Animals in Malaysia (Northern Borneo)

Below you can find a complete list of Borneo animals. We currently track 152 animals in Malaysia (Northern Borneo) and are adding more every day!

Malaysia (Northern Borneo) is a country on a peninsula, located in Southeast Asia, just south of the Gulf of Thailand. It is a land of exotic rainforests, endangered animals, and also some dangerous wildlife. Some of the most unique Malayasian wildlife includes the Asian Elephant, the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Clouded Leopard, the Sun Bear, the Malayan Tiger, the King Cobra, the Malayan Civet, and the Lunar Moth. Several of these unique species are endangered and a few others might soon be extinct.

The Official National Animal of Malaysia (Northern Borneo)

The Malaysian National Animal is the Malayan Tiger. This unique and somewhat dangerous creature’s technical scientific name is Panthera tigris jacksoni, but the Malaysian national name for this tiger is listed as the “Panthera tigris mayalensis.” The Malayan Tiger is only found in southern Thailand and parts of Malaysia. This rainforest animal is critically endangered and at risk of becoming extinct if not protected.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Malaysia (Northern Borneo)

Much of the wildlife in Malaysia can most easily be found in its national parks, such as the Taman Negara National Park and various nature preserves, like the Danum Valley Conservation Area, where you can see many rainforest animals.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Malaysia (Northern Borneo) Today

Snakes are easily the most dangerous animals living in Malaysia, but other exotic wildlife makes the list too. The most dangerous exotic animals in Malaysia and the Borneo rainforest include:

Endangered Animals In Malaysia (Northern Borneo)

Several of the animals that live in the Malaysian rainforest and elsewhere in northern Borneo are endangered. This includes:

Borneo Animals

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Asian Elephant

Domesticated for hundreds of years!

Asian Palm Civet

It mainly eats mangos and coffee!

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Banana Spider

People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.

Banded Palm Civet

Markings give it camouflage!

Barb

There are over 2,000 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Binturong

Also known as the Asian Bearcat!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Bornean Orang-utan

Known to use large leaves as umbrellas!

Borneo Elephant

The smallest species of elephant!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Cat

First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab-Eating Macaque

Found throughout the South-East Asian jungles!

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Cuscus

Has a long, strong prehensile tail!

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elephant

Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fishing Cat

Scoops fish out of the water using it's paw!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

There are 12 different species in the world!

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

Gibbon

Found in dense jungles and tropical forests!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

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

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leopard Cat

There are 11 different species!

Liger

The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Malayan Civet

Also known as the Oriental Civet!

Masked Palm Civet

Found throughout Asia, India and China!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongoose

Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monitor Lizard

Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peacock

Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Proboscis Monkey

Natively found on the island of Borneo!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Redback Spider

The redback spiders found in New Caledonia differ from other populations in that they don’t practice sexual cannibalism and don’t bite people as much.

Rhinoceros

It's horns are made from keratin!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skunk

Also known as the Polecat!

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Sun Bear

The smallest species of bear in the world!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tapir

Most closely related to horses and rhinos!

Tarsier

Each eye weighs more than their whole brain!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Vinegaroon

Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Dragon

Spends most of it's time in the trees!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Zebu

There are around 75 different species!

Borneo Animals List

Animals in Malaysia (Northern Borneo) FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What types of animals live in Borneo?

Malayasian wildlife includes the Asian Elephant, the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, the Clouded Leopard, the Sun Bear, the Malayan Tiger, the King Cobra, the Malayan Civet, and the Atlas Moth.

What dangerous animals live in Borneo?

There are several dangerous animals that live in Borneo, including many venomous snakes and several large cats. Malaysia is home to Pit Vipers, Cobras, Leopards, Tigers, and Crocodiles.

What animals live in the Malaysian rainforest?

In addition to several hundred bird species, the rainforest of Borneo is home to a plethora of wildlife, including Orangutan, Clouded Leopard, rhinoceros, Gibbon, Sun Bear, and the Borneo Pygmy Elephant.

Are there Gorillas in Borneo?

The only Gorillas in Malaysia are to be found in its zoos, as none are native to the country.