The Complete List of Animals That Start With S

Here you’ll find 59 Animals that start with S, organized from “Saiga antelope” to “Swallow-tailed kite”. These entries span mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects, and are useful for study, classroom lists, and quick reference.

Animals that start with S are a diverse group of species whose common English names begin with the letter S. For example, the saiga antelope has a distinctive bulbous nose and deep cultural ties across Central Asia.

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

Common name: The everyday English name; you use this to recognize species and quickly find entries or classroom examples.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial used by scientists; you can confirm species identity and compare records across regions.

Habitat: Brief biome and region information showing where a species lives, helping you understand its ecological context.

Description: A concise 1–2 sentence overview of notable traits, behavior, or role, useful for quick learning.

Conservation status: Tags like “Endangered” or “Least Concern” that alert you to a species’ conservation priority.

Animals that start with S

Name	Scientific name	Habitat	Conservation status	Description
Saiga antelope	Saiga tatarica	temperate grassland, Central Asia	Critically Endangered	A distinctive antelope with an inflatable nose and dramatic population declines from hunting and disease; migratory herds once numbered hundreds of thousands.
Saltwater crocodile	Crocodylus porosus	mangrove and coastal, Indo-Pacific	Least Concern	The largest living crocodilian, powerful ambush predator of estuaries and coasts, important apex predator with localized human-wildlife conflict.
Sockeye salmon	Oncorhynchus nerka	cold rivers and lakes, North Pacific	Least Concern	Anadromous fish known for bright red breeding colors and long migrations; vital for ecosystems, fisheries, and Indigenous cultures.
Sandhill crane	Antigone canadensis	wetlands and grasslands, North America	Least Concern	Tall, long-legged bird with trumpet-like calls, migratory flocks and elaborate dances; relies on wetland habitats for breeding and stopovers.
Scarlet macaw	Ara macao	tropical rainforest, Central and South America	Least Concern	Large, colorful parrot famous for red, yellow and blue plumage; social and long-lived, threatened locally by trapping and habitat loss.
Scimitar-horned oryx	Oryx dammah	dry grassland and desert fringe, Sahel	Extinct in the Wild	Striking white antelope with curved horns, once widespread but lost in the wild; captive-breeding reintroductions ongoing.
Scalloped hammerhead	Sphyrna lewini	coastal tropical oceans, worldwide	Critically Endangered	Iconic hammer-shaped head shark that forms large schools; heavily impacted by fisheries and fin trade across its range.
Siberian tiger	Panthera tigris tigris	boreal and temperate forests, Russian Far East	Endangered	The largest tiger subspecies with thick fur for cold climates; solitary apex predator threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
Snow leopard	Panthera uncia	alpine and montane, Central Asia	Vulnerable	Elusive big cat adapted to steep, rocky mountains; solitary and secretive, threatened by conflict with herders and habitat fragmentation.
Sumatran orangutan	Pongo abelii	tropical rainforest, Sumatra	Critically Endangered	Highly intelligent tree-dwelling ape with red fur, critically endangered due to deforestation and illegal wildlife trade.
Spectacled bear	Tremarctos ornatus	montane cloud forest, Andes	Vulnerable	South America’s only bear, recognizable by pale facial markings; mostly herbivorous and vulnerable to habitat loss and human conflict.
Sperm whale	Physeter macrocephalus	deep ocean, worldwide	Vulnerable	Largest toothed whale with massive head and deep-diving for squid; historically hunted and still affected by noise and ship strikes.
Spix’s macaw	Cyanopsitta spixii	tropical dry forest, Brazil	Extinct in the Wild	Brilliant blue parrot once endemic to Brazil’s Caatinga; extinct in the wild but surviving in captive-breeding programs.
Southern cassowary	Casuarius casuarius	tropical rainforest, New Guinea and northeast Australia	Vulnerable	Large, flightless bird with a helmet-like casque; important seed disperser, vulnerable to vehicle strikes and habitat loss.
