This list includes 59 Animals that start with N, from “Nabarlek” to “Nyala”. It covers mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects, highlighting species with ecological and cultural importance. Use it for classroom activities, quick identification, conservation awareness, or general curiosity.
Animals that start with N are species whose common names begin with the letter N. Many, like the narwhal and nyala, carry cultural or ecological significance in their native regions.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Description, and Conservation status.
Common name: The everyday name you recognize, useful for quick searches, classroom labels, or simple identification purposes.
Scientific name: The formal Latin name helps you find exact species information and avoid common-name confusion online.
Habitat: Short habitat notes show typical biome and region so you understand where each species lives.
Description: A concise one- to two-sentence summary highlights key traits, behavior, or diet for quick learning.
Conservation status: A brief tag indicates risk level so you prioritize species for study, projects, or conservation interest.
Animals that start with N
| Name | Scientific name | Habitat & region | Average size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabarlek | Petrogale concinna | Rocky outcrops — northern Australia | 33 cm length |
| Naked Mole-rat | Heterocephalus glaber | Subterranean burrows — East Africa | 8–10 cm length |
| Namaqua Dove | Oena capensis | Arid savanna and scrubland — Sub-Saharan Africa | 22 cm length |
| Nanday Parakeet | Aratinga nenday | Savanna and wetlands — South America | 30 cm length |
| Nandinia | Nandinia binotata | Tropical forests — Sub-Saharan Africa | 44–58 cm length |
| Napoleon Wrasse | Cheilinus undulatus | Coral reefs — Indo-Pacific | Up to 2.3 m length |
| Narwhal | Monodon monoceros | Arctic waters — Atlantic sector | 4–6 m length |
| Nassau Grouper | Epinephelus striatus | Coral reefs — Western Atlantic | Up to 1 m length |
| Natterer’s Bat | Myotis nattereri | Woodlands and farmland — Europe and Northwest Africa | 4.5 cm length |
| Natterjack Toad | Epidalea calamita | Coastal dunes and heathlands — Western Europe | 6–8 cm length |
| Nautilus | Nautilus pompilius | Deep reef slopes — Indo-Pacific | 20 cm diameter |
| Navanax | Navanax inermis | Tidal pools and mudflats — Eastern Pacific coast | Up to 22 cm length |
| Needlefish | Strongylura marina | Coastal marine and brackish waters — Western Atlantic | Up to 60 cm length |
| Nene | Branta sandvicensis | Grasslands and scrublands — Hawaiian Islands | 41 cm height |
| Neon Tetra | Paracheirodon innesi | Freshwater streams — Amazon basin, South America | 3 cm length |
| Net-casting Spider | Deinopis spinosa | Subtropical forests — Southeastern US | 2.5 cm length |
| New Guinea Singing Dog | Canis lupus hallstromi | Mountain forests — New Guinea | 31–46 cm shoulder height |
| Newt | Triturus cristatus | Ponds and terrestrial habitats — Europe | Up to 16 cm length |
| Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | Woodlands and scrub — Europe and Asia | 16 cm length |
| Night Adder | Causus rhombeatus | Savanna and forests — Sub-Saharan Africa | 60 cm length |
| Nightcrawler | Lumbricus terrestris | Temperate soil — worldwide | 20–25 cm length |
| Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | Open country and urban areas — The Americas | 23 cm length |
| Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Wetlands — worldwide | 64 cm length |
| Night Lizard | Xantusia henshawi | Rocky granite outcrops — Southern California and Baja California | 7 cm length |
| Night Monkey | Aotus azarae | Tropical forests — South America | 34 cm length |
| Nile Crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus | Freshwater rivers and lakes — Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.5–5 m length |
| Nile Perch | Lates niloticus | Freshwater lakes and rivers — Afrotropical realm | Up to 2 m length |
| Nilgai | Boselaphus tragocamelus | Grasslands and woodlands — Indian subcontinent | 1.2–1.5 m shoulder height |
| Nilgiri Tahr | Nilgiritragus hylocrius | Montane grasslands — Western Ghats, India | 1 m shoulder height |
| Ninespine Stickleback | Pungitius pungitius | Fresh and brackish water — Northern Hemisphere | 5–7 cm length |
| Noddy | Anous stolidus | Tropical and subtropical oceans — worldwide | 40 cm length |
