This list includes 50 Common Animals that start with G, from “Galah” to “Guppy”. These common animals range from birds to fish and mammals, useful for education and quick reference.
Common animals that start with G are widely known species and groups whose names begin with the letter G. For example, the Galah holds cultural value in Australian art and birdwatching.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, order, and habitat/distribution.
Common name: Shows the widely used name you will recognize, helping you quickly find and talk about each animal.
Scientific name: Gives the Latin binomial or group name so you can cross-check species across guides and databases.
Order: Lists the taxonomic order to show broader relationships, which helps you understand ecological and evolutionary patterns.
Habitat/distribution: Briefly summarizes where each animal lives or occurs, letting you judge its likely environments and geographic range.
Common Animals that start with G
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat/Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gannet | Morus bassanus | Suliformes | North Atlantic coasts, open ocean |
| Gila monster | Heloderma suspectum | Squamata | Deserts of SW USA and NW Mexico |
| Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis | Artiodactyla | African savannas and woodlands |
| Goat | Capra hircus | Artiodactyla | Domestic worldwide; wild in mountains |
| Goose | Anser | Anseriformes | Wetlands worldwide |
| Gorilla | Gorilla | Primates | Central African forests |
| Guppy | Poecilia reticulata | Cyprinodontiformes | Freshwater NE South America; aquarium |
| Goldfish | Carassius auratus | Cypriniformes | Freshwater, domestic aquariums worldwide |
| Garter snake | Thamnophis sirtalis | Squamata | North American meadows and wetlands |
| Garden snail | Cornu aspersum | Stylommatophora | Gardens, temperate regions worldwide |
| Grasshopper | Caelifera | Orthoptera | Grasslands worldwide |
| Golden eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | Accipitriformes | Northern Hemisphere mountains, open areas |
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | Carnivora | Northern Hemisphere forests and tundra |
| Great white shark | Carcharodon carcharias | Lamniformes | Temperate coastal seas worldwide |
| Green sea turtle | Chelonia mydas | Testudines | Tropical and subtropical coastal waters |
| Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | Passeriformes | Woodlands and gardens, North America |
| Grouse | Tetrao | Galliformes | Boreal and temperate Northern Hemisphere habitats |
| Guinea fowl | Numida meleagris | Galliformes | Native Africa; kept worldwide |
| Grebe | Podiceps | Podicipediformes | Freshwater lakes and marshes worldwide |
| Greenland shark | Somniosus microcephalus | Squaliformes | Arctic and North Atlantic deep cold waters |
| Glass frog | Centrolenidae | Anura | Neotropical rainforests of Central and South America |
| Ghost crab | Ocypode | Decapoda | Tropical sandy beaches worldwide |
| Giant panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | Carnivora | Temperate bamboo forests of China |
| Giant otter | Pteronura brasiliensis | Carnivora | Amazonian rivers and wetlands |
| Giant squid | Architeuthis dux | Teuthida | Deep oceans worldwide |
| Groundhog | Marmota monax | Rodentia | North American fields and woodlands |
| Grey heron | Ardea cinerea | Pelecaniformes | Wetlands, rivers, coasts across Eurasia and Africa |
| Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | Passeriformes | North American fields, towns, wetlands |
| Green anole | Anolis carolinensis | Squamata | Southeastern USA trees and gardens |
| Green iguana | Iguana iguana | Squamata | Central and South American forests; pets |
| Garden ant | Lasius niger | Hymenoptera | Gardens and lawns, temperate regions |
| Glow-worm | Lampyridae | Coleoptera | Temperate and tropical habitats worldwide |
| Golden retriever | Canis lupus familiaris | Carnivora | Domestic, worldwide |
| German shepherd | Canis lupus familiaris | Carnivora | Domestic, worldwide |
| Greater flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Phoenicopteriformes | Shallow lakes and lagoons in Africa, Europe, Asia |
| Giant anteater | Myrmecophaga tridactyla | Pilosa | Central and South American grasslands and forests |
| Gray whale | Eschrichtius robustus | Cetacea | North Pacific coastal waters, migratory |
| Green woodpecker | Picus viridis | Piciformes | Woodlands and parks in Europe and Western Asia |
| Great horned owl | Bubo virginianus | Strigiformes | Across the Americas in varied habitats |
| Giant clam | Tridacna gigas | Bivalvia | Shallow tropical reefs of the Indo-Pacific |
| Goanna | Varanus | Squamata | Australian woodlands and deserts |
| Gambian pouched rat | Cricetomys gambianus | Rodentia | Sub-Saharan Africa; sometimes kept as pet |
| Galápagos tortoise | Chelonoidis nigra | Testudines | Galápagos Islands |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla | Psittaciformes | Australian woodlands and urban areas |
| Gecko | Gekko | Squamata | Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide |
| Golden jackal | Canis aureus | Carnivora | Eurasia and Africa grasslands and scrub |
| Gouldian finch | Erythrura gouldiae | Passeriformes | Northern Australian savannas |
| Grass carp | Ctenopharyngodon idella | Cypriniformes | Freshwater rivers and ponds; native Asia, introduced worldwide |
| Gambel’s quail | Callipepla gambelii | Galliformes | Desert scrub of the southwestern United States |
| Golden poison frog | Phyllobates terribilis | Anura | Rainforests of Colombia |
Descriptions
Gannet
Large white seabird that dives for fish at high speed and nests on cliffs.
