackle the myriad threats to biodiversity in BC and beyond.

To mark the expansion’s first anniversary, we’re putting your biodiversity knowledge to the test. Let’s take a look at some of BC’s native vertebrates—the group that consists of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. How many of these species can you identify?

We’ll kick things off with some native BC mammals. What species is this, breaching off the coast of BC?
A black and white whale leaps from the water.
What is this furry friend spotted on Vancouver Island?
A small brown animal with a pointy face, small round ears, short legs, and a long body stands on a grassy path.
What species might you find resting on a rock in Victoria?
A large brown animal rests on a shoreline rock with its whiskered snout in the air. It has large front and back flippers, a wide chest, and external ears.
Moving on to birds, can you name this majestic specimen perched in a tree in Alert Bay?
A bird of prey with a brown body and a white head stands on a branch. Its yellow beak is hooked and sharp.
This bird is a type of woodpecker, but is most often found foraging for ants on the ground (including at UBC!). What species is this mould breaker?
A small bird stands on the ground. It has a speckled body, a black chest, a red chin, and a long, slender beak.
This shorebird is, ironically, commonly found in grasslands and other dry areas. What species is it?
A small bird stands on the shore with its small black beak open. It has brown wings, a white belly, and black bands on its chest and face.
Let’s switch gears to reptiles. Can you name this snake?
A coiled snake with a light band running down its dark back, a light belly, keeled scales, and circular pupils.
What about this docile species?
A smooth brown snake perched on a log.
There are only two native species of lizard found in BC today. Which one is this?
A small, smooth-scaled lizard with short legs and a long body stands on some moss. It has a blunt head and a speckled brown pattern down its sides.
Switching from reptiles to amphibians, what species is this specimen crawling across the forest floor?
A small squat amphibian with bumpy skin.
What species is this tiny frog with a big voice?
A tiny green frog perched on a green leaf, with dark bands over its eyes and light-colored belly.
Turn over a rotting log in a coastal BC forest, and you may find yourself nose-to-snout with this bumpy creature. What species is this amphibian?
A brown amphibian with a long body, a long, paddle-shaped tail, and bumpy skin.
Last but not least, test your knowledge of BC’s fishes! For starters, what is this fish that inhabits coastal estuaries as well as several BC rivers?
A long grey fish with a pointy snout, smallish fins, whiskers, and bumps along its sides and spine.
What is this colourful fish hiding amongst the sea urchins?
A flamboyantly mottled red fish with spines and fan-shaped fins blends in among the sea urchins in the tidal zone.
Finally, what is this fish that travels upstream to spawn in BC’s rivers every autumn?
A streamlined brown fish with a speckled pattern, short fins, and a beak-like mouth travels upstream over a small waterfall.
Article Author
Kyna Airriess, BA’26

Kyna Airriess is a staff writer at UBC Magazine.

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