Animals that Start with U

Updated: November 6, 2023
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The animals that start with the letter U are the Uakari, Uaru Cichlid, Uguisu, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Uintatherium, Ulysses Butterfly, Umbrellabird, Unau, Underwing Moth, Upland Sandpiper, Ural owl, Urechis unicinctus, Urial, Uromastyx, and Urutu Snake.

Read below for information on these 16 different animals that start with the letter U. The uakari is a small primate with a red face that lives in the Amazon. The uguisu and umbrellabird are both members of the avian class. The Uguisu is located in parts of Asia, while the umbrellabird lives in South America.


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Alphabetical List of Animals That Start with U

Animals that Start with U

Uakari

Uakari Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Primates
Family
Pitheciidae
Genus
Cacajao
Scientific Name
Cacajao

Fun Fact: Have a very short tail for their size!

Uakari Classification And Evolution The Uakari is a species of small monkey, indigenous to the tropical rainforests of South America, where they are inclined to be found in the damp jungle close to the water. The Uakari is most renowned for its naked face which commonly ranges in color from pink to deep red. There […] Read More


Uaru Cichlid

Uaru Cichlid Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Cichlidae
Genus
Uaru
Scientific Name
Uaru amphiacanthoides

Fun Fact: The color of the Uaru cichlid changes during the spawning season

The color of the Uaru cichlid changes during the spawning season. Summary Uaru cichlid is a freshwater fish native to the Upper Orinoco and the Amazon basins in South America. The fish is popular for its unique triangular shape and coloring, unlike any other fish in the cichlid family. Although native to South America, you […] Read More


Uguisu

Uguisu Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Cettiidae
Genus
Cettia
Scientific Name
Cettia diphone

Fun Fact: Their guano is used in face creams!

Classification and Evolution The natural range of this rather miniature avian exists in East Asia. The Uguisu can be found in China, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, the Philippines, and Taiwan. A relative of the nightingale, the bushtit, and other diminutive songbirds, it is also referred to as the Japanese nightingale owing to the beauty of its […] Read More


Uinta Ground Squirrel

Uinta Ground Squirrel Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae
Genus
Urocitellus
Scientific Name
Urocitellus armatus

Fun Fact: The squirrel is named after the Uinta Mountains, which are part of the Rocky Mountain range and are found in Utah and Wyoming.

”Potgut of the Mountains” This little ground squirrel, also called the chiseler or potgut, knows to make hay while the sun shines. For nine months out of the year, it is sleeping in its burrow in one of the four mountain states where it lives. When the weather gets too hot it estivates, and that […] Read More


Uintatherium

Uintatherium Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Dinocerata
Family
Uintatheriidae
Genus
Uintatherium

Fun Fact: The Uintatherium was an exceptionally large and exceptionally ugly ungulate that lived during the Eocene epoch

The Uintatherium was an exceptionally large and exceptionally ugly ungulate that lived during the Eocene epoch, which was between 56 and 34 million years ago. Classification and Scientific Name Uintatherium means “beast of the Uinta Mountains.” The Uinta Mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains. They are near where the first fossils of the animal […] Read More


Ulysses Butterfly

Ulysses Butterfly Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Papilionidae
Genus
Papilio
Scientific Name
Papilio ulysses

Fun Fact: Ulysses butterflies have come back from endangered status to just "threatened."

An expertly researched article on the Ulysses butterfly - where they live, what they eat & high-quality pictures of Ulysses butterflies. Read More


Umbrellabird

Umbrellabird Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Cotingidae
Genus
Cephalopterus
Scientific Name
Cephalopterus

Fun Fact: Migrates up and down the mountains!

Umbrellabirds have an umbrella-like crest on the top of their heads (for which they were named) and a tube-shaped inflatable pouch on their throats. They are the largest species of perching bird (Passerine) in South America, but populations are currently decreasing because of habitat loss. Classification and Evolution The Umbrellabird is a large, tropical species […] Read More


Unau (Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth)

Unau (Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth) Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Pilosa
Family
Choloepodidae
Genus
Choloepus
Scientific Name
Choloepodidae didactylus

Fun Fact: Its top speed is 0.17mph

The Unau also called Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth is thought to be the slowest mammal in the world. The sloth species is found in South America. It is nocturnal and lives in the trees of tropical and subtropical rainforests, where the climate is hot and humid and there are a lot of vines. Having a greyish-brown […] Read More


Underwing Moth

Underwing Moth Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Erebidae
Genus
Catocala
Scientific Name
Catocala

Fun Fact: Their colorful rear wing makes predators think that they are poisonous, however they are not it is a deceptive feature.

The Catocala, also known as the underwing moth, is a genus of moths with bark-like forewings and very bright underwings. They are common in North America, Asia, and Europe and are known for their unique ability to camouflage with their environment and keep predators away by flashing their rear wings. 5 Incredible Underwing Moth Facts […] Read More


Upland Sandpiper

Upland Sandpiper Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Bartramia
Scientific Name
Bartramia longicauda

Fun Fact: They make jerky movements as they walk through the grass, searching for food.

“These shorebirds prefer open country habitats with tall grasses, compared to the usual sandpiper coastal environments. ” Summary The upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) is native to North and South America, where it lives in open country areas with tall grass to hide. It spends its days walking through the vegetation, picking up insects, seeds, and […] Read More


Ural owl

Ural owl Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Strix
Scientific Name
Strix uralensis

Fun Fact: The Ural owl can rotate its head up to 270 degrees

The Ural owl can be found in some of the coldest climates in Eurasia. This nocturnal bird is named for the Ural Mountains, generally considered to be a dividing line between Europe and Asia. However, its range is not limited to the Ural Mountains. This species is actually found all across northern Eurasia, using its […] Read More


Urechis unicinctus (Penis Fish)

Urechis unicinctus (Penis Fish) Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Annelida
Class
Polychaeta
Order
Echiuroidea
Family
Urechidae
Genus
Urechis
Scientific Name
Urechis unicinctus

Fun Fact: Create "inns" for other sea creatures

Penis Fish Summary Also known as the penis fish, Urechis unicinctus is a species of marine spoonworm found throughout East Asia. It feeds on microscopic organic material and creates burrows in sand and mud. Occasionally, large numbers may wash up and get stranded on beaches. They are a popular delicacy in Korea, China, and Japan.  […] Read More


Urial

Urial Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Ovis
Scientific Name
Ovis vignei

Fun Fact: Urials are the ancestors of modern-day domesticated sheep.

Urials are wild species of sheep that originated from Asia. They are a nearly ancient species of sheep, and domesticated sheep descend from their line. They have become endangered due to predation and human activities such as poaching, livestock grazing, and range and habitat loss. Facts Lambs and their mothers communicate by scent. They can […] Read More


Uromastyx (Spiny-Tailed Lizard)

Uromastyx (Spiny-Tailed Lizard) Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Agamidae
Genus
Uromastyx

Fun Fact: Spiny-tailed lizards "sneeze" out salt!

Far from boring, Uromastyx lizards have a lot of unique features. They have large, spiky tails with which they protect themselves, as well as different colors and patterns guaranteed to catch anyone’s eye. Lizard keepers keen on exotic animals seek spiny-tailed lizards. Facts Spiny-tailed lizards have nasal glands that remove salt from the salty desert […] Read More


Urutu Snake

Urutu Snake Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Serpentes
Genus
Bothrops
Scientific Name
Bothrops alternatus

Fun Fact: The female Urutu snake grows longer and heavier than males of the same species

Urutu snakes are aggressive pit vipers capable of causing severe tissue damage and even death to humans with their venomous bites. Urutu snakes, also called yarará grande, wutu, and crossed pit vipers, are native to rainforests and humid regions of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. They are highly venomous pit vipers in the Bothrops genus, […] Read More


Utonagan

Utonagan Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact:

The Utonagan is very affectionate and gentle, making it an excellent family pet. The Utonagan is a relatively new dog breed. It was developed in the 1980s by Edwina Harrison who wanted to create a dog that resembled a wolf but was still well-tempered and sweet like other domesticated dogs. The Utonagan is a crossbreed […] Read More


Animals that start with the letter U, including the Uguisu & Umbrellabird
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