This list includes 28 Mammals that start with I, from “Iberian desman” to “Italian wolf”. These mammals range from tiny, semi‑aquatic insectivores to large carnivores, and they appear in conservation, education, and natural‑history contexts for students, educators, and wildlife enthusiasts.
Mammals that start with I are species whose common English names begin with the letter I and belong to Class Mammalia. Many have interesting regional roles — for example, the Italian wolf figures in Italian folklore and modern conservation efforts.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, and Habitat.
Common name: The everyday English name helps you quickly identify the species and match it to field guides or classroom lists.
Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial removes ambiguity and lets you trace precise species information across sources.
Order: The taxonomic order places each species in a broader evolutionary group, helping you understand relatedness at a glance.
Habitat: A concise habitat label tells you the typical environment where the species lives, aiding field planning and ecological comparisons.
Mammals that start with I
| Name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impala | Aepyceros melampus | Artiodactyla | savanna |
| Indian elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | Proboscidea | forest, grassland |
| Indian rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis | Perissodactyla | grassland, wetlands |
| Indian muntjac | Muntiacus muntjak | Artiodactyla | forest |
| Indian palm squirrel | Funambulus palmarum | Rodentia | urban, forest |
| Indian crested porcupine | Hystrix indica | Rodentia | desert, grassland, forest |
| Indian giant squirrel | Ratufa indica | Rodentia | forest |
| Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata | Pholidota | forest, grassland |
| Indian wolf | Canis lupus pallipes | Carnivora | grassland, desert, savanna |
| Indian hare | Lepus nigricollis | Lagomorpha | grassland, scrub |
| Indian flying fox | Pteropus medius | Chiroptera | forest, coastal, urban |
| Indian giant flying squirrel | Petaurista philippensis | Rodentia | forest |
| Indian crested porcupine (alternate common) | Hystrix indica | Rodentia | desert, grassland, forest |
| Indian sloth bear | Melursus ursinus | Carnivora | forest, grassland |
| Indri | Indri indri | Primates | forest |
| Iriomote cat | Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis | Carnivora | forest, coastal |
| Irish hare | Lepus timidus hibernicus | Lagomorpha | grassland |
| Iberian lynx | Lynx pardinus | Carnivora | scrub, forest |
| Iberian desman | Galemys pyrenaicus | Eulipotyphla | freshwater, wetlands |
| Iberian mole | Talpa occidentalis | Eulipotyphla | forest, grassland |
| Iberian hare | Lepus granatensis | Lagomorpha | grassland, scrub |
| Island fox | Urocyon littoralis | Carnivora | coastal, forest |
| Indus river dolphin | Platanista gangetica minor | Cetacea | freshwater |
| Irrawaddy dolphin | Orcaella brevirostris | Cetacea | freshwater, coastal |
| Indo‑Pacific bottlenose dolphin | Tursiops aduncus | Cetacea | marine, coastal |
| Ili pika | Ochotona iliensis | Lagomorpha | alpine |
| Italian wolf | Canis lupus italicus | Carnivora | forest, grassland |
| Indochinese tiger | Panthera tigris corbetti | Carnivora | forest, grassland |
Descriptions
Impala
Medium African antelope of woodlands and savanna, 40–75 kg, grazes and browses; widespread and not currently globally threatened.
Indian elephant
Asian elephant subspecies in South Asia, very large (males up to 4,000 kg), feeds on vegetation; endangered from habitat loss and poaching.
Indian rhinoceros
One‑horned rhino of the Indian subcontinent, heavy grazer in floodplain grasslands, up to ~2,200 kg; vulnerable but recovering with conservation.
Indian muntjac
Small deer across South and Southeast Asia, 10–35 kg, browsers; secretive and hunted in parts of its range.
Indian palm squirrel
Small striped tree squirrel common in South Asia, often in towns and gardens; omnivorous and diurnal.
Indian crested porcupine
Large spiny rodent of South Asia and the Middle East; nocturnal herbivore, generally widespread.
Indian giant squirrel
Large colorful tree squirrel endemic to India, can reach ~1 m including tail; arboreal herbivore dependent on forests.
Indian pangolin
Scaled, ant‑eating mammal of South Asia; nocturnal and solitary, seriously threatened by poaching and illegal trade.
Indian wolf
Medium wolf of South Asia, often smaller than other gray wolves; hunts ungulates and faces persecution and habitat loss.
Indian hare
Common hare in South Asia’s fields and scrub, medium‑sized herbivore, swift and largely crepuscular.
Indian flying fox
Large fruit bat across South Asia with >1 m wingspan; feeds on fruit and nectar and is an important pollinator, sometimes persecuted.
Indian giant flying squirrel
Large nocturnal gliding rodent of South and Southeast Asian forests, feeds on leaves, fruit and bark.
Indian crested porcupine (alternate common)
Large nocturnal porcupine found across South Asia and the Middle East; herbivorous and well‑armed with quills.
Indian sloth bear
Sloth bear of the Indian subcontinent, 80–140 kg, insectivorous and frugivorous; vulnerable from habitat loss and conflict.
Indri
Largest living lemur, endemic to Madagascar, ~6–9 kg, eats leaves and fruit; critically endangered and highly vocal.
Iriomote cat
Critically endangered wild cat found only on Japan’s Iriomote Island; small, nocturnal carnivore dependent on island forests.
Irish hare
Endemic subspecies of the mountain hare in Ireland; medium‑sized herbivore with seasonal coat changes, of conservation interest.
Iberian lynx
Mediterranean predator specialized on rabbits, native to Spain and Portugal; one of the world’s most endangered cats but recovering via conservation programs.
Iberian desman
Small semi‑aquatic insectivore of Iberian streams, with an elongated snout; vulnerable from water pollution and habitat loss.
Iberian mole
Fossorial mole native to Iberia; insectivorous and adapted to underground life in soils and meadows.
Iberian hare
Common hare of the Iberian Peninsula, adaptable to farmland and scrubland; medium‑sized herbivore.
Island fox
Small fox endemic to California’s Channel Islands, ~1–3 kg; several subspecies experienced declines but many recovered with conservation.
Indus river dolphin
Blind river dolphin native to the Indus River, small freshwater toothed dolphin; endangered due to dams, water extraction and pollution.
Irrawaddy dolphin
Unusual blunt‑nosed dolphin in Southeast Asian rivers and coastal waters; small, vulnerable from bycatch and habitat degradation.
Indo‑Pacific bottlenose dolphin
Dolphin of warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia; medium‑sized, social and often seen inshore.
Ili pika
Tiny alpine lagomorph from China’s Tian Shan, lives among rocky talus; rare and endangered with a restricted range.
Italian wolf
Distinct Italian population of gray wolf, slightly smaller than some Eurasian wolves; recovering in parts of Italy with growing populations.
Indochinese tiger
Tiger population of Southeast Asia, large carnivore facing severe threats from habitat loss and poaching; endangered.
