Discover, Appreciate, & Understand the Animal World!
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We believe that if people know more about the world’s creatures they will better care for them. That’s 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.
Discover Your Favorite Animal Today!
Latest from A-Z Animals
51 Snakes Found in Mississippi (6 are Venomous)
Key Points There are more than 50 types of snakes in Mississippi and six of them are venomous. It's important to practice caution any time you come across a snake… Read More
By Tracy Graham 6 hours ago
Rams Vs Sheep: What’s The Difference?
Answering the question of what the difference is between Rams VS Sheep, the answer is clear because they are the same thing! Ram is the name given to a male… Read More
By Peralee Knight 9 hours ago
California’s Poisonous Snakes
There are no snakes in Alaska, but California makes up for it! Of the 46 different kinds of snakes in California, nine of them are dangerously poisonous (venomous). What kind… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 11 hours ago
Salmon vs Cod: What Are the Differences?
Salmon and codfish, commonly called cod, are some of the most consumed fish in the world. Both of these fish are valued for their taste as well as their nutrition.… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 14 hours ago
Discover 8 of the Biggest Animals that Have Gone Extinct
Big animals are exciting. The largest animal on Earth today is the blue whale which can reach 98 feet long – enormous (and the largest recorded blue whale even hit… Read More
By Rebecca Mathews 18 hours ago
10 Famous Cats (Real and Fictional!)
All cats are worthy of the spotlight but only some make it onto screens to be be adored by fans throughout the world. Discover 10 famous cats, both real and… Read More
By Angie Menjivar 24 hours ago
Manx Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Cats communicate in various ways with slow blinks, a range of meow sounds high and low, purrs, and tail movements. With cats that have Manx syndrome, you don't get the… Read More
By Angie Menjivar 1 day ago
Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
When a kitten's brain doesn't develop properly during the perinatal period, cerebella hypoplasia occurs. Since the brain controls various functions, including fine motor skills, this failure in development results in… Read More
By Angie Menjivar 1 day ago
Whippet vs. Greyhound: What Are 8 Key Differences?
The Whippet, often known as the English Whippet, is a medium-sized dog breed- but is there a difference between a Whippet vs Greyhound? They are a sighthound breed descended from… Read More
By Jennifer Gaeng 1 day ago
The 7 Main Types of Animals And Their Characteristics
There are many different types of animals in the world, but some of the largest categories include:
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.
Explore Types of Wild Animals from Around the World
We track thousands of animals from every continent and corner on earth, and are adding more every day!
- African Animals – Africa is home to some of the most incredible and dangerous animals in the world.
- Asian Animals – Asia has the world’s longest coastline, and an amazing diversity of exotic animals, birds, and more.
- Central American Animals – Discover the the nearly 400 different animals we track in Central America today.
- Eurasian Animals – Eurasia has some of the rarest animals in the world, like Siberian Tigers and Snow Leopards.
- European Animals – We track over 500 different animals in Europe, including wolves and bears.
- North American Animals – North America has many beautiful national parks that house some of the rarest animals on earth.
- Marine (Ocean) Animals – The ocean is teaming with life, from the smallest shrimp to the largest animal ever – the Blue Whale!
- Oceanian Animals – Oceania has many islands, and the world’s highest concentration of marsupials.
- South American Animals – Home to the stealthy Jaguar, the friendly Capybara, and many more!
See Endangered and Extinct Animals Lists
A-Z Animals follow’s the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species definitions of threatened and endangered animals. Please consult the lists below to learn more about which animals need our help the most
- Extinct – Species that no longer exist on earth
- Extinct in the Wild – Species that are only known to survive in captive or cultivated environments
- Critically Endangered – Animals that face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
- Endangered – Animal species that face a high risk of extinction in the wild
- Vulnerable – Animal species that face a risk of extinction in the wild
- Near Threatened – Species that are facing population challenges and likely to become vulnerable to extinction soon
- Least Concern – Animals with strong populations that are not expected to face extinction risk in the near future
- Data Deficient – Species where we lack adequate information to assess the risk
- Not Evaluated – Animal species that have not been evaluated yet
Types of Animals By Letter: Explore A to Z Animal Lists
See lists of animals that start with every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. We track all types of animals like lions and tigers, dogs and cats, even dinosaurs and spiders. Choose your favorite letter below to see all animals that start with it today.