Snowy owl	Bubo scandiacus	Arctic tundra, circumpolar	Vulnerable	Large white owl adapted to open Arctic landscapes; nomadic with populations tied to small mammal cycles and climate change.
Straw-coloured fruit bat	Eidolon helvum	savanna and woodland, sub-Saharan Africa	Near Threatened	Large, migratory fruit bat that forms huge roosts and disperses seeds, increasingly threatened by hunting and roost disturbance.
Saola	Pseudoryx nghetinhensis	evergreen forest, Annamite Range (Vietnam/Laos)	Critically Endangered	Extremely rare deer-like bovine discovered late 20th century; critically endangered and seldom seen in the wild.
Shortfin mako	Isurus oxyrinchus	pelagic oceans, worldwide	Endangered	Fast, powerful shark prized by fisheries and sport fishers; highly migratory and vulnerable to overfishing.
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus	grasslands and marshes, worldwide	Least Concern	Ground-nesting, crepuscular owl known for low, buoyant flight; prefers open habitats and shows population fluctuations.
Southern bluefin tuna	Thunnus maccoyii	temperate southern oceans	Critically Endangered	Highly valued commercial tuna with long migrations; severe overfishing has driven stocks to critical levels.
Snow petrel	Pagodroma nivea	Antarctic sea and ice margins	Least Concern	Small, pure-white seabird of Antarctic pack ice; fearless and long-lived, adapted to extreme southern latitudes.
Short-beaked common dolphin	Delphinus delphis	temperate and tropical oceans, worldwide	Least Concern	Fast, social dolphin often seen in large, acrobatic pods; important for marine food webs and popular with whale-watchers.
Striped dolphin	Stenella coeruleoalba	temperate and tropical oceans	Least Concern	Slender, energetic dolphin with distinct striping; common offshore species that forms large social groups.
Spotted hyena	Crocuta crocuta	savanna and open woodland, Africa	Least Concern	Powerful social carnivore with complex clan structures and strong jaws; adaptable but often persecuted by people.
Springbok	Antidorcas marsupialis	arid grassland and scrub, southern Africa	Least Concern	Graceful antelope famous for pronking display; well-adapted to dry habitats with seasonal migrations.
Sun bear	Helarctos malayanus	tropical rainforest, Southeast Asia	Vulnerable	Smallest bear species with short black fur and pale chest patch; arboreal, omnivorous, threatened by habitat loss and poaching.
Serval	Leptailurus serval	savanna and wetlands, sub-Saharan Africa	Least Concern	Slim, long-legged cat with large ears specialized for hunting rodents in tall grasslands.
Siamese crocodile	Crocodylus siamensis	freshwater rivers and swamps, Southeast Asia	Critically Endangered	Rare freshwater crocodile decimated by habitat loss and hunting; conservation depends on captive breeding and habitat protection.
Silky shark	Carcharhinus falciformis	tropical pelagic oceans, worldwide	Vulnerable	Common offshore shark with smooth skin and sleek build; vulnerable to bycatch and finning pressures.
Smooth-coated otter	Lutrogale perspicillata	rivers and wetlands, South and Southeast Asia	Vulnerable	Social, fish-eating otter with sleek fur that forms family groups; threatened by habitat degradation and persecution.
Southern elephant seal	Mirounga leonina	subantarctic coasts and beaches	Least Concern	Massive marine mammal with pronounced sexual dimorphism; breeds on islands and was historically hunted for oil.
Sei whale	Balaenoptera borealis	deep temperate and polar oceans	Endangered	Fast-swimming baleen whale targeted by historic whaling; still recovering slowly and affected by ship strikes and entanglement.
Striped skunk	Mephitis mephitis	grasslands and forests, North America	Least Concern	Iconic black-and-white mustelid known for its defensive scent; omnivorous and adaptable to human-altered landscapes.
Snowshoe hare	Lepus americanus	boreal forests and tundra edge, North America	Least Concern	Noted for seasonal coat color change and powerful hind legs; key prey species in northern food webs.
Sika deer	Cervus nippon	temperate forests, East Asia	Least Concern	Medium-sized deer with spotted coat patterns; populations stable in parts of range but threatened locally.
Spruce grouse	Falcipennis canadensis	boreal forest, North America	Least Concern	Cryptic ground-dwelling bird of coniferous forests, feeds on needles and berries and stays well-camouflaged.
Siamang	Symphalangus syndactylus	tropical rainforest, Southeast Asia	Endangered	Large black gibbon known for loud duets and territorial calls; arboreal and threatened by deforestation.