| Noolbenger | Tarsipes rostratus | Heathlands — Southwestern Australia | 7 cm length |
| North American River Otter | Lontra canadensis | Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas — North America | 0.9–1.3 m length |
| Northern Alligator Lizard | Elgaria coerulea | Forests and woodlands — Western North America | 10 cm length |
| Northern Bottlenose Whale | Hyperoodon ampullatus | Deep offshore waters — North Atlantic Ocean | 7–9 m length |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | Woodlands and gardens — North and Central America | 22 cm length |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | Open woodlands and parks — North America | 30 cm length |
| Northern Fur Seal | Callorhinus ursinus | Open ocean and rocky shores — North Pacific Ocean | Up to 2.1 m length |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | Coniferous and mixed forests — Northern Hemisphere | 46–69 cm length |
| Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | Marshes and open grasslands — North America | 41–52 cm length |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Open areas and urban parks — North America | 23 cm length |
| Northern Pike | Esox lucius | Freshwater lakes and rivers — Northern Hemisphere | 40–55 cm length |
| Northern Pygmy Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | Forests and woodlands — Western North America | 16 cm length |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | Coniferous and mixed forests — North America | 18–21 cm length |
| Norway Lobster | Nephrops norvegicus | Muddy seabeds — Northeast Atlantic | 18–24 cm length |
| Norway Rat | Rattus norvegicus | Human settlements — worldwide | 40 cm length |
| Nose-horned Chameleon | Calumma nasutum | Rainforests — Madagascar | 10–15 cm length |
| Nose-horned Viper | Vipera ammodytes | Dry, rocky hillsides — Southern Europe and Middle East | 60–90 cm length |
| Nudibranch | Nudibranchia (clade) | Marine environments — worldwide | 1–30 cm length |
| Numbat | Myrmecobius fasciatus | Eucalypt woodlands — Western Australia | 20–27 cm length |
| Numbfish | Tetronarce nobiliana | Coastal marine waters — Atlantic Ocean | Up to 1.8 m length |
| Nunbird | Monasa nigrifrons | Tropical forests — Amazon basin | 29 cm length |
| Nurse Shark | Ginglymostoma cirratum | Coastal reefs and shallows — Tropical Atlantic and Eastern Pacific | 2.5–3 m length |
| Nurseryfish | Kurtus gulliveri | Mangrove estuaries — Northern Australia and New Guinea | Up to 63 cm length |
| Nursery Web Spider | Pisaura mirabilis | Grasslands and woodlands — Europe and Asia | 1.5 cm body length |
| Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | Mountain conifer forests — Western North America | 27–30 cm length |
| Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | Coniferous forests — North America | 11 cm length |
| Nutria | Myocastor coypus | Freshwater marshes and rivers — Native to South America, invasive elsewhere | 40–60 cm length |
| Nyala | Tragelaphus angasii | Dense woodlands and savanna — Southeastern Africa | 1.1 m shoulder height |
Descriptions
Nabarlek
One of Australia’s smallest rock-wallabies, also known as the pygmy rock-wallaby. This nocturnal and shy creature feeds on grasses and ferns and is currently listed as Endangered.
Naked Mole-rat
A burrowing rodent known for its eusocial colonies, long lifespan, and remarkable resistance to cancer. They live in large underground communities led by a single breeding queen.
Namaqua Dove
A small, long-tailed pigeon easily recognized by the male’s black face and breast. These birds are nomadic, following rainfall to find seeds and other food on the ground.
Nanday Parakeet
Also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet, this noisy and social bird is recognized by its distinctive black head. It often forms large, conspicuous flocks, especially at roosting sites.
Nandinia
Also called the African Palm Civet, this small, nocturnal mammal is not a true civet. It has a long, cat-like body and spends most of its life in trees feeding on fruit.
Napoleon Wrasse
A massive, colorful reef fish with a prominent hump on its head that grows with age. It is one of the few predators of toxic sea stars and is unfortunately endangered due to overfishing.
Narwhal
Known as the “unicorn of the sea,” the male narwhal has a single long tusk, which is an overgrown canine tooth. It is used for navigating, feeding, and possibly in mating rituals.
