This list includes 59 Animals that start with F, from “Fairy Shrimp” to “Funnel-web Spider”. It serves as a quick reference for students, teachers, nature guides, and casual readers.
Animals that start with F are species whose common names begin with the letter F. They range widely, from tiny fairy shrimp in temporary pools to iconic fennec foxes in desert folklore.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Description, and Conservation status.
Common name: This shows the everyday name you use to identify each species, helpful for quick lookup.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial provides precise identification and helps you find authoritative species information.
Habitat: A concise biome and region note shows where each animal lives and what environments to expect.
Description: One or two sentences summarize appearance, behavior, or diet so you can grasp key traits quickly.
Conservation status: A short tag indicates risk level and helps you prioritize species for study or protection.
Animals that start with F
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat & Range | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairyfly | Mymaridae family | Various terrestrial habitats — Worldwide | NE |
| Fairy Shrimp | Anostraca order | Vernal pools and ephemeral ponds — Worldwide | NE |
| Fairy Tern | Sternula nereis | Coastal waters and islands — Australia and New Caledonia | VU (2018) |
| Falanouc | Eupleres goudotii | Lowland rainforests — Madagascar | VU (2015) |
| Falkland Islands Wolf | Dusicyon australis | Grasslands and coastal areas — Falkland Islands | EX (c. 1876) |
| False Killer Whale | Pseudorca crassidens | Tropical to temperate open oceans — Worldwide | NT (2018) |
| False Vampire Bat | Megaderma lyra | Caves and forests — South and Southeast Asia | LC (2019) |
| Fan-throated Lizard | Sitana ponticeriana | Scrublands and arid plains — Indian subcontinent | LC (2021) |
| Fangtooth | Anoplogaster cornuta | Deep-sea mesopelagic zone — Worldwide | LC (2015) |
| Fat-tailed Dunnart | Sminthopsis crassicaudata | Arid and semi-arid lands — Australia | LC (2016) |
| Fennec Fox | Vulpes zerda | Sandy deserts — North Africa and the Middle East | LC (2015) |
| Fer-de-lance | Bothrops atrox | Tropical forests and plantations — Northern South America | LC (2021) |
| Fiddler Crab | Uca species | Coastal salt marshes and mangroves — Worldwide | NE |
| Field Cricket | Gryllus campestris | Grasslands and pastures — Europe and Asia | LC (2016) |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris | Woodlands and scrub — Europe and Asia | LC (2017) |
| Filefish | Monacanthidae family | Tropical and subtropical oceans — Worldwide | NE |
| Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | All major oceans, polar to tropical | VU (2018) |
| Finfoot | Heliornithidae family | Rivers and forested streams — Tropical regions | NE |
| Fire Ant | Solenopsis invicta | Disturbed lands and lawns — Native to South America, invasive worldwide | NE |
| Fire Salamander | Salamandra salamandra | Deciduous forests — Europe | LC (2023) |
| Fire-bellied Toad | Bombina bombina | Wetlands and ponds — Europe and Western Asia | LC (2023) |
| Firebrat | Thermobia domestica | Warm, humid indoor areas — Worldwide | NE |
| Firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla | Woodlands and gardens — Europe and North Africa | LC (2018) |
| Firefly | Lampyridae family | Fields, forests, and marshes — Worldwide | NE |
| Fish Crow | Corvus ossifragus | Coastal areas and inland waterways — Southeastern USA | LC (2018) |
| Fisher | Pekania pennanti | Boreal and temperate forests — North America | LC (2015) |
| Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus | Wetlands, marshes, and mangroves — Southeast Asia | VU (2016) |
| Flap-necked Chameleon | Chamaeleo dilepis | Savannas and woodlands — Sub-Saharan Africa | LC (2014) |
