Below you can find a complete list of Burmese animals. We currently track 286 animals in Myanmar and are adding more every day!
Myanmar (also known formerly as Burma) is a mid-sized country in Southeast Asia that gained its independence from British rule in 1948. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, Thailand, and the Indian Ocean. Across its vast tropical rainforests, wetlands, mountains, plains, and coastlines, the country is considered to be an immense biodiversity hotspot, but much of its unique wildlife is now in danger of being lost to human activity.
The Official National Animal of Myanmar
Both the Indochinese tiger and the grey peacock pheasant are on the list of national symbols. The endangered green peafowl was once a symbol of the monarchy and still appears throughout the country today.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Myanmar
Myanmar has dozens of national parks scattered throughout its diverse ecosystems. The Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, located in the northwest region of Sagaing, features temperate coniferous, broadleaf, and mixed forests. Some of its residents include brown bears, barking deer, clouded leopards, civets, elephants, and other mammals. The Hlawga Park in the southeast region of Yangon features a diverse array of deer, pangolins, pythons, storks, and other types of birds. It also has a mini-zoo to delight visitors with tigers, leopards, bears, and crocodiles.
The Lampi Island Marine National Park, located in the country’s far south just off the coast of the Malay Peninsula, is a good spot to find whales, dolphins, dugongs, and sea turtles. It also has plenty of reptiles, amphibians, and the rare Sunda pangolin. Other excellent parks to visit are the Loimwe National Park, Mount Victoria National Park, Popa Mountain National Park, and Tanintharyi National Park.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Myanmar Today
Like few other places on the planet, Myanmar is a hotspot of deadly snakes. Out of the 150 or so snake species in Myanmar, around 40 of them are venomous. Thousands of people are bitten every year, and about 8% of them die, compared to only 4% elsewhere. This has made it dangerous to wander alone in some rural areas of the country.
- Russell’s Viper – Only found in the western part of the country, Russell’s Viper is nevertheless highly dangerous. The venom from its bite can cause pain, swelling, and bleeding, which may persist for days or weeks. Unless the venom is treated quickly, kidney, respiratory, or heart failure can occur in a minority of cases.
- King Cobra – As the world’s longest venomous snake, the king cobra has long been feared and respected throughout Southeast Asia. The dangerous toxin attacks the central nervous system, resulting in pain, blurred vision, vertigo, and even paralysis. Death can sometimes follow within an hour of a bite.
- Indochinese Spitting Cobra – Endemic to the eastern part of the country, this snake has the ability to spit venom at its target, causing serious pain and possible blindness. If that fails, then it can inject venom directly into its victim, causing pain, swelling, tissue death, and even paralysis. In rare instances, death can occur.
- Banded Krait – Identified by the alternating bands of yellow and black rings, this species can deliver a dangerous neurotoxin that causes vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dizziness. Death can occur in a small number of cases.
- Saltwater Crocodile – As one of the largest and most aggressive crocodiles in the world, this species will often attack and kill people who accidentally wander into its territory.
Endangered Animals in Myanmar
As deforestation has transformed its environment and poaching runs rampant, Myanmar has struggled to protect what remains of its diverse wildlife. Many of its unique animals are now in danger of extinction. These include some of the most well-known mammals on the planet.
- Asian Elephant – One of the largest land animals in the world, the Asian elephant is now being threatened by habitat loss, population fragmentation, and the illegal poaching of its ivory tusks.
- Indochinese Tiger – This subspecies of the tiger, found exclusively in Southeast Asia, is in danger of extinction from habitat loss and hunting. It is believed that less than a hundred remain in Myanmar and only about 350 of them remain in total.
- Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey – First recognized as an independent species in 2011, this arboreal primate, with its black fur, long tail, and short nose, is native to the country’s northern forests. But logging and hunting have reduced population numbers to only a few hundred individuals.
- Red Panda – This small carnivorous mammal, which looks like a cross between a bear and fox, is native to the country’s north. It is threatened by deforestation and competition with livestock for land.
- Eld’s Deer – This species was once quite common throughout the grasslands of Southeast Asia. But after the 1950s, overhunting caused populations to fall by some 90%.
- Fishing Cat – Endemic to the swamps and marshlands near the delta of the Ayeyarwady River, the fishing cat is a medium-sized wild feline, threatened by the loss of wetlands.
- Spoon-billed Sandpiper – This small wading bird breeds in Russia and flies south toward Southeast Asia for the winter. But the route along the way has been completely disrupted by habitat loss and industrialization. They are also hunted to death upon arriving in Southeast Asia.
- White-rumped Vulture – This scavenging vulture was once widespread across Southeast Asia. But a decline in prey population and cases of accidental poisoning from medications have caused it to almost completely disappear.
Burmese Animals
Stunningly beautiful wings
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Renew their horns every year!
Archerfish can shoot a stream of water up to five feet with amazing accuracy.
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Domesticated for hundreds of years!
The largest wasp in the world!
It mainly eats mangos and coffee!
This snake chews on its victims to release venom.
Known to eat 160 different tree-borne fruits in Thailand!
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
They make a "boop, boop, boop" sound when danger draws near their burrow.
Bamboo worms are the larvae of moths that are eaten as a delicious snack in some parts of Asia.
People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.
What often prevents more people from falling victim is that the banded krait does not always inject venom in a defensive bite. It saves the venom for hunting prey instead.
There are over 1768 known species!
Found everywhere around the world!
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Detects prey using echolocation!
There are 8 different species!
