Below you can find a complete list of British animals. We currently track 184 animals in United Kingdom and are adding more every day!
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland called the UK or Britain for short, is a European island nation. It is a chain of large and small islands. Its coasts, forests, hills, and lowlands are home to many unique wild animals.
Keep reading to discover the unique and sometimes rare wildlife of Britain.
United Kingdom Wildlife Summary
Many people around the world have become familiar with Britain’s unique wildlife through popular children’s literature. Beatrix Potter, the author of Peter Rabbit, for example, was born in London. She wrote about the animals she knew – rabbits, ducks, badgers, frogs, hedgehogs, squirrels, moles, mice, foxes, and domestic animals such as pigs, guinea pigs, and cats.
These animals are still iconic among Great Britain’s wildlife. In the past, there were also large mammals roaming the islands. Conservation efforts strive to reintroduce these species and support those that have been in decline for the past century.
The Official National Animal of the United Kingdom
The lion is the national wild animal of the United Kingdom. It symbolizes courage, strength, dignity, and pride. Along with the unicorn, it appears on the royal coat of arms. Interestingly, cave lions lived in the United Kingdom thousands of years ago but have long been extinct.
The bulldog is also one of the United Kingdom’s national animals.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in the United Kingdom
Most of the United Kingdom’s favorite animals can be found in parks and backyards across the country. There are also more than 200 National Nature Reserves, nearly 50 zoos, and a number of safari parks.
You can see badgers at a farm called Badger Watch Dorset near the southern coast. Beavers are known in three locations – in the south, River Otter in East Devon; in the north, the Scottish Beaver Trial in Knapdale Forest; and in the east, the River Tray.
The Most Dangerous Animals in the United Kingdom Today
The adder is the only venomous snake in Britain. Other deadly animals include bees, wasps, and hornets (due to anaphylaxis), deer (due to car accidents), and cows – yes, domestic cows – due to stampedes. In fact, the cow is considered the most dangerous animal in the country. The lesser and greater weaver fish also pose a danger to fishermen and swimmers due to their venom.
Endangered Animals in the United Kingdom
A number of once-common animals in Britain are struggling, with sightings becoming rare. Red squirrel populations have been reduced to less than 200,000, largely through competition with and diseases caused by the non-native North American grey squirrel. Warm weather and construction interrupt the hibernation cycles of hedgehogs. The turtle dove has declined by 97 percent since 1970. The sounds of the Natterjack toad have disappeared from many of the islands.
Even insects are endangered. Cicadas are now found only in small areas in Hampshire; since they haven’t been sighted since the year 2000, they may already be extinct. Cosnard’s net-winged beetle is found only in a few small areas, endangered due to a loss of beech trees. Deforestation also threatens the bearded false darkling beetle. The wart-biter cricket is found in just four areas of East Sussex, Wiltshire, and Dorset. The V-moth population has declined by 99 percent since the 1960s.
A number of Britain’s large predators became extinct thousands of years ago. These include cave lions, bears, and wolves. Large herbivorous mammals have also become regionally extinct – beavers, wild boars, bison, and moose.
Today, though, some of these wild animals are being reintroduced to ancient woodlands. Wolverines, lynxes, grey wolves, and European brown bears are exhibited at the Bristol Zoological Society’s Bear Wood. This is part of an ongoing conservation effort known as “rewilding.”
British Animals
Airedale Terrier
Very intelligent, independent and strong-minded!
Alpine Goat
Alpine goats are the most common type of goat used for milk, cheese, and other dairy products
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Aurochs
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!
Badger
Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Basset Hound
Forget the training when not rewarded!
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Beagle
Have become popular family pets!
Bearded Collie
Weekly brushing is mandatory!
Beaver
Builds a dam from sticks and leaves!
Bedlington Terrier
Highly active and intelligent dogs!
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Border Collie
Highly intelligent and alert breed!
Border Terrier
Small, rough-coated breed of terrier!
Bull Terrier
Needs to be kept active!
Bulldog
Friendly, loving and docile!
Bullmastiff
Courageous, loyal and calm!
