Animals that Start with S

Read below for information on 184 different animals that start with the letter S, from the extinct sabre-toothed tiger to swans. The most popular animal that starts with the letter S is the sloth, a slow-moving creature believed to be distantly related to anteaters and armadillos. The least popular S animal is the striped rocket frog, so named for their incredible jumping abilities. Interesting facts about letter S name animals include:

Stellers sea cows were hunted to extinction in only 17 years
Servals are medium sized wild cats that can jump over 3 feet high and over 12 feet horizontally when hunting prey
Sea lions have specially adapted flippers which angle 90 degrees to help them walk on land

Jump to any letter

Alphabetical List of Animals That Start with S

Animals that Start with S

Saanen Goat

The saanen goat is the most popular milk breed.

Saarloos Wolfdog

Saber-Toothed Tiger

Canines up to 7 inches long!

Sable

Their fur has been considered a luxury item since the Middle Ages

Sable Black German Shepherd

According to the American Kennel Club, the German Shepherd is the second most popular breed in the United States

Sable Ferret

Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Saiga

Large noses help filter out dust

Saint Berdoodle

Saint Bernard

Gentle, loyal and friendly!

Saint Shepherd

These dogs have an eager-to-please attitude, making them sweet and happy pets.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Salmon

Returns upstream every year to spawn

Salmon Shark

Salmon sharks are related to Great Whites.

Saluki

The Saluki is one of the fastest dog breeds in the world.

Sambar

Male sambars will compete for mates by clashing together with their antlers

Samoyed

San Francisco Garter Snake

The San Francisco garter snake is among the rarest snake species in the United States.

Sand Crab

The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail

Sand Lizard

Males turn green in spring!

Sand Tiger Shark

The sand tiger is the shark most commonly seen in aquariums.

Sand Viper

Saola

Only known to science since 1992!

Sardines

Schools of sardines can be miles long and are often visible from an airplane

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko

They are called “phants” or “satanics” in the pet trade.

Sauropoda

Newly hatched sauropods weighted less than 11 pounds and put on 2 tons of weight a year!

Savanna Goat

Savanna goats have only existed since 1957.

Savannah Sparrow

The Savannah sparrow gets its name because one of the first of this type of bird was found in the city of Savannah, Georgia.

Sawfish

Sawfish teeth keep growing as the fish gets older

Scarlet Kingsnake

Scarlet Macaw

Like many parrots, the scarlet macaw is capable of vocal mimicry.

Schipperke

Schipperkes were used to hunt and kill rodents on Belgian ships.

Schneagle

This hybrid dog is a great companion and doesn’t do well being left alone but is suitable for apartments or houses with backyards!

Schnoodle

Scimitar-horned Oryx

Believed to be the inspiration for unicorn myths!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Scorpion Fish

There are more than 200 recognised species!

Scottish Terrier

This breed is nicknamed the “Diehard” because of its iron will and steely determination.

Scrotum Frog

The frog's ears are underdeveloped, and if it hears it probably does so through its lungs.

Sculpin

Its skull bones can compress so the fish can fit in narrow spaces

Sea Anemone

Creatures have characteristics of both animal and plant

Sea Dragon

Inhabits tropical coastal waters of Australia!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Sea Lion

It's flippers allow it to walk on the land

Sea Otter

Eats over 40 different marine species!

Sea Roach

They breathe through gills but live on land

Sea Slug

All sea slugs have both male and female sex organs

Sea Squirt

There are more than 3,000 known species!

Sea Turtle

Always return to the same beach to lay eggs!

Sea Urchin

Can live for up to 200 years!

Seagull

Some gulls are capable of using tools

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Seal

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Sealyham Terrier

Very endangered breed that is scion of several breeds that include one that is already extinct

Sei Whale

This whale is one of the fastest of the cetaceans

Senegal Parrot

As a pet, the Senegal parrot is capable of "talking" to its owner

Serval

Can leap more than 1 meter into the air!

Shark

No shark species has any bones in their bodies

Sharp-Tailed Snake

This snake uses its sharp tail to steady itself when capturing prey.

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Sheepadoodle

Sheepadoodles were first bred as an experiment for use as a military dog in the Army in the 1960s, however they didn’t really gain popularity until 2007.

Shepadoodle

Some police officers with allergies use Shepadoodles as their K-9 partner

Shepkita

These dogs can sometimes be overly aggressive.

Shepweiler

The Shepweiler is an excellent guard dog.

Shiba Inu

Shiba Inus are one of six native dog breeds from Japan.

Shih Poo

Shih Tzu

Can live for up to 15 years!

Shoebill Stork

Adults greet each other by clattering their bills together.

Shollie

Shollies are a fairly new type of crossbreed!

Short-Faced Bear

The modern Spectacled Bear, which lives in South America, is related to the Short-Faced Bear!

Shrew

The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Siamese

Originated from temple cats in Thailand!

Siberian

An exceptionally agile jumper!

Siberian Husky

Is adequately warm in sub-zero temperatures!

Siberian Ibex

There’s a population of Siberian ibex in New Mexico

Siberian Retriever

Many husky Labs have one blue eye and one brown eye.

Siberian Tiger

Also known as the Amur tiger!

Siberpoo

Although a lack of documentation makes it unclear, the first Siberpoo was probably bred in either the 1970s or 1980s.

