A to Z Animals List With Pictures, Facts & Information for Kids & Students

A to Z animals list with pictures, facts and information for kids and adults. Click on the pictures or follow the links for further information about each animal.

A-Z Animals List

Discover amazing animals from all around the world with this huge A-Z species list. You can find out more about each animal by clicking on its picture.

  • Scroll down to see the animals in alphabetical order...
  • … jump to the section of the page you need: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z...
  • … or click on the big letters below to see even more animals!

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A to Z Animals: A

a to z animals a

Aardvark

Aardvark
Aardvark - click picture for more information

The aardvark is an African mammal. Its name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans, a language spoken in southern Africa. The animal's name comes from its excellent burrowing ability. The aardvark's diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

African Elephant

African Elephant
African Bush Elephant - click picture for more information

There are two species of African elephant: the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant. The African bush elephant is the world's largest land animal.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

African Grey Parrot

African Grey Parrot
African Grey Parrot - click picture for more information

The African grey parrot is known for its high intelligence. It is capable of learning over 100 words. Although a popular pet, the species is now endangered in the wild.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

African Wild Dog

African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog - click picture for more information

The African wild dog lives and hunts in packs. Its scientific name, Lycaon pictus, means ‘painted wolf’. A 2006 study found that there were fewer than 7,000 African wild dogs left in the wild. The species is endangered.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Anteater

Giant Anteater
Giant Anteater - click picture for more information

There are four species of anteater: the giant anteater, northern tamandua, southern tamandua, and silky anteater. (The animal shown in the picture above is a giant anteater.) All four anteaters are found in Central and South America.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Arctic Fox

Arctic Fox
Arctic Fox - click picture for more information

This small Arctic animal is a survival specialist. It has a multi-layered coat, a thick tail and furry paws to keep the cold out.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Axolotl

Axolotl
Axolotl - click picture for more information

The axolotl is an amphibian with amazing self-healing powers. It can even grow back lost limbs!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: B

a to z animals b

Baboon

Baboon
Baboon

Baboons are monkeys in the genus Papio. There are five species of baboon. They are found in Africa and Western Asia.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Bactrian Camel

Bactrian Camel Face
Bactrian camel

There are two, closely related, species of Bactrian camel: the domesticated Bactrian camel, and the wild Bactrian camel. The wild Bactrian camel is critically endangered.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are the only eagles unique to North America. Bald eagles are most often found near rivers, lakes, and coasts. They are members of the genus Haliaeetus, a group of birds also known as sea eagles.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Bandicoot

Australian Animals List Bandicoot
Bandicoot

Bandicoots are small to medium-sized marsupials. There are around 20 types of bandicoot. They live in Australia and New Guinea.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Beluga Whale

Beluga Whale Head
Beluga Whale

Belugas are marine mammals in the order Cetacea. Beluga Whales use echolocation to find food. The large bump on a Beluga's head is the 'melon'.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Black Footed Ferret

Black footed ferrets
Black footed ferrets

The black footed ferret is the only ferret species native to America. This endangered species has twice been declared extinct in the wild.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Blue-Morpho-Butterfly-Wings
Blue morpho butterfly

The Blue Morpho Butterfly is a butterfly with brilliant blue wings. It is found in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Blue Whale

Blue Whale Largest Mammal
The blue whale is the world's largest mammal.

The blue whale is not only the largest animal in the world today, it is also the largest animal that has ever lived.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Boa Constrictor

Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor

Boa constrictors are large snakes that are found in the wild in South and Central America and Mexico. They are also kept as pets. These deadly snakes are not venomous; they squeeze their prey in a deadly embrace.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Bonobo

Primate Bonobo
Bonobo

Along with the common chimpanzee, the bonobo is man's closest relation.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: C

A to Z animals C

Caiman

Spectacled Caimans

Caimans are carnivorous reptiles that live in Central and South America. There are six different species of caiman. Caimans are members of the alligatoridae family.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Cane Toad

Cane Toad Invasive Species
Cane Toad

The cane toad was originally found in Central and South America. It was introduced in several other parts of the world because it eats insects that are harmful to crops.

