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Discover Different Types of Animals Today
A-Z Animals is the world’s most trusted online animal encyclopedia. If you want cute animals, types of wild animals, exotic pets, weird animals or are looking for comprehensive pet guides for dogs and cats, you’ll find it here!
We believe that if people know more about the world’s creatures they will better care for them. Thats why we add new animals for you to discover – each and every day! Learn about any animal using the search box below or subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also be sure to check out our growing list of Animal Quizzes and Web Stories.
Latest Animal News, Facts, Rankings, and More!
Male vs Female Snapping Turtle: What Are The Differences?
Snapping turtles are some of the largest freshwater reptiles in the United States. These amazing turtles can be found across much of the eastern US and have quite the reputation… Read More
By Colby Maxwell 9 mins ago
Male vs Female Guppy: Key Differences Explained
Guppies - also known as rainbow fish or millionfish - are small freshwater fish native to South America, where they inhabit slow-moving rivers and streams. However, they are also one… Read More
By Hannah Ward 54 mins ago
8 Black Snakes in Texas: One is Venomous!
Snakes are often portrayed as aggressive, but almost all snakes retreat at the sight of humans. They’ll only attack if they’re cornered or surprised. However, if this attack comes from… Read More
By Kristen Holder 2 hours ago
Can Your Dog Eat Papaya? Risks and Benefits
Some dog owners share almost all their meals with their fur friends, and the pups enjoy them. However, you should be choosy with the fruits you feed your pets, considering… Read More
By Cedric Jackson 2 hours ago
10 Incredible Glass Frog Facts
Living high in the trees of South and Central America is one kind of frog unlike any other. And there’s not just one species of glass frog; there are actually… Read More
By Brandi Allred 3 hours ago
Moon Bear vs Sun Bear: What Are the Differences?
Bears are large and dangerous predators that most people expect to encounter in the mountains or the plains of North America. However, what if we told you that two lookalikes… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 3 hours ago
Yes – Dogs Can Eat Bananas! Here’s Why
Bananas are a delicious, healthy treat full of essential vitamins and nutrients. But are they as healthy for dogs as they are for us? The answer to that is yes!… Read More
By Shaunice Lewis 4 hours ago
Watch a Rare Lynx Jump on a Skidder to Say Hello
A lynx is named for the root word leuk, which means "light" or "brightness." A wild lynx in Alberta, Canada used its bright eyes to peer into a skidder that… Read More
By Katie Begley 4 hours ago
Copperhead vs Pine Snake: What Are The Differences?
The copperhead is one of the most famous of all snakes here in the United States. Along with that fame, people often confuse other species with them, often to a… Read More
By Colby Maxwell 5 hours ago
Olive Sea Snake vs Hagfish: What’s the Difference?
Our oceans are home to 99% of the living space on our planet. So it’s no surprise that two of the most interesting creatures on Earth—the olive sea snake and… Read More
By Brandi Allred 6 hours ago
See all of A-Z Animals News and Information.
The 7 Major Different Types Of Animals
Mammals
The official mammal class is Mammalia. Animals that are considered mammals include warm-blooded vertebrates that have hair or fur and whose babies drink milk. Unlike other animal types like birds and insects, all mammal babies drink milk that comes from their mother’s bodies. This is one of the key ways to know if an animal is a mammal.
See the complete list of mammals.
Reptiles
Lizards, dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, and snakes – all belong to that ancient and stout class of animals known as the reptiles. This is a diverse group with more than 10,000 different species and a huge representation in the fossil record. Once the dominant land vertebrates on the planet, reptiles still occupy just about every single ecosystem outside of the extreme north and south.
See the complete list of reptiles.
Fish
Fish are aquatic vertebrates. They usually have gills, paired fins, a long body covered with scales, and tend to be cold-blooded. "Fish" is a term used to refer to lampreys, sharks, coelacanths and ray-finned fishes, but is not a taxonomic group, which is a clade or group containing a common ancestor and all its descendants.
See the complete list of fish.
Birds
Birds, members of the class Aves, include more than 10,400 living species. Their feathers distinguish them from all other classes of animal; no other animals on earth have them. If you see an animal with feathers, it’s undoubtedly a bird. Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with four-chambered hearts. However, they are more closely related to reptiles and are believed to have evolved from dinosaurs.
See the complete list of birds.
Amphibians
The official class of amphibians is Amphibia. To have the classification of an amphibian, an animal must be a vertebrate, require water to survive, be cold-blooded, and spend time both on land and in water. Though other animals only live on land or in the water, amphibians have the unique ability to thrive equally in both. Amphibians cover over 6,000 different species across the globe, but about 90% are frogs.
See the complete list of amphibians.
Invertebrates
The definition of an invertebrate is any animal that does not have a backbone or vertebral column. The most prolific and easily recognizable members of the invertebrate family are insects. It’s estimated that upwards of 30 million individual species of invertebrates may exist accounting for between 90-95 percent of all organisms on the planet.
See the complete list of invertebrates.
Insects
All insects are part of the taxonomical phylum Arthropoda, and they are collectively referred to as arthropods. It is common to see this name misspelled as “anthropod,” but this is not the correct term. They can be found in nearly every environment on the planet, and they currently account for over half of all known living organisms in the world. They have undergone many cycles of evolution depending on the resources available to them.
See the complete list of insects.
Pet Guides: Everything To Know About Cat and Dog Breeds
Want to know how to raise a puppy or kitten? Curious to learn more about big and small dog breeds or cat breeds? Check out our comprehensive pets guides below!
Most Popular Pet Dog Breeds