Nassau Grouper
A large, iconic reef fish known for its ability to change color patterns based on its mood and surroundings. Overfishing has made this intelligent predator critically endangered.
Natterer’s Bat
A medium-sized bat with a distinctive fringe of stiff hairs on its tail membrane. It is an agile hunter, often plucking spiders directly from their webs with remarkable precision.
Natterjack Toad
A distinctive toad with a yellow stripe down its back. Unlike other toads, it tends to run rather than hop and is known for the extremely loud mating call of the males.
Nautilus
A “living fossil,” this cephalopod has a beautiful, chambered shell that it uses for buoyancy. It moves using jet propulsion and has many more tentacles than its octopus and squid relatives.
Navanax
A large, predatory sea slug that is not a nudibranch. It is a voracious carnivore that tracks the slime trails of its prey, which includes other sea slugs and bubble snails.
Needlefish
A slender, surface-dwelling fish with a long, narrow beak filled with sharp teeth. They are swift predators that can leap out of the water at high speeds to catch smaller fish.
Nene
Also known as the Hawaiian Goose, this is the world’s rarest goose and the official state bird of Hawaii. Conservation efforts saved it from near extinction, but it remains vulnerable.
Neon Tetra
A small, brightly colored freshwater fish immensely popular in the aquarium trade. Its iridescent blue stripe and red tail stand out in the dark, tannin-stained waters of its home.
Net-casting Spider
Also known as an ogre-faced spider, it hunts by casting a small, elastic net of silk to entangle prey on the ground below. It has enormous forward-facing eyes for night vision.
New Guinea Singing Dog
A rare wild dog known for its unique, melodic howl that sounds like a cross between a wolf’s howl and a whale’s song. It is considered one of the most ancient dog lineages.
Newt
The Great Crested Newt is a striking amphibian, with males developing a jagged crest during breeding season. Its population has declined due to habitat loss, making it a protected species.
Nightingale
A small, plain-looking bird famous for its powerful and beautiful song, often sung at night. The rich, complex melody has inspired poetry, music, and folklore for centuries.
Night Adder
A common, stout-bodied venomous snake that is primarily active at dusk or night. Unlike most vipers, which give live birth, the Night Adder lays eggs.
Nightcrawler
A large earthworm often seen on the surface after rain, especially at night. They are essential ecosystem engineers, aerating soil and decomposing organic matter.
Nighthawk
A nocturnal and crepuscular bird, not a true hawk. It is known for its erratic flight, booming courtship dives, and a distinctive “peent” call heard at dusk.
Night Heron
The Black-crowned Night Heron is a stocky, medium-sized heron that is most active at dusk and night. It has a striking appearance with a black cap and piercing red eyes.
Night Lizard
A secretive lizard with a flattened body perfect for hiding in rock crevices. Unlike most lizards, it gives birth to live young and can live for over 10 years.
Night Monkey
The world’s only truly nocturnal monkey, equipped with enormous eyes to see in the dark. They are socially monogamous, with males providing most of the infant care for the family.
Nile Crocodile
A large, aggressive crocodilian and an apex predator in its environment. It has a fearsome reputation and plays a crucial role in controlling fish populations and scavenging carcasses.
Nile Perch
A large freshwater predator infamously introduced to Lake Victoria, where it caused the extinction of hundreds of native cichlid species. It is now a major commercial fish.
Nilgai
The largest Asian antelope, where males are bluish-grey and females are brownish. They are powerful runners and often seen in small herds on agricultural lands.
Nilgiri Tahr
An endangered mountain goat found only in the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India. It is skilled at navigating steep, rocky cliffs and is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
Ninespine Stickleback
A small, resilient fish named for the series of sharp spines on its back. It is known for its complex nest-building and courtship behavior, studied extensively by scientists.
Noddy
The Brown Noddy is a dark-bodied seabird with a distinctive white cap. Unlike other terns that dive for fish, it plucks them from the surface of the water while in flight.
Noolbenger
Also known as the Honey Possum, this tiny marsupial is the only non-flying mammal that feeds exclusively on nectar and pollen. It has a long snout and a prehensile tail.
North American River Otter
A semi-aquatic mammal known for its playful, energetic behavior. It has a streamlined body, webbed feet, and a thick, water-repellent coat, making it an expert swimmer.