Unfortunately the cane toad's introduction can be very harmful to native animals. It is now seen as an invasive species.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Capybara

Capybara
Capybara

The capybara is the world's largest rodent. It is found in every country in South America apart from Chile. It is also found in Central America, and has even been spotted in Florida!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Caribou

Reindeer / Caribou
Caribou / Reindeer

Caribou are large mammals that live in Arctic and subarctic regions all around the world. Caribou are members of the deer (Cervidae) family. In Europe, caribou are known as reindeer.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Cassowary

Cassowary
Southern Cassowary

There are three species of cassowary: the northern cassowary, southern cassowary and dwarf cassowary. The southern cassowary is the world's third largest species of bird, after the two ostrich species.
All three species of cassowary are found in new guinea, but only the southern cassowary is found in Australia.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Cheetah

Cheetah
Cheetah

The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. It can reach speeds of up to 75 mph (121km/h) in pursuit of its fast-moving antelope prey.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee

Common chimpanzees, along with bonobos, are members of the genus pan. They are our closest living relations in the animal kingdom.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Clouded Leopard

Clouded Leopard
Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard is a secretive jungle cat found in forests in Southeast Asia and China.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Common Octopus

Common Octopus Outstretched
Common Octopus

The common octopus is a mollusk (spelt mollusc in British English). Mollusks are members of Mollusca, a group of invertebrates that also includes snails and slugs.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Common Ostrich

Common Ostrich
Common Ostrich

There are two species of ostrich: the common ostrich and the Somali ostrich. Both are large, flightless birds. The common ostrich is the world's tallest and heaviest bird.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Coyote

Coyote
Coyote

The coyote is a member of the dog family. It lives in North and Central America. Its howls and barks give the coyote its scientific name Canis latrans, which means ‘barking dog’.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

That's Not All!


A to Z Animals: D

A to Z Animals D

Dingo

Dingo Head
Dingo

The dingo, like the domestic dog, is a subspecies of gray wolf (although some consider it to be a species in its own right). Dingoes live in Australia, where they are the largest land predators.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Dogs

Pet Dog
Dogs

Believe it or not, your pet dog is actually a subspecies of gray wolf! Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years. Over the years dogs have been used by man to hunt, for protection, to pull sleds, to herd animals or simply for companionship. Dogs have been selectively bred to fulfil certain roles, which is why some breeds can look very different to others.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Dolphin

Dolphin
Dolphin

Dolphins are aquatic mammals. They don't have gills like fish, and need to come to the surface of the water to breathe. Dolphins are known for their high intelligence.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Dugong

Dugong
Dugong

Dugongs are marine mammals. They are found on the coasts of western Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia. Unlike manatees (their closest living relations) dugongs are not found in freshwater habitats. Dugongs are herbivores.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: E

a to z animals e

Echidna

Echidna
Echidna

Echidnas are a spiny, ant-eating animals that live in Australia and New Guinea. Along with the platypus, echidnas are the only mammals in the world that lay eggs!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Electric Eel

Electric Eel
Electric Eel

This amazing South American fish is able to generate electricity, which it uses to find its way around in muddy water and also to hunt its prey!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Elephant

African Elephant
Elephant

There are three species of elephant. From largest to smallest they are the African bush elephant, the Asian elephant, and the African forest elephant.

The African bush elephant's conservation status is Vulnerable, and the Asian elephant is Endangered. (The African forest elephant has not yet been assessed.)

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Emperor Penguin

Online Zoo Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin

The emperor penguin is the world’s largest species of penguin. It lives in Antarctica. The emperor penguin makes up for not being able to fly by being the world's deepest diving bird.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Eurasian Wolf

Eurasian Wolf
Eurasian Wolf

The Eurasian wolf is one of the 37 recognized subspecies (types) of gray wolf. All 37 subspecies are essentially the same animal; the Eurasian wolf could have pups with any of the other grey wolf subspecies.

The Eurasian wolf is one of the largest wolf subspecies, and the largest type of wolf found outside of the Americas.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: F

a to z animals f

Fire Salamander

fire salamander close up
Fire Salamander

The fire salamander is a distinctive yellow and black amphibian that lives throughout Southern, Central and Eastern Europe.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Frill-Necked Lizard

Frill Necked Lizard With Frill Raised
Frill Necked Lizard

The frill-necked lizard is found in Northern Australia. It gets its name from the frill of loose skin around its neck. When the lizard is alarmed or angry, it raises its frill, making itself look big and scary!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

That's Not All!


