Animals!
Discover the strongest, smartest, and fastest animals in the world by searching below, or scroll to see all animals listed from A-Z. We are the largest website of our kind for wild animal and pet lovers worldwide!
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 and Web Stories.
Discover Your Favorite Animal Today!
Latest from A-Z Animals
The Largest City in Pennsylvania Now and in 30 Years
Pennsylvania, like other Mid-Atlantic states, has a few large cities within its borders. Places like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have large populations. However, cities in Pennsylvania, like many other states, have… Read More
By Kyle Glatz 47 mins ago
The 5 Busiest Airports in South Dakota, Ranked
There's no place quite like South Dakota. While best known as the home of Mount Rushmore, people flock to the state to see natural wonders referred to as the 'Great… Read More
By Beth Brown 2 hours ago
The 7 Youngest Languages in the World
Natural languages evolve gradually as cultures mix in their own pockets of the world. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact beginning of a certain language because of its gradual… Read More
By Kristen Holder 2 hours ago
The Top 10 Cotton-Producing Countries in the World
Cotton has revolutionized the world and it has become one of the most important staples. It is a fluffy fiber plant that can be turned into all types of fabric.… Read More
By Patrick MacFarland 2 hours ago
The World’s Most Remote Airport Is 2,000 Miles in the Middle of the Ocean
A departure board that can be seen at any airport. Many people fly out to other cities, states, or countries for several reasons. Some might want to see family. Some… Read More
By Justin Sexton 3 hours ago
The 6 Most Colorful Fall-Blooming Flowers in Texas
Texas falls are mild, with temperatures ranging from 66 degrees to 70 degrees. It's the perfect weather to plant some beautiful botanicals for the upcoming autumn season. Read this article… Read More
By Amanda Martinotti 4 hours ago
Black Bear Hops Into Pigsty and Gets Double Teams And Jumps Right Back Out
This hilarious security cam footage has captured the moment when a black bear regretted its decision to check out a pigsty. Considering that black bears are such good climbers, this… Read More
By Sharon Parry 4 hours ago
The 5 Cheapest Lakes in Arizona to Buy a Second Home
Arizona, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and abundant lakes, offers many affordable opportunities to own a house by the water. While lakefront properties in some areas may come with a… Read More
By Theresa Pogach 5 hours ago
Discover the 15 States on the East Coast
The East Coast has so much history to learn about in each state. Thirteen out of fifteen states listed here were part of the thirteen colonies many years ago when… Read More
By Keyana Beamon 5 hours 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 African Wild Dog
Animals that Start with B
Example: The Blind Snake
Animals that Start with C
Example: The Chow Chow
Animals that Start with D
Example: The Diving Duck
Animals that Start with E
Example: The Eared Grebe
Animals that Start with F
Example: The Fox
Animals that Start with G
Example: The Grey Mouse Lemur
Animals that Start with H
Example: The Hatzegopteryx
Animals that Start with I
Example: The Immortal Jellyfish
Animals that Start with J
Example: The Jabiru
Animals that Start with K
Example: The Killer Clown Ball Python
Animals that Start with L
Example: The Labrabull
Animals that Start with M
Example: The Maltese
Animals that Start with N
Example: The No See Ums
Animals that Start with O
Example: The Oyster Toadfish
Animals that Start with P
Example: The Prairie Rattlesnake
Animals that Start with Q
Example: The Quetzalcoatlus northropi
Animals that Start with R
Example: The Reef Shark
Animals that Start with S
Example: The Sugar Glider
Animals that Start with T
Example: The Teddy Bear Hamster
Animals that Start with U
Example: The Unau (Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth)
Animals that Start with V
Example: The Vegavis
Animals that Start with W
Example: The Wiwaxia
Animals that Start with X
Example: The Xeme (Sabine’s Gull)
Animals that Start with Y
Example: The Yellow Tang
Animals that Start with Z
Example: The Zebra Spitting Cobra
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.
Irish Setter
Has a beautiful coat that's flowing and feathered!
Boston Terrier
Friendly, lovable and very strong!
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!
