img

The Complete List of Animals That Start With E

This list includes 42 Animals that start with E, from “Eagle Ray” to “Eyelash Viper”. It covers familiar and ecologically important species worldwide. Use it for classroom reference, quick lookup, or basic field identification.

Animals that start with E are species whose common names begin with the letter E, spanning all animal groups worldwide. For example, the elephant appears in art, religion, and national symbols across many cultures.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Description, and Conservation status.

Common name: The everyday name people use for the animal, so you can quickly identify familiar species.

Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial for precise identification, useful when you need exact species information.

Habitat: Brief biome and region notes showing where the species lives, helping you understand ecological context.

Description: A concise one to two sentence overview of appearance, behavior, or role, useful for quick learning.

Conservation status: Tags indicating threat level or protection, so you can gauge conservation concern at a glance.

Animals that start with E

Common NameScientific NameConservation StatusHabitat
Eagle RayAetobatus narinariENCoastal tropical waters — worldwide
Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollisLCFreshwater lakes and marshes — North America and Eurasia
EarwigDermapteraNot EvaluatedVarious terrestrial habitats — worldwide
EarthwormLumbricus terrestrisNot EvaluatedSoil and leaf litter — worldwide
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisLCOpen woodlands and farmlands — eastern North America
Eastern Diamondback RattlesnakeCrotalus adamanteusLCPine flatwoods and coastal scrub — southeastern United States
Eastern Gray SquirrelSciurus carolinensisLCDeciduous and mixed forests — eastern North America
Eastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescensLCPonds and deciduous forests — eastern North America
EchidnaTachyglossus aculeatusLCForests and woodlands — Australia and New Guinea
EelAnguilliformesVariesFreshwater and saltwater — worldwide
Eland, CommonTaurotragus oryxLCSavanna and grasslands — eastern and southern Africa
Eland, GiantTaurotragus derbianusVUWoodlands and savanna — central and western Africa
Electric EelElectrophorus electricusLCFreshwater basins — South America
Electric RayTorpediniformesVariesShallow and deep marine waters — worldwide
Elephant, African BushLoxodonta africanaENSavannas and forests — sub-Saharan Africa
Elephant, African ForestLoxodonta cyclotisCRTropical rainforests — central and west Africa
Elephant, AsianElephas maximusENForests and grasslands — south and southeast Asia
Elephant Seal, NorthernMirounga angustirostrisLCCoastal waters and beaches — eastern North Pacific
Elephant Seal, SouthernMirounga leoninaLCSub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters — Southern Ocean
Elephant ShrewMacroscelideaVariesDeserts and forests — Africa
Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyiLCDeserts and woodlands — southwestern US and Mexico
ElkCervus canadensisLCForests and mountains — North America and East Asia
Emerald Ash BorerAgrilus planipennisNot EvaluatedHardwood forests — native to Asia, invasive in North America
Emerald Tree BoaCorallus caninusLCTropical rainforests — South America
Emerald Tree MonitorVaranus prasinusLCTropical rainforests — New Guinea and surrounding islands
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperatorLCCoral reefs — Indo-Pacific Ocean
Emperor GooseAnser canagicusNTArctic tundra and coastal lagoons — Alaska and Siberia
Emperor MothSaturnia pavoniaNot EvaluatedHeathland and open woodland — Europe and Asia
Emperor PenguinAptenodytes forsteriNTSea ice and coastal waters — Antarctica
Emperor ScorpionPandinus imperatorNot EvaluatedSavannas and rainforests — West Africa
EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeLCSavannas and forests — Australia
ErmineMustela ermineaLCBoreal forests and tundra — northern Eurasia and North America
Eskimo CurlewNumenius borealisCRArctic tundra and grasslands — The Americas
Eurasian BeaverCastor fiberLCFreshwater rivers and lakes — Eurasia
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusLCWoodlands and parks — Europe and Asia
Eurasian LynxLynx lynxLCTemperate and boreal forests — Europe and Asia
Eurasian OtterLutra lutraNTRivers, lakes, and coastlines — Europe, Asia, and North Africa
European AdderVipera berusLCWoodlands and heathlands — Europe and Asia
European HareLepus europaeusLCOpen farmland and grassland — Europe and western Asia
European RobinErithacus rubeculaLCGardens and woodlands — Europe
European StarlingSturnus vulgarisLCUrban and rural areas — native to Eurasia, invasive elsewhere
Eyelash ViperBothriechis schlegeliiLCTropical rainforests — Central and South America

Descriptions

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

A large, graceful ray known for its distinct spotted pattern. It can leap dramatically out of the water and has a venomous spine at the base of its long tail for defense.

