Animals!

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We believe that if people know more about the world’s creatures they will better care for them. That’s why we add new animals for you to discover – each and every day! Learn about any animal using the search box below or subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also be sure to check out our growing list of Animal Quizzes and Web Stories.

Discover Your Favorite Animal Today!

The 7 Main Types of Animals And Their Characteristics

There are many different types of animals in the world, but some of the largest categories include:

Mammals

The official mammal class is Mammalia. Animals that are considered mammals include warm-blooded vertebrates that have hair or fur and whose babies drink milk. Unlike other animal types like birds and insects, all mammal babies drink milk that comes from their mother’s bodies. This is one of the key ways to know if an animal is a mammal.

See the complete list of mammals.

Reptiles

Lizards, dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, and snakes – all belong to that ancient and stout class of animals known as the reptiles. This is a diverse group with more than 10,000 different species and a huge representation in the fossil record. Once the dominant land vertebrates on the planet, reptiles still occupy just about every single ecosystem outside of the extreme north and south.

See the complete list of reptiles.

Fish

Fish are aquatic vertebrates. They usually have gills, paired fins, a long body covered with scales, and tend to be cold-blooded. “Fish” is a term used to refer to lampreys, sharks, coelacanths and ray-finned fishes, but is not a taxonomic group, which is a clade or group containing a common ancestor and all its descendants.

See the complete list of fish.

Birds

Birds, members of the class Aves, include more than 10,400 living species. Their feathers distinguish them from all other classes of animal; no other animals on earth have them. If you see an animal with feathers, it’s undoubtedly a bird. Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with four-chambered hearts. However, they are more closely related to reptiles and are believed to have evolved from dinosaurs.

See the complete list of birds.

Amphibians

The official class of amphibians is Amphibia. To have the classification of an amphibian, an animal must be a vertebrate, require water to survive, be cold-blooded, and spend time both on land and in water. Though other animals only live on land or in the water, amphibians have the unique ability to thrive equally in both. Amphibians cover over 6,000 different species across the globe, but about 90% are frogs.

See the complete list of amphibians.

Invertebrates

The definition of an invertebrate is any animal that does not have a backbone or vertebral column. The most prolific and easily recognizable members of the invertebrate family are insects. It’s estimated that upwards of 30 million individual species of invertebrates may exist accounting for between 90-95 percent of all organisms on the planet.

See the complete list of invertebrates.

Insects

All insects are part of the taxonomical phylum Arthropoda, and they are collectively referred to as arthropods. It is common to see this name misspelled as “anthropod,” but this is not the correct term. They can be found in nearly every environment on the planet, and they currently account for over half of all known living organisms in the world. They have undergone many cycles of evolution depending on the resources available to them.

See the complete list of insects.

Explore Types of Wild Animals from Around the World

We track thousands of animals from every continent and corner on earth, and are adding more every day!

See Endangered and Extinct Animals Lists

A-Z Animals follow’s the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species definitions of threatened and endangered animals. Please consult the lists below to learn more about which animals need our help the most

Animals By Letter: Explore A to Z Animal Lists

See lists of animals that start with every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. We track all types of animals like lions and tigers, dogs and cats, even dinosaurs and spiders. Choose your favorite letter below to see all animals that start with it today.

Animals that Start with A

Example: The Affenpinscher

Animals that Start with B

Example: The Blue Eyed Pleco

Animals that Start with C

Example: The Cairn Terrier

Animals that Start with D

Example: The Doberman Pinscher

Animals that Start with E

Example: The Edible Frog

Animals that Start with F

Example: The Frigatebird

Animals that Start with G

Example: The Gargoyle Gecko

Animals that Start with H

Example: The Harrier

Animals that Start with I

Example: The Insects

Animals that Start with J

Example: The Jackal

Animals that Start with K

Example: The Keel-Billed Toucan

Animals that Start with L

Example: The Labraheeler

Animals that Start with M

Example: The Miniature Pinscher

Animals that Start with N

Example: The Northern Potoo

Animals that Start with O

Example: The Old English Sheepdog

Animals that Start with P

Example: The Pterodactyl

Animals that Start with Q

Example: The Quoll

Animals that Start with R

Example: The Ringed Kingfisher

Animals that Start with S

Example: The Spiny Dogfish

Animals that Start with T

Example: The Tarpon

Animals that Start with U

Example: The Uintatherium

Animals that Start with V

Example: The Volpino Italiano

Animals that Start with W

Example: The White-tail deer

Animals that Start with X

Example: The Xoloitzcuintli

Animals that Start with Y

Example: The Yorkshire Terrier

Animals that Start with Z

Example: The Zebra Finch

Everything To Know About Pet Dogs, Cats Birds, and More

Some of the most popular animals on earth are pets. A pet is a domesticated animal that lives with a person or family, usually in a house. The most common pets include dogs, cats, fish, and birds, but there are also many amazing exotic pets like reptiles, lizards, and more! Horses, goats, and pigs can also be pets too.

Pet Dogs

Dogs are the most popular type of pet on earth with nearly 500 million worldwide. Thats almost one dog for every 15 people on earth! There are hundreds of different dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog breed, and was bred to hunt wolves. Chihuahuas are the smallest, and were likely bred for companionship or to hunt small rodents. The most popular dog breeds are below.

Irish Setter

Can live for up to 16 years!

Boston Terrier

Friendly, lovable and very strong!

Golden Retriever

Trusting, kind and gentle!

Pet Cats

Cats are the second most popular pet on earth with nearly 400 million worldwide. Thats almost one pet cat for every 20 people on earth! You can read about the hundreds of different cat breeds, from the large to the small. The most popular cat breeds are below

Abyssinian

The oldest breed of cat in the world!

Australian Mist

First bred in the 1700s!

Ragdoll

One of the larger breeds of domestic cat!

Pet Product Reviews

Pets are important members of our families and should be cared for. The AZ Animals team reviews the latest research on pet health, consults veterinarian best practices, and works directly with vet health specialists to review the best products for your dog, cat, and other pets. We’re excited to share our expert pet product recommendations with you, including the best dog food, best cat food, and best tanks for your pet fish

The 8 Best Children’s Books about Pets for New Pet Owners Available Today

The 6 Best Deals On Chewy This September

The 6 Best Mice Poisons That Work The First Time

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Animal Reference Guides And Educational Resources

We believe if people are more educated about the world’s animals, they will better car for them. That’s why we are building the world’s greatest animal encyclopedia, completely free to you. Please take a moment to learn more about animals today using these helpful guides and resources: