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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.)
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
JabiruThe 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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial. It is found across most of mainland Australia. Typical red kangaroo habitat includes deserts and open grasslands.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Ulysses ButterflyThe 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 Prairie DogThe 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.
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.
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
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’.
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.
There are two subspecies of West Indian manatee: the Florida manatee and the Antillean manatee. These graceful herbivores are also known as ‘sea cows’.
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).
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.
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.
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
Xantus’s HummingbirdXantus’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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 / 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.
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!
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!
Thank you for your suggestion! You’re right, yabbies are fascinating creatures. We’ve already included the yabby in our Australian Animals List, and the species will also be featured here very soon!
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Hey, you guys.
Check the Endangered Animals List!
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!
Wow 🤗🤗I love these website
Hi, love the website but where are the arctic wolves at?
… Watch this space!!! 🙂
I will recommend this site, I like it❤️
hi
i think that you should put the little indestructible creature the tardigrade or water bear on this list.
i love this website
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!
Good idea, it’s on the ‘to do’ list! 🙂
I like the list. Why no raccoon?
Hi Spencer,
Good call! We’ve added the raccoon to the ‘R’ page. You can see it here: Animals Beginning With R
Active Wild Admin
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
Hi Madeleine,
Thank you for your suggestion! You’re right, yabbies are fascinating creatures.
We’ve already included the yabby in our Australian Animals List, and the species will also be featured here very soon!
Regards,
The Active Wild team.
Some of the animals were looking nice and others looked wierd