About

Biodiversity datasets contain over 8.7 million estimated species. Memorizing even a fraction demands structured visual aids. This generator produces taxonomically accurate animal fact cards drawn from a curated dataset of 80+ species spanning 6 animal classes. Each card encodes class, order, habitat, diet, average lifespan (L), body mass (m), IUCN conservation status, and a verified zoological fact. Cards are rendered client-side to a Canvas element and exported as lossless PNG files. The tool is designed for educators, students at YIS, and wildlife enthusiasts who need printable reference material without relying on stock image databases.

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List categories: LC (Least Concern), NT (Near Threatened), VU (Vulnerable), EN (Endangered), CR (Critically Endangered). Lifespan and mass values represent adult averages under typical wild conditions. Captive specimens may differ by 20−40%. The procedural color system assigns card backgrounds based on habitat biome, so aquatic species render in blues while desert species render in warm tones.

Formulas

Card background hue is computed procedurally from the habitat biome index. Each habitat maps to a base hue H on the HSL color wheel:

H = biomeIndex(habitat) × 47 mod 360

Where H is the hue in degrees, and each biome (Ocean, Savanna, Forest, Tundra, Desert, Mountain, Wetland, Freshwater) is assigned an integer index from 0 to 7. Saturation is fixed at 45% and lightness at 85% to maintain the pastel aesthetic.

Animal selection uses Fisher-Yates shuffle to guarantee uniform distribution without repetition until the full deck is exhausted:

for i = n − 1 down to 1: swap arr[i] with arr[floor(random() × (i + 1))]

Where n = total number of animals in the dataset, and arr is the shuffled index array. Once all indices are consumed, the deck reshuffles automatically.

Conservation status badge color follows a severity gradient mapping: LC → green (#4CAF50), NT → yellow-green (#8BC34A), VU → amber (#FFC107), EN → orange (#FF9800), CR → red (#F44336).

Reference Data

Animal	Class	Order	Habitat	Diet	Avg. Lifespan	Avg. Mass	IUCN Status
African Elephant	Mammalia	Proboscidea	Savanna	Herbivore	60−70 yr	6000 kg	VU
Blue Whale	Mammalia	Artiodactyla	Ocean	Carnivore	80−90 yr	140000 kg	EN
Peregrine Falcon	Aves	Falconiformes	Cliffs	Carnivore	15−20 yr	0.9 kg	LC
Green Sea Turtle	Reptilia	Testudines	Ocean	Herbivore	60−80 yr	190 kg	EN
Red Panda	Mammalia	Carnivora	Temperate Forest	Herbivore	8−12 yr	5 kg	EN
Emperor Penguin	Aves	Sphenisciformes	Antarctic	Carnivore	15−20 yr	23 kg	NT
Poison Dart Frog	Amphibia	Anura	Tropical Rainforest	Carnivore	3−15 yr	0.002 kg	LC
Snow Leopard	Mammalia	Carnivora	Mountain	Carnivore	10−13 yr	45 kg	VU
Komodo Dragon	Reptilia	Squamata	Tropical Savanna	Carnivore	25−30 yr	70 kg	EN
Great White Shark	Chondrichthyes	Lamniformes	Ocean	Carnivore	40−70 yr	1100 kg	VU
Axolotl	Amphibia	Urodela	Freshwater Lake	Carnivore	10−15 yr	0.15 kg	CR
Cheetah	Mammalia	Carnivora	Savanna	Carnivore	10−12 yr	50 kg	VU
Orangutan	Mammalia	Primates	Tropical Rainforest	Omnivore	35−45 yr	75 kg	CR
Arctic Fox	Mammalia	Carnivora	Tundra	Omnivore	3−6 yr	4.5 kg	LC
Seahorse	Actinopterygii	Syngnathiformes	Coastal Waters	Carnivore	1−5 yr	0.01 kg	VU
Bald Eagle	Aves	Accipitriformes	Wetlands	Carnivore	20−30 yr	5.5 kg	LC
Pangolin	Mammalia	Pholidota	Tropical Forest	Insectivore	15−20 yr	12 kg	CR
Honeybee	Insecta	Hymenoptera	Global	Herbivore	0.08−0.5 yr	0.0001 kg	NT
Giant Panda	Mammalia	Carnivora	Bamboo Forest	Herbivore	20−30 yr	100 kg	VU
Narwhal	Mammalia	Artiodactyla	Arctic Ocean	Carnivore	40−50 yr	1600 kg	LC

Frequently Asked Questions

The generator uses the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm on the full dataset index array. Each "Generate" action pops the next index from the shuffled array. Only when all 80+ animals have been displayed does the deck reshuffle. A counter in the UI shows your position in the current deck cycle.

Card background is procedurally generated from the animal's habitat biome. Each biome (Ocean, Savanna, Tundra, etc.) maps to a specific hue on the HSL color wheel. Saturation is locked at 45% and lightness at 85% to maintain pastel tones across all cards. This means aquatic animals always render in blue tones, while desert species appear in warm amber.

The statuses reflect IUCN Red List assessments as of 2024. However, IUCN updates classifications periodically. Species like the Giant Panda were downlisted from EN to VU in 2016. Always cross-reference iucnredlist.org for the latest assessment, especially for species under active review.

Yes. Cards render at 600×840 pixels on a 2x device-pixel-ratio canvas, producing effective 1200×1680 resolution. This exceeds the 300 DPI threshold for standard trading card dimensions (63×88 mm). The PNG export uses lossless compression. For commercial printing, verify color accuracy against your printer's ICC profile.

Lifespan ranges reflect variance between wild and captive populations, sexual dimorphism, and subspecies differences. For example, a wild honeybee worker lives approximately 6 weeks while a queen may survive 3-5 years. The displayed range captures the species-level envelope. Specific subspecies data requires dedicated taxonomic databases.

When you apply a habitat or class filter, the shuffle deck rebuilds using only matching animals. The deck position resets to zero. If a filter yields fewer than 5 results, a toast notification warns about the limited pool. Removing all filters restores the complete 80+ animal deck.