The Complete List of Animals That Start With J

This list includes 36 Animals that start with J, from “Jabiru” to “Junglefowl”. These entries cover birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and insects with global distribution and cultural importance. Use it for quick reference, classroom activities, or to spark further research.

Animals that start with J are species whose common names begin with the letter J, spanning familiar and lesser-known taxa. For example, the jabiru is a notable New World stork celebrated in local folklore.

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

Common name: The everyday name you use to identify a species quickly, ideal for classroom or casual lookup.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise identification across languages and helps you find reliable species information.

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

Description: A concise 1–2 sentence summary of appearance, behavior, or diet to give you immediate species context.

Conservation status: IUCN-style tag or brief note that tells you if a species is threatened or currently stable.

Animals that start with J

Name	Scientific name	Class	Habitat / region
Jaguar	Panthera onca	Mammal	Rainforests, wetlands — The Americas
Jackal	Canis aureus	Mammal	Savannas, grasslands — Southeastern Europe, South Asia
Japanese Macaque	Macaca fuscata	Mammal	Forests — Japan
Javan Rhinoceros	Rhinoceros sondaicus	Mammal	Tropical rainforest — Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia
Jerboa	Jaculus jaculus	Mammal	Deserts, arid lands — North Africa, Asia
Jaguarundi	Herpailurus yagouaroundi	Mammal	Scrublands, forests — The Americas
Javelina	Pecari tajacu	Mammal	Deserts, scrublands — The Americas
Javan Gibbon	Hylobates moloch	Mammal	Rainforests — Java, Indonesia
Jentink’s Duiker	Cephalophus jentinki	Mammal	Rainforests — West Africa
Jungle Cat	Felis chaus	Mammal	Wetlands, grasslands — Middle East, South and Southeast Asia
Japanese Serow	Capricornis crispus	Mammal	Dense mountain woodlands — Japan
Japanese Dormouse	Glirulus japonicus	Mammal	Mountain forests — Japan
Jabiru	Jabiru mycteria	Bird	Wetlands, marshes — Central and South America
Jacana	Jacana spinosa	Bird	Freshwater marshes, ponds — Coastal Mexico to Panama
Jackdaw	Corvus monedula	Bird	Woodlands, cities — Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	Bird	Arctic tundra (breeding), oceans (winter) — Worldwide
Junglefowl	Gallus gallus	Bird	Tropical forests, scrubland — Southeast Asia
Japanese Jay	Garrulus lidthi	Bird	Subtropical forests — Amami Islands, Japan
Jerdon’s Courser	Rhinoptilus bitorquatus	Bird	Scrub forests — Andhra Pradesh, India
Jocotoco Antpitta	Grallaria ridgelyi	Bird	Cloud forests — Andes of Ecuador and Peru
Javan Hawk-Eagle	Nisaetus bartelsi	Bird	Tropical rainforests — Java, Indonesia
Japanese Robin	Larvivora akahige	Bird	Temperate forests — Japan and eastern Russia
Japanese Quail	Coturnix japonica	Bird	Grasslands and fields — East Asia
Jackson’s Chameleon	Trioceros jacksonii	Reptile	Mountain forests — East Africa
Japanese Giant Salamander	Andrias japonicus	Amphibian	Cold mountain streams — Japan
John Dory	Zeus faber	Fish	Coastal waters — Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans
Jawfish	Opistognathus aurifrons	Fish	Sandy seabeds, coral reefs — Tropical oceans
Japanese Eel	Anguilla japonica	Fish	Rivers, lakes, estuaries — East Asia
Jellyfish	Aurelia aurita	Invertebrate	Oceans — Worldwide
Jumping Spider	Phidippus audax	Arachnid	Diverse habitats — Worldwide
Japanese Beetle	Popillia japonica	Insect	Grasslands, gardens — Native to Japan, invasive in North America
Jerusalem Cricket	Stenopelmatus fuscus	Insect	Arid environments, soil — Western United States and Mexico
Japanese Spider Crab	Macrocheira kaempferi	Crustacean	Ocean floor — Off the coast of Japan
Jumbo Flying Squid	Dosidicus gigas	Mollusc	Eastern Pacific Ocean
Janthina Snail	Janthina janthina	Mollusc	Surface of warm oceans — Worldwide
Jack-knife Clam	Ensis directus	Mollusc	Sandy intertidal zones — Atlantic coast of North America

Descriptions