Irish Setter
Can live for up to 16 years!

Boston Terrier
Friendly, lovable and very strong!

Golden Retriever
Trusting, kind and gentle!
See a complete list of dog breeds.
Most Popular Pet Cat Breeds

Abyssinian
The oldest breed of cat in the world!

Australian Mist
First bred in the 1700s!

Ragdoll
One of the larger breeds of domestic cat!
See a complete list of cat breeds.
Expert Pet Product Reviews
The AZ Animals team has spent years working with and studying the latest research on what products are best for our pets and yours, and we’re excited to share our expert pet product recommendations with you.
See all of our Expert Pet Product Reviews.
Explore Types of Wild Animals from Around the World
- African Animals
- Asian Animals
- Central American Animals
- Eurasian Animals
- European Animals
- North American Animals
- Marine (Ocean) Animals
- Oceanian Animals
- South American Animals
Animals By Letter: Explore A to Z Animal Lists

Animals that Start with A
Example: The Amazon Parrot

Animals that Start with B
Example: The Bombay

Animals that Start with C
Example: The Chinook Salmon

Animals that Start with D
Example: The Dragonfish

Animals that Start with E
Example: The English Shepherd

Animals that Start with F
Example: The False Killer Whale

Animals that Start with G
Example: The Goldfish

Animals that Start with H
Example: The Herring

Animals that Start with I
Example: The Irish Setter

Animals that Start with J
Example: The Japanese Squirrel

Animals that Start with K
Example: The King Crab

Animals that Start with L
Example: The Loach

Animals that Start with M
Example: The Mule

Animals that Start with N
Example: The Nyala

Animals that Start with O
Example: The Olive Baboon

Animals that Start with P
Example: The Pointer

Animals that Start with Q
Example: The Quagga

Animals that Start with R
Example: The Red Spitting Cobra

Animals that Start with S
Example: The Sea Slug

Animals that Start with T
Example: The Tibetan Spaniel

Animals that Start with U
Example: The Uguisu

Animals that Start with V
Example: The Velociraptor

Animals that Start with W
Example: The Water Buffalo

Animals that Start with X
Example: The Xoloitzcuintli

Animals that Start with Y
Example: The Yarara

Animals that Start with Z
Example: The Zebra Snake
See Endangered Animals Lists
- Extinct
- Extinct in the Wild
- Critically Endangered
- Endangered
- Vulnerable
- Near Threatened
- Least Concern
- Data Deficient
- Not Evaluated
Animal Reference Guides
We are building the world’s greatest animal encyclopedia. Be search to check out our Reference Library and Glossary to learn about Animal Habitats, Diet, Behavior and much more…
Even more from A-Z Animals
Akita vs Rottweiler: What Are The Differences?
When it comes to the Akita vs Rottweiler, both are excellent guard dogs who love having a job to do. The Akita is a strong, independent, willful dog with a… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 9 hours ago
Rottweiler vs Boxer: Key Differences Explained
There are ample differences between the Rottweiler and Boxer breeds. Most notably, they were bred for different jobs: Rotties are guard dogs, and Boxers are hunting dogs. Rottweilers are territorial,… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 10 hours ago
Frozen Baby Mammoth Discovered in Yukon
Woolly mammoths might seem ancient, but compared to other "prehistoric" creatures like dinosaurs, they died out fairly recently. While most mammoths went extinct around 12,000 years ago, some isolated groups… Read More
By Dayva Segal 12 hours ago
10 Incredible Human Facts
The human body is incredible. It is a unique system of interrelated structures and essential organs that work continuously to perform the duties required for daily life. For instance, your… Read More
By Jeremiah Wright 18 hours ago
10 Incredible Harpy Eagles Facts
The harpy eagle is one of the world's strongest and biggest birds of prey. The back talons are around four to five inches long, which is similar to the claws of… Read More
