The Complete List of Common Animals That Start With P

This list includes 50 Common Animals that start with P, ranging from “Paddlefish” to “Python”. They cover fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals useful for quick identification, classroom projects, and nature reference.

Common Animals that start with P are familiar species and groups whose names begin with the letter P. Many, like the playful penguin or powerful puma, appear in stories, logos, and conservation campaigns worldwide.

Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, order, and habitat/distribution.

Common name: The everyday name helps you recognize species quickly and match entries to field guides or classroom materials.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial provides precise identification so you can confirm species across languages and scientific references.

Order: This taxonomic rank groups related species, helping you understand broad evolutionary relationships and compare similar animals.

Habitat/distribution: Brief note on where the animal lives and its global range to guide study and field observation.

Common Animals that start with P

Common Name	Scientific Name	Order	Habitat/Distribution	Description
Panda	Ailuropoda melanoleuca	Carnivora	Temperate bamboo forests; China	Iconic black-and-white bear that eats mostly bamboo; solitary and relatively large, a conservation symbol.
Pangolin	Manis	Pholidota	Forests and savannas; Africa and Asia	Scaly, nocturnal mammal feeding on ants and termites; rolls into a spiny ball when threatened.
Panther	Panthera pardus	Carnivora	Forests and grasslands; Africa and Asia, sometimes Americas	Common name for large wild cats (often leopards or jaguars); melanistic individuals called black panthers.
Peacock	Pavo cristatus	Galliformes	Woodlands and farmland; South Asia, introduced worldwide	Male peafowl with an iridescent tail fan used in dramatic courtship displays.
Pelican	Pelecanus	Pelecaniformes	Coastal and inland waters; worldwide (except polar)	Large waterbird with an expandable throat pouch used to scoop fish.
Penguin	Aptenodytes	Sphenisciformes	Coastal Southern Hemisphere; Antarctic to temperate islands	Flightless, streamlined seabird adapted to swimming and diving for fish.
Pike	Esox lucius	Esociformes	Freshwater lakes and rivers; Northern Hemisphere	Long, torpedo-shaped ambush predator fish with sharp teeth.
Pig	Sus scrofa	Artiodactyla	Farms, woodlands; Eurasia, worldwide domesticated	Intelligent, omnivorous hoofed mammal widely kept for meat and adapted to many environments.
Pigeon	Columba livia	Columbiformes	Urban areas and cliffs; worldwide (introduced)	Familiar city bird descended from the rock dove; adaptable, social, and common in towns.
Pika	Ochotona	Lagomorpha	Rocky alpine meadows; Asia and North America	Small, rabbit-like mammal that stores hay for winter and makes high-pitched calls.
Platypus	Ornithorhynchus anatinus	Monotremata	Freshwater rivers and streams; Eastern Australia	Egg-laying mammal with a duck-like bill, webbed feet, and venomous spur on males.
Porcupine	Erethizon dorsatum	Rodentia	Forests and woodlands; North America	Rodent covered in sharp quills used for defense; mainly nocturnal and herbivorous.
Porpoise	Phocoena phocoena	Cetacea	Coastal temperate and cold oceans; Northern Hemisphere	Small toothed whale, agile swimmer, uses echolocation to hunt fish.
Possum	Trichosurus vulpecula	Diprotodontia	Forests and urban areas; Australia and Tasmania	Tree-dwelling nocturnal marsupial that adapts well to human environments.
Puffin	Fratercula arctica	Charadriiformes	North Atlantic coasts and islands	Colorful-billed seabird that nests in burrows and dives for fish.
Puma	Puma concolor	Carnivora	Forests and mountains; Americas from Canada to South America	Also called cougar or mountain lion; solitary ambush predator and highly adaptable.
Python	Python	Squamata	Tropical and subtropical forests; Africa, Asia, Australia	Large constricting snakes, many species are strong swimmers and nonvenomous.
Parrotfish	Scarus	Perciformes	Coral reefs; tropical oceans worldwide	Brightly colored reef fish that scrapes algae with a beak-like set of fused teeth.
Peacock mantis shrimp	Odontodactylus scyllarus	Stomatopoda	Coral reefs; Indo-Pacific	Vividly colored stomatopod that delivers extremely fast, cavitation-driven strikes with its claws.
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	Falconiformes	Open habitats worldwide, excluding extreme polar regions	Fast aerial predator famed for high-speed dives to catch birds mid-flight.
Perch	Perca fluviatilis	Perciformes	Freshwater lakes and rivers; Europe and Asia	Common freshwater fish with vertical dark bars, popular with anglers.