Animals that Start with A
Example: The American Staffordshire Terrier
Animals that Start with B
Example: The Brachiosaurus
Animals that Start with C
Example: The Cobia Fish
Animals that Start with D
Example: The Dusky Dolphin
Animals that Start with E
Example: The Eider
Animals that Start with F
Example: The Flying Squirrel
Animals that Start with G
Example: The Gulper Catfish
Animals that Start with H
Example: The Habu Snake
Animals that Start with I
Example: The Indian Rhinoceros
Animals that Start with J
Example: The Jellyfish
Animals that Start with K
Example: The Knifefish
Animals that Start with L
Example: The Lobster
Animals that Start with M
Example: The Mekong Giant Catfish
Animals that Start with N
Example: The Northern Parula
Animals that Start with O
Example: The Ortolan Bunting
Animals that Start with P
Example: The Pomchi
Animals that Start with Q
Example: The Quoll
Animals that Start with R
Example: The Rottsky
Animals that Start with S
Example: The Springerdoodle
Animals that Start with T
Example: The Texas Spiny Lizard
Animals that Start with U
Example: The Upland Sandpiper
Animals that Start with V
Example: The Viper
Animals that Start with W
Example: The Whinchat
Animals that Start with X
Example: The Xiaotingia
Animals that Start with Y
Example: The Yellow Aphids
Animals that Start with Z
Example: The Zebra Finch
Everything To Know About Pet Dogs, Cats Birds, and More
Some of the most popular types of animals on earth are pets. A pet is a domesticated animal that lives with a person or family, usually in a house. The most common pets include dogs, cats, fish, and birds, but there are also many amazing exotic pets like reptiles, lizards, and more! Horses, goats, and pigs can also be pets too.
Pet Dogs
Dogs are the most popular type of pet on earth with nearly 500 million worldwide. Thats almost one dog for every 15 people on earth! There are hundreds of different dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog breed, and was bred to hunt wolves. Chihuahuas are the smallest, and were likely bred for companionship or to hunt small rodents. The most popular dog breeds are below.
Boston Terrier
Friendly, lovable and very strong!
Irish Setter
Has a beautiful coat that's flowing and feathered!
Golden Retriever
Trusting, kind and gentle!
Pet Cats
Cats are the second most popular pet on earth with nearly 400 million worldwide. Thats almost one pet cat for every 20 people on earth! You can read about the hundreds of different cat breeds, from the large to the small. The most popular cat breeds are below
Abyssinian
One of the oldest cat breeds in the world!
Australian Mist
The only cat breed to originate in Australia.
Ragdoll
One of the larger breeds of domestic cat!
Pet Product Reviews
Pets are important members of our families and should be cared for. The AZ Animals team reviews the latest research on pet health, consults veterinarian best practices, and works directly with vet health specialists to review the best products for your dog, cat, and other pets. We’re excited to share our expert pet product recommendations with you, including the best dog food, best cat food, and best tanks for your pet fish
More Animal News, Facts, Rankings, and More!
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Although there is no cure for the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), many cats go on to live long lives following their diagnosis. However, careful management is required to keep these… Read More
By Angie Menjivar 1 day ago
Otter Vs Mink: How to Tell Them Apart
Otter and mink are semi-aquatic mammals that resemble one another in quite a few ways. In fact, they are so similar that people often mistake them for one another when… Read More
By Colby Maxwell 1 day ago
Elk Vs Reindeer
Elk and reindeer are very similar animals belonging to the deer family, but there are many differences between the two. While both animals belong to the Cervidae family, they live… Read More
By Colby Maxwell 2 days ago
Meet the Snake With Legs & How It Was Different From a Lizard
Key Points: A discovery of 95 million-year-old fossils changed scientists' understanding of when snakes evolved to lose their legs, and how large those in-between snakes were. Traces of legs that… Read More
By Colby Maxwell 2 days ago
House Finch vs Purple Finch: 5 Key Differences Explained
House finches and purple finches are both small birds which are native to North America. Both species have stunning red and brown plumage which means that they are easily confused… Read More
By Hannah Ward 2 days ago
Cuckoo Marans vs. Barred Rock Chicken — Who Rules the Roost?
