Discover a complete A to Z alphabetical list of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and more. Learn fun facts about wildlife from aardvarks to zebras in this easy-to-read guide (with free printable).
Need an alphabetical list of animals for a research project? Or just for your own knowledge?
Below is an extensive alphabetical list of animals from A to Z. Some letters naturally have fewer animals associated with them, but every letter is represented with at least one animal! At the end of the post is a free printable list of all the animals included in this post. Just save the PDF (two pages) to your computer and print.
Animals That Start With A
- Aardvark
- Aardwolf
- African Elephant
- Alligator
- Albatross
- Anaconda
- Antelope
- Armadillo
- Axolotl
Fun fact: The aardvark is a nocturnal mammal from Africa, famous for its long tongue used to eat ants and termites.
Animals That Start With B
- Baboon
- Badger
- Bactrian Camel
- Bald Eagle
- Barn Owl
- Barracuda
- Bison
- Blue Whale
- Boa Constrictor
- Bonobo
Did you know? The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived, weighing up to 200 tons.
Animals That Start With C
- Caiman
- Camel
- Capybara
- Caracal
- Cassowary
- Cheetah
- Chimpanzee
- Cobra
- Cougar
- Crocodile
Highlight: The capybara is the world’s largest rodent and is known for its calm, social nature.
Animals That Start With D
- Dalmatians (dog breed)
- Damselfish
- Deer
- Dingo
- Dolphin
- Dragonfly
- Dugong
- Duck
- Dugite (a venomous snake)
Fun fact: Dugongs are sometimes called “sea cows” because they graze on underwater seagrass.
Animals That Start With E
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Echidna
- Eel
- Egret
- Elephant Seal
- Elk
- Emu
- Ermine
Highlight: Echidnas are egg-laying mammals, one of only two monotreme species in the world.
Animals That Start With F
- Falcon
- Fennec Fox
- Ferret
- Flamingo
- Flatfish
- Flounder
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frigatebird
Did you know? The fennec fox has the largest ears relative to its body size of any fox, helping it survive desert heat.
Animals That Start With G
- Galápagos Tortoise
- Gazelle
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- Gibbon
- Giraffe
- Goose
- Gorilla
- Grasshopper
- Great White Shark
Fun fact: The giraffe has the same number of neck vertebrae as humans, despite its incredibly long neck.
Animals That Start With H
- Haddock
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harpy Eagle
- Hedgehog
- Hippopotamus
- Hornbill
- Horse
- Hummingbird
Highlight: The harpy eagle is one of the most powerful eagles, capable of preying on monkeys and sloths.
Animals That Start With I
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Iguana
- Impala
- Indian Star Tortoise
- Irukandji Jellyfish
Did you know? The Irukandji jellyfish, though tiny, is one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean.
Animals That Start With J
- Jackal
- Jaguar
- Jellyfish
- Jerboa
- Junco (a type of bird)
Fun fact: Jaguars are the only big cats in the Americas and are known for their powerful bite.
Animals That Start With K
- Kangaroo
- Kestrel
- King Cobra
- Kingfisher
- Koala
- Komodo Dragon
- Kookaburra
- Krill
Highlight: Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards, reaching up to 10 feet in length.
Animals That Start With L
- Labrador Retriever (dog breed)
- Ladybug
- Lamprey
- Lemur
- Leopard
- Lion
- Lizard
- Lobster
- Lynx
Did you know? Lynxes are elusive wild cats known for their tufted ears and excellent hunting skills.
Animals That Start With M
- Macaw
- Magpie
- Manatee
- Manta Ray
- Meerkat
- Millipede
- Mink
- Mole
- Moose
- Moray Eel
Fun fact: Manatees are gentle, plant-eating marine mammals that inspired legends of mermaids.
Animals That Start With N
- Nandu (Greater Rhea)
- Nighthawk
- Nilgai (Asian antelope)
- Numbat
- Nurse Shark
- Nutria
Highlight: The numbat is a small marsupial that primarily feeds on termites.
Animals That Start With O
- Octopus
- Okapi
- Opossum
- Orangutan
- Ostrich
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
Fun fact: The okapi, a relative of the giraffe, lives in dense rainforests of Central Africa.
Animals That Start With P
- Panda
- Panther
- Parrot
- Peacock
- Pelican
- Penguin
- Piranha
- Platypus
- Porcupine
- Puma
Did you know? The platypus is a rare egg-laying mammal with a bill like a duck.
Animals That Start With Q
- Quail
- Quetzal
- Quokka
- Quoll
Highlight: The quokka, often called the “happiest animal,” is a small marsupial known for its friendly appearance.
Animals That Start With R
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Ram
- Rat
- Raven
- Red Panda
- Reindeer
- Rhinoceros
- Roadrunner
Fun fact: Red pandas, despite their name, are more closely related to raccoons than giant pandas.
Animals That Start With S
- Salamander
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Seal
- Serval
- Sheep
- Sloth
- Snow Leopard
- Sparrow
- Squid
Highlight: The snow leopard is a rare big cat adapted to cold mountainous regions.
Animals That Start With T
- Tamarin (monkey)
- Tapir
- Tarantula
- Tasmanian Devil
- Termite
- Tiger
- Toad
- Toucan
- Tuna
- Turtle
Did you know? The Tasmanian devil has one of the most powerful bites for its size in the animal kingdom.
Animals That Start With U
- Uakari (a red-faced monkey)
- Uguisu (Japanese bush warbler)
- Urial (wild sheep)
- Uromastyx (spiny-tailed lizard)
Highlight: The uakari is known for its bright red face, which signals good health to potential mates.
Animals That Start With V
- Vampire Bat
- Vaquita (endangered porpoise)
- Vervet Monkey
- Viper
- Vole
- Vulture
Fun fact: The vaquita is the most endangered marine mammal, with fewer than 20 individuals remaining.
Animals That Start With W
- Wahoo (fish)
- Walrus
- Wapiti (elk)
- Warthog
- Weasel
- Whale
- Wombat
- Woodpecker
- Wren
Highlight: Wombats have cube-shaped droppings, which help mark their territory.
Animals That Start With X
- X-ray Tetra (a transparent fish)
- Xenops (a bird)
- Xerus (African ground squirrel)
Fun fact: The X-ray tetra gets its name from its nearly transparent body, revealing its internal bones.
Animals That Start With Y
- Yak
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yeti Crab
- Yellowhammer (bird)
Highlight: The yeti crab is a deep-sea crustacean covered in hair-like bristles that host bacteria.
Animals That Start With Z
- Zebra
- Zebu (domesticated cattle)
- Zorilla (striped polecat)
- Zander (a freshwater fish)
Fun fact: The zorilla, also known as the striped polecat, is a skunk-like animal with a powerful defensive spray.
Ways to Use This Alphabetical Animal List
- Educational Resource: Teachers and parents can use it to teach children about biodiversity.
- Research Aid: Wildlife enthusiasts can explore lesser-known species for research projects.
- Trivia and Quizzes: Perfect for crafting fun educational games and quizzes.
- SEO and Blogging: Bloggers can use this list to create interactive content like animal fact sheets or image galleries.
Free Printable List of Animals
Click the link below the images to download and print out!
Alphabetical List of Animals Printable
Final Thoughts
The animal kingdom is vast, with millions of species yet to be discovered. An alphabetical animal list is a starting point to explore biodiversity and gain a deeper appreciation for the creatures that share our planet.
Whether you are exploring for fun, education, or professional purposes, this list helps you find animals by letter quickly and easily. Keep this guide handy as a reference, and continue exploring the wonders of wildlife.
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