By Jeremiah Wright 19 hours ago
10 Incredible Arctic Hare Facts
America hosts many animals, including the beautiful and ugly, cute and dangerous, wild and domesticated. Among these animals is the Arctic hare, the largest hare in North America. The Arctic… Read More
By Jeremiah Wright 19 hours ago
Watch a Grizzly Chase a Herd of Wild Horses in Stunning Footage
Wild horses running is a sight to behold. While that's enough to make anyone stop and take notice, the grizzly bear that comes later is something else entirely! While just… Read More
By Katie Begley 20 hours ago
10 Incredible Chihuahua Facts
Let's talk about man's best friends, the animals that always have our backs—dogs. More specifically, we'll beam our spotlight on the most popular dog breed among celebrities—the Chihuahuas. It's not… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 21 hours ago
10 Incredible Kangaroo Facts
The kangaroo is so popular in Australia that it has since become an emblem of the country. Although they are this popular, there are many things not known about kangaroos.… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 21 hours ago
How Many White Tigers Are Left In The World?
From Yann Martel's Life of Pi to Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, the Bengal tiger stands tall in the human imagination. Its fierce, solitary nature, as well as its powerful body,… Read More
By Kathryn Dueck 21 hours ago
10 Incredible Squid Facts
While a squid can often be confused with an octopus, these soft-bodied mollusks are quite different for many reasons. Apart from their size and body, these animals can also camouflage!… Read More
By Jennifer Gaeng 21 hours ago
10 Incredible Chicken Facts
Aside from dogs and cats, the most common domestic animal to humans worldwide is the chicken. These pretty birds are essential to our stomachs as they are one of the… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 21 hours ago
10 Incredible Raccoon Facts
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most common mammals in North America, living primarily in moist woodlands. Raccoons have black fur masks across their eyes, with bushy tails… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 22 hours ago
How Many Rats Are In The World?
Would you keep a rat as a pet? For some people, a rodent is an ideal companion. Some living in Rajasthan, India, take it even further. Here, rats are revered… Read More
By Kathryn Dueck 22 hours ago
10 Incredible Rabbit Facts
Rabbits are mammals found in almost every part of the world except Antarctica. While these animals are kept as pets or even for their meat, little is known about them.… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 23 hours ago
10 Incredible Tree Frog Facts
There are over 800 species of tree frogs living all over the world. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Despite their name, not all tree frogs actually… Read More
By Brandi Allred 23 hours ago
Can Dogs Eat Spinach Safely?
There are two sides to the story when it comes to feeding your dog spinach. Some say it is safe for your dog, while others say it may cause kidney… Read More
By Susan Olayode 23 hours ago
When Did Dodo Birds Go Extinct?
Dodo birds are flightless birds that have been extinct for quite some time. Mauritius is their historical home, and they were endemic to the island. This island is about 500… Read More
By Kristen Holder 23 hours ago
5 Nuts Your Dogs Can Eat Safely, and 4 To Avoid
Let a nut drop from your hands, and your dog will swallow it up before you can react. Nuts are crunchy, fun, and challenging to dogs, but are they good… Read More
By Susan Olayode 24 hours ago
10 Incredible Alligator Facts
Native to the Southern US and China, alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) among the largest reptiles in the world. They look very similar to their cousins, crocodiles, which people often mistake them… Read More
By Emmanuel Kingsley 24 hours ago