This list includes 39 Mammals that start with H, from “Hainan gibbon” to “Humpback whale”. They range from tiny bats and rodents to large marine and terrestrial species, useful for education, field guides, and quick species reference.
Mammals that start with H are species whose common English name begins with the letter H. A notable example is the endangered Hainan gibbon, one of the world’s rarest primates.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, Habitat, and IUCN status.
Common name: Contains the widely used English name so you can quickly scan for familiar species and match colloquial references.
Scientific name: Gives the accepted binomial name so you can confirm species identity and find authoritative taxonomic records.
Order: Shows the taxonomic order, which helps you understand broad evolutionary relationships and ecological functional groups.
Habitat: Lists a concise habitat category so you can quickly see where the species typically lives and is observed.
IUCN status: Provides the global conservation status to help you judge rarity, threat level, and priority for conservation attention.
Taxonomy changes as scientists revise classifications; names and orders reflect current consensus and may be updated.
Extinct or recently extinct taxa will be noted explicitly; most entries represent living, extant species worldwide.
Last updated: 29 October 2025.
Mammals that start with H
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor seal | Phoca vitulina | Carnivora | coastal, estuaries |
| Harp seal | Pagophilus groenlandicus | Carnivora | pack ice, marine |
| Hooded seal | Cystophora cristata | Carnivora | pack ice, marine |
| Harbor porpoise | Phocoena phocoena | Cetacea | coastal, shelf waters |
| Heaviside’s dolphin | Cephalorhynchus heavisidii | Cetacea | coastal, temperate marine |
| Hector’s dolphin | Cephalorhynchus hectori | Cetacea | coastal, shallow waters |
| Humpback whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | Cetacea | oceanic, coastal |
| Hoary bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Chiroptera | forests, woodlands |
| Hoary marmot | Marmota caligata | Rodentia | alpine, tundra |
| House mouse | Mus musculus | Rodentia | urban, farmland |
| Harvest mouse | Micromys minutus | Rodentia | grassland, reedbeds |
| Hazel dormouse | Muscardinus avellanarius | Rodentia | deciduous woodland |
| Hartebeest | Alcelaphus buselaphus | Artiodactyla | savanna, grassland |
| Hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | Artiodactyla | rivers, lakes |
| Himalayan tahr | Hemitragus jemlahicus | Artiodactyla | montane, alpine |
| Himalayan marmot | Marmota himalayana | Rodentia | alpine meadows |
| Himalayan musk deer | Moschus leucogaster | Artiodactyla | montane forests |
| Hog badger | Arctonyx collaris | Carnivora | forest, grassland |
| Honey badger | Mellivora capensis | Carnivora | savanna, arid, forest |
| Hog deer | Axis porcinus | Artiodactyla | grassland, wetlands |
| Hispaniolan solenodon | Solenodon paradoxus | Eulipotyphla | forest |
| Hispaniolan hutia | Plagiodontia aedium | Rodentia | forest |
| Honduran white bat | Ectophylla alba | Chiroptera | tropical forest |
| Honey possum | Tarsipes rostratus | Diprotodontia | heath, shrubland |
| Hainan gibbon | Nomascus hainanus | Primates | tropical forest |
| Hoary bamboo rat | Rhizomys pruinosus | Rodentia | forest, bamboo |
| Hairy-nosed otter | Lutra sumatrana | Carnivora | freshwater, wetlands |
| Hairy-footed gerbil | Gerbillurus paeba | Rodentia | arid scrub, semi-desert |
| Himalayan goral | Naemorhedus goral | Artiodactyla | steep rocky slopes |
| Hoary fox | Lycalopex vetulus | Carnivora | savanna, cerrado |
| Human | Homo sapiens | Primates | varied, urban to wilderness |
| Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth | Choloepus hoffmanni | Pilosa | tropical forest |
| Heath mouse | Pseudomys shortridgei | Rodentia | heathland, shrubland |
| Hainan slow loris | Nycticebus hainanus | Primates | tropical forest |
| Hispid cotton rat | Sigmodon hispidus | Rodentia | grassland, marsh edges |
| Hispid hare | Caprolagus hispidus | Lagomorpha | tall grass plains |
| Hamadryas baboon | Papio hamadryas | Primates | arid scrub, rocky areas |
| Hog-nosed skunk | Conepatus leuconotus | Carnivora | grassland, scrub |
| Hottentot golden mole | Amblysomus hottentotus | Afrosoricida | grassland, dunes |
Descriptions
Harbor seal
Widespread pinniped found in temperate and Arctic coastal waters; often seen hauled out on rocks and beaches, feeds on fish and invertebrates.
Harp seal
A cold-water seal of the North Atlantic and Arctic; famous for white-coated pups on pack ice and long migrations.
