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Animals that Start with U

Rainbow-Lorikeet
Ultramarine Lorikeet. Image by Trevor McKinnon via Unsplash

Welcome to Animals that Start with U.

There are many exciting animals whose spelling begins with the letter U. We’ve compiled a detailed list of these animals, including mind-blowing facts, scientific names, and locations. 

Overview of Animals that Start with U

1. Uakari

uakari
Closeup view of the face of a Bald Uakari monkey in the Amazon Rainforest near Iquitos, Peru. Image by Jesse Kraft via Alamy Stock Photo.
Scientific NameCacajao spp.
Where it livesSouth America, in the Amazon rainforest
What it EatsSeeds, fruit, insects
Conservation StatusVulnerable

Fun FactUakaris have shorter tails than most other monkeys living in America.

Uakaris include four species of monkeys that inhabit the Amazon rainforest. The monkeys feature long and shaggy coats. Of the four uakari species, the Bald Uakari is the most well known due to its bald head and distinct red face.

2. Ucayali Spiny Mouse

Ucayali Spiny Mouse
Ucayali Spiny Mouse. Image by Ronald Bravo via iNaturalist Ecuador
Scientific NameScolomys ucayalensis
Where it LivesBrazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru
What it EatsSeeds, fruit, insects
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: In the face of an attack, these spiny mice will shed their skin then run away.

Ucayali spiny mice are tiny rodents that inhabit the Amazon rainforest. Their fur is mostly black and gray, but the hair on their back may appear reddish-brown to reddish-black. They have unique self-defence tactics against predators.

3. Uda Sheep

uda sheep ram
Uda Ram. Atibrarian, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameOvis aries
Where it LivesChad, Niger, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
What it EatsGrass, leaves, shrubs
Conservation StatusEndangered

Fun Fact:  Unlike other sheep, their fur bears more semblances to hair than fur.

Uda sheep stand out due to peculiar markings which gives them a unique appearance (akin to one wearing a brown shirt and white pants). They are domesticated sheep from Africa that are solely bred for meat.

4. Uganda Kob

uganda kob
Uganda kob. nel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameKobus kob thomasi
Where it LivesSub-Saharan Africa
What it EatsGrasses and reeds
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The females are much more social than their male counterparts and they often lead the group when they move as a pack.

Ugandan Kobs belong to a family of antelopes. They mostly live in savanna woodlands, floodplains, and grasslands with proximity to a source of water.

5. Uguisu

uguisu
Uguisu. Ken Ishigaki, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameHorornis diphone
Where it LivesJapan, Korea, Taiwan, south China, north Philippines
What it EatsInsects and berries
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The droppings of the Uguisu bird is a common ingredient in products that whiten skin.

Uguisus, a.k.a. Japanese nightingales or Japanese bush warblers, are small birds that vocalize melodious music, particularly in spring. They have astonishingly beautiful and soothing voices such that Japanese female announcers with melodious voices are called Uguisu-Jo.

 6. Uganda Woodland Warbler

uganda warbler
Uganda woodland warbler. Tom Tarrant, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NamePhylloscopus budongoensis
Where it LivesUganda and Equatorial Guinea
What it EatsSmall insects
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The Ugandan warblers sing as fast as they fly.

Uganda woodland warblers, otherwise known as Red-faced woodland warblers, are small birds with remarkable flying speeds. The birds are easily identified by their cacophony of fast-paced and high-pitched notes.

7. Uinta Chipmunk

uinta chipmunk
Uinta Chipmunk eating the seeds of coniferous trees along the rim of the Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. Image via Depositphotos
Scientific NameNeotamias umbrinus
Where it LivesAlpine mountain, western United States
What it EatsConifers, seeds, fungi
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: Unlike other chipmunk species, Uinta chipmunk do not hibernate; rather they store large amounts of food against winter.

Uinta Chipmunks are somewhat rare animals that are only found in Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. They favor forests with extremely elevated trees.

8. Uinta Ground Squirrel

Uinta ground squirrel
Uinta ground squirrel in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Image via Depositphotos
Scientific NameUrocitellus armatus
Where it LivesWestern United States
What it EatsSeeds, nuts, grains, insects
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The ground squirrels hibernate from mid-July to mid-March.

Uinta ground squirrels are rodents belonging to the squirrel family, Sciuridae. They mostly live in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. They favor grasslands and shrublands. The squirrels sport brown-gray fur with a bushy tail.