Beauty Rat Snakes are relatively harmless if left undisturbed, only attempting to bite out of fear.
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
There are more than 350,000 different species
The most numerous species of tiger!
Also known as the Asian Bearcat!
Not all birds are able to fly!
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
They typically prey on insects!
The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.
These snakes have been introduced to all continents, except Antarctica!
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Fathers pick up their young and carry them under their wings
Can live its entire life indoors
The most common species of bee!
Adoring, elegant and affectionate!
These snakes can swallow their prey as whole.
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
There are about 3,000 documented species!
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.
Has canines that can be two inches long!
Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
The most common raptor in the UK!
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
Magpies are aggressive when threatened, often “dive-bombing” at intruders
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.
There are over 80 species of coral snake worldwide.
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cosmic caterpillars have spots on their back that look like eyes to scare off predators.
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Cow reticulated pythons hatch solid white, then develop spots as they mature.
There are 93 different crab groups
Found throughout the South-East Asian jungles!
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Many are critically endangered species!
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
There are around 40 different species!
Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.
Only 2,000 left in the wild!
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!
Beneath the lizard’s “wings” are a pair of enlarged ribs for support.
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Has exceptional eyesight!
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Scoops fish out of the water using it's paw!
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
There are around 7,000 different species!
Among the largest bats in the world
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source
Named for the Arabic word for love poems
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
The most common type of urban roach
The largest fish in its genus
Found in dense jungles and tropical forests!
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Most closely related to the Sheep!
The goldcrest never starts moving and needs to consume for most of the day to survive. Therefore, in the colder months, it's best that eat 90% a day.
Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
There are 29 different species!
There are 11,000 known species!
The green rat snake catches its meals in midair!
One of the most invasive species in the world
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
There are only 8 recognized species!
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Changed little in over 500 million years!
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Found throughout south-east Asia!
Kaa from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was an Indian Python.
Now thought to be extinct in China!
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
The checkered keelback of the east Indies can detach its tail and grow it back, much like a lizard.
They are the longest venomous snake in the world.
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Spends much of the time high in the trees!
There are 11 different species!
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
There are around 5,000 different species!
Have sharp spines below their eyes
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Often hangs upside down while feeding!
The lorikeet has a long brush-like tongue with fine hairs on it
Like all lorises, slow loris has a cute wide-eyed look, but it also has a venomous sting that can rot human flesh.
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
It's called the five-step snake because if a person is bitten, they can walk about five steps before dying.
"This docile snake is a popular and long-lived pet - though challenging to care for - with a lifespan of up to 21 years!"
Mangrove snakes have small fangs that are more like enlarged teeth at the back of their jaw.
Found throughout Asia, India and China!
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
The Mekong giant catfish is the largest purely freshwater fish in the world
They line their nests with their feathers
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
There are around 260 known species!
The monocled cobra is responsible for the highest fatality rate of any snake in all of Thailand.
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
There are 250,000 different species!
Found on every continent on Earth!
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
The muntjac is the smallest type of deer in the world
The glands of a musk deer can sell for up to $45,000 on the black market.
Many people believe the hill myna bird is better at mimicking humans than a parrot!
Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
There are more than 5,000 species.
Northern pintails migrate at night with speeds reaching 48 miles per hour!
Females are about four times the size of males
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
There are 13 different species worldwide
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.
Can live for up to 100 years!
Most commonly found on the Indian mainland!
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
The pheasant-tailed jacana is the only species in its family that migrates long distances.
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
They make whistling and quacking noises
Some of these snakes flatten their neck and raise their heads to imitate cobras if they’re threatened.
Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.
The male broods the eggs and baby fish in his mouth.
There are 500 different species!
There are 30 different species worldwide!
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
There are more than 300 different species!
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Not exclusively carrion eaters, these birds are also opportunistic hunters
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.
These popular pets can get big enough to kill their owner.
It's horns are made from keratin!
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
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.
Will mate with the entire flock!
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
There are more than 700 different species!
Male sambars will compete for mates by clashing together with their antlers
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail
Parents use low calls to tell their chicks to freeze and lie still when danger lurks.
There are around 2,000 known species!
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Can live in low-oxygen environments!
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Found widely throughout British gardens!
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
There are 140 different species!
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
The shell serves as both a defense and camouflage!
Spitting cobras are types of cobras that can spit venom at predators and prey.
Males battle each other over females and territory
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
They can’t sing like other birds.
Sunbeam snakes have two lungs instead of just a single lung like most snake species.
Populations have been affected by pollution!
The takin can leap some 6 feet through the air
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
The largest feline in the world!
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
The Tokay gecko gets its onomatopoeic name from its "To-kay!" barking call.
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Pit vipers can strike accurately at moving objects less than .5 degrees Farenheit warmer than the background.
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
A slender body and elongated snout give the vine snake a regal look.
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
There are 30 different species worldwide!
The walking catfish can move on land while breathing air
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Spends most of it's time in the trees!
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
There are two different types of white ferrets!
None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!
Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
This animal can roll up into a ball
Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.
There are 200 different species!
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
One of the top 100 worst invasive species!
There are around 75 different species!
Burmese Animals List
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals are native to Myanmar?
Myanmar is particularly rich in bats, rodents, insects, hoofed mammals, monkeys, felines, snakes, and carnivorous wildlife.
Does Myanmar have any rhinos?
Myanmar was once home to two species of rhino: the Javan rhinoceros and the Sumatran rhinoceros, both of which are critically endangered. There are unconfirmed reports of some rhinos still living in the country, but no one has been able to check because of local conflicts.