This list includes 30 Mammals that start with P, from “Pacific white-sided dolphin” to “Pygmy three-toed sloth”. It groups familiar and specialist species so you can find common animals and surprising rarities quickly.
Mammals that start with P are species whose common English names begin with the letter P. Many, like the platypus, include surprising adaptations that inspire scientific and cultural interest worldwide.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, and Habitat.
Common name: The everyday name you will recognize, useful for quick scanning and matching species you already know.
Scientific name: The formal Latin name (genus and species), which helps you precisely identify and research each mammal.
Order: The higher taxonomic group that shows broad evolutionary relationships and helps you compare similar mammals.
Habitat: Concise description of the environments where the species lives, letting you sort by ecosystem or geographic context.
Last updated: 2025-10-29
Mammals that start with P
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | Carnivora | forest |
| Philippine pangolin | Manis culionensis | Pholidota | forest |
| Platypus | Ornithorhynchus anatinus | Monotremata | freshwater |
| Polar bear | Ursus maritimus | Carnivora | marine,tundra |
| Puma | Puma concolor | Carnivora | forest,grassland |
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | Artiodactyla | grassland |
| Prehensile-tailed porcupine | Coendou prehensilis | Rodentia | forest |
| Proboscis monkey | Nasalis larvatus | Primates | forest |
| Pygmy marmoset | Cebuella pygmaea | Primates | forest |
| Pygmy hippopotamus | Choeropsis liberiensis | Artiodactyla | forest,freshwater |
| Patagonian mara | Dolichotis patagonum | Rodentia | grassland |
| Pampas fox | Lycalopex gymnocercus | Carnivora | grassland |
| Pampas deer | Ozotoceros bezoarticus | Artiodactyla | grassland |
| Pallas’s cat | Otocolobus manul | Carnivora | montane,grassland |
| Pallas’s pika | Ochotona pallasi | Lagomorpha | montane,tundra |
| Polecat | Mustela putorius | Carnivora | forest,grassland |
| Pacific white-sided dolphin | Lagenorhynchus obliquidens | Cetacea | marine |
| Pygmy killer whale | Feresa attenuata | Cetacea | marine |
| Puku | Kobus vardonii | Artiodactyla | grassland |
| Patas monkey | Erythrocebus patas | Primates | grassland |
| Pied tamarin | Saguinus bicolor | Primates | forest |
| Potto | Perodicticus potto | Primates | forest |
| Pygmy three-toed sloth | Bradypus pygmaeus | Pilosa | forest |
| Philippine tarsier | Carlito syrichta | Primates | forest |
| Plains pocket gopher | Geomys bursarius | Rodentia | grassland |
| Pine marten | Martes martes | Carnivora | forest |
| Proserpine rock-wallaby | Petrogale persephone | Diprotodontia | montane,forest |
| Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus pipistrellus | Chiroptera | forest,urban |
| Pallid bat | Antrozous pallidus | Chiroptera | desert,grassland |
| Philippine flying lemur | Cynocephalus volans | Dermoptera | forest |
Descriptions
Panda
Iconic black-and-white bear from China, weighs ~70–120 kg, eats mostly bamboo; symbol of conservation (Vulnerable).
Philippine pangolin
Small, scaled mammal endemic to the Philippines that eats ants and termites; heavily poached and Critically Endangered.
Platypus
Egg-laying, duck-billed mammal from Australia, semi-aquatic and insectivorous; unusual electroreception and Near Threatened in parts of its range.
Polar bear
Large Arctic predator dependent on sea ice for hunting seals; powerful swimmer and Vulnerable due to climate change.
Puma
Also called cougar or mountain lion; large New World cat adaptable to forests and plains, carnivorous and Least Concern in most populations.
Pronghorn
North American ruminant, built for speed across open plains; unique horn sheath and Least Concern.
Prehensile-tailed porcupine
Arboreal New World porcupine with a gripping tail; feeds on leaves and fruits and is generally common in tropical forests.
Proboscis monkey
Borneo-endemic monkey notable for its large nose, long tail and pot-bellied appearance; arboreal leaf-eater and Vulnerable.
Pygmy marmoset
World’s smallest monkey (~100 g), native to Amazonian forests; eats sap, insects and fruit and is Least Concern.
Pygmy hippopotamus
Smaller, solitary hippo of West Africa that uses rivers and swamps; secretive and Endangered.
Patagonian mara
Large, long-legged rodent from South America that resembles a small deer, herbivorous and social; Near Threatened in parts of its range.
Pampas fox
South American canid of open plains and scrub, omnivorous and adaptable, generally Least Concern.
Pampas deer
Small deer native to South American grasslands; grazes on grasses and is Near Threatened due to habitat loss.
Pallas’s cat
Stocky, long-haired wildcat of Central Asian steppes and mountains with flattened face; a specialist hunter, Near Threatened.
Pallas’s pika
Small, rabbit-like herbivore of Asian highlands; lives in talus and rocky slopes and is generally Least Concern.
Polecat
European mustelid with a slender body and masked face; nocturnal carnivore, adaptable and Least Concern.
Pacific white-sided dolphin
Energetic, coastal dolphin of the North Pacific; medium-sized, social and feeds on fish and squid, Least Concern.
Pygmy killer whale
Small, rarely seen dolphin-like whale found in warm oceans; social predator of fish and squid, poorly known (Data Deficient).
Puku
Medium-sized antelope of southern African wetlands and grasslands; grazes in herds and is Least Concern.
Patas monkey
Fast-running monkey of African savannas, reddish coat and terrestrial habits; omnivorous and Least Concern.
Pied tamarin
Tiny tamarin from Brazil’s Atlantic forest; distinctive coloring and Critically Endangered in much of its range.
Potto
Slow-moving, nocturnal African primate with stout body and reduced tail; eats fruit and insects and is Least Concern.
Pygmy three-toed sloth
Tiny sloth endemic to one Panamanian island, confined to mangroves and Critically Endangered.
Philippine tarsier
Small, big-eyed nocturnal primate from the Philippines; insectivorous and sensitive to habitat disturbance (Near Threatened).
Plains pocket gopher
Burrowing rodent of North American prairies with cheek pouches; ecosystem engineer and common locally.
Pine marten
Agile, arboreal mustelid of Eurasian woodlands; omnivorous and helps disperse seeds, generally Least Concern.
Proserpine rock-wallaby
Small Australian wallaby restricted to rocky, forested areas; shy and listed as Endangered.
Pipistrelle
Small insectivorous bat common in Europe; roosts in buildings and trees and is Least Concern.
Pallid bat
Wide-ranging North American bat with pale fur; feeds on large insects and sometimes scorpions, Least Concern.
Philippine flying lemur
Gliding mammal (colugo) endemic to the Philippines, uses a large skin membrane to glide between forest trees; eats leaves and is Near Threatened.