Hooded seal
Large Arctic seal notable for the inflatable nasal hood seen in adult males; breeds on drifting ice and dives for fish and squid.
Harbor porpoise
Small, shy porpoise common in temperate coastal waters; known for brief surfacing, echolocation clicks, and feeding on small schooling fish.
Heaviside’s dolphin
A compact coastal dolphin off southwest Africa, often seen in small, tight-knit groups near productive upwelling zones.
Hector’s dolphin
Small, endangered dolphin endemic to New Zealand coastal waters; recognizable by rounded dorsal fin and black-and-white patterning.
Humpback whale
Large, migratory baleen whale famous for complex songs, acrobatic breaches, and long annual migrations between feeding and breeding grounds.
Hoary bat
Medium-sized migratory bat with frosted fur; roosts solitarily in foliage and feeds on nocturnal insects.
Hoary marmot
A large ground squirrel of North American mountains; hibernates for long winters and lives in colonies near rocky slopes.
House mouse
Highly adaptable small rodent common around human dwellings worldwide; thrives in varied habitats and is important in research and pest contexts.
Harvest mouse
Tiny Eurasian mouse that nests in stems of tall grasses; agile climber often seen in hedgerows and marshes.
Hazel dormouse
Cute, arboreal rodent of European woodlands; hibernates and nests in shrubs, with a diet of nuts, fruits, and insects.
Hartebeest
A large African antelope with an elongated face and lyre-shaped horns; grazes on grasses in open plains and herds.
Hippopotamus
Massive semi-aquatic herbivore of sub-Saharan Africa; spends days in water and grazes on land at night.
Himalayan tahr
Goat-like ungulate of Himalayan slopes with shaggy coat and curved horns; adapted to steep, rocky terrain.
Himalayan marmot
High-elevation marmot found across the Himalaya; lives in burrows, hibernates, and forms social colonies.
Himalayan musk deer
Small, solitary deer prized for musk glands; inhabits remote Himalayan forests and alpine valleys.
Hog badger
Stocky, pig-like badger of South and Southeast Asia with elongated snout; omnivorous and digs for roots and invertebrates.
Honey badger
Bold, tenacious carnivore (ratel) known for fearlessness and varied diet; found across Africa and parts of Asia.
Hog deer
Small deer that crouches in tall grass like a pig (hence the name); native to South and Southeast Asia.
Hispaniolan solenodon
Rare, venomous insectivore endemic to Hispaniola; nocturnal and evolutionary distinctive with a long snout and primitive traits.
Hispaniolan hutia
Rodent endemic to Hispaniola that resembles a large guinea pig; herbivorous and restricted to fragmented forest patches.
Honduran white bat
Tiny Central American bat with white fur and yellow nose-leaf and ears; builds tents by cutting leaves to roost.
Honey possum
Tiny Australian marsupial that feeds on nectar and pollen with a long snout and brush-tipped tongue.
Hainan gibbon
Critically endangered crested gibbon from Hainan Island; one of the rarest apes, known for loud territorial songs.
Hoary bamboo rat
Large burrowing rodent of Southeast Asia that feeds on roots and bamboo, with a thick, coarse coat.
Hairy-nosed otter
Rare Southeast Asian otter with distinctive sensory whiskers and furry nose; relies on slow-moving rivers and swamps.
Hairy-footed gerbil
Small African gerbil with furry soles that help in sandy habitats; nocturnal and burrowing.
Himalayan goral
Goat-antelope found on rugged Himalayan cliffs; sure-footed and typically solitary or in small groups.
Hoary fox
Small South American canid with greyish coat; primarily nocturnal and feeds on insects, small vertebrates, and fruit.
Human
The globally distributed primate species characterized by advanced cognition, culture, and the ability to modify virtually every habitat.
Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth
Slow-moving, arboreal sloth of Central and South America with two toes on forelimbs; feeds on leaves and rests in canopy.
Heath mouse
Small Australian rodent of heath and shrub habitats; secretive and mostly nocturnal with localized distributions.
Hainan slow loris
Critically endangered nocturnal primate from Hainan Island; slow-moving, with large eyes and a toxic bite.
Hispid cotton rat
Robust New World rodent of grassy habitats; builds runways and dens, important prey for many predators.
Hispid hare
Rare South Asian hare with coarse, bristly fur that lives in tall riverine grasslands and avoids open areas.
Hamadryas baboon
Social, desert-adapted baboon of the Horn of Africa and Arabia; males have dramatic silver manes and complex troop structures.
Hog-nosed skunk
New World skunk with a compact body and pig-like snout for digging; omnivorous and uses scent defenses.
Hottentot golden mole
Small, subterranean mammal of southern Africa with reduced eyes and strong digging limbs; forages for invertebrates.