Sidewinder

Silkie Chicken

Silkie hens are excellent mothers and will tid-bit food with her young. This means she goes over to the food or treats, has a bite, then calls the chick over to her to share. Silkie hens will raise any bird as their own and have been known to patiently sit on a clutch of duck or geese eggs until they hatch.

Silky Terrier

Silky terriers can be trained to participate in many events, including herding, agility, rally, tracking and fly ball.

Silver Dollar

Closely related to the Piranha

Silver Labrador

The Labrador is the most popular breed in the United States and most of these dogs have blue eyes at a young age, before they turn another color.

Sinosauropteryx

Sinosauropteryx were prominent in the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods.

Sixgill shark

The sixgill shark has six pairs of gills instead of the normal five

Skate Fish

More than 200 species exist!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Skipjack Tuna

The skipjack is the most commonly caught tuna in the world

Skunk

Also known as the Polecat!

Skye Terrier

Skye terriers are the oldest terrier breed, dating back at least 400 years.

Sleeper Shark

The Greenland shark is one of the longest living vertebrates in the world.

Sloth

It's body temperature is between 30 - 34 degrees!

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Smooth Fox Terrier

These dogs are known for their fast digging abilities.

Smooth Green Snake

Smooth Snake

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Snapping Turtle

Only found in North America!

Snook Fish

Males change into females after the spawning season

Snorkie

Snorkies are known for their funny, attention-getting antics.

Snouted Cobra

The snouted cobra, also known as the banded snouted cobra, is one of the most venomous snakes in all of Africa.

Snow Crab

Snow crabs communicate with each other by waving or drumming their pincers.

Snow Leopard

Unlike other big cats, snow leopards don’t roar.

Snowshoe

Thought to have originated in the 1960s!

Snowshoe Hare

An adult snowshoe hare can cover ten feet in a single jump.

Snowy Owl

One of the largest owl species in the world!

Sockeye Salmon

Called "red salmon" because their skin turns bright red to dirty red during spawning season

Somali

Active, intelligent and playful!

Song Sparrow

Pumps its tail when it flies!

Song Thrush

A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.

South China Tiger

There are less than 20 in the wild!

Southern Black Racer

These snakes live underground, beneath piles of leaf litter or in thickets, and they are expert swimmers.

Southern Hognose Snake

The southern hognose snake has an upturned snout that enables it to dig through the soil.

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Southern Pacific rattlesnakes hibernate in dens that hold hundreds of snakes.

Spadefoot Toad

They spend most of their time underground!

Spanador

The Spanador is a good swimmer.

Spanish Goat

They have long, horizontal ears.

Spanish Mastiff

Diego Velázquez’s famous 17th century painting of the Infanta and her dwarves includes a portrait of a Spanish Mastiff.

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Sparrowhawk

The sparrowhawk is named after the fact that it hunts down and consumes sparrows

Speckled Kingsnake

The Salt and Pepper Snake

Spectacled Bear

Native to the Andes mountains of South America!

Sperm Whale

Each tooth weighs 1kg!

Spider

Spider Ball Python

The spider ball python is known for having a head wobble.

Spider Monkey

Found in the tropical jungles of South America!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Spider-Tailed Horned Viper

They like to hide in crevices on the sides of cliffs, waiting for prey.

Spinner Shark

Can have up to 20 babies

Spinone Italiano

They're one of the oldest hunting breeds on Earth.

Spinosaurus

The Spinosaurus is the biggest carnivorous dinosaur ever discovered!

Spiny Dogfish

Found in ocean waters worldwide!

Spiny Hill Turtle

The shell serves as both a defense and camouflage!

Spitting Cobra

Spitting cobras are types of cobras that can spit venom at predators and prey.

Spixs Macaw

One of earth's rarest animals!

Sponge

There are more than 9,000 known species!

Spotted Gar

They are commonly mistaken as logs in the water due to their cylindrical body.

Spotted Lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly is often confused for a moth, but it’s actually a type of planthopper

Spotted python

Their favorite food is bats and they hang from cave entrances to snatch them out of midair!

Springador

The parental stock Labrador Retriever was nearly wiped out by home country tax policies but the breed found rescue and recovery in foreign lands, particularly in Great Britain.

Springbok

The springbok has a large tuft of hair that emerges from a pouch on the back

Springerdoodle

Squash Beetle

Often mistaken for a ladybug

Squid

Some species are known to have 10 arms!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Squirrel Monkey

Lives in groups of up to 500 individuals!

Squirrelfish

Uses vibrations to communicate with other fish

Sri Lankan Elephant

Now restricted to a few parks!

Stabyhoun

It is a versatile, all-around working breed and pet.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Known for their loyalty to their family!

Stag Beetle

The stag beetle consumes rotting and decaying wood when it is in the larva stage.

Standard Schnauzer

This dog’s facial hair makes it look like it has a beard.

Star-nosed mole

The star-nosed mole has the ability to sense both electrical fields and ground vibrations

Starfish

Has 2 stomachs to aid digestion!

Stargazer Fish

Uses an electric shock to stun its prey!

Steelhead Salmon

Steelhead live in freshwater rivers and streams for 1 to 2 years before migrating into the ocean

Steller’s Sea Cow

Hunted to extinction in 17 years!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stiletto Snake

Because of their unique venom delivery system, stiletto snakes are almost impossible to hold safely in the usual way (with fingers behind the head) without being bitten.