A to Z Animals: G

a to z animals g

Gharial

Gharial
Gharial

The gharial is a predatory reptile that lives in rivers of the Indian subcontinent. It is a member of the order Crocodilia, and is related to crocodiles, alligators and caimans.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Giraffe

Close up of giraffe head
Giraffe

Giraffes are the world's tallest animals. They are native to Africa. Their horns are known as 'ossicones'.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Golden Poison Frog

Golden Poison Frog
Golden Poison Frog

The golden poison frog is native to Colombia in South America. This tiny amphibian is one of the most poisonous animals on earth.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Gorilla

Mountain Gorilla
Gorilla

Gorillas are the world’s largest primates. They are members of Hominidae, otherwise known as the 'great ape' family. This group also includes orangutans, chimpanzees and humans.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Great Hammerhead Shark

great hammerhead shark
Great hammerhead shark

The great hammerhead shark is the largest species of hammerhead shark. Its wide head gives it 360 degree vision.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Great White Shark

Shark
Great White Shark

These fearsome predators are found throughout the world's oceans. They are the largest predatory fish.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Green Anaconda

Green Anaconda
Green Anaconda

Green anacondas are the heaviest type of snake in the world — but only the second longest (the longest type of snake is the reticulated python). They are found near lakes and rivers in South America.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Greenland Shark

Greenland Shark

These large and mysterious sharks are found in cold sub-Arctic waters, where they live all year round.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear Roaring
Grizzly Bear

The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of brown bear. It is an apex predator, famed for its strength and hunting ability, as well as for its bad temper.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: H

a-z animals h

Harpy Eagle

Harpy Eagle
Harpy Eagle

Harpy eagles live in the rainforests of Central and South America. They are the largest and most powerful birds of prey in the Americas.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Hedgehog

Hedgehog Curled In A Ball
Hedgehog

There are seventeen species of hedgehog. These cute but prickly mammals are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Hippo

Hippo
Hippo

Hippos are large, semiaquatic mammals. They spend most of the day in the water, and only emerge at dusk.

Despite being herbivores, hippos are notoriously dangerous in the wild.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Howler Monkey

Howler Monkey
Howler Monkey

The 15 species of howler monkey are found in the forests of South and Central America. Howler monkeys are among the loudest land animals.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: I

a-z animals i

Iguana

Green Iguana
Iguana

Iguanas are large lizards that live in the forests of Central and South America. Despite their fearsome looks they are mainly herbivorous.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Indian Elephant

Indian Elephant
Indian Elephant

The Indian elephant is one of the three subspecies (types) of Asian elephant. It is found in India and other Southeast Asian countries.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: J

animal a to z j

Jabiru

Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) 2
Jabiru
The jabiru is one of the largest birds found in the Americas. This large stork stands almost as tall as the American rhea (a large flightless bird), and has a wingspan of up to 2.8 m (9.2 ft.)

Jaguar

Jaguar
Jaguar

Jaguars are the third biggest of all the big cats: only tigers and lions are bigger. Jaguars are apex predators in the South American forests in which they are found.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Jaguarundi

Jaguarundi
Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi is a wild cat found throughout much of South America and as far north as Texas in the United States (it has also been sighted in Florida). It hunts small mammals, reptiles and birds.


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A to Z Animals: K

animals a to z k

Kangaroo

Kangaroo
Kangaroo

Kangaroos are marsupials found in Australia. They are members of the Macropodidae family, which also includes wallaroos and wallabies.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Killer Whale / Orca

Orca
Killer Whale / Orca

Killer whales are also known as orcas. These apex predators are the largest members of the oceanic dolphin family, Delphinidae.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Koala

Koala
Koala

This well-known Australian marsupial lives in eucalyptus trees and spends most of its life asleep.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra Facts
Laughing Kookaburra

Kookaburras are members of the Tree Kingfisher family. The laughing kookaburra is famous for having a loud call that sounds like human laughter.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: L

a-z animals l

Leafcutter Ant

Leafcutter Ant
Leafcutter Ant

Leafcutter ants eat more rainforest vegetation than any other type of animal. These amazing rainforest insects grow their own food, and live in colonies that can contain over eight million ants!