Plover	Charadrius	Charadriiformes	Beaches and mudflats; worldwide	Small shorebird that runs along shorelines probing for invertebrates.
Praying mantis	Mantis religiosa	Mantodea	Gardens and grasslands; worldwide in warm regions	Ambush predator insect with raptorial forelegs and a head that can rotate to track prey.
Puff adder	Bitis arietans	Squamata	Savannas and grasslands; Sub-Saharan Africa	Heavy-bodied venomous viper that relies on camouflage and ambush attacks.
Piranha	Pygocentrus nattereri	Characiformes	Freshwater rivers; Amazon basin, South America	Sharp-toothed schooling fish known for powerful bites and opportunistic feeding.
Prairie dog	Cynomys ludovicianus	Rodentia	Grasslands and prairies; North America	Social burrowing rodent living in large colonies (“towns”) with vocal alarm systems.
Ptarmigan	Lagopus muta	Galliformes	Arctic and alpine tundra; circumpolar regions	Grouse that molts to white in winter for camouflage in snow.
Peacock spider	Maratus volans	Araneae	Shrublands and leaf litter; Australia	Tiny jumping spider that performs elaborate, colorful courtship dances.
Paddlefish	Polyodon spathula	Acipenseriformes	Large rivers; Mississippi basin, North America	Large freshwater fish with a long paddle-like rostrum used for sensing and filter-feeding plankton.
Pilchard	Sardina pilchardus	Clupeiformes	Northeast Atlantic coastal waters	Small schooling fish (sardine family) important as food and bait.
Pine marten	Martes martes	Carnivora	Wooded areas; Europe and parts of Asia	Agile, tree-climbing mustelid that eats fruits, small mammals, and birds.
Polecat	Mustela putorius	Carnivora	Woodlands and farmland; Europe, North Africa	Weasel-like carnivore, nocturnal and known for its strong musk.
Porcupinefish	Diodon holocanthus	Tetraodontiformes	Tropical and subtropical seas; worldwide	Inflates and erects spines when threatened; slow-moving reef fish with distinctive markings.
Potoo	Nyctibius griseus	Nyctibiiformes	Neotropical forests; Central and South America	Nocturnal bird that perches motionless and is camouflaged as a broken branch.
Pony	Equus ferus caballus	Perissodactyla	Domestic; bred worldwide	Small horse breed used for riding and work; known for strength and hardiness.
Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	Galliformes	Farmlands and woodlands; native Asia, introduced worldwide	Gamebird with colorful males and long tails used in displays.
Pademelon	Thylogale	Diprotodontia	Rainforests and woodlands; Australia and New Guinea	Small wallaby-like marsupial that hops and feeds on leaves and fruit.
Pufferfish	Tetraodon	Tetraodontiformes	Tropical marine and brackish waters; worldwide	Inflates with water or air as defense; many species carry potent toxins.
Partridge	Perdix perdix	Galliformes	Farmlands and grasslands; Europe and Asia	Ground-dwelling gamebird often seen in coveys, with cryptic brown plumage.
Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Psittaciformes	Woodlands and cities; native Africa and South Asia, introduced worldwide	Small, long-tailed parrot common in aviaries and urban flocks, social and vocal.
Patagonian mara	Dolichotis patagonum	Rodentia	Patagonian grasslands; Argentina	Large, long-legged rodent resembling a small deer; monogamous and grazes in groups.
Proboscis monkey	Nasalis larvatus	Primates	Borneo mangroves and riverine forests	Long-nosed, arboreal monkey that eats leaves and is an adept swimmer.
Pronghorn	Antilocapra americana	Artiodactyla	North American prairies and deserts	Extremely fast ungulate with unique forked horns and keen eyesight.
Prawn	Penaeus	Decapoda	Coastal waters and estuaries; worldwide tropics	Shrimp-like crustaceans, many species are important seafood and commercially fished.
Pileated woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	Piciformes	Mature forests; eastern North America	Large black woodpecker with a red crest that chisels rectangular holes for insects.
Panther chameleon	Furcifer pardalis	Squamata	Rainforests and plantations; Madagascar	Colorful chameleon species popular in the pet trade; males show bright, variable patterns.
Polar bear	Ursus maritimus	Carnivora	Arctic sea ice and coasts; circumpolar Arctic	Powerful marine bear adapted to cold, hunts seals on sea ice and swims long distances.
Pickerel	Esox americanus	Esociformes	Freshwater streams and ponds; eastern North America	Small pike-like ambush predator with slender body and quick strikes.
Pygmy seahorse	Hippocampus bargibanti	Syngnathiformes	Coral reefs; Indo-Pacific	Tiny, well-camouflaged seahorse living among gorgonians, typically under 2 cm long.
Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta	Testudines	Freshwater ponds and lakes; North America	Common pond turtle with colorful striped head and shell edges, basks on logs.