9. Ukrainian Riding Horse

ukrainian horse
Closeup portrait of running Ukrainian riding horse in spring. Image via Depositphotos
Scientific NameEquus ferus caballus
Where it LivesUkraine
What it EatsGrass, hay, grain
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: They are one of the smartest and most well-tempered kinds of horses alive.

Ukrainian horses, as the name implies, are horse breeds from Ukraine. They are famous for having a calm temperament and friendly disposition. They feature big powerful bones and weigh about 1,000 pounds.

10. Uliodon

uliodon spider
Uliodon vagrant spider. Don Horne, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameUliodon spp.
Where it LivesNew Zealand
What it EatsGround-dwelling invertebrates
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The spiders are commonly found indoors during March.

Uliodons are a vagrant spider native to New Zealand. They mostly inhabit forests, logs, and beneath burrows where they hunt insects. Furthermore, they have exceptionally strong legs that are suitable for digging. Most species are classified as “not threatened,” whereas some others may be declining.

11. Ultramarine Flycatcher

ultramarine flycatcher
Dibyendu Ash, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameFicedula superciliaris
Where it LivesHimalayas and southern India
What it EatsInsects, small invertebrates
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: They spend summer months in the Himalayas, but trek to India to spend the winter months.

Ultramarine flycatchers are solitary birds, only found in pairs during their breeding season in April to July. They rarely venture out into the open, preferring to keep hidden among foliage.

12. Ultramarine Grosbeak

ultramarine grosbeak
Quartl, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCyanocompsa brissonii
Where it LivesEastern and central South America
What it EatsSeeds, fruits, insects
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The male birds are blue and black, whereas the females are brown.

Ultramarine grosbeaks are bird species indigenous to South America, having large populations in Venezuela and Colombia. They sport different colors including black, blue, and brown. They are mostly found in thickets near water.

13. Ultramarine Lorikeet

ultramarine lorikeet
Ultramarine lorikeet sitting on a branch in its habitat. Image via Depositphotos
Scientific NameVini ultramarina
Where it LivesMarquesas Islands, French Polynesia
What it EatsNectar, pollen, flowers
Conservation StatusEndangered

Fun Fact: Approximately 2,000 ultramarine lorikeets are in existence.

Ultramarine lorikeets, one of the most colorful parrots alive, are shrouded in orange, blue, and green colors. Secondly, they grow to an estimated seven inches in length and weigh just 1.2 ounces. However, they are on the brink of extinction and are endemic to French Polynesia.

14. Ulysses Butterfly

ulysses butterfly
Abhi beckert, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NamePapilio ulysses
Where it LivesAustralia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
What it EatsGround-dwelling invertebrates
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: “Ulysses” is the Latinized version of “Odysseus.” Odysseus was the hero of an epic poem written by Homer in the 8th century BC.

Ulysses butterflies are native to the western Pacific region. These butterflies are easily identifiable by their brilliant blue wings. However, the underside of their wings is brown, which helps to camouflage these butterflies when they close their wings.

15. Umbrellabird

umbrellabird
Francesco Veronesi from Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCephalopterus spp.
Where it LivesRainforests of Central and South America
What it EatsInsects, lizards, fruit, palm nuts
Conservation StatusThreatened

Fun Fact: Umbrellabirds have a pound of flesh (wattle) protruding from their neck. This organ helps in amplifying their echoing calls.

Umbrellabirds are unique birds native to Central and South America. They have an umbrella-like crest covering their head, hence, their name. There are three umbrellabird species. The Long-wattled umbrellabird is considered vulnerable, the Amazonian umbrellabird is of least concern, and the Bare-necked umbrellabird is endangered.

16. Unadorned Rock Wallaby

unadorned rock wallaby
State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NamePetrogale inornata
Where it LivesNortheastern Queensland, Australia
What it EatsGrasses, flowers, fruit, fungi
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The unadorned rock wallaby gets its name from its pale, plain coat.

Unadorned rock wallabies are a marsupial species indigenous to Queensland, Australia. Its morphology mirrors that of the Kangaroo family, featuring strong hind legs, short arms, and a long tail. They are powerfully agile and nocturnal animals.

17. Unau

unau
Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCholoepus didactylus
Where it LivesSouth America
What it EatsLeaves, fruit, nuts, insects
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: Sloths produce methane at a rate similar to that of ruminants like cows. This means they, like cows, fart a lot.