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!
Cairn Terrier
Intelligent, lively and strong!
Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Highly playful and affectionate!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chamois
Natively found in the European mountains!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Clumber Spaniel
Has a thick, soft coat!
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Collie
Gentle and devoted!
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Common Frog
Found throughout the European continent!
Common Loon
Also known as the Great Northern Diver
Common Toad
Most active in wet weather!
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Curly Coated Retriever
A lively and fun-loving breed!
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Edible Frog
Are known to guard the muddy banks!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
English Cocker Spaniel
Intelligent yet stubborn by nature!
English Cream Golden Retriever
Although their coats can get incredibly light in color, golden retrievers never have purely white coats.
English Springer Spaniel
Friendly and eager to please!
Ermine
A very bold and ferocious predator!
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
Fallow deer
The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.
Ferret
Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!
Field Spaniel
A sociable and adaptable breed!
Flat-Coated Retriever
A game retrieving gun-dog!
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!
Fox Terrier
First bred in the mid-19th century!
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
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!
Golden Retriever
Trusting, kind and gentle!
Goose
There are 29 different species!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Greyhound
Extremely fast and athletic!
Grouse
Feathered legs and toes!
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!
Harrier
Cheerful, tolerant and sweet-tempered!
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Highland Cattle
Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!
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!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Labrador Retriever
Well-balanced, friendly and versatile!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Lakeland Terrier
These dogs were once used by farmers to keep foxes away from herds of sheep.
Lemming
Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Manchester Terrier
Fences are no match for Manchester terriers. They’re great escape artists!
Marsh Frog
Has bright green skin!
Mastiff
Courageous, calm and affectionate!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Miniature Bull Terrier
This dog has a very happy-go-lucky temperament.
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
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!
Norfolk Terrier
Fearless but not aggressive!
Old English Sheepdog
Intelligent, sociable and playful!
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Parson Russell Terrier
The root stock of the breed was a dog named Trump
Patterdale Terrier
A Patterdale Terrier’s small body structure allows it to squeeze into fox burrows.
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
Pike Fish
Apex freshwater predators with fearsome teeth!
Pointer
An independent, loyal and high energy breed!
Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!
Pool Frog
The rarest amphibian in the UK!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Porpoise
Surprisingly, not a dolphin!
Puffin
Can remain in the water for up to 2 minutes!
Purple Emperor Butterfly
Inhabits deciduous forests!
Puss Moth
Caterpillars squirt formic acid!
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 50 different species!
Raccoon
Known to wash their food before eating it!
Raccoon Dog
The only hibernating canine!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Russell Terrier
The Russell Terrier was bred to be a good fox hunter with a keen sense of smell
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Sand Lizard
Males turn green in spring!
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Scottish Terrier
This breed is nicknamed the “Diehard” because of its iron will and steely determination.
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sealyham Terrier
Very endangered breed that is scion of several breeds that include one that is already extinct
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skye Terrier
Skye terriers are the oldest terrier breed, dating back at least 400 years.
Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!
Smooth Fox Terrier
These dogs are known for their fast digging abilities.
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 3,000 known species worldwide
Snowy Owl
One of the largest owl species in the world!
Spadefoot Toad
They spend most of their time underground!
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Known for their loyalty to their family!
Stag Beetle
More than 1,200 different species!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tawny Owl
The most widespread owl in Europe!
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Terrier
Terriers were once the greatest dogs in the world.
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
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 Vole
The largest Vole species in the UK!
Weasel
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
Welsh Corgi
There are two distinct breeds!
Welsh Terrier
The Welsh Terrier has the strength and tenacity to take on foxes and badgers.
West Highland Terrier
Most commonly white in colour!
Whippet
Quiet, gentle and restful dogs!
Wire Fox Terrier
The Wire Fox Terrier was bred from the now extinct Rough Coated Black and Tan Terrier to hunt down foxes.
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
Actually a crustacean, not an insect!
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Yorkshire Terrier
Highly energetic and eager for adventure!