Eared Grebe

Eared Grebe

A small water bird famous for its elaborate courtship dances and golden ear tufts during breeding season. It is a highly social bird, often gathering in massive flocks during migration.

Earwig

Earwig

A nocturnal insect recognized by the prominent pincers (cerci) on its abdomen. Despite a widespread myth, they do not crawl into human ears to lay eggs.

Earthworm

Earthworm

A vital soil-dweller that aerates and enriches the earth by burrowing and processing organic matter. An earthworm has no lungs and breathes through its moist skin.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

A small thrush beloved for the male’s vibrant blue plumage. It is a symbol of happiness and a welcome sight in gardens, where it hunts insects and eats berries.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The heaviest venomous snake in the Americas, identified by its distinct diamond pattern. It can strike up to two-thirds of its body length and delivers a potent venom.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Eastern Gray Squirrel

A highly adaptable and common rodent known for its acrobatic tree-climbing and habit of burying nuts. They play a key role in forest regeneration by forgetting some of their caches.

Eastern Newt

Eastern Newt

An amphibian with a fascinating life cycle, including an aquatic larva, a terrestrial “red eft” stage, and an aquatic adult. Its bright colors warn predators of its toxic skin.

Echidna

Echidna

One of only two egg-laying mammals (monotremes), covered in sharp spines for defense. It has a long snout and sticky tongue perfect for catching ants and termites.

Eel

Eel

A long, slender fish with over 800 species. Many eels are catadromous, migrating from freshwater rivers to the ocean to spawn, a journey from which they never return.

Eland, Common

Eland, Common

The world’s second-largest antelope, known for its spiraled horns and impressive jumping ability, clearing heights of up to 8 feet. Elands are social animals living in large herds.

Eland, Giant

Eland, Giant

The world’s largest antelope, distinguished by its larger size and more tightly spiraled horns than its common cousin. It is a shy and elusive browser, facing threats from hunting.

Electric Eel

Electric Eel

A knifefish, not a true eel, famous for its ability to generate powerful electric shocks up to 860 volts to stun prey and deter predators in murky waters.

Electric Ray

Electric Ray

A group of cartilaginous fish that can produce an electric discharge ranging from 8 to 220 volts. They use this ability to hunt for small fish and invertebrates on the seafloor.

Elephant, African Bush

Elephant, African Bush

The largest land animal on Earth, recognized by its massive ears shaped like the African continent. It is a keystone species, but is critically threatened by poaching for its ivory tusks.

Elephant, African Forest

Elephant, African Forest

A distinct species of African elephant, smaller than its savanna relative, with straighter tusks. It is a critical forest gardener, but is critically endangered due to poaching and habitat loss.

Elephant, Asian

Elephant, Asian

Smaller than its African cousins, with smaller, more rounded ears. It is highly intelligent and social, forming strong family bonds, but faces severe threats from habitat loss and human conflict.

Elephant Seal, Northern

Elephant Seal, Northern

A massive marine mammal, with males developing a large, inflatable nose (proboscis). They undergo a catastrophic molt, shedding their fur and skin in a single layer each year.

Elephant Seal, Southern

Elephant Seal, Southern

The largest of all seals, with males weighing up to 8,800 pounds. They are incredible divers, capable of holding their breath for nearly two hours and reaching depths of over 5,000 feet.

Elephant Shrew

Elephant Shrew

A small, insect-eating mammal with a long, flexible snout resembling an elephant’s trunk. Despite their name and appearance, they are more closely related to elephants than to shrews.