Unaus, otherwise known as Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, are the largest (in size) living sloth species. Like other sloth species, unaus are incredibly slow, meaning their metabolism is slow and so they need not eat or defecate very often.

18. Unicorn Fish

unicorn fish
ProjectManhattan, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameNaso brevirostris
Where it LivesIndian and western Pacific Oceans
What it EatsZooplankton and algae
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: They are not magical fishes but they do have the horn that is portrayed in mythical stories.

Unicorn fish, although not as magical or mythical as portrayed, are distinct, sleek fishes with a single horn projecting from their forehead. Tropical in nature, you can find these fishes in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Two species have been located in Hawaii.

19. Union Jack Butterfly

union jack butterfly
Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga Commons)(Lmbuga Galipedia)Publicada por/Publish by: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameDelias mysis
Where it LivesAustralia, New Guinea
What it EatsLeaves, nectar
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: The insect’s caterpillars eat only mistletoe plants, which are also the only plants where the butterfly will lay its eggs.

Union Jack Butterflies are so named because of their unique resemblance to the colors of the British flag. Although they originally took root in Australia, they have since migrated to other parts of the world including Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

20. Unexpected Cotton Rat

unexpected cotton rat
James Gathany, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameSigmodon inopinatus
Where it LivesEcuador
What it EatsRoots, stem, leaves, seeds
Conservation StatusVulnerable

Fun Fact: They are are considered pests by cotton farmers as they notoriously steal cotton.

Unexpected cotton rats are rodents found in the Ecuador Mountains. They are called cotton rats because they use the material to make their nests. They are considered endangered species due to human invasion.

21. Upland Pipit

upland pipit
Pkspks, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameAnthus sylvanus
Where it LivesSouthern Asia
What it EatsInsects, seeds, larvae
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: They are often confused with Richard’s and Blyth’s Pipits; however, they have a more compact beak and denser streaks.

Upland pipits are of the largest pipits in existence. They are typically found in China, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan. These pipits’ inhabit foothills and mountains, but they descend during cold winter months.

22. Urial

urial
Fabrice Stoger, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameOvis vignei
Where it LivesCentral and southern Asia
What it EatsGrasses, shrubs, grains
Conservation StatusVulnerable

Fun Fact: Both males and females have horns, and they will fight by headbutting to establish dominance.

Urials are wild sheep found in many parts of Asia. Males typically have more than one female partner throughout their life, mating until the female is no longer receptive. A particular scent in females’ urine will communicate when they are ready to mate.

23. Urutu Snake

urutu snake
Miguelrangeljr, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameBothrops alternatus
Where it LivesSouth America
What it EatsSmall mammals, lizards, frogs, birds
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact: Their species name alternatus is Latin for “alternating,” referring to their alternating, variable brown markings on their body.

Urutu snakes are highly venomous pit vipers found in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. they commonly inhabit marshes, swamps, and other wet habitats. Their venom is highly toxic, causing severe local tissue damage in humans, but rarely death.

24. Ussuri White-Toothed Shrew

ussuri whit-toothed shrew
Hyun-tae Kim, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific NameCrocidura lasiura
Where it LivesNortheast Asia
What it EatsInsects, beetles, earthworms
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact:  The Ussuri shrews are foul-smelling, which deters most predators from eating them.

Ussuri white-toothed shrews are rodents that populate Korea, China, and Russia. Despite their small size, they are some of the largest species of shrew. They typically burrow underground where hunt for their meals.

 25. Utah Blind Snake

utah blind snake
Leptotyphlops humilis – Western blind snake Source: NPS, http://www.nps.gov/tont/nature/snakeblind.htm {{PD-USGov-NPS}} Category: Leptotyphlopidae
Scientific NameLeptotyphlops humilis
Where it LivesSouthwestern United States and northern Mexico
What it EatsAnts, termites, millipedes, centipedes
Conservation StatusLeast concern

Fun Fact:  They are often confused for worms.

Utah blind snakes, also known as western blind snakes, are snakes prevalent in Utah. They appear to have no eyes but their eyes are hidden behind their scales. The snake’s eyes are dark in color and look more like scales than eyes.

Summary of Animals that Start with U

YouTube video
List of Animals Starting with U. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: All The Animals In The World

There you have it: a host of interesting animals starting with the letter U. We’ve also covered every other letter of the alphabet, so please go ahead and take a look!

Get all A-Z Animals here:

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