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtles are the largest of the seven species of sea turtle. They are found in oceans all around the world and are known for their long migrations.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Lemming

Norway Lemming
Norway Lemming

Lemmings are small rodents that live in the Arctic tundra. There are around 20 species of lemming, and they are close relatives of voles and muskrats.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Leopard

Leopard
Leopard

The leopard is a member of the genus Panthera, a group of animals that is also informally known as the ‘big cats‘. The other members of this group are the lion, tiger, jaguar and snow leopard.

The leopard is the second-smallest of the big cats; only the snow leopard is smaller.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Leopard Seal

Leopard Seal
Leopard Seal

The leopard seal lives in Antarctica. It is a ferocious predator, eating fish, squid, krill, penguins and other seals.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Lion

Male Lion
Lion

Lions are the second-largest cats. They live in southern and eastern Africa. A very small colony also lives in the Gir Forest National Park in western India.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: M

a to z animals m

Mexican Redknee Tarantula

Mexican Redknee Tarantula Facts For Kids
Mexican Redknee Tarantula

The Mexican redknee tarantula is a large arachnid that is found on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Moose

Moose
Moose

The moose is the largest member of the deer family. It is the second largest land animal in North America (after the American Bison), and the second largest land animal in Europe (after the European Bison).

In some parts of Europe, the moose is known as an ‘elk’. In North America, the word ‘elk’ refers to another large species of deer rather than a moose.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Mountain Gorilla

Mountain Gorilla
Mountain Gorilla

The mountain gorilla is a critically endangered subspecies of eastern gorilla, one of the two gorilla species (the other being the western gorilla).

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Musk Ox

Musk Ox
A group of Musk Oxen.

The musk ox is a large mammal that lives in the Arctic. it is a member of the Bovidae family of hoofed ruminant (cud-chewing) animals.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: N

a to z animals n

Narwhal

Narwhal
Narwhal

The narwhal is a member of the Monodontidae family of toothed whales. Male narwhals have a distinctive tusk, which in fact is a long tooth.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Nile Crocodile

Nile Crocodile
Nile Crocodile

The fearsome Nile crocodile is the largest reptile in Africa, and the second largest reptile in the world. (Only the saltwater crocodile is bigger.)

  • Find out more about this animal here.

North American Beaver

North American Beaver
North American Beaver

The North American beaver is the largest rodent in North America. It constructs dams out of trees that it fells using its powerful front teeth.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: O

a to z animals o

Ocellaris Clownfish

Ocellaris Clownfish
Ocellaris Clownfish

Due to a starring role in the film Finding Nemo, the Ocellaris Clownfish is one of the world’s best-known fishes. Its bright orange color and three white stripes make it instantly recognizable.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Ocelot

Ocelot
Ocelot

The ocelot is a member of the cat family. It looks like a small, slender leopard, and is also known as the ‘dwarf leopard’. The ocelot is found throughout South America, and is occasionally seen in southern USA.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Okapi

okapi
Okapi

The Okapi is an elusive mammal that inhabits the rainforests of central Africa. Easily recognizable by its zebra-like markings, the okapi is related to the giraffe.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Olive ridley sea turtle
Olive ridley sea turtle

The olive ridley sea turtle is a pale green turtle with a heart-shaped shell. During the breeding season thousands of females emerge from the sea at the same time in order to lay their eggs.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Orangutan

Orangutan
Orangutan

Orangutans are large primates that spend most of their lives in trees. There are three species of orangutan: the Sumatran orangutan, the Bornean orangutan, and the newly-identified Tapanuli orangutan. All three species are critically endangered.

  • Find out more about these animals here.

Orca

See killer whale.

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A to Z Animals: P

a-z animals p

Panda

Panda
Panda

The panda, or giant panda, to give it its full name, is a bear that lives in south central China. Its diet consists almost entirely of bamboo. Its conservation status is 'Vulnerable', and its survival is reliant on ongoing conservation work.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Penguins

Gentoo Penguins
Gentoo Penguins

Penguins are flightless birds that live in cold regions of the Southern Hemisphere. (Only one penguin, the Galapagos penguin, is found in the Northern Hemisphere.)

