The Complete List of Common Animals That Start With A

This list includes 59 Common Animals that start with A, from “Aardvark” to “Azure kingfisher”. It gathers familiar species and widely used common names across habitats worldwide, useful for classrooms and nature walks.

Common animals that start with A are familiar species whose everyday names begin with the letter A. For example, the aardvark appears in African folktales as a nocturnal earth-digger and curiosity.

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

Common name: The widely used name you recognize, helpful for quick identification and everyday communication about the species.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise species identity so you can match records and deeper references.

Order: The taxonomic order shows broader relationships and helps you understand general traits shared among related species.

Habitat/distribution: Brief notes on where the species lives and its geographic range, useful for field spotting and study.

Methodology: Entries prioritize widely used common names and verified scientific names to keep the list practical and globally relevant.

A–Z index: Use the A–Z index page to jump between letters and explore other lists quickly.

Common Animals that start with A

Descriptions

Aardvark

Long-snouted insectivore that digs for ants and termites with a sticky tongue.

Aardwolf

Small hyena-like mammal that feeds mainly on termites at night.

Abalone

Flat, ear-shaped marine snail prized for its iridescent shell and meat.

Albatross

Large seabird with an extraordinary wingspan, a master of long-distance gliding.

Alligator

Large semi-aquatic reptile with armored skin and powerful jaws.

Alligator gar

Large freshwater fish with a long snout and ganoid scales.

Anaconda

Massive water-loving snake that ambushes prey, including mammals and birds.

Angelfish

Colorful reef fishes with rounded bodies and vibrant patterns.

Anglerfish

Strange deep-sea predator that uses a bioluminescent lure to attract prey.

Anemone

Flowerlike predatory animal with stinging tentacles that trap small animals.

Ant

Social insects forming complex colonies with workers, queens, and many castes.

Anteater

Long-snouted, specialized insect-eater using a sticky tongue to consume ants and termites.

Antelope

Diverse group of graceful, horned herbivores adapted primarily to grazing.

Aphid

Tiny sap-sucking insects often seen as agricultural pests with rapid reproduction.

Apollo butterfly

White butterfly with red and black spots, favors sunny mountain slopes.

Archerfish

Fish that shoots jets of water to knock insects into the water.

Arctic fox

Small fox adapted to cold with seasonal white or brown fur.

Arctic hare

Large hare with thick fur, adapted to cold and deep snow.

Arctic tern

Seabird with the longest known annual migration between poles.

Armadillo

Small armored mammal known for digging and rolling to protect itself.

Aye-aye

Nocturnal lemur with an elongated middle finger used to extract insects from wood.

Auk

Diving seabirds with compact bodies that feed on fish in coastal waters.

Avocet

Elegant wading bird with an upcurved bill that sweeps for small prey.

Axolotl

Neotenic salamander that retains gills into adulthood and can regenerate limbs.

Anole

Small, often colorful lizards with dewlaps used for display and territorial signalling.

Atlantic cod

Important commercial fish with mottled coloring and three dorsal fins.

Atlantic salmon

Born in rivers, migrate to sea, and return to spawn in freshwater.

Atlantic puffin

Stocky seabird with a colorful beak and impressive underwater “flight.”

African elephant

Largest land mammal with tusks and large ears used for cooling and display.

Asian elephant

Smaller-eared elephant known for social herds and strong memory.

African wild dog

Highly social pack hunter with mottled coat and extraordinary endurance.

African buffalo

Robust grazer often found in large herds; can be dangerous when threatened.

African penguin

Black-and-white seabird that nests in burrows and feeds at sea.

American bison

Massive grazer with a shaggy mane and a pronounced shoulder hump.

American alligator

Apex wetland reptile often seen basking on riverbanks and in swamps.

American lobster

Large crustacean with strong claws, an important seafood species.

American robin

Familiar songbird with an orange breast, common in suburbs and parks.

American mink

Small semi-aquatic mustelid that hunts fish, birds, and small mammals.

American kestrel

Small, colorful falcon that often hovers while hunting insects and small vertebrates.

Anemonefish

Colorful reef fish that forms a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones.

Antlion

Insect whose larvae dig conical pits to trap ants and other small insects.

Arapaima

One of the largest freshwater fishes, surfaces to breathe air periodically.

Armadillo lizard

Spiky lizard that curls into a ball for defense, resembling an armadillo.

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Large, powerful migratory tuna prized in commercial and sport fisheries.

Atlantic horseshoe crab

Ancient marine arthropod with a hard carapace, ecologically important for eggs and blood.

Anhinga

Snakebird that swims with a low profile and spears fish with its beak.

African civet

Nocturnal omnivore with a spotted coat and scent glands used in musk production.

African grey parrot

Highly intelligent parrot known for exceptional mimicry and gray plumage.

Agama

Robust lizards often with brightly colored males seen sunning on rocks.

Apple snail

Large freshwater snail with a round shell, often invasive in rice fields.

Auklet

Small alcid seabirds often with distinctive crests or scent and colonial nesting.

Australian magpie

Bold black-and-white songbird known for complex songs and territorial behavior.

Adélie penguin

Small, hardy penguin that nests on rocky shores in large colonies.

Antarctic krill

Small shrimp-like crustacean forming huge swarms, critical to Southern Ocean food webs.

Acorn barnacle

Small sessile crustacean that cements to rocks and filters plankton.

Auk (common group)

Clumsy on land but excellent divers, feed on fish and nest in colonies.

Azure kingfisher

Small, electric-blue kingfisher that hunts fish from perches.

Alpine ibex

Sure-footed wild goat with large curved horns, lives at high elevations.

Antbear (alternative anteater)

Another common name for the giant anteater, a specialist ant and termite eater.