British Animals List
- Airedale Terrier
- Alpine Goat
- Ant
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Badger
- Barn Owl
- Basset Hound
- Bat
- Beagle
- Bearded Collie
- Beaver
- Bedlington Terrier
- Beetle
- Bird
- Black Widow Spider
- Border Collie
- Border Terrier
- British Timber
- Bull Terrier
- Bulldog
- Bullmastiff
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Cairn Terrier
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Centipede
- Chamois
- Chicken
- Clumber Spaniel
- Cockroach
- Collie
- Common Buzzard
- Common Frog
- Common Loon
- Common Toad
- Cow
- Crab
- Crane
- Curly Coated Retriever
- Deer
- Dog
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Eagle
- Earwig
- Edible Frog
- Eel
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Cream Golden Retriever
- English Springer Spaniel
- Ermine
- Falcon
- Fallow deer
- Ferret
- Field Spaniel
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Fox Terrier
- Frog
- Glass Lizard
- Glow Worm
- Goat
- Golden Oriole
- Golden Retriever
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Greyhound
- Grouse
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harrier
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Highland Cattle
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Human
- Insects
- Kingfisher
- Labrador Retriever
- Ladybug
- Lakeland Terrier
- Lemming
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Magpie
- Manchester Terrier
- Marsh Frog
- Mastiff
- Mayfly
- Millipede
- Miniature Bull Terrier
- Mole
- Mongrel
- Moorhen
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Newt
- Nightingale
- Norfolk Terrier
- Northern Inuit Dog
- Old English Sheepdog
- Otter
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Patterdale Terrier
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pike Fish
- Pointer
- Pond Skater
- Pool Frog
- Porcupine
- Porpoise
- Puffin
- Purple Emperor Butterfly
- Puss Moth
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Raccoon Dog
- Rat
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Russell Terrier
- Salamander
- Sand Lizard
- Scorpion
- Scottish Terrier
- Seahorse
- Sealyham Terrier
- Sheep
- Shrimp
- Skye Terrier
- Slow Worm
- Smooth Fox Terrier
- Snail
- Snake
- Snowy Owl
- Spadefoot Toad
- Sparrow
- Squirrel
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Stag Beetle
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Swan
- Tamaskan
- Tawny Owl
- Termite
- Terrier
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Utonagan
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Vole
- Weasel
- Welsh Corgi
- Welsh Terrier
- West Highland Terrier
- Whippet
- Wire Fox Terrier
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Yorkshire Terrier
Animals in United Kingdom FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What Animals live in the UK?
The most common animals you will see in Britain include red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, muntjac deer, sika deer, Chinese water deer, brown rats, grey squirrels, and red squirrels. Many other mammals call the country home. There are also pygmy shrews and tiny pipistrelle bats. These are the smallest mammals in Great Britain. Grey seals are abundant on many of the smaller islands.
Among the island chain’s many birds, the brightly billed puffins are a favorite. These birds are colored up like penguins, wearing “tuxedos” of black and white, but they are not flightless. Other birds include barn owls, buzzards, and songbirds.
As for reptiles, there is one venomous snake, the adder, and a number of non-venomous snakes. There are two native species of frogs.
What Animals Are Popular in the UK?
The same children’s book animals, discussed above, are often the most popular animals that tourists wish to see. These include badgers, beavers, red deer, otters, red squirrels, and red foxes.
The royal corgis are also quite popular. These small domestic dogs are a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.
Are There Any Animals Only Found in the UK?
The Scottish wildcat is one of the only “large” predators remaining in the wild in Britain. It may look similar to a domestic cat, but predates the arrival of humans and their feline companions.
What Is the Most Dangerous Animal in the UK?
Great Britain is home to one venomous reptile, the adder. It is widespread, found across the island nation. Their bite is rarely fatal, and they prefer to flee from humans rather than bite.
How Many Species of Animals Live in the United Kingdom?
There are more than 70,000 species of living things in the United Kingdom. This figure combines animals, plants, fungi, and single-celled organisms, such as protozoa and bacteria. Among these are hundreds of animals and at least 200 species of birds.