Penguins are excellent swimmers, flying through the water using their wings as flippers.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Piranha

Piranhas Teeth
Piranha

Piranhas are predatory freshwater fish that live in rivers and streams in South America. A piranha’s sharp teeth are replaced continuously throughout its lifetime.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Platypus

Platypus
Platypus

The platypus is an egg-laying mammal that looks like a cross between a duck and a beaver. It is able to hunt using electricity, and males have venomous spurs on their ankles.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart Frog
Poison Dart Frog

Poison dart frogs are native to Central and South American rainforests. There are nearly 200 species of poison dart frog, most of which are brightly colored.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Polar Bear

Polar Bear
Polar Bear

The polar bear lives in the Arctic. Its long white coat provides excellent insulation and camouflage. The polar bear is the joint-largest bear, being a similar size to the Kodiak bear (a subspecies of brown bear).

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Proboscis Monkey

male proboscis monkey
Proboscis monkey

This long-nosed primate lives on the island of Borneo. Due mainly to deforestation, it is now endangered.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: Q

q

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing Butterfly
Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly

Queen Alexandra's birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world. It is found in Papua New Guinea. The brown-colored females are bigger than the striking green and black males. The Queen Alexandra's birdwing is endangered, and is only found in a 100 sq km area of rainforest.


Quokka

Quokka
Quokka

Quokkas are cat-sized marsupials that belong to the Macropodidae, or kangaroo, family. They live in south west mainland Australia and on islands off the coast of Western Australia.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Quoll

Quoll
Quoll

The Quoll is a carnivorous marsupial. It is easily recognised by its distinctive pale spots. The quoll is native to Australia and New Guinea.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: R

r

Red Eyed Tree Frog

Red Eyed Tree Frog
Red Eyed Tree Frog

Red eyed tree frogs are amphibians that are found throughout Central America, and also in Mexico. True to their name, Red eyed tree frogs are ‘arboreal’, which means that much of their lives is spent in trees.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Red Kangaroo

Red Kangaroo
Red Kangaroo

The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial. It is found across most of mainland Australia. Typical red kangaroo habitat includes deserts and open grasslands.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Redback Spider

Redback Spider
Redback Spider

The redback spider is a venomous spider that is mainly found in Australia. Although small, the redback can deliver a painful – and potentially deadly – bite.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Rhino

Rhino
Rhino

Rhinoceroses (or 'rhinos' for short) are large mammals with thick skin and horns on their noses. There are 5 species of rhino; two live in Africa, and the other three live in southern Asia.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Ring Tailed Lemur

Ring tailed lemurs
Ring tailed lemurs

The ring tailed lemur is easily recognized due to its long black and white ringed tail. The ring tailed lemur is only found on the island of Madagascar, and is endangered due to habitat loss.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Worker
Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

The rusty patched bumble bee is a species of bumble bee found in North America. As recently as the 1980’s it was a common species in the northeast and upper midwest regions of the USA and in southeast Canada. Since then, however, the rusty patched bumble bee’s population has experienced a severe decline.

In 2015 the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) gave the rusty patched bumble bee a Critically Endangered rating.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

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A to Z Animals: S

s

Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodiles are not only the largest species of crocodile but also the largest species of reptile! They are found in India, Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Sea Otter

Sea Otter
Sea Otter

Sea otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). They are the heaviest of the 13 otter species (giant otters are the longest), but the smallest marine mammals. They spend most of their lives in the sea. Most sea otters are found in alaska, although they are found elsewhere.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle
Sea Turtle

Sea turtles are reptiles in the order Testudines. There are seven types of sea turtle: Leatherback, Green, Loggerhead, Kemp's Ridley, Hawksbill, Flatback and Olive Ridley.

  • Find out more about sea turtles here.

Seahorse

Seahorse

Seahorses are marine fish in the genus hippocampus. In Ancient Greek “hippos” means horse, and “kampos” means sea monster. The fifty four species of seahorse are found in warm and tropical waters all around the world.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Shark

Shark
Basking Shark

Among the 450-plus species of shark are some of the most feared ocean predators, not to mention the two largest fishes in the world (namely the whale shark and the basking shark).

Sharks have been around for 420 million years. Their skeletons are made from a flexible material called cartilage rather than from bone.

  • Find out more about this animal here.