| Flat-headed Cat | Prionailurus planiceps | Forested wetlands and riverbanks — Southeast Asia | EN (2014) |
| Flatback Sea Turtle | Natator depressus | Coastal tropical waters — Australian continental shelf | DD (2018) |
| Flea | Siphonaptera order | On host animals — Worldwide | NE |
| Flesh Fly | Sarcophagidae family | Various habitats — Worldwide | NE |
| Flier | Centrarchus macropterus | Swamps and vegetated backwaters — Southeastern USA | LC (2013) |
| Florida Panther | Puma concolor coryi | Forests and swamps — South Florida, USA | EN (2008) |
| Florida Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma coerulescens | Oak scrub habitat — Florida, USA | VU (2020) |
| Flounder | Pleuronectidae family | Seabeds — Worldwide | NE |
| Flowerpecker | Dicaeidae family | Forests and woodlands — Tropical southern Asia to Australia | NE |
| Fluke | Trematoda class | Inside host animals — Worldwide | NE |
| Flycatcher | Tyrannidae family | Various habitats — The Americas | NE |
| Flying Dragon | Draco volans | Tropical rainforests — Southeast Asia | LC (2019) |
| Flying Fish | Exocoetidae family | Warm ocean surface waters — Worldwide | NE |
| Flying Fox | Pteropus species | Forests and swamps — Tropics and subtropics of Asia, Australia, and Africa | NE |
| Flying Lemur | Cynocephalus volans | Rainforests — Southeast Asia | LC (2008) |
| Flying Squirrel | Pteromyini tribe | Forests — North America and Eurasia | NE |
| Forest Cobra | Naja melanoleuca | Forests and savannas — Africa | LC (2021) |
| Forest Elephant | Loxodonta cyclotis | Tropical forests — Central and West Africa | CR (2021) |
| Forest Owlet | Athene blewitti | Dry deciduous forests — Central India | EN (2017) |
| Fork-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus adsimilis | Open woodlands and savannas — Sub-Saharan Africa | LC (2016) |
| Fossa | Cryptoprocta ferox | Forests — Madagascar | VU (2016) |
| Four-eyed Fish | Anableps anableps | Brackish water — Northern South America | NE |
| Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger | Deciduous and mixed woodlands — North America | LC (2016) |
| Foxsnake | Pantherophis vulpinus | Prairies and woodlands — North America | LC (2016) |
| Frilled Lizard | Chlamydosaurus kingii | Tropical woodlands and savannas — Northern Australia and New Guinea | LC (2018) |
| Frilled Shark | Chlamydoselachus anguineus | Deep ocean waters — Worldwide, patchy distribution | LC (2015) |
| Frogfish | Antennariidae family | Tropical and subtropical oceans — Worldwide | NE |
| Frogmouth | Podargidae family | Forests and woodlands — South Asia and Australia | NE |
| Fruit Fly | Drosophila melanogaster | Wherever fruit is found — Worldwide | NE |
| Fulvous Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Wetlands and marshes — Tropical regions worldwide | LC (2016) |
| Funnel-web Spider | Atrax robustus | Forests and suburban gardens — Sydney, Australia region | NE |
Descriptions
Fairyfly
Among the smallest insects in the world, some species are less than 0.2 mm long. They are parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs inside the eggs of other insects.
Fairy Shrimp
Delicate crustaceans that swim upside down, feeding on algae and bacteria. Their eggs can survive for years in dry soil, waiting for rain.
Fairy Tern
A small, graceful seabird with a white body, grey back, and black cap. It is known for laying its single egg on a bare branch or rock depression without a nest.
Falanouc
A small, mongoose-like carnivore with a long snout and peg-like teeth adapted for eating earthworms and insects. It is a shy, nocturnal creature endemic to Madagascar.
Falkland Islands Wolf
Also known as the warrah, this was the only native land mammal of the Falkland Islands. It was driven to extinction by European settlers who feared for their sheep.
False Killer Whale
A large, social dolphin species, despite its name. They are known for forming strong social bonds and for stranding in large groups.
