Welcome to animals that start with v.
Did you ever want to name animals that start with the letter V and find yourself stuck? Well, we’re here to help you out. Many animals start with V. A few of them probably live in your backyard. This list will help you identify them. Let’s go through it together then.
Overview of animals that start with v
1. Vampire Bat
Three species of vampire bats exist, but all of them are similar in one particular feature. They all feed solely on blood.
Fun Fact: Despite popular belief, Vampire bats don’t suck out the blood from their hosts. Instead, they bite the host and lap up the blood that flows out.
2. Vampire Squid
These deep-dwelling animals have jet-black or red skin, red eyes, and a membrane that spreads around their tentacles. These give it a very vampiric appearance.
Fun Fact: Vampire squids don’t feed on blood; they eat sea detritus, including fecal pellets and dead plankton.
3. Vancouver Island Marmot
These rodents are found only on Vancouver Island in Canada in the wild. Also, they are the largest members of the Squirrel family and can weigh from 3-7kg.
Fun Fact: Vancouver Island Marmots have a short gestation period of 30-35 days.
4. Variegated Squirrel
The variegated Squirrel is found in many types of South America. These diurnal animals spend their nights in nests on trees and rarely descend to the ground.
Fun Fact: Almost all squirrels hoard nuts, but you can count the Variegated Squirrel out of that activity.
5. Vaquita
Vaquitas are small sea-dwelling mammals that are closely related to whales and dolphins. They are also known as porpoises or little cows.
Fun Fact: Vaquitas give birth to live young and breathe air like any other mammal.
6. Vagrant Shrew
The tiny mammal is found in the western parts of the US and Canada. These voracious eaters can consume about 160% of the body weight in food each day.
Fun Fact: Vagrant Shrews can echolocate. Unlike bats, they don’t use it for hunting.
7. Velvet Asity
The Velvet Asity is found only in Madagascar. These birds have a dark color to their feathers, and the males have a green wattle growing above their eyes.
Fun Fact: The males are seen with yellow wingtips after molting, but these wear away.
8. Verreaux’s Sifaka
These members of the lemur family are only found in Madagascar. Also, they have white fur that makes people call them White Sifakas.
Fun Fact: Verreaux’s Sifakas are so evolved to tree-dwelling that they can’t even walk on land. They hop instead.
9. Vervet Monkey
This monkey is commonly found in Eastern Africa. They are grey or olive, with a black-tipped tail that is usually longer than their bodies.
Fun Fact: Male Vervet monkeys are easily distinguishable from females by their bright blue testicles.
10. Vicuña
Vicunas are close relatives of the llamas and alpacas, but they aren’t domesticated. These animals are timid and are quick to run when they sense danger.
Fun Fact: Vicuna wool is thin but is very effective in protecting the animal from cold. It’s no wonder it is so expensive.
11. Viper
Vipers are a family of venomous snakes that are known for their very long fangs. These snakes can open their mouths nearly 180 degrees to deliver a bite.
Fun Fact: Most vipers are ovoviviparous; this means that their young emerge after breaking out of their eggs in the mother’s body.
12. Viperfish
These deep-dwelling fishes have jaws with large teeth that look like a bear trap. Viperfish live thirty to forty years in the wild but rarely survive more than a few hours in captivity.
Fun Fact: Viperfish have photophores on their dorsal and ventral surface that it uses to lure in prey.
13. Vinegaroon
The vinegaroon or whip scorpion is closer to the spider than the scorpion. For defense, it sprays an acid that smells like vinegar.
Fun Fact: Vinegaroons are surprisingly docile to humans, so some people keep them as pets.
14. Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum, or just possum, is found in parts of North and South America. This makes it the northernmost marsupial in the world.
Fun Fact: In times of extreme danger, the Virginia opossum feigns death. That is where the phrase ‘playing possum’ comes from.
15. Visayan Spotted Deer
The beige spots on the coat of this animal are what give it its name. It is found in the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros.
Fun Fact: Male Visayan Spotted Deer roar to attract females for mating.
16. Visayan Warty Pig
These pigs are native to the Visayan islands in the Philippines. They got their name from the fleshy bumps on their faces.
Fun Fact: These pigs are pretty ingenious and were seen digging with tools in a French zoo.
17. Vlei Rat
These rodents are found in many parts of Africa. They have shorter faces and legs than most rodents. They also have coat colors of brown, grey, and many shades in between.
Fun Fact: Vlei rats have a lot of brown fat, which helps them break down to produce heat.
18. Volcano Rabbit
The Volcano Rabbit is the second smallest rabbit in the world. Also, these tiny rabbits are found in Mexico and nowhere else.
Fun Fact: Most rabbits thump their feet on the ground to warn of danger, but the Volcano rabbit emits high-pitched sounds instead.
19. Vole
These are small rodents found in almost every part of the world. While they may be called field mice in North America, they are more closely related to lemmings and hamsters.
Fun Facts: Voles are known to be empathic; they console one another when they’re feeling down.
20. Vulture
Their trademark bald heads, black feathers, and carrion feeding have made vultures quite popular. They are seen in many mythologies as harbingers of doom and death.
Fun Fact: Vultures gorge themselves on food, then spend long periods resting and digesting what they eat.
Summary of animals that start with v
And we’ve gotten to the end. We hope you enjoyed the list. These animals that start with V are unique in different ways. There are others but having introduced you to these, why not take a look at this other list of animals that start with a.
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.
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