Sloth

Sloth
Sloth

Sloths are mammals that live in the rainforests of South and Central America. Sloths move so slowly that that tiny plants grow in their fur – giving them a slightly greenish colour that helps them to blend in with their surroundings!

There are two main types of sloth: two-toad sloths and three-toed sloths.

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Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard

The snow leopard is a cat in the genus Panthera. Unlike the other members of this group (lion, tiger, jaguar, and leopard), the snow leopard is unable to roar. The snow leopard lives in mountainous habitat in Central and South Asia.

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Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe Hare
Snowshoe Hare

The snowshoe hare is a large, forest-dwelling hare that is found in North America. It has long hind legs and small ears. Its large, furry hind feet resemble snowshoes, which is how it got its name.

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Southern Elephant Seal

Southern Elephant Seal
Southern Elephant Seal

The southern elephant seal is not only the largest pinniped, but also the largest member of the Carnivora order. A male southern elephant seal can weigh up to SEVEN times as much as a polar bear! The large, fleshy nose of the male elephant seal gives the species its name.

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Spider Monkey

Spider Monkey
Spider Monkey

Named for their spider-like limbs and tail, spider monkeys are New World monkeys of the genus Ateles. They live in untouched rainforests in Central and South America.

There are seven species of spider monkey.

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Spotted Hyena

spotted hyena active wild
Spotted hyena

Although commonly thought of as a scavenger, the spotted hyena catches the majority of its prey. This large African mammal is also known as the 'laughing hyena' due to its distinctive call.

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Sugar Glider

Sugar Glider
Sugar Glider

The sugar glider is a marsupial that lives in Australia and New Guinea. It is able to glide from tree to tree using the flaps of skin between its fore and hind limbs as 'wings'.

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A to Z Animals: T

t

Tapir

Tapir
Tapir

Tapirs are large, pig-like herbivorous mammals. They have 'mini-trunks', with which they manipulate food and other objects. There are five species of tapir: the Brazilian tapir, Malayan tapir, Baird's tapir, kabomani tapir, and mountain tapir.

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Tasmanian Devil

Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial found on the Australian island state of Tasmania. This nocturnal animal is known for its terrifying night-time screams.

The Tasmanian devil is currently endangered due to the highly contagious Devil facial tumour disease.

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Tiger

Sumatran Tiger
Sumatran Tiger

The tiger is the world's largest cat. This beautiful but deadly animal is a member of the genus Panthera, which also includes lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards. There are 6 surviving tiger subspecies. These include the Bengal tiger, Sumatran tiger and Siberian tiger.

The tiger is an endangered species, with fewer than 4,000 existing in the wild.

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Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark
Tiger Shark

Considered by some to be even more dangerous than the great white shark, the tiger shark is an deadly ocean predator. Its name comes from the tiger-like stripes that run along the fish's body.

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Toucan

Toucan
Toucan

Toucans are crow-sized birds with extra-large, brightly-colored bills. Toucans live in the tropical forests of South and Central America.

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A to Z Animals: U

Uakari

Bald Uakari
Bald Uakari

Uakaris are distinctive monkeys with bald faces and short tails. Their hair is long and shaggy. There are four species of uakari. All are found in the Amazon Rainforest.


  • Ulysses Butterfly

    Papilio ulysses ambiguus Rothschild, 1895
    Ulysses Butterfly
    The Ulysses butterfly is a large, strikingly-colored butterfly that is found in Australia, New Guinea and nearby islands. It has a wingspan of around 14 cm (5.5 in.)

 


Utah Prairie Dog

Utah-Präriehund
Utah Prairie Dog
The Utah prairie dog is an endangered mammal found only in the state of Utah, USA. It inhabits grasslands, where it builds large tunnel systems. It has been persecuted by farmers because it can cause extensive damage to crops.


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A to Z Animals: V

animals v

Vampire Bat

Vampire Bat
Vampire Bat

Vampire bats are flying mammals that drink the blood of their sleeping prey. There are three species of vampire bat that feed only on blood. These “true” vampire bats are: the common vampire bat, the hairy-legged vampire bat and the white-winged vampire bat.

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Vervet Monkey

vervet monkey
Vervet monkey

The vervet monkey is a primate found in southern and eastern Africa. The vervet monkey has different alarm calls depending on what predator is threatening the group.


