Here you’ll find 23 Animals that start with Z that begin with Z, organized from “Grevy’s zebra” to “Zorilla”. They include large African grazers, small carnivores, birds, and reptiles across varied habitats and conservation statuses. Use this list for classroom reference, quick species lookup, and raising conservation awareness.
Animals that start with Z are species whose common English names begin with the letter Z, spanning several animal groups. For example, Grevy’s zebra is a culturally noted African species and a modern conservation symbol.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Description, and Conservation status.
Common name: The everyday name you see; use it to quickly recognize species and find related resources online.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial that identifies the species precisely, which you can use to locate taxonomic or research information.
Habitat: Brief biome and region notes so you know where the species lives and where to focus observation or study efforts.
Description: One to two sentences summarizing appearance, behavior, or diet to help you understand each species at a glance.
Conservation status: Standard tags showing threat level, helping you prioritize species for study, reporting, or classroom discussion.
Animals that start with Z
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains zebra | Equus quagga | savanna — East & Southern Africa | NT |
| Grevy’s zebra | Equus grevyi | semi-arid grassland — Horn of Africa | EN |
| Mountain zebra | Equus zebra | montane grassland — Southern Africa | VU |
| Zebu | Bos indicus | domestic pasture — South Asia & worldwide | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra finch | Taeniopygia guttata | dry grassland & scrub — Australia | LC |
| Zebra dove | Geopelia striata | urban gardens & open woodland — Southeast Asia | LC |
| Zebrafish | Danio rerio | clear freshwater streams — South Asia | LC |
| Zebra shark | Stegostoma tigrinum | coral reefs & sandy flats — Indo-Pacific | EN |
| Zebra duiker | Cephalophus zebra | lowland rainforest — West Africa | EN |
| Zebra mussel | Dreissena polymorpha | freshwater lakes & rivers — Europe; invasive in N. America | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra longwing | Heliconius charithonia | tropical forest edges — Central America to Florida | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra swallowtail | Eurytides marcellus | riparian woodlands — Eastern North America | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra pleco | Hypancistrus zebra | whitewater rivers — Rio Xingu, Brazil | CR |
| Zebra turkeyfish | Dendrochirus zebra | coral reefs & lagoons — Indo-Pacific | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra jumping spider | Salticus scenicus | open sunny areas & buildings — Holarctic region | Not Evaluated |
| Zander | Sander lucioperca | freshwater lakes & rivers — Europe & Central Asia | LC |
| Zebra moray | Gymnomuraena zebra | coral reefs — Indo-Pacific | Not Evaluated |
| Zebra loach | Botia striata | clear, fast streams — Western India | Not Evaluated |
| Zigzag eel | Mastacembelus armatus | slow rivers, swamps & flooded forest — Southeast Asia | Not Evaluated |
| Zigzag heron | Zebrilus undulatus | shaded marshes & swampy forest — Amazon Basin | LC |
| Zenaida dove | Zenaida aurita | coastal scrub & human-modified areas — Caribbean islands | LC |
| Zorilla | Ictonyx striatus | savanna & dry woodland — Sub-Saharan Africa | LC |
| Zebra crab | Zebrida adamsii | coral reefs & rocky substrates — Indo-Pacific | Not Evaluated |
Descriptions
Plains zebra
Striped equid that grazes in large herds; iconic migratory herbivore reaching up to 450 kg and shaped by predator‑avoidance social behavior.
Grevy’s zebra
Largest zebra species with narrow stripes and large ears; population declines from habitat loss and competition with livestock.
Mountain zebra
Smaller, stocky zebra adapted to rocky hills and cliffs; lives in small family groups and is vulnerable from hunting and habitat fragmentation.
Zebu
Domesticated humped cattle widely kept for milk, meat and work in tropical regions; numerous breeds adapted to heat and disease.
Zebra finch
Tiny seed-eating songbird common in aviaries and research; social, fast-breeding and known for complex vocal learning.
Zebra dove
Small, barred dove often tame around humans; ground-feeding seed eater frequently seen in towns and gardens.
Zebrafish
Small striped fish widely used in biomedical research; hardy omnivore reaching about 4 cm and valued for developmental studies.
Zebra shark
Nocturnal, slow-moving shark whose juvenile stripes fade to spots; feeds on molluscs and crustaceans in reef habitats.
Zebra duiker
Small, solitary forest antelope with bold flank stripes; highly threatened by bushmeat hunting and forest destruction.
Zebra mussel
Small zebra-striped bivalve that forms dense colonies, clogging infrastructure and dramatically altering freshwater ecosystems as an invasive pest.
Zebra longwing
Black-and-yellow striped butterfly that feeds on pollen and nectar; harbors toxins from host plants and flies slowly in groups.
Zebra swallowtail
Black-and-white swallowtail whose caterpillars feed on pawpaw trees; adults have long tails and distinctive striped wings.
Zebra pleco
Striking black-and-white striped catfish prized in aquaria; critically endangered from dam impacts and the aquarium trade.
Zebra turkeyfish
Small, venomous lionfish with bold vertical stripes; ambushes small fishes and crustaceans using fan-like pectoral fins.
Zebra jumping spider
Small, agile visual hunter with black-and-white banding; often seen hopping on walls and tree bark while stalking prey.
Zander
Predatory pike-perch important to fisheries; a long-bodied ambush fish that can exceed 1 m and supports commercial angling.
Zebra moray
Eel-like moray with bold dark-and-white bands that hides in crevices and feeds mainly on crustaceans and molluscs.
Zebra loach
Small, striped bottom-dwelling freshwater fish popular in aquariums; social scavenger that eats invertebrates and detritus.
Zigzag eel
Slender, nocturnal eel-like fish with zigzag markings that burrows in substrate and feeds on worms and crustaceans.
Zigzag heron
Tiny, secretive heron with streaked plumage that forages quietly for fish and invertebrates among dense vegetation.
Zenaida dove
Common island dove that feeds on seeds and grains; tolerates towns and beaches and is often seen foraging on the ground.
Zorilla
Striped mustelid (striped polecat) that hunts small mammals and insects; defends by spraying a foul-smelling musk when threatened.
Zebra crab
Small, strikingly striped crab that often lives on sea urchins, using its patterning for camouflage and commensal shelter.