Shy albatross	Thalassarche cauta	subantarctic islands and Southern Ocean	Near Threatened	Large seabird with long-distance flights, breeds on remote islands and faces bycatch and climate threats.
South polar skua	Stercorarius maccormicki	Antarctic waters and ice shelves	Least Concern	Aggressive seabird known for kleptoparasitism, breeds on Antarctic coasts and preys on other seabird chicks.
Southern tamandua	Tamandua tetradactyla	tropical forest and savanna, Central and South America	Least Concern	Tree-climbing anteater with a prehensile tail, feeds on ants and termites and tolerates some habitat change.
Sea otter	Enhydra lutris	coastal kelp forests, North Pacific	Endangered	Keystone predator that maintains kelp forest health by eating sea urchins; populations have rebounded but remain at risk.
South American sea lion	Otaria flavescens	temperate coasts, South America	Least Concern	Social, noisy pinniped that forms large colonies on rocky shores and beaches.
Scopoli’s shearwater	Calonectris diomedea	Mediterranean and NE Atlantic waters	Least Concern	Long-distance seabird that breeds on islands and forages widely at sea; nested in cliffs and burrows.
Saker falcon	Falco cherrug	open grassland and steppe, Eurasia	Endangered	Large falcon prized in falconry, suffering from habitat loss and persecution; important raptor of open landscapes.
Snow goose	Anser caerulescens	Arctic breeding tundra, North America	Least Concern	Migratory goose with huge flocks, notable for long-distance migrations and impacts on tundra vegetation.
Sand martin	Riparia riparia	riverbanks and wetlands, worldwide	Least Concern	Small migratory swallow that nests in riverbank burrows; often seen in large, feeding flocks over water.
Spotted eagle-owl	Bubo africanus	savanna and open woodland, Africa	Least Concern	Large, adaptable owl with orange eyes and mottled plumage; hunts small mammals at night and tolerates human presence.
Spoon-billed sandpiper	Calidris pygmaea	tidal flats and estuaries, East Asia	Critically Endangered	Tiny shorebird with a unique spoon-shaped bill, facing catastrophic habitat loss across migratory flyways.
Sooty tern	Onychoprion fuscatus	tropical oceanic islands and pelagic waters	Least Concern	Highly pelagic seabird that breeds in dense colonies on remote islands and spends most of life at sea.
Sunda pangolin	Manis javanica	tropical forest, Southeast Asia	Critically Endangered	Scaled mammal heavily poached for scales and meat; solitary, nocturnal insectivore facing severe illegal trade pressure.
Sumatran rhinoceros	Dicerorhinus sumatrensis	tropical forest, Sumatra and Borneo	Critically Endangered	Small, hairy rhino species struggling with habitat loss and poaching; one of the world’s rarest large mammals.
Sanderling	Calidris alba	sandy beaches and coastal zones, worldwide	Least Concern	Small, energetic shorebird that runs with waves on beaches feeding on invertebrates during migrations.
Sarus crane	Antigone antigone	wetlands and flooded grasslands, South and Southeast Asia	Vulnerable	Tall, non-migratory crane with striking red head; breeding depends on healthy wetland habitats and water management.
Star-nosed mole	Condylura cristata	wetlands and wet meadows, eastern North America	Least Concern	Small mole with distinctive star-shaped snout used for touch-based hunting of invertebrates underground.
Sand lizard	Lacerta agilis	heathland and sandy habitats, Europe and Asia	Least Concern	Diurnal lizard of sandy, sunlit habitats that basks and hunts insects; patchily distributed where habitats persist.
Spotted salamander	Ambystoma maculatum	deciduous forest ponds, eastern North America	Least Concern	Nocturnal, mole-like salamander migrates to vernal pools to breed and displays striking yellow spots.
Steller’s sea eagle	Haliaeetus pelagicus	coastal boreal forests and sea coasts, Northeast Asia	Vulnerable	Massive eagle with dark plumage and yellow bill, depends on coastal fisheries and is threatened by habitat change.
Swallow-tailed kite	Elanoides forficatus	forested wetlands and savanna, Americas	Least Concern	Agile raptor with deeply forked tail that feeds on insects and small vertebrates while soaring in warm air.
Southern right whale	Eubalaena australis	temperate coastal waters, Southern Hemisphere	Least Concern	Large baleen whale that calves in sheltered bays; recovered from whaling but still regionally threatened by entanglement.