Virginia Opossum

Virginia opossum carrying babies
Virginia Opossum

The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada. The Virginia oppossum pretends to be dead when it is threatened. This behavior gave rise to the saying 'playing possum'.


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A to Z Animals: W

animals w

Walrus

Walrus
Walrus

The walrus is a large marine mammal that lives in the Arctic. Both males and females have long tusks. Among the pinnipeds (the group of animals that includes seals, sealions and the walrus), only the two species of elephant seal are larger than the walrus.

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West Indian Manatee

manatee
West Indian manatee

There are two subspecies of West Indian manatee: the Florida manatee and the Antillean manatee. These graceful herbivores are also known as 'sea cows'.

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Whale Shark

whale shark
Whale shark

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. It is also one of only three sharks that are filter feeders (the other two are the basking shark and the megamouth shark).

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Wolf

(See Eurasian wolf)


Wolverine

Wolverine
Wolverine

The wolverine is a member of the Mustelidae (weasel) family that also includes badgers, otters and stoats. The wolverine has a fearsome reputation that is well-deserved; it has been known to drive away wolves and bears that are after its food.

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Wombat

Wombat in the wild
Wombat

Wombats are medium-sized, barrel-shaped, burrowing marsupials. There are three species of wombat, and they are found in a variety of habitats in southeast Australia.

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A to Z Animals: X

X-Ray Tetra

x ray tetra
X-Ray Tetra

The X-ray tetra is a small fish found in several South American rivers including the Amazon and the Orinoco. It gets its name due to its translucent (see-through) body.


Xantus's Hummingbird

Hylocharis xantusii
Xantus's Hummingbird
Xantus's Hummingbird is a mid-sized, green hummingbird found in Baja California, Mexico. Like all hummingbirds, it uses its long beak to feed on nectar from plants.


Xenops

xenops
Xenops

Xenops are small birds found in South and Central America. They have brown backs and distinctive eye stripes. They hunt for insects on the bark of trees.


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A to Z Animals: Y

Yabby

Yabby
Yabby

The yabby is a species of crayfish (a freshwater crustacean that resembles a small lobster) found in swamps, streams, lakes and rivers throughout much of east Australia.


Yak

Yak

Yaks are large, hooved mammals found in the Himalaya region of southern Asia. There are two species of yak: the domestic yak Bos grunniens and the wild yak Bos mutus, from which the domestic species was descended. The yak provides food and milk for local people, and is also used as a means of transport.

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Yellow-Eyed Penguin

yellow eyed penguin
Yellow-Eyed Penguin

The yellow-eyed penguin is an endangered penguin found in New Zealand. As its name suggests, it has yellow eyes. It can also be identified by the band of yellow that runs around the back of its head.


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A to Z Animals: Z

animals z

Zebra

Zebra
Zebra

Zebras are members of the horse family Equidae. They are instantly recognizable due to their distinctive black and white striped coats. All three species of zebra are found in Africa.

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Zebra duiker

Cephalophus zebra
Zebra Duiker

The zebra duiker is a species of antelope found in West Africa. Its name comes from the zebra-like markings on its back. A herbivore, the zebra duiker forages for fruit, leaves and other plant material in the rainforests in which it lives.


Zorro

culpeo zorro
Culpeo / Andean Fox

‘Zorro’ is Spanish for ‘fox’. The word is used to refer to South American members of the dog family Canidae in the genus Lycaloplex. The genus includes species such as the culpeo, the South American gray fox, and the hoary fox.


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A to Z Animals List: Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed this A-Z list of animals, and have discovered some amazing new species! What is your favorite animal? Are there any animals we've left out? Let us know in the comments below!

Now find more amazing animals!

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15 thoughts on “A to Z Animals List With Pictures, Facts & Information for Kids & Students”

  1. I love this site! One animal I was hoping you’d have on the list, is rare, yet amazing! It is a Northern Hairy – Nosed Wombat! They are truly amazing!

    Reply
  2. I was wondering if you could provide this list in an excel document for a kid survey over what animals they want to learn more about in class. Thanks it’s great!

    Reply
  3. hi,
    I was just wondering why your list of animals does not include Yabbies. They are great, interesting beings that deserve to be included.
    thanks

    Reply

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