This list includes 79 Common Animals that start with R, from “Raccoon” to “Rufous hummingbird”. They include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and invertebrates found across global habitats. Use this list for classroom activities, quick field checks, and family nature projects.
Common Animals that start with R are familiar species and well-known group names that begin with the letter R. Ravens and raccoons feature in folklore and urban life, showing both cultural and ecological importance.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, order, and habitat/distribution.
Common name: The everyday name you will recognize, useful when searching, teaching, or labeling observations.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial that uniquely identifies each species, so you avoid confusion across regions and languages.
Order: The broader taxonomic group that helps you see relationships and compare similar animals at a glance.
Habitat/distribution: Brief notes on where the animal lives or occurs, helping you match species to places and seasons.
Methodology: Entries prioritize widely used common names and concise taxonomic details, favoring familiar species over obscure taxa.
A–Z index: Visit the A–Z index page to jump between letters and explore the complete alphabetical series.
Common Animals that start with R
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat/Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Carnivora | North America, urban and forests |
| Raccoon dog | Nyctereutes procyonoides | Carnivora | East Asia, introduced Europe |
| Radiated tortoise | Astrochelys radiata | Testudines | Madagascar dry forests |
| Rainbow trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Salmoniformes | Cold freshwater streams, introduced worldwide |
| Rainbow lorikeet | Trichoglossus moluccanus | Psittaciformes | Australia coastal forests and urban areas |
| Reef manta ray | Mobula alfredi | Myliobatiformes | Tropical reefs worldwide |
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Carnivora | Eurasia and North America, diverse habitats |
| Red deer | Cervus elaphus | Artiodactyla | Europe, parts of Asia and N. Africa |
| Red kangaroo | Osphranter rufus | Diprotodontia | Australian arid and semi-arid areas |
| Red squirrel | Sciurus vulgaris | Rodentia | Eurasian woodlands |
| Red-tailed hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Accipitriformes | Americas, open country and forests |
| Red-bellied piranha | Pygocentrus nattereri | Characiformes | South American rivers, Amazon basin |
| Red-breasted merganser | Mergus serrator | Anseriformes | Northern lakes and coasts |
| Red-crowned crane | Grus japonensis | Gruiformes | East Asian wetlands and marshes |
| Red-eyed tree frog | Agalychnis callidryas | Anura | Central American rainforests |
| Red-handed tamarin | Saguinus midas | Primates | Amazon Basin forests |
| Red snapper | Lutjanus campechanus | Perciformes | Western Atlantic reefs and coasts |
| Red-bellied woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Piciformes | Eastern North America woodlands |
| Red wolf | Canis rufus | Carnivora | Southeastern United States (endangered) |
| Reed warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | Passeriformes | Eurasian reedbeds |
| Regent bowerbird | Sericulus chrysocephalus | Passeriformes | Eastern Australia forests |
| Remora | Remora remora | Carangiformes | Tropical seas, attached to larger animals |
| Rhea | Rhea americana | Rheiformes | South American grasslands |
| Rhinoceros beetle | Dynastes hercules | Coleoptera | Neotropical forests |
| River dolphin | Inia | Cetacea | South American rivers, Amazon basin |
| Rock hyrax | Procavia capensis | Hyracoidea | East and Southern Africa rocky outcrops |
| Rockfish | Sebastes | Scorpaeniformes | Temperate reefs and rocky bottoms |
| Rock dove | Columba livia | Columbiformes | Urban areas worldwide |
| Rockhopper penguin | Eudyptes chrysocome | Sphenisciformes | Subantarctic islands |
| Roe deer | Capreolus capreolus | Artiodactyla | Europe and parts of Asia woodlands |
| Rooster | Gallus gallus | Galliformes | Domestic worldwide |
| Roseate spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | Pelecaniformes | Americas wetlands and coasts |