Northern Alligator Lizard
A slender, secretive lizard with scales that give it a somewhat reptilian look. It can drop its tail to escape predators, which later regrows, though often not as perfectly.
Northern Bottlenose Whale
A deep-diving beaked whale with a distinctive bulbous forehead, especially large in adult males. They are social, curious animals that have been observed staying with injured pod members.
Northern Cardinal
A familiar backyard bird, the male is brilliant red while the female is a subtle brown. They do not migrate and their cheerful song can be heard year-round.
Northern Flicker
A large woodpecker that, unlike most of its relatives, often forages on the ground for ants and beetles. It is recognized by a flash of yellow or red under its wings in flight.
Northern Fur Seal
A marine mammal known for its incredibly dense fur, which led to heavy commercial hunting. Males are much larger than females and defend breeding territories on crowded shores.
Northern Goshawk
A powerful and secretive bird of prey known for its fierce defense of its nest. It is a swift, agile hunter capable of taking prey as large as rabbits and grouse.
Northern Harrier
A slender hawk with a distinctive owl-like facial disc that helps it hear prey. It flies low over the ground, holding its wings in a V-shape as it hunts.
Northern Mockingbird
A master mimic, capable of singing hundreds of songs from other birds, insects, and even mechanical noises. It sings persistently, often through the night, especially during spring.
Northern Pike
A large, aggressive predatory fish with a long, torpedo-shaped body and a mouthful of sharp teeth. It is a popular game fish known for its voracious appetite and ambush tactics.
Northern Pygmy Owl
A tiny, fierce owl that is surprisingly active during the day. It has two black feather patches on the back of its head that resemble “false eyes” to deter predators.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
One of North America’s smallest and most endearing owls. Its name comes from its call, which sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.
Norway Lobster
Also known as Dublin Bay Prawn or scampi, this slender orange-pink lobster lives in burrows on the sea floor. It is a highly important species for European fisheries.
Norway Rat
Also known as the brown rat, this is one of the most widespread and successful mammals. It is a common pest but has also been used extensively in scientific research.
Nose-horned Chameleon
A small chameleon named for the prominent, flexible appendage on the male’s snout. It relies on its excellent camouflage to blend in with foliage while hunting insects with its long tongue.
Nose-horned Viper
A venomous snake easily identified by the single, fleshy “horn” on its snout. It is considered one of the most dangerous European vipers due to its long fangs and potent venom.
Nudibranch
A group of soft-bodied sea slugs known for their extraordinary colors and striking forms. They are shell-less mollusks whose name means “naked gills,” referring to their external respiratory organs.
Numbat
A small, endangered marsupial with a long, sticky tongue used to eat up to 20,000 termites a day. Unlike most marsupials, it is active during the daytime.
Numbfish
A species of electric ray capable of generating a powerful electric shock of up to 220 volts to stun prey and for defense. It is a sluggish, bottom-dwelling predator.
Nunbird
The Black-fronted Nunbird is a member of the puffbird family, named for its plain, dark plumage resembling a nun’s habit. They are social birds, often found in noisy family groups.
Nurse Shark
A slow-moving, bottom-dwelling shark often found resting on the seafloor. It is generally harmless to humans and uses powerful suction to slurp up prey like crabs and small fish.
Nurseryfish
A unique fish where the male develops a hook on his forehead, which he uses to carry the couple’s cluster of eggs. This unusual form of paternal care is rare among fish.
Nursery Web Spider
Named for the silk “nursery” tent the female builds to protect her egg sac and newly hatched spiderlings. Males are known for presenting gift-wrapped prey to females during courtship.
Nutcracker
Clark’s Nutcracker is a corvid with a remarkable memory, caching thousands of pine seeds each autumn and recalling the locations months later, which helps regenerate forests.
Nuthatch
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a small, active songbird known for its ability to climb down trees head-first. It has a distinctive nasal “yank-yank” call and often visits bird feeders.
Nutria
A large, semi-aquatic rodent, also known as a coypu. It is often mistaken for a beaver but has a round, not flat, tail. It is considered an invasive pest in many regions.
Nyala
A spiral-horned antelope with striking sexual dimorphism. Males are dark with shaggy coats and horns, while females are reddish-brown with white stripes and no horns.