Gila monster
Venomous, stout lizard with bead-like skin that eats eggs and small vertebrates.
Giraffe
World’s tallest land mammal with a long neck and distinctive spotted coat, feeds on tree leaves.
Goat
Domesticated, agile herbivore raised for milk, meat, and fiber.
Goose
Familiar waterfowl group including migratory and domestic species, often seen in flocks.
Gorilla
Powerful great ape that lives in family groups and primarily eats plants.
Guppy
Tiny, colorful livebearing fish popular in home aquariums.
Goldfish
Common pet fish with many shapes and colors, hardy and long-kept.
Garter snake
Common nonvenomous snake often found near water, feeding on amphibians and fish.
Garden snail
Common land snail that feeds on plants and decaying matter.
Grasshopper
Jumping insect with powerful hind legs; many species feed on grasses and crops.
Golden eagle
Large raptor with powerful flight that hunts mammals and birds.
Gray wolf
Social pack predator and ancestor of domestic dogs.
Great white shark
Large predatory shark known for breaching and hunting marine mammals.
Green sea turtle
Large marine turtle that grazes on seagrass and migrates long distances.
Goldfinch
Small bright yellow songbird that feeds on thistle and seeds.
Grouse
Ground-dwelling game bird with cryptic plumage and explosive flight.
Guinea fowl
Spotted, poultry-like bird often kept for pest control and meat.
Grebe
Diving waterbird with lobed feet and streamlined body.
Greenland shark
Slow-moving deep-sea shark noted for extreme longevity.
Glass frog
Small tree frogs often with translucent bellies; nocturnal and arboreal.
Ghost crab
Fast, pale-colored crabs that live in burrows above the high tide line.
Giant panda
Iconic black-and-white mammal specialized on bamboo, a global conservation symbol.
Giant otter
Social, large river otter that hunts fish in family groups.
Giant squid
Enormous elusive cephalopod with long feeding tentacles and huge eyes.
Groundhog
Also called woodchuck; burrowing rodent known for hibernation and digging.
Grey heron
Tall wading bird that hunts fish by standing still and spearing prey.
Grackle
Noisy glossy black bird often seen in flocks around people.
Green anole
Small arboreal lizard that can change shade and defends territories.
Green iguana
Large arboreal herbivorous lizard common in the pet trade.
Garden ant
Small social insect that builds nests, farms aphids, and forms trails.
Glow-worm
Bioluminescent beetles; larvae or females glow to attract mates or prey.
Golden retriever
Friendly, trainable dog breed popular as family pet and service animal.
German shepherd
Versatile working dog breed used in policing, assistance, and companionship.
Greater flamingo
Tall pink wading bird that filters food from shallow water.
Giant anteater
Long-snouted insectivore that feeds on ants and termites with a sticky tongue.
Gray whale
Baleen whale famous for long coastal migrations and benthic feeding.
Green woodpecker
Loud green-backed woodpecker that feeds largely on ants.
Great horned owl
Large nocturnal raptor with ear tufts and powerful talons.
Giant clam
Huge reef bivalve that hosts symbiotic algae and can reach over a meter.
Goanna
Common Australian monitor lizards that are active predators and scavengers.
Gambian pouched rat
Large nocturnal rodent noted for an excellent sense of smell.
Galápagos tortoise
Giant land tortoise with island-specific forms and very long lifespan.
Galah
Pink-and-grey cockatoo often seen in noisy pairs or flocks.
Gecko
Small climbing lizards with adhesive toe pads and nocturnal habits.
Golden jackal
Medium-sized canid that is adaptable and omnivorous.
Gouldian finch
Vividly colored small finch popular in aviculture and found in open woodlands.
Grass carp
Large herbivorous fish used to control aquatic vegetation.
Gambel’s quail
Plump ground-dwelling bird with a topknot, often in coveys.
Golden poison frog
Small, brightly colored frog extremely toxic; warning colors deter predators.