In a cuckoo Marans versus barred rock chicken fight, which bird is at the top of the pecking order? Chickens today have ancestors from the Red Jungle fowl of East… Read More
By Crystal 3 days ago
Flesh-Eating Beetles: Everything You Never Wanted to Know
Flesh-eating beetles were made famous in the movie The Mummy, where scarab beetles eat humans alive. Fortunately, the real flesh-eating beetles are known as dermestids only feast on dead people,… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 days ago
Mandrills vs Baboons: 6 Key Differences Explained
Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) and baboons (Papio) are both large primates who form complex social groups and are highly intelligent. These large, powerful monkeys both inhabit Africa, and they are both… Read More
By Lex Basu 3 days ago
The Life Cycle of a Beetle
The beetle is among the most diverse insects in the world. There are more than 400,000 known species belonging to the insect order of Coleoptera. Some of the species eat… Read More
By Lex Basu 3 days ago
Quarter Horse vs Thoroughbred: What Are the Differences?
Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds are two horse breeds that are known for their racing prowess as well as the confusion surrounding their names. So, what are the differences between a… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 3 days ago
The Egyptian Beetle: 10 Scarab Facts That Will Surprise You
The Egyptian beetle, or Scarabaeus sacer, is a dung beetle that lives in a variety of environments, from the desert to the rain forest in all continents except Antarctica. The… Read More
By Jennifer Gaeng 3 days ago
Red Salmon Vs Pink Salmon: What Are the Differences?
Salmon is one of the most commonly eaten fish in the entire world. However, the species has a lot of variety including the color of its flesh. Red salmon and… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 3 days ago
Black Mamba vs Rattlesnake: Who Would Win in a Fight?
Key Points: The rattlesnake is a venomous snake native to the United States - with half of all rattlesnakes found in the state of Arizona alone. The black mamba is… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 3 days ago
This Is Why Your Dog Growls When You Pet Them
Key Points: When your dog growls when you pet them they may be in pain and want you to stop. Feral dogs or dogs that are new to your home… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 3 days ago
Gaboon Viper vs King Cobra: What’s the Difference?
Key Points Gaboon vipers live in select parts of Africa, while king cobras live in Southeast Asia and India. King cobras can't sense heat like pit vipers, but they have… Read More
By Brandi Allred 4 days ago
Indigo Snake vs Black Racer: What’s the Difference?
Colubrid snakes are also known as typical snakes in North America, including indigo snakes and black racers. But, how do you tell the two species apart? When it comes to… Read More
By Brandi Allred 4 days ago
Corn Snake vs. Milk Snake: 3 Differences and 3 Similarities
Are you thinking about getting a pet snake? Choosing between a corn snake vs. milk snake can be tricky. Both species look beautiful and can live for over 20 years… Read More
By Crystal 4 days ago
Cutest Dogs in the World: Boston Terrier vs. Shih Tzu
Let's take a close look at the Boston terrier vs. shih tzu. Which is cuter: The long-haired, doe eyed shih tzu or the silly, big-eared Boston terrier? Both breeds have… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 4 days ago
Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
Goldendoodles aren’t hypoallergenic or non-shedding. Truly hypoallergenic dogs don’t exist, according to healthcare professionals. In addition, many Goldendoodles inherit a heavily-shedding Golden Retriever coat or have a coat that combines… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 5 days ago
Cutest Dogs in the World: Boston Terrier Vs. Pomeranian
Boston Terriers and Pomeranians are two lovely dog breeds that can be difficult to choose between! While it all comes down to personal preference, there are cute things about each… Read More
By Katelynn Sobus 5 days ago
See all of A-Z Animals News and Information.
Animal Reference Guides And Educational Resources
We believe if people are more educated about the world’s animals, they will better car for them. That’s why we are building the world’s greatest animal encyclopedia, completely free to you. Please take a moment to learn more about animals today using these helpful guides and resources:
- Reference Library – See helpful information on conservation, classification, animal evolution, and more
- Glossary – A list of scientific and technical animal terms, with definitions
- Animal Habitats – Learn all about different animal habitats
- Diet – The different animal diets like omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores defined with examples
- Behavior – Learn all about animal intelligence, communication, community, language, migration, and more.
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.