False Vampire Bat
A large carnivorous bat that does not drink blood. It preys on large insects, frogs, lizards, and even other bats, using its large ears to locate prey.
Fan-throated Lizard
A small lizard famous for the male’s large, colorful throat fan (dewlap). This fan is dramatically extended during courtship and territorial displays.
Fangtooth
A fearsome-looking deep-sea fish with disproportionately large, fang-like teeth. Despite its appearance, it is quite small, reaching only about 16 cm in length.
Fat-tailed Dunnart
A small, mouse-like carnivorous marsupial. It stores fat in its carrot-shaped tail, which acts as an energy reserve during food shortages.
Fennec Fox
The world’s smallest canid, easily identified by its enormous ears. These ears help dissipate heat and locate prey moving under the sand.
Fer-de-lance
A highly venomous pit viper responsible for a significant number of snakebites in its range. It is an ambush predator with potent hemotoxic venom.
Fiddler Crab
Known for the male’s single, greatly oversized claw. This large claw is used in courtship displays and to fight other males, while the smaller claw is for feeding.
Field Cricket
A common insect known for the male’s loud, chirping song produced by rubbing its wings together. This song is used to attract females.
Fieldfare
A large, colorful thrush that forms noisy flocks, especially in winter. It has a grey head, brown back, and a speckled breast.
Filefish
A group of fish named for their rough, sandpaper-like skin. They possess a prominent spine on their head that can be locked into an upright position.
Fin Whale
The second-largest animal on Earth, nicknamed the “greyhound of the sea” for its speed. It has distinctive asymmetrical jaw coloration, with a white right side.
Finfoot
A secretive, duck-like waterbird with lobed toes. Finfoots are shy and difficult to observe, spending much of their time near vegetated riverbanks.
Fire Ant
A small, aggressive ant known for its painful, burning sting. It builds large mound nests and is a highly successful and damaging invasive species.
Fire Salamander
A striking black and yellow amphibian. Its bright colors serve as a warning to predators that its skin secretes a potent neurotoxin.
Fire-bellied Toad
A small aquatic toad with a drab back but a brightly colored orange or yellow belly. When threatened, it arches its back to flash these warning colors.
Firebrat
A small, wingless insect related to the silverfish. It thrives in high temperatures, often found near furnaces, boilers, and hot water pipes.
Firecrest
One of Europe’s smallest birds, weighing only 5–7 grams. It has a brilliant orange (male) or yellow (female) crest, which gives the bird its name.
Firefly
A beetle that uses bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. The glowing, rhythmic flashes are a familiar sight on warm summer evenings.
Fish Crow
A species of crow that looks very similar to the American Crow but is smaller and has a more nasal call. It frequently forages for fish and crabs along shorelines.
Fisher
A carnivorous mammal of the weasel family, not a cat. It is a powerful and agile hunter, one of the few predators that can successfully prey on porcupines.
Fishing Cat
A medium-sized wild cat perfectly adapted for a semi-aquatic life. It has partially webbed paws and preys primarily on fish, which it catches by diving into the water.
Flap-necked Chameleon
A large chameleon species identified by the fleshy lobes, or flaps, on the back of its head. Like other chameleons, it can change color for camouflage and communication.
Flat-headed Cat
A small, endangered wild cat with a uniquely flattened head and small ears. Its teeth are adapted for grasping slippery prey like fish and frogs.
Flatback Sea Turtle
A unique sea turtle named for its relatively flat carapace (shell). Unlike other sea turtles, it does not have an oceanic phase, remaining in coastal waters its entire life.
Flea
A small, wingless parasitic insect known for its ability to jump incredible distances. It feeds on the blood of mammals and birds.
Flesh Fly
A fly whose larvae typically develop in decaying flesh or dung. Some species are important in forensic entomology for determining time of death.
Flier
A species of sunfish with a deep, compressed body and large fins, giving it its name. It is distinguished by a pattern of dark spots on each scale.