| Ross’s goose | Anser rossii | Anseriformes | Arctic tundra breeders, N. American migrant |
| Rosy boa | Lichanura trivirgata | Squamata | Southwestern U.S. deserts |
| Royal albatross | Diomedea epomophora | Procellariiformes | Southern Ocean, island breeding sites |
| Royal python | Python regius | Squamata | West African savannas |
| Ruddy duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | Anseriformes | North America freshwater marshes |
| Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Charadriiformes | Coastal shores worldwide |
| Ruffed grouse | Bonasa umbellus | Galliformes | North American forests |
| Rufous hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | Apodiformes | Western North America mountains |
| Ring-tailed lemur | Lemur catta | Primates | Madagascar dry forests and scrub |
| Ringed seal | Pusa hispida | Carnivora | Arctic and subarctic sea ice |
| Rook | Corvus frugilegus | Passeriformes | Europe and Asia farmland |
| Ross seal | Ommatophoca rossii | Carnivora | Antarctic pack ice |
| Rock bass | Ambloplites rupestris | Perciformes | North American freshwater rocky areas |
| Round stingray | Urobatis halleri | Myliobatiformes | Eastern Pacific coastal waters |
| Ribbon seal | Histriophoca fasciata | Carnivora | North Pacific and Arctic seas |
| Red-legged pademelon | Thylogale stigmatica | Diprotodontia | Australia and New Guinea forests |
| Red-throated loon | Gavia stellata | Gaviiformes | Arctic coasts, northern lakes |
| Reedfish | Erpetoichthys calabaricus | Polypteriformes | West African slow-moving freshwater |
| Ricefish | Oryzias latipes | Beloniformes | East Asian freshwater rice paddies |
| Ribbon snake | Thamnophis sauritus | Squamata | Eastern North American wetlands |
| Rock ptarmigan | Lagopus muta | Galliformes | Arctic and alpine tundra |
| Rock python | Python sebae | Squamata | African savannas and forests |
| Rattlesnake | Crotalus | Squamata | Americas, arid to forest habitats |
| Red panda | Ailurus fulgens | Carnivora | Eastern Himalaya bamboo forests |
| Red-billed quelea | Quelea quelea | Passeriformes | Sub-Saharan Africa grasslands |
| Redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Passeriformes | Eurasian woodlands and gardens |
| Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Passeriformes | North American forests |
| Red lionfish | Pterois volitans | Scorpaeniformes | Indo-Pacific reefs, invasive Atlantic |
| Reef shark | Carcharhinus | Carcharhiniformes | Tropical reefs worldwide |
| Rain frog | Breviceps | Anura | Southern Africa grasslands and scrub |
| Ratel | Mellivora capensis | Carnivora | Africa and SW Asia varied habitats |
| Rat | Rattus | Rodentia | Worldwide, human-associated |
| Raven | Corvus corax | Passeriformes | Northern Hemisphere varied habitats |
| Red-footed booby | Sula sula | Suliformes | Tropical Pacific and Atlantic islands |
| Red-legged seriema | Cariama cristata | Cariamiformes | South American savannas and grasslands |
| Rock wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | Passeriformes | Rocky deserts of western Americas |
| Ruby-throated hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Apodiformes | Eastern North America, migratory |
| Ruff | Calidris pugnax | Charadriiformes | Eurasian wetlands and coasts |
| Rudd | Scardinius erythrophthalmus | Cypriniformes | European freshwater lakes |
| Rock lobster | Jasus edwardsii | Decapoda | Southern hemisphere rocky reefs |
| Red-backed salamander | Plethodon cinereus | Caudata | Eastern North American forests |
| Red kite | Milvus milvus | Accipitriformes | Europe open countryside |
| River otter | Lontra canadensis | Carnivora | North American rivers and coasts |
| Red-legged partridge | Alectoris rufa | Galliformes | European farmlands and scrub |
| Rook (bird) | Corvus frugilegus | Passeriformes | Farmland and woodlands Europe |
| Ross’s goose | Anser rossii | Anseriformes | Arctic tundra breeders, N. American migrant |
| Rhinoceros auklet? | Cerorhinca monocerata | Charadriiformes | North Pacific coasts |
Descriptions
Raccoon
A nocturnal omnivore famous for its masked face and dexterous front paws; common near water and cities.
