This list includes 31 Mammals that start with D, from “Dall Sheep” to “Dwarf Sperm Whale”. Use it as a quick reference for teaching, species identification, writing, or general wildlife research.
Mammals that start with D are diverse warm-blooded vertebrates whose common English names begin with the letter D. They include well-known species like the Dall sheep and surprising entries like the dwarf sperm whale, showing global variety.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, and Habitat.
Common name: The everyday English name helps you quickly recognize species and match field or classroom lists.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise identification you can use when searching databases or citing species.
Order: The taxonomic order places each species in a broader group, helping you see evolutionary relationships.
Habitat: A concise habitat label shows typical environments where you expect to find the species in nature.
Mammals that start with D
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dall’s Porpoise | Phocoenoides dalli | Cetacea | Marine |
| Dall Sheep | Ovis dalli | Artiodactyla | Montane/Alpine |
| Dama Gazelle | Nanger dama | Artiodactyla | Savanna/Desert |
| Darwin’s Fox | Lycalopex fulvipes | Carnivora | Forest |
| Dhole | Cuon alpinus | Carnivora | Forest/Grassland |
| Dugong | Dugong dugon | Sirenia | Marine |
| Dusky Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus obscurus | Cetacea | Marine |
| Dwarf Sperm Whale | Kogia sima | Cetacea | Marine |
| Dwarf Mongoose | Helogale parvula | Carnivora | Savanna/Grassland |
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Rodentia | Forest/Grassland |
| Desert Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys deserti | Rodentia | Desert |
| Desert Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus penicillatus | Rodentia | Desert/Arid |
| Desert Hedgehog | Paraechinus aethiopicus | Eulipotyphla | Desert/Scrub |
| Daubenton’s Bat | Myotis daubentonii | Chiroptera | Forest/Wetland |
| Dusky-footed Woodrat | Neotoma fuscipes | Rodentia | Forest |
| Dusky Leaf Monkey | Trachypithecus obscurus | Primates | Forest |
| Diademed Sifaka | Propithecus diadema | Primates | Forest |
| Diana Monkey | Cercopithecus diana | Primates | Forest |
| De Brazza’s Monkey | Cercopithecus neglectus | Primates | Forest/Wetland |
| Dibbler | Parantechinus apicalis | Dasyuromorphia | Coastal Heath/Scrub |
| Desert Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | Lagomorpha | Desert/Grassland |
| Degu | Octodon degus | Rodentia | Scrub/Grassland |
| Dent’s Shrew | Crocidura denti | Eulipotyphla | Forest/Grassland |
| Donkey | Equus asinus | Perissodactyla | Grassland/Urban |
| Desert Long-eared Bat | Otonycteris hemprichii | Chiroptera | Desert |
| Douglas Squirrel | Tamiasciurus douglasii | Rodentia | Forest |
| Drill | Mandrillus leucophaeus | Primates | Forest |
| Durrell’s Vontsira | Salanoia durrelli | Carnivora | Wetland/Forest |
| Dryas Monkey | Cercopithecus dryas | Primates | Forest |
| Dark Kangaroo Mouse | Microdipodops megacephalus | Rodentia | Desert |
| Desert Shrew | Crocidura deserti | Eulipotyphla | Desert/Arid |
Descriptions
Dall’s Porpoise
Robust black-and-white porpoise of the North Pacific, about 1.8–2.3 m long; fast swimmer. Widespread, Least Concern (IUCN).
Dall Sheep
White wild sheep of Alaska and northwest Canada, inhabits alpine tundra and rocky slopes; sure-footed, medium-sized. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dama Gazelle
Large, long-legged gazelle of the Sahel and Sahara margins with white coat and tan markings; populations severely reduced. Critically Endangered (IUCN).
Darwin’s Fox
Small forest fox endemic to Chile (Chiloé Island and mainland); dark coat and secretive. Endangered (IUCN).
Dhole
Social wild dog of South and Southeast Asia with reddish coat and rounded ears; cooperative hunter. Endangered (IUCN).
Dugong
Tropical Indo-Pacific marine herbivore that grazes seagrass; long, fusiform body. Vulnerable (IUCN).
Dusky Dolphin
Small, agile dolphin of temperate Southern Hemisphere waters, dark back and pale belly; often in coastal pods. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dwarf Sperm Whale
Small, deep-diving toothed whale found in tropical/subtropical oceans, resembles a miniature sperm whale. Data Deficient (IUCN).
Dwarf Mongoose
Tiny, social mongoose of sub‑Saharan Africa; agile and diurnal. Least Concern (IUCN).
Deer Mouse
Widespread North American small rodent with large eyes and ears; adaptable to many habitats. Least Concern (IUCN).
Desert Kangaroo Rat
Large-hindleg hopping rodent of SW North American deserts; nocturnal and saltatorial. Least Concern (IUCN).
Desert Pocket Mouse
Nocturnal desert rodent of the American Southwest; small, sandy-colored, cheek pouches. Least Concern (IUCN).
Desert Hedgehog
Small hedgehog across North Africa and the Middle East; spiny coat and nocturnal forager. Least Concern (IUCN).
Daubenton’s Bat
Eurasian insectivorous bat often foraging over water; pale underparts, 4–9 g. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dusky-footed Woodrat
Packrat native to Pacific coastal forests of North America; builds stick houses and middens. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dusky Leaf Monkey
Medium-sized colobine of Southeast Asia with dark fur and pale cheeks; arboreal folivore. Vulnerable (IUCN).
Diademed Sifaka
Large, striking lemur of eastern Madagascar with white and dark fur; powerful leaper. Endangered (IUCN).
Diana Monkey
West African forest monkey with striking facial markings and long tail; hunted locally. Endangered (IUCN).
De Brazza’s Monkey
Secretive, stout monkey of central African forests and swamps with white beard and orange crown. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dibbler
Small carnivorous marsupial from southwestern Australia, mouse-sized with pointed snout; rare relict populations. Endangered (IUCN).
Desert Cottontail
Common cottontail rabbit of western North America, adapted to arid habitats with large ears. Least Concern (IUCN).
Degu
Social, diurnal rodent native to central Chile with rounded ears and bushy tail; kept in captivity. Least Concern (IUCN).
Dent’s Shrew
Small insectivorous shrew of parts of West and Central Africa; plain brown fur and high metabolism. Least Concern (IUCN).
Donkey
Domesticated equid originating from African wild ass; widespread worldwide as working animal. Domesticated/Introduced.
Desert Long-eared Bat
Large-eared insectivorous bat of arid regions from N Africa to Central Asia; hunts over sparse vegetation. Least Concern (IUCN).
Douglas Squirrel
Medium tree squirrel of Pacific coastal North America with reddish or dark fur; agile climber. Least Concern (IUCN).
Drill
Large West African primate with a powerful build and short mane; closely related to mandrill. Endangered (IUCN).
Durrell’s Vontsira
Small, mongoose-like carnivore known from Madagascar wetlands; recently described and rare. Endangered (IUCN).
Dryas Monkey
Rare central African monkey (Democratic Republic of Congo), long limbs and slender build; limited range. Endangered (IUCN).
Dark Kangaroo Mouse
Small hopping rodent of the Great Basin, USA, dark dorsal fur and nocturnal habits. Least Concern (IUCN).
Desert Shrew
Tiny shrew of North African and Middle Eastern deserts, insectivorous and adapted to aridity. Least Concern (IUCN)