Elf Owl

Elf Owl

One of the world’s smallest owls, often no bigger than a sparrow. It frequently nests in abandoned woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti and primarily hunts insects at night.

Elk

Elk

Also known as wapiti, this is one of the largest deer species in the world. Males (bulls) are famous for their loud, bugling calls during the autumn mating season.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer

A small, metallic green beetle whose larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees. It is a highly destructive invasive species, responsible for the death of hundreds of millions of trees.

Emerald Tree Boa

Emerald Tree Boa

A non-venomous snake with brilliant green coloration and white markings, providing excellent camouflage in the Amazon canopy. It spends its life coiled on branches, waiting to ambush prey.

Emerald Tree Monitor

Emerald Tree Monitor

A slender, vibrant green lizard with a prehensile tail that aids in climbing. It is a highly intelligent and active forager, feeding on insects, small mammals, and birds.

Emperor Angelfish

Emperor Angelfish

A stunningly beautiful reef fish that undergoes a dramatic color change from a dark blue and white juvenile to a vibrant blue and yellow adult. They are common in the aquarium trade.

Emperor Goose

Emperor Goose

A medium-sized goose with a striking white head and barred gray body. It is a saltwater specialist, feeding in tidal areas and rarely venturing far from the coast.

Emperor Moth

Emperor Moth

One of the largest and most spectacular moths in Europe. The male has large, feathery antennae used to detect the pheromones of females from miles away.

Emperor Penguin

Emperor Penguin

The tallest and heaviest of all penguins, famous for its epic breeding journey across the Antarctic ice. Males incubate a single egg on their feet through the harsh polar winter.

Emperor Scorpion

Emperor Scorpion

One of the largest scorpions in the world, reaching up to 8 inches in length. Despite its intimidating size, its venom is mild, and it is a popular species in the pet trade.

Emu

Emu

The second-largest bird in the world by height, after the ostrich. It is a flightless bird with powerful legs capable of running at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

Ermine

Ermine

A small weasel also known as a stoat. Its fur famously changes from brown in summer to pure white in winter for camouflage, with only the black tip of its tail remaining.

Eskimo Curlew

Eskimo Curlew

A shorebird that is now considered critically endangered and possibly extinct, with the last confirmed sighting in 1963. Its decline is a tragic story of over-hunting and habitat loss.

Eurasian Beaver

Eurasian Beaver

A large, semi-aquatic rodent known for building dams and lodges. Once hunted to near extinction, successful reintroduction programs have helped its populations recover across Europe.

Eurasian Jay

Eurasian Jay

A colorful member of the crow family, known for its harsh, screaming call. It is famous for burying thousands of acorns each autumn, playing a vital role in oak tree dispersal.

Eurasian Lynx

Eurasian Lynx

A medium-sized wild cat with distinctive ear tufts and a short tail. It is a secretive and solitary hunter that preys on deer, foxes, and other medium-sized mammals.

Eurasian Otter

Eurasian Otter

A sleek, semi-aquatic mammal adapted for life in the water. It was once widespread but suffered massive declines due to pollution, making its recovery a major conservation success.

European Adder

European Adder

The most widespread venomous snake in Europe. It is a relatively small viper with a distinctive zigzag pattern down its back, but its bite is rarely fatal to humans.

European Hare

European Hare

A large hare known for its incredible speed, reaching up to 45 miles per hour. During spring, hares are famous for “boxing” as females fend off persistent males.

European Robin

European Robin

A small, plump bird beloved for its bright red-orange breast and cheerful song. Despite its charming appearance, it is fiercely territorial and will aggressively defend its patch.

European Starling

European Starling

A highly adaptable and intelligent bird known for forming massive, swirling flocks called murmurations. It is an expert mimic, capable of imitating other birds and even human speech.

Eyelash Viper

Eyelash Viper

A small, venomous pit viper named for the unique, spiny scales above its eyes that resemble eyelashes. It comes in a wide variety of bright colors, including yellow, red, and green.

Browse Animals With Other Letters