These Are the World’s Most Beautiful Mammals

This list of the most majestic mammals of all time is subjective, but it's almost impossible to deny that each one of these animals is universally beautiful.

Most animals are beautiful in their own way, but we tend to find mammals to be the most attractive. After all, humans are mammals, and the characteristics we have in common — being warm-blooded and having hair or fur, for example — tend to define our standard of beauty and, therefore, what we think is beautiful in another animal.

Of course, this list of the most majestic mammals of all time is subjective, but it’s almost impossible to deny that each one of these animals is universally beautiful. Do you agree?

Friesian Horse

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Weight: 1,200-1,400 pounds

Height: 15-17 hands

Lifespan: 16 years

Bottom line: Let’s start with something obvious: the horse breed that’s synonymous with “Black Beauty,” the titular character from the novel-turned-movie. Dating back more than 1,000 years, this is one of the oldest European horse breeds. Sure, they can occasionally be a bay or chestnut color, but this breed is sure to stun when it’s an all-black variety. Looks aside, these horses are also social, eager to please and intelligent.

Jaguar

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Weight: 80-250 pounds

Height: 2.1-2.5 feet

Lifespan: 8-15 years in the wild, 18-25 in captivity

Bottom line: Jaguars often get confused with cougars because of their spots, but jaguars are typically larger and are usually characterized by their markings that have black spots in the middle. These big cats are also excellent swimmers and are often associated with royalty for not only their beauty but also their intelligence and strength.

Panda Bear

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Weight: 150-280 pounds

Height: 2-3 feet

Lifespan: 15-20 years

Bottom line: Who doesn’t want to just run up and squeeze a panda? Their button noses and fluffy bodies are truly the stuff of teddy bears. Plus, pandas represent luck and peace in China, and their black-and-white fur represents the yin and yang balances of the Chinese culture. Majestic indeed.

Siberian Husky

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Weight: 45-60 pounds

Height: 21-23.5 inches

Lifespan: 12-15 years

Bottom line: The intense, almond-shaped eyes of a Siberian husky are mesmerizing. Their eyes come in amber, blue and brown, and some Siberian huskies will even be bi-eyed (having two different-colored eyes) or parti-eyed, with two colors in each eye. Of course, their soft fur and loving, friendly demeanor make them the full package.

Orca

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Length: 20-26 feet

Weight: 6,600-8,800 pounds

Lifespan: Up to 90 years in the wild

Bottom line: Even though they live in the ocean, orcas are, in fact, mammals. The largest member of the oceanic dolphin family is sometimes referred to as a “killer whale,” despite the fact that there have been very few confirmed attacks on humans by wild orcas. Captive orcas, however, have been known to attack because these creatures are not meant to be in captivity. Highly social, orcas are meant to live in family groups and do not do well in isolation.

So, if you want to see one in person, go search for one in the wild, as this is where these gorgeous creatures are truly a sight to behold.

For more stunning creatures, check out “30 Most Beautiful Animals on the Planet.”