Welcome to animals that start with a.
Tons of animals have names that start with the letter ‘A.’ Many can be found around you, while others are a bit more exotic. We’ve gathered twenty of these animals and some fun facts you would love to know about them.
Let’s get started, then.
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Overview of animals that start with a
1. Aardvark
These are little animals that you can find in many habitats throughout Africa.
Their name is from the Afrikaans language in South Africa, which means ‘earth pig.’ They really hit the mark on that name, as aardvarks like to spend their days hiding from the sun underground.
Fun Fact: The closest living relatives of the tiny aardvarks are the mighty elephants!
2. Amur Leopard
There are few of these species of leopards left, so they are pretty hard to find. But if you do find them, it’d probably be in a freezing place. These leopards love the cold.
The Amur leopard is not one of the biggest cats but is definitely one of the most beautiful.
Fun Fact: The Amur leopard has tiny hooks on its tongue to help it lick the meat off bones.
3. Aardwolf
The name of the aardwolf is misleading. It means ‘earth wolf’ in Dutch and Afrikaans, but it is nowhere close to a wolf.
If you mistake the aardwolf for a hyena, you wouldn’t be too far from the truth. The two are closely related to the hyenas, but they eat termites instead.
Fun Fact: The Aardwolf has five toes on its front paws.
4. African Bush Elephant
With some individuals weighing over six tons, the African Elephant takes the position of the largest land animal on earth.
Its large ears, unique tusks, and long trunk make the African Bush Elephant recognizable from a mile away.
Fun fact: The African Bush Elephant replaces its teeth six times in its life.
5. African Grey Parrot
The African Grey Parrot is one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Their grey plumage and striking red tail aren’t the only notable things about them.
These birds love to live on really tall trees.
Fun fact: The African Grey Parrot can understand questions and talk back in response.
6. Addax
The addax is a beautiful antelope that once could be found all over the Sahara desert. They used to be more numerous, but poachers have drastically cut down their numbers.
Fun Fact: The addax can stay without water indefinitely.
7. Arctic Wolf
The Arctic wolf makes its home in the freezing expanse of Greenland, Alaska, Iceland, and Canada. It has thick white fur, a short nose, and small ears to conserve body heat.
Fun Fact: Arctic wolves are born with blue eyes, but those change to yellow or gold as they grow older.
8. Angora Goat
The hair of Angora goats makes them one of the most sought-after species of goats. Their hair is called Mohair, and it’s softer and has a better sheen than normal Angora fur. A great read from Animals that start with A.
Fun Fact: Angora goats are the only goats that produce hair.
9. Armadillo
The armadillo is the animal version of an armored tank. Its overlapping scales and compact shape can brush away a lot of damage.
Fun Fact: Armadillos can roll up into a ball for maximum protection.
10. Avocet
The long legs of the Avocets make them look like they are on stilts. These birds love being near water, be it fresh or saltwater.
Its webbed feet and stilted legs make it perfect for wading in shallow water.
Fun Fact: The Avocet can build nest mounds up to a foot tall.
11. Axolotl
The names of these amphibians aren’t the only strange thing about them. Axolotls have both gills and lungs. That enables them to live underwater indefinitely. That is usually what they choose to do.
Fun Fact: Axolotls can regenerate any body part, including their spines.
12. Arizona Bark Scorpion
The female Arizona Bark Scorpion only grows about seven inches long, and the males don’t even get to four inches. It’s a tiny arachnid, but its sting does pack a big punch.
Fun Fact: Arizona Bark Scorpions can survive nuclear blasts with no side effects.
13. Aye Aye
The next one in the list for Animals that start with A: The Aye Aye is a lemur species that can be found in the forests of Madagascar. These animals have large ears, A pointed face, and bulging eyes. This makes for a very unsettling visage.
Fun Fact: The Aye Aye’s incisors never stop growing throughout its life.
14. Antarctic Scale Worm
This strange-looking animal makes its home in the frigid waters close to the south pole. Its long snout or proboscis has powerful jaws and teeth that tear into its prey.
Fun Fact: The Antarctic Scale Worm’s proboscis retracts into its body when not in use.
15. Arapaima
These are the largest freshwater fish. They are long and heavy, possessing think scales to protect them from predators.
Fun Fact: Arapaimas breathe air; only the young ones have gills.
16. Anglerfish
Anglerfish species live very deep underwater at a level where no light reaches. They have a light-emitting spine on their heads to lure prey to them.
Fun Fact: Some species of anglerfish physically merge after mating, becoming fully symbiotic.
17. Alpaca
The alpaca is a camel-like animal that closely resembles a llama. These animals have a soft fur coat that is valuable for sewing.
Fun Fact: Alpacas and Llamas can interbreed; their offspring are huarizos.
18. Albatross
The albatross is a strong bird notable for its ability to travel long distances. They are usually a combination of black, white, and grey.
Fun Fact: The albatross’ wingspan is the largest of all birds.
19. Aldabra Giant Tortoise
The Aldabra Giant Tortoises have large, domed shells and are about 1.1 meters long. They usually dig underground burrows to remain cool in the day.
Fun Fact: Aldabra Giant Tortoises have long lifespans; one lived for up to 255 years.
20. Anteater
As their name suggests, anteaters subsist on a diet of ants and termites. Due to that, they don’t have teeth. They use their long tongues to swallow the ants whole.
Fun Fact: Anteater tongues can reach two feet in length.
Summary Of Animals That Start With A.
From the anteater to the axolotl, many animals have names that start with a. These are just a few of them. We hope you enjoyed the list.
Extend your adventure with this list of animals that start with e.
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, and Germany have me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver and hold a Master of Science in Economics.
For any feedback please message [email protected]
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