Raccoon dog
A doglike canid that stores fat for winter and sometimes appears raccoon-like; omnivorous and adaptable.
Radiated tortoise
A distinctively patterned tortoise with bright radiating shell markings, endangered from habitat loss and pet trade.
Rainbow trout
A colorful, popular sport fish valued in fly-fishing and widely stocked in rivers and lakes.
Rainbow lorikeet
A noisy, brightly colored parrot that feeds largely on nectar and fruit, common in gardens.
Reef manta ray
A gentle giant ray often seen near reefs; filter-feeds on plankton and forms cleaning station aggregations.
Red fox
A cunning omnivore adaptable to forests, fields, and cities, recognizable by its bushy tail and red coat.
Red deer
A large deer species with impressive antlers in males; common in woodlands and open country.
Red kangaroo
The largest marsupial, iconic for hopping locomotion and strong hind legs across Australian plains.
Red squirrel
A small tree squirrel with ear tufts; feeds on seeds and fungi, common in forests.
Red-tailed hawk
A widespread raptor known for its red tail and soaring hunting behavior.
Red-bellied piranha
A schooling freshwater fish with sharp teeth; often sensationalized but generally scavenges and hunts small prey.
Red-breasted merganser
A diving duck with a serrated bill for catching fish; migratory and coastal in winter.
Red-crowned crane
A symbol of longevity and grace; large white crane with a red crown, uses dramatic dances.
Red-eyed tree frog
A striking green tree frog with red eyes and adhesive toe pads, well-known in wildlife photography.
Red-handed tamarin
A small New World monkey with reddish hands and a sociable family structure, often active in canopy.
Red snapper
A prized food fish of warm Atlantic waters, known for pink-red coloration and firm flesh.
Red-bellied woodpecker
A medium woodpecker with a pale belly and a loud call; drums on trees to find insects.
Red wolf
A rare canid historically widespread, now confined to reintroduction and protected populations.
Reed warbler
A small songbird of reeds with a repetitive song; nests among wetland vegetation.
Regent bowerbird
A glossy black bowerbird male with bright yellow mantle; males build elaborate courtship bowers.
Remora
A fish that uses a suction disc to hitch rides on sharks and turtles, feeding on scraps.
Rhea
A large flightless bird resembling an ostrich, grazing open pampas and forming loose groups.
Rhinoceros beetle
A giant scarab with horned males used in fights; one of the strongest insects by weight.
River dolphin
Freshwater dolphins adapted to murky rivers; toothed, small-eyed, and highly maneuverable.
Rock hyrax
A small, thickset mammal living in colonies on rocks; surprisingly related to elephants.
Rockfish
Group of bottom-dwelling fishes valued commercially; many species called rockfish in temperate seas.
Rock dove
The wild ancestor of domestic pigeons, common on cities’ ledges and parks worldwide.
Rockhopper penguin
A small crested penguin known for hopping between rocks and bold head plumes.
Roe deer
A small deer species that is agile and common in woodlands and agricultural edges.
Rooster
A male domestic chicken noted for its crowing and bright plumage; widespread on farms.
Roseate spoonbill
A wading bird with pink plumage and a spatulate bill used to sift small aquatic prey.
Ross’s goose
A small white goose that migrates between Arctic breeding grounds and southern wintering areas.
Rosy boa
A stout, slow-moving snake with smooth scales, often with rosy-brown bands.
Royal albatross
A massive seabird with long wings, famous for long-distance gliding over oceans.
Royal python
Also called ball python, a popular small constrictor prized in the pet trade.