10 Most Traveled Bridges in Florida In Desperately Poor Condition
Bridges are necessary for commuting over canals, waterways, ditches, and freeways. You might assume they’re all safe if driving is allowed, but some aren’t as structurally sound as you may believe. Here… Read More
By Sarah Barkley 7 hours ago
15 Glacier National Park Facts That Will Blow Your Mind
Glacier National Park in Montana is one of the few states where you can see glaciers with your own eyes, but unfortunately, not for long. Due to above-average temperatures and… Read More
By Andrew Wood 8 hours ago
This Under-the-Radar U.S. Town Is Known as the ‘Seafood Capital of the World’
Do you consider seafood your favorite cuisine? There are plenty of restaurants around the globe where you can chow down on delicious seafood, but there’s only one seafood capital of… Read More
By Stephanie Harper 8 hours ago
Discover the Oldest Man-Made Lake in Massachusetts
Known to many as the Lawrence Dam or the Lawrence Great Dam, the Great Stone Dam creates the oldest man-made lake in Massachusetts. This recreation area seems to have no… Read More
By Sandy Porter 9 hours ago
Discover the 9 States With the Best October Weather
As October arrives, many of us look forward to pleasant weather that's neither too hot nor too cold. In this article, we'll uncover the states with the best weather in… Read More
By Lev Baker 9 hours ago
Discover the Largest Plantation in North Carolina That Is the Size of a Town
For anyone living in the South, and probably many other sections of the country, plantation equals Black history and the story of slavery in America. This can make the visits… Read More
By Sandy Porter 9 hours ago
Discover Arizona’s Top 8 Most Valuable Crops
Nicknamed the Grand Canyon State, Arizona is famous for its stunning landscapes but is also a big player in American agriculture. You may be surprised to learn that the state… Read More
By Lev Baker 9 hours ago
The 13 Best Tank Mates for Kuhli Loaches
Aquarium enthusiasts around the world have fallen in love with the kuhli loach, an eel-like fish native to Indonesia. If you are considering joining the ranks of kuhli loach owners,… Read More
By Lev Baker 9 hours ago
Is Venice Sinking Into the Sea? See the Latest Status and Future Plans
Venice, Italy, that enigma of human ingenuity and resilience, is often called "The Floating City." This city built on water is comprised of 118 small islands interlinked by an intricate… Read More
By Sanaphay Rattanavong 9 hours ago
The Top 10 Reasons Mississippi Is the Best State for Deer Hunting
Mississippi is known not just for its famous Mississippi River, which is one of the longest in the United States, but also for its impressive deer population. Deer hunting is… Read More
By Larissa Smith 9 hours ago
How Tall Is Virginia? Total Distance North to South
Nestled along the East Coast of the United States, Virginia, often called the "Old Dominion," is a state steeped in history, natural beauty, and cultural significance. Nestled between the Atlantic… Read More
By Clemence Maureen Feniou 9 hours ago
10 Secretly Amazing Places for Americans to Retire in Portugal
It seems like the conversation about relocating from United States to places out of the country has become incredibly common. Retiring in America is a wonderful thing to do if… Read More
By Stephanie Harper 11 hours ago
5 Signs There Are Mice in the Attic: Removal Tips, Safety Concerns and Prevention
There's no such thing as a fun home infestation, regardless of what creatures are using your household as their personal playground. But arguably, mice are some of the worst to… Read More
By Sam Hindman 12 hours ago
Discover How Wide Lake Pleasant Is at Its Widest Point
There’s no doubt that Lake Pleasant lives up to its name! This Arizona lake is a jewel in the desert surrounded by an expansive regional park offering outdoor activities limited… Read More
By Tina Page 12 hours ago
Discover the Oldest Man-Made Lake in Nebraska
Key Points: The oldest man-made lake in Nebraska is Lake McConaughy, which finished construction in 1941. It is also the largest man-made lake in Nebraska. Lake McConaughy is twenty-one miles… Read More
By Justin Sexton 12 hours ago
National French Bulldog Day 2024: Date, Origin, and Ways to Celebrate
Want to give your frenchie some extra love? National French Bulldog Day is a great way to give your pup some extra care! Read this article to learn how to… Read More
By Amanda Martinotti 12 hours ago
12 Clear Signals Your Okra Is Ready to Be Harvested (Plus Tips on Storing Them)
Okra, also known as "lady's fingers" or "bhindi," is a beloved vegetable in many gardens and farms due to its versatility in culinary creations. Many Southerners enjoy fried okra as… Read More
By Theresa Pogach 13 hours ago
The 8 Largest Waterfalls in the World
Waterfalls of any size are awe-inspiring, from smaller cascading waterfalls in chilly mountains to impossibly tall streams of water spilling over the edge of rainforest canyons. If you’re wondering what… Read More
By Niccoy Walker 13 hours ago
Discover the 13 Most Dangerous Animals Found in Africa
Africa is a vast continent that features some of the most diverse range of animals on the planet. Additionally, it won't take long for you to find an animal no… Read More
By Rob Hayek 13 hours ago
See Hundreds of Bright Red Salmon Swim Upriver Toward a Rainbow
This short video show the beautiful transformation of sockeye salmon that occurs when they swim upriver back to their original spawning grounds. The fish all come here to breed and… Read More
By Rachael Monson 13 hours 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.