Florida Panther
A critically endangered subspecies of cougar. It is the only breeding population of pumas east of the Mississippi River, facing threats from habitat loss and vehicle collisions.
Florida Scrub-Jay
A vibrant blue and gray bird that is the only bird species endemic to Florida. They are cooperative breeders, with young birds helping to raise their siblings.
Flounder
A type of flatfish that is famous for its camouflage and unusual anatomy. It begins life as a normal fish but then one eye migrates to the other side of its head.
Flowerpecker
A family of small, often brightly colored birds. They are important pollinators, feeding mainly on nectar, berries, and small insects.
Fluke
A class of parasitic flatworms, many of which have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts. They cause diseases like schistosomiasis in humans and animals.
Flycatcher
A very large family of birds, mostly insectivorous, known for catching their prey in mid-air. They exhibit a huge diversity of sizes and colors.
Flying Dragon
A small lizard that can glide through the air using extendable skin flaps (patagia) supported by its ribs. It doesn’t truly fly but can glide for significant distances.
Flying Fish
A fish that can launch itself out of the water and glide for long distances using its large, wing-like pectoral fins. This is its primary way of escaping predators.
Flying Fox
A genus of very large bats, also known as fruit bats. They are crucial for pollinating plants and dispersing seeds, but do not use echolocation to navigate.
Flying Lemur
Not a true lemur, but a gliding mammal called a colugo. It has a massive skin membrane that allows it to glide up to 70 meters between trees with minimal loss of height.
Flying Squirrel
A nocturnal rodent that glides between trees using a furry membrane called a patagium. They don’t fly, but steer with their limbs and flattened tail.
Forest Cobra
A large, highly venomous species of cobra. It is an excellent swimmer and climber, preying on a variety of animals including fish, frogs, and small mammals.
Forest Elephant
Now recognized as a distinct species from the African bush elephant. It is smaller, with straighter tusks and more rounded ears, and is critically endangered due to poaching.
Forest Owlet
A small, critically endangered owl that was thought to be extinct for over 100 years until its rediscovery in 1997. It is highly threatened by habitat loss.
Fork-tailed Drongo
A glossy black bird known for its distinctive forked tail and aggressive behavior. It often mimics the alarm calls of other species to steal their food.
Fossa
Madagascar’s largest carnivorous mammal, resembling a small cougar. It has a long tail, retractable claws, and flexible ankles for pursuing lemurs in trees.
Four-eyed Fish
A unique fish whose eyes are split into two lobes, allowing it to see above and below the water’s surface simultaneously as it swims.
Fox Squirrel
The largest species of tree squirrel in North America. Its coloration varies greatly by region, from reddish-brown to gray and even black.
Foxsnake
A non-venomous snake named for the musky, fox-like odor it emits when threatened. It is a powerful constrictor that feeds on rodents and birds.
Frilled Lizard
A lizard famous for the large, expandable frill around its neck. When threatened, it unfurls this frill to appear larger and more intimidating.
Frilled Shark
A primitive, eel-like shark often called a “living fossil.” It has a frilly appearance due to its six pairs of gill slits and captures prey with its 300 needle-like teeth.
Frogfish
A type of anglerfish known for its amazing camouflage and unique method of “walking” on the seafloor using its pectoral fins. It uses a lure to attract prey.
Frogmouth
A nocturnal bird related to nightjars, often mistaken for an owl. It has a huge, flattened beak and excellent camouflage, resembling a broken tree branch.
Fruit Fly
A tiny fly commonly found around ripening or rotting fruit. It is a model organism used extensively in genetic research due to its simple genetics and rapid life cycle.
Fulvous Whistling Duck
A long-legged, goose-like duck with a rich brown color. It gets its name from its clear, whistling call, often made in flight.
Funnel-web Spider
A highly venomous spider known for its potent, fast-acting neurotoxin. The male is particularly dangerous and is responsible for most serious bites.
