--- description: A compilation of the most photogenic animals to grace the cover of LIFE Magazine, from LBJ's beagles to Ham the astrochimp. title: LIFE Magazine's Best Animal Covers, 1936 to 1972 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt129b82427f67ab6b/6987eafbe20a87f06ba88e26/150413-life-animal-covers-09.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [animals](/tag/animals/) ## animals Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 26 of LIFE's Best Animal Covers  by [Eliza Berman](/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Apr 21, 2015 12:00 PM CUT  September 23, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Frank Scherschel). September 23, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Frank Scherschel).LIFE Magazine  by [Eliza Berman](/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Apr 21, 2015 12:00 PM CUT As magazine titles go, LIFE is perhaps the most all-encompassing in the history of periodicals. Though the magazine specialized in facets of _human_ life—from war to fashion and culture to politics—the editors more than dabbled in the lives of our four-legged (and slithering and winged) friends. Someone in the art department clearly had a soft spot for dogs, but mice, lorises, triggerfish and walruses all had their turns on the cover, as well. For their contributions to science and cinema, agriculture and plain old human companionship, animals more than earned their ample coverage in LIFE—though they probably couldn’t have cared less. _Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at_ [_@LizabethRonk_](https://twitter.com/LizabethRonk "undefined")_._  February 8, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Charles J. Belden). LIFE Magazine  March 1, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Henry M. Lester). LIFE Magazine  April 26, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Torkel Korling). LIFE Magazine  July 26, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt). LIFE Magazine  January 10, 1938 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Lane Flinders). LIFE Magazine  December 12, 1938 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger). LIFE Magazine  April 3, 1944 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Nina Leen). LIFE Magazine  September 9, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Martha Holmes). LIFE Magazine  September 23, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Frank Scherschel). LIFE Magazine  November 4, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by David Douglas Duncan). LIFE Magazine  August 23, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Jon Brenneis). LIFE Magazine  January 31, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger). LIFE Magazine  October 8, 1951 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Burton Glinn). LIFE Magazine  November 30, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Fritz Goro). LIFE Magazine  December 22, 1952 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Ed Clark). LIFE Magazine  March 22, 1954 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Roger Kirschner). LIFE Magazine  November 8, 1954 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Gjon Mili). LIFE Magazine  November 24, 1958 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Ralph Crane). LIFE Magazine  March 16, 1959 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Dmitri Kessel). LIFE Magazine  June 27, 1960 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Fritz Goro). LIFE Magazine  February 10, 1961 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Henry Burroughs). LIFE Magazine  March 1, 1963 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Nina Leen). LIFE Magazine  June 19, 1964 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Francis Miller). LIFE Magazine  January 6, 1967 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by John Dominis). LIFE Magazine  December 5, 1969 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by John Dominis). LIFE Magazine  LIFE magazine cover of 01-30-1970 w. pic of snow monkey of Japan in water, by Co Rentmeester. 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