Here you’ll find 28 Animals that start with I that begin with I, organized from “Iberian lynx” to “Ivory-billed woodpecker”. This selection highlights well-known and conservation-relevant species useful for classroom study, field reference, and quick fact checking.
Animals that start with I are animals whose common names begin with the letter I. Many include iconic species like the Iberian lynx, once close to extinction and now central to European conservation stories.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Description, Conservation status.
Common name: The everyday name helps you recognize species quickly and match entries with field guides or classroom materials.
Scientific name: The accepted Latin name gives you precise identification and links to further taxonomic or research resources.
Habitat: A concise biome and region description shows where each species lives and helps plan field observations.
Description: One or two sentences summarize notable traits, behavior, or significance so you grasp each species quickly.
Conservation status: A short tag flags vulnerability or protection level, useful for learning about species conservation priorities.
Animals that start with I
| Name | Scientific name | Habitat & region | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iberian lynx | Lynx pardinus | Mediterranean scrub — Iberian Peninsula | Endangered |
| Iriomote cat | Prionailurus iriomotensis | Subtropical forest — Iriomote Island, Japan | Critically Endangered |
| Ili pika | Ochotona iliensis | Alpine talus slopes — Tianshan Mountains, China | Endangered |
| Ibisbill | Ibidorhyncha struthersii | Shorelines of mountain rivers — Himalayas | Near Threatened |
| Inca tern | Larosterna inca | Coastal cliffs & cold waters — Peru and Chile | Near Threatened |
| Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | Open woodland & fields — North America | Least Concern |
| Indigo snake, eastern | Drymarchon couperi | Pine flatwoods & longleaf forests — SE USA | Threatened (US ESA) |
| Indian rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis | Floodplain grasslands & forests — South Asia | Vulnerable |
| Indian elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | Tropical forests & grasslands — South & SE Asia | Endangered |
| Indian peafowl | Pavo cristatus | Forest edges, farmlands — South Asia | Least Concern |
| Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata | Forests & grasslands — South Asia | Endangered |
| Indian gharial | Gavialis gangeticus | Large rivers & sandbanks — Indian subcontinent | Critically Endangered |
| Indian star tortoise | Geochelone elegans | Dry forests & scrub — South Asia | Vulnerable |
| Indian skimmer | Rynchops albicollis | Rivers, sandbars & estuaries — South Asia | Vulnerable |
| Indian muntjac | Muntiacus muntjak | Tropical forests — South & SE Asia | Least Concern |
| Indri | Indri indri | Lowland & montane rainforest — Madagascar | Critically Endangered |
| Indochinese tiger | Panthera tigris corbetti | Tropical forests — Mainland SE Asia | Endangered |
| Indus river dolphin | Platanista gangetica minor | Freshwater rivers — Indus Basin, Pakistan | Endangered |
| Irrawaddy dolphin | Orcaella brevirostris | Coastal bays & rivers — S & SE Asia | Endangered |
| Ivory-billed woodpecker | Campephilus principalis | Bottomland forests — Southeastern USA & Cuba | Critically Endangered (possibly extinct) |
| Ivory gull | Pagophila eburnea | Sea-ice and pack ice — Arctic regions | Vulnerable |
| Imperial Amazon | Amazona imperialis | Montane rainforest — Dominica, Caribbean | Critically Endangered |
| Imperial moth | Eacles imperialis | Woodlands & suburban areas — North America | Not Evaluated |
| Imperial shag | Leucocarbo atriceps | Coastal cliffs — Southern South America & subantarctic isles | Least Concern |
| Island fox | Urocyon littoralis | Shrubland & oak woodlands — California Channel Islands | Near Threatened |
| Island scrub-jay | Aphelocoma insularis | Oak-scrub — Santa Cruz Island, California | Vulnerable |
| Inca dove | Columbina inca | Open habitats & edge areas — Central America to SW USA | Least Concern |
| Isabelline wheatear | Oenanthe isabellina | Open steppes & semi-deserts — Eurasia | Least Concern |
Descriptions
Iberian lynx
A spotted wildcat specialized on rabbits, once nearly extinct but recovering through captive breeding and habitat protection; Europe’s most endangered feline with remaining populations in Spain and Portugal.