Ruddy duck
A stiff-tailed diving duck with a compact body; males have bright breeding plumage.
Ruddy turnstone
A robust shorebird that flips stones searching for invertebrates along coasts.
Ruffed grouse
A cryptic forest gamebird with a dramatic drumming display by males.
Rufous hummingbird
A feisty migratory hummingbird with rufous coloring, long-distance migrant relative to size.
Ring-tailed lemur
A charismatic lemur with a black-and-white ringed tail and complex social groups.
Ringed seal
A small seal species occupying sea ice, important prey for polar predators.
Rook
A black corvid that nests colonially and forages in fields, related to crows.
Ross seal
A solitary, deep-diving Antarctic seal with a small head and large eyes.
Rock bass
A freshwater sunfish inhabiting rocky lake shores and streams, popular with anglers.
Round stingray
A small, round-bodied stingray common in sandy shallow marine habitats.
Ribbon seal
A striking seal with bold white and dark banding, lives in ice-covered waters.
Red-legged pademelon
A small macropod that hops among dense forest understory, reddish legs give its name.
Red-throated loon
A small, thin-billed diving bird with a distinctive high-pitched call and red throat in breeding plumage.
Reedfish
Also called ropefish; an elongated, lung-like fish kept in aquaria.
Ricefish
Known as medaka, a small model fish in science and traditional rice field habitats.
Ribbon snake
A slender water-loving garter snake with longitudinal stripes, often near ponds.
Rock ptarmigan
A ground-dwelling bird that molts white in winter for camouflage on snow.
Rock python
A large constrictor that ambushes prey and sometimes enters human-modified landscapes.
Rattlesnake
A venomous pit viper group known for a rattling tail alarm and heat-sensing pits.
Red panda
A small, tree-dwelling mammal with reddish fur and a ringed tail, feeds on bamboo and fruits.
Red-billed quelea
The world’s most numerous wild bird species, often forming huge flocks that feed on seeds.
Redstart
A small insectivorous songbird with colorful plumage and lively behavior.
Red-eyed vireo
A vocal songbird that sings persistent phrases from treetops during breeding season.
Red lionfish
A venomous, ornate reef fish now invasive in the Atlantic, preying on small fish and crustaceans.
Reef shark
A group of medium-sized sharks common on reefs, active predators maintaining ecosystem balance.
Rain frog
Small, round-bodied frogs that burrow and produce distinctive calls during rainy seasons.
Ratel
AKA honey badger; fearless omnivore known for toughness and digging prowess.
Rat
A general name for many rodent species in genus Rattus; adaptable, often commensal with humans.
Raven
An intelligent large corvid with a deep croak, adaptable to many environments.
Red-footed booby
A plunge-diving seabird with distinctive red feet, nests on remote islands.
Red-legged seriema
A long-legged bird that runs to catch prey, noted for its loud, rising calls.
Rock wren
A small insectivorous bird that forages among stones and cliffs.
Ruby-throated hummingbird
A small migratory hummingbird with iridescent red throat in males, feeds on nectar.
Ruff
A distinctive shorebird with ornate breeding plumage in males and elaborate lekking behavior.
Rudd
A common Eurasian cyprinid fish with reddish fins, popular with anglers.
Rock lobster
A large spiny lobster species harvested commercially from rocky reefs.
Red-backed salamander
A small terrestrial salamander with a red dorsal stripe, common under logs and leaf litter.
Red kite
A graceful raptor with forked tail, feeds on carrion and small animals.
River otter
A playful semiaquatic mammal hunting fish and crustaceans; often seen sliding on riverbanks.
Red-legged partridge
A game bird with reddish legs and patterned plumage, common in open farmland.
Rook (bird)
A communal corvid that nests in colonies and forages in open fields.
Ross’s goose
A small white goose migrating between Arctic breeding and southern wintering areas.
Rhinoceros auklet?
A diving seabird with a distinctive bill horn in breeding season; nests in burrows on islands.
