Animals!
Discover cute, wild, and weird animals using the search bar below, or scroll to see popular animal lists!
Search – Discover Different Types of Animals
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, we’ve got you covered!
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:
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 American Bulldog
Animals that Start with B
Example: The Brazilian Terrier
Animals that Start with C
Example: The Cockroach
Animals that Start with D
Example: The Dogo Argentino
Animals that Start with E
Example: The Emperor Penguin
Animals that Start with F
Example: The Fox
Animals that Start with G
Example: The Great Danoodle
Animals that Start with H
Example: The Hummingbird
Animals that Start with I
Example: The Immortal Jellyfish
Animals that Start with J
Example: The Japanese Chin
Animals that Start with K
Example: The Kudu
Animals that Start with L
Example: The Lobster
Animals that Start with M
Example: The Moorhen
Animals that Start with N
Example: The Narwhal
Animals that Start with O
Example: The Ostrich
Animals that Start with P
Example: The Pocket Pitbull
Animals that Start with Q
Example: The Quokka
Animals that Start with R
Example: The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Animals that Start with S
Example: The Sumatran Elephant
Animals that Start with T
Example: The Termite
Animals that Start with U
Example: The Uakari
Animals that Start with V
Example: The Vinegaroon
Animals that Start with W
Example: The White-Tailed Eagle
Animals that Start with X
Example: The Xoloitzcuintli
Animals that Start with Y
Example: The Yellow-Eyed Penguin
Animals that Start with Z
Example: The Zebu
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…
Animals – Facts, Pictures and Resources FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the 6 types of animals?
The 6 types of animals are mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and invertebrates. Additionally, animals are classified in many different ways, which you may learn about in this complete guide to animal classification.
What are the 10 most popular animals?
The 10 most popular animals on AZ Animals are:
How many animals are there?
There are over 1 million known animal species and more than 98% of those are insects, which are indeed animals.
Foxes often get a bad rap, and not just in fairytales, where they often act as antagonists or tricksters. People who raise small animals know well the damage a fox can do if it gets into your yard. Despite their bad reputation, foxes can actually act quite friendly. They usually pose little to no threat […] Read More
Have you ever fed ducks at a local pond or lake? While often considered a harmless activity, this simple act can do a load of harm to a wild duck. Like any animal, ducks eat a specialized diet catered to their needs. A part of the family Anatidae, ducks are aquatic waterfowl that live off […] Read More
Amidst a decades-long population drop off, eight states have seen American bumblebees disappear. Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Oregon have lost their bumblebees to a growing trend that’s dwindled the once ubiquitous pollinator to a fraction of its former glory. Over the previous twenty years, scientists estimate there’s been […] Read More
After years of struggling to find an end to the chlamydia epidemic that has had sweeping negative effects on Australia’s koala populations, researchers think they have found a solution. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Queensland — also home to the Irwin family — will roll out a new chlamydia specifically created to treat koalas. […] Read More
You may be surprised to learn how many animals have tusks. First, we need to know the difference between tusks and horns. Tusks are the front teeth of mammals that protrude outside of their mouths and keep growing throughout the animal’s life. Horns project from the animal’s head and are made of a bony core […] Read More
Gorillas are the world’s largest primates. These amazing animals are surprisingly similar to humans in many ways. Did you know that baby gorillas can hum and sing or that they are also called infants? Keep reading to find out nine astounding baby gorilla facts and check out some adorable juvenile gorilla pictures. #9: A Baby […] Read More
Baby giraffes are among the tallest baby animals on the planet. But did you know that they can run ten hours after birth and can moo like a cow? Let’s find out nine awesome giraffe baby facts and look at some pictures of these heart-warming mammals. #9: Baby Giraffes Use their Bottoms as Pillows Baby […] Read More
Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Moose babies are not only adorable, they are miraculous mammals that can run faster than humans at just three days old. Did you know that all moose babies and their adult counterparts are born colorblind? Keep reading to find out eight incredible facts about the moose […] Read More
Baby elephants might grow to be one of the largest land animals in the world, but they are only around 200 to 300 pounds when they are born. Did you know that young elephants are called calves? Or that elephants lose their tusks much like human babies lose their first set of baby teeth? Read […] Read More
Elephants are surprisingly agile animals for their enormous size. They can run at speeds of up to 25 mph, and their young are able to hold their bodies up and walk on their own within mere hours of being born! In fact, after only a couple of days, baby elephants are more than strong and […] Read More
