Animals that Start with H

Read below for information on 104 different animals that start with the letter H, from hammerhead sharks to hyenas. Hyenas are the most popular letter H animal. The least popular are hercules beetles, which at up to 7 inches long are the largest beetle species in the world. Some fun facts about H name animals include:

The hippopotamus is the world’s deadliest land animal. It is estimated that hippopotamuses kill 500 people a year in Africa.
Hamsters can run as fast backwards as forwards
Hummingbirds beat their wings up to 80 times per second.

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Alphabetical List of Animals That Start with H

Animals that Start with H

Haast’s Eagle

The Haast's eagle was the largest eagle to have ever existed.

Habu Snake

Unlike most pit vipers, the habu snake lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Haddock

The haddock is very popular in both recreational and commercial fishing

Hagfish

Can use slime to suffocate marine predators or escape capture

Haikouichthys

Haikouichthys was the first animal to develop a well-defined head

Hainosaurus

The hainosaurus was named after the Hainaut province of Belgium where the first specimen was discovered.

Hairy Frogfish

Hairy frogfish can eat prey as large as themselves by swallowing them whole.

Hairy Woodpecker

They are natural pest controls

Hairy-footed Flower Bee

N/A

Halibut

The word "halibut" is comes from haly meaning "holy" and butte meaning flat fish due to its popularity on Catholic holy days.

Hallucigenia

The position of the Hallucigenia's head puzzled scientists for several years

Hamburg Chicken

This breed doesn't usually make nests or incubate their own chicks.

Hammerhead Shark

Found in coastal waters around the world!

Hammerhead Worm

They are sensitive to light and prefer cool, dark, moist areas.

Hammond’s flycatcher

“Hammond’s flycatcher has a call known as a sharp peek!”

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Harbor Porpoise

Surprisingly, not a dolphin!

Harbor Seal

Harbor seals can dive as deep as 1400 feet

Hardhead Catfish

The hardhead catfish has a sharp spine near its fin to inject venom

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!

Harlequin Coral Snake

Red touches yellow kills a fellow, red touches black a friend of Jack.

Harlequin Rabbit

Harp Seal

The harp seal can migrate up to 3,000 miles every year

Harpy Eagle

Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!

Harrier

Cheerful, tolerant and sweet-tempered!

Harris’s Hawk

Their vision is eight times better than a human's

Hartebeest

Unlike other animals that move towards the water source, hartebeests move to more arid locations after rainfall.

Hatzegopteryx

Hatzegopteryx was one of the largest flying animals to have ever lived.

Havamalt

These pups need natural oils to keep their skin healthy; bathing them often will dry out their skin, so only wash them when necessary.

Havanese

These are the only dogs that are native to Cuba

Havapoo

The exact appearance of a Havapoo can vary based on whether the genes of its Poodle or Havanese parent are more dominant.

Havashire

Both of the Havashire’s parent breeds were very popular among the upper classes.

Havashu

Their front legs are shorter than their back legs, giving them a unique, tilted physique.

Hawaiian Crow

Once believed to be a family guardian spirit in Hawaii

Hawaiian Goose (Nene)

They have the longest breeding season of any goose.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian name is "Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua," meaning "the dog which runs in rough waters.

Hawk

While the Ferruginous hawk is the largest specie in the USA, Asia’s Upland buzzard is the biggest overall.

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Helicoprion

Helicoprion was one of the largest cartilaginous fish of all time.

Hellbender

This giant salamander has lived in its ecosystem for about 65 million years

Hepatic Tanager (Red Tanager)

Parents and their young sing sweetly to each other

Hercules Beetle

This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.

Hercules Moth

Adult Hercules moths don’t eat since they don’t have mouths.

Hermit Crab

There are over 500 different species!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Herrerasaurus

Herrerasuarus was one of the earliest dinosaurs in fossil records

Herring

People enjoy the taste of the oily fish in many different ways including pickled, smoked, salted, dried and fermented.

Herring Gull

They are loud, spirited birds with raucous cries that sound like bursts of laughter.

Highland Cattle

Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!

Himalayan

Also known as the Colorpoint Persian!

Hippopotamus

Has pink anti-bacterial sweat!

Hippopotamus gorgops

The eyes of Hippopotamus gorgops were positioned on eyestalks which allowed it to see above the water surface when submerged.

Hoary Bat

The hoary bat travels hundreds of miles south for the winter

Hobo Spider

The Hobo Spider travels city to city like an actual Hobo and is often found near railroad tracks!

Hogfish

Hogfish can change their sex from female to male

Hognose snake

Prima Donnas of the Snake World

Hokkaido

Known for its bravery and ability to withstand the cold.

Holy Cross Frog

The holy cross frog has a cross-shaped colored pattern on its back.

Honduran White Bat

The bat only eats figs.

Honey Badger

One of earth's bravest creatures!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Honey Buzzard

Honey buzzards are medium-sized raptors that earned their names by raiding the nests of bees and wasps.

Hooded Oriole

Hooded orioles have a strong sweet tooth that makes nectar and jelly among its favorite foods.

Hooded Seal

Hooded seal pups are called bluebacks because the color of the fur on their back is blue-gray. This pretty color made people want to make fur coats out of them and made them a target for hunters.

Hook-Nosed Sea Snake

Sea snakes are the most numerous venomous reptiles on Earth.

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horgi

Horgis have a silly side and love to be the center of attention.

Horn Shark

Endemic to the Californian coast!

Hornbill

The bird has a massive horn on its bill!

Horned Adder

Males tend to be more brightly colored than females, and females are significantly bigger than males.

Horned Beetle

These beetles are herbivores but have an intimidating appearance because of the horn-like projection on their heads. However, they are entirely harmless to humans, as they don't sting or bite.

Horned Grebe

Sleep with one foot tucked up under the wing so they lean to the side

Horned Lizard

The horned lizards are able to squirt blood from their eyes.

Horned Viper

Horned vipers sidewind across the desert sands of their home.

Hornet

Hornets are a type of wasp.

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horse Mackerel

Got their name from a myth that other fish would ride them over great distances

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

Houdan Chicken

The Houdan chicken has a round, fluffy crest and five toes on each foot!

House Finch

The house finch can become redder depending on what it eats

House Sparrow (English Sparrow)

The house sparrow has been introduced all over the world

House wren

The wren’s epithet, aedon, comes from a Greek queen who accidentally killed her only son. She was actually aiming for her nephew, and Zeus took pity on her and turned her into a nightingale.