Iriomote cat
A small, elusive wildcat found only on Japan’s Iriomote Island; threatened by habitat loss, road mortality and small population size, making it critically endangered and a conservation icon.
Ili pika
A tiny, round-eared mammal adapted to cold talus fields; rare and warming-sensitive, its small, fragmented populations make it highly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss.
Ibisbill
A distinctive, long-billed shorebird with a curved bill and greyl plumage; it forages on stony riverbeds across Himalayan highlands and faces habitat disturbance and water development threats.
Inca tern
A striking dark gull-like seabird with a white moustache; it relies on productive Humboldt Current waters for fish and is sensitive to overfishing and pollution.
Indigo bunting
A small, brightly colored songbird male turns vivid blue in breeding season; common in shrubby edges and valued by birdwatchers for its vibrant plumage and migratory behavior.
Indigo snake, eastern
A large, nonvenomous snake that eats snakes and small mammals; protected in parts of the US due to habitat loss and fragmentation, important predator of diverse prey.
Indian rhinoceros
A single-horned rhino with armored skin plates, iconic in parks like Kaziranga; poaching and habitat conversion threaten animals despite successful local conservation efforts.
Indian elephant
A culturally significant subspecies of Asian elephant that forms complex social groups; faces habitat loss, fragmentation and human–elephant conflict across its range.
Indian peafowl
A familiar, ornamental bird with flamboyant male tail feathers used in displays; tolerant of human-modified landscapes, culturally important across South Asia.
Indian pangolin
A solitary, nocturnal insect-eating mammal covered in keratin scales; heavily poached for scales and meat, making it one of the most trafficked mammals in the region.
Indian gharial
A fish-eating crocodilian with a long narrow snout and bulbous male growth; river degradation and fishing nets have driven steep declines in this unique reptile.
Indian star tortoise
A small, domed tortoise with radiating star patterns on its shell; overcollection for the pet trade and habitat loss have reduced wild populations.
Indian skimmer
A striking black-and-white tern-like bird with lower bill longer than upper, skimming water for fish; sensitive to river disturbance and human development on sandbanks.
Indian muntjac
Also called barking deer, this small deer is notable for vocal calls and variable coat; adaptable to many forest types though locally hunted.
Indri
The largest living lemur, known for loud, haunting calls and leaping locomotion; restricted range and severe habitat loss place it among Madagascar’s most threatened primates.
Indochinese tiger
A regional tiger subspecies facing poaching and habitat fragmentation; charismatic apex predator with fragmented populations across Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
Indus river dolphin
A blind, river-adapted dolphin that navigates with echolocation; dams, water extraction and pollution have dramatically reduced its numbers in the Indus system.
Irrawaddy dolphin
A small, round-headed dolphin inhabiting murky coastal and river waters; vulnerable to bycatch, boat strikes and habitat degradation across its fragmented range.
Ivory-billed woodpecker
A very large, dramatic woodpecker once linked to old-growth swamps; unconfirmed sightings keep hope alive, but habitat loss likely drove severe or total decline.
Ivory gull
A pure-white, Arctic gull closely tied to sea ice for feeding; climate-driven ice loss and pollution threaten its specialized polar lifestyle.
Imperial Amazon
A rare, glossy green parrot endemic to Dominica, valued for intelligence and striking color; a single-island range and hurricanes make this species highly vulnerable.
Imperial moth
A large, showy silk moth with yellow-and-purple patterned wings; caterpillars feed on many tree species and adults are impressive but short-lived.
Imperial shag
A coastal cormorant with glossy plumage and a crest in breeding season; nests in colonies on cliffs and rocky shores, common in its cold-water range.
Island fox
A small, island-adapted canid that experienced dramatic declines but recovered via conservation; an example of rapid island extinctions and successful intervention.
Island scrub-jay
A bold, endemic corvid found only on one Channel Island; susceptible to habitat change and invasive species given its tiny range.
Inca dove
A small, long-tailed ground dove with scaled plumage; common in urban and dry habitats, often seen foraging on the ground.
Isabelline wheatear
A pale migratory passerine of open dry habitats, notable for buff-isabelline coloration; breeds across Asia and winters in Africa and South Asia.
