This list includes 39 Mammals that start with N, from “Nabarlek” to “Nyala”. You can use it for class projects, species reference, or quick checks for writing and teaching. These mammals range from small marsupials and rodents to antelopes and bats, across diverse habitats.
Mammals that start with N are species in the class Mammalia whose common English names begin with the letter N. Some, like the nyala, appear frequently in regional culture and attract wildlife watchers and photographers.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, Habitat, Range, and Conservation status.
Common name: The familiar English name helps you identify the species quickly and match field or educational sources.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives a precise universal identifier you can use in research and citations.
Order: The taxonomic order groups related species, helping you see broad evolutionary and ecological relationships.
Habitat: A concise habitat label tells you the typical environment where the species lives and is observed.
Range: A short geographic summary helps you understand where the species occurs and guides further study.
Conservation status: A brief status note shows current population risk and helps prioritize learning or conservation interest.
Mammals that start with N
| Common name | Scientific name | Order | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked mole-rat | Heterocephalus glaber | Rodentia | subterranean |
| Nabarlek | Petrogale concinna | Diprotodontia | savanna |
| Numbat | Myrmecobius fasciatus | Dasyuromorphia | forest |
| Nine-banded armadillo | Dasypus novemcinctus | Cingulata | grassland |
| North American beaver | Castor canadensis | Rodentia | freshwater |
| North American porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | Rodentia | forest |
| Norway rat | Rattus norvegicus | Rodentia | urban |
| Nutria | Myocastor coypus | Rodentia | wetland |
| Nilgai | Boselaphus tragocamelus | Artiodactyla | savanna |
| Nilgiri tahr | Nilgiritragus hylocrius | Artiodactyla | montane |
| Nilgiri langur | Semnopithecus johnii | Primates | forest |
| Nyala | Tragelaphus angasii | Artiodactyla | savanna |
| Nubian ibex | Capra nubiana | Artiodactyla | montane |
| Northern muriqui | Brachyteles hypoxanthus | Primates | forest |
| Northern hairy-nosed wombat | Lasiorhinus krefftii | Diprotodontia | grassland |
| Northern quoll | Dasyurus hallucatus | Dasyuromorphia | savanna |
| Northern tamandua | Tamandua mexicana | Pilosa | forest |
| Northern bottlenose whale | Hyperoodon ampullatus | Cetacea | marine |
| Northern right whale dolphin | Lissodelphis borealis | Cetacea | marine |
| Northern fur seal | Callorhinus ursinus | Carnivora | marine |
| Northern elephant seal | Mirounga angustirostris | Carnivora | marine |
| North Atlantic right whale | Eubalaena glacialis | Cetacea | marine |
| North Pacific right whale | Eubalaena japonica | Cetacea | marine |
| North American river otter | Lontra canadensis | Carnivora | freshwater |
| Neotropical otter | Lontra longicaudis | Carnivora | freshwater |
| New Zealand fur seal | Arctocephalus forsteri | Carnivora | marine |
| New Zealand sea lion | Phocarctos hookeri | Carnivora | marine |
| New Guinean quoll | Dasyurus albopunctatus | Dasyuromorphia | forest |
| Natterer’s bat | Myotis nattereri | Chiroptera | forest |
| Nathusius’s pipistrelle | Pipistrellus nathusii | Chiroptera | forest |
| Noctule | Nyctalus noctula | Chiroptera | forest |
| Northern pudu | Pudu mephistophiles | Artiodactyla | forest |
| Natal multimammate mouse | Mastomys natalensis | Rodentia | grassland |
| Narrow-striped mongoose | Mungotictis decemlineata | Carnivora | forest |
| Nicobar treeshrew | Tupaia nicobarica | Scandentia | forest |
| Northern long-eared bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Chiroptera | forest |
| Northern pygmy mouse | Baiomys taylori | Rodentia | grassland |
| New Holland mouse | Pseudomys novaehollandiae | Rodentia | grassland |
| Northern red-backed vole | Myodes rutilus | Rodentia | forest |
Descriptions
Naked mole-rat
Eusocial burrower from East Africa, hairless with wrinkled skin and long incisors; famous for cancer resistance and social colonies (IUCN; Mammal Diversity Database).
Nabarlek
Small rock-wallaby from northern Australia, lives among sandstone escarpments and feeds on grasses; elusive and regionally restricted (IUCN).
Numbat
Ant-eating marsupial from southwestern Australia with striking stripes; endangered due to predation and habitat loss (IUCN).
Nine-banded armadillo
Small armored mammal native to the Americas, noted for rolling in burrows and expanding range northward; Least Concern but habitat dependent (IUCN).
North American beaver
Large semi-aquatic rodent that builds dams and lodges across North America; keystone ecosystem engineer (IUCN).
North American porcupine
Large New World porcupine with quills; inhabits forests from Canada to the US, primarily herbivorous (IUCN).
Norway rat
Widespread commensal rodent, common in cities worldwide; adaptable omnivore often studied in labs (IUCN).
Nutria
Large South American rodent introduced globally; semi-aquatic, damages wetland vegetation and is invasive in many regions (IUCN).
Nilgai
Large antelope native to the Indian subcontinent, often called blue bull; grazes open scrub and grasslands (IUCN).
Nilgiri tahr
Endemic ungulate of India’s Western Ghats; mountain-dwelling, endangered due to small populations and habitat loss (IUCN).
Nilgiri langur
Black-faced leaf-eating monkey endemic to Western Ghats forests; threatened by habitat loss and hunting (IUCN).
Nyala
Colorful spiral-horned antelope of southern Africa; browsers inhabiting dense woodland and savanna margins (IUCN).
Nubian ibex
Desert-adapted wild goat with impressive curved horns, inhabits rocky mountains of North Africa and Arabia (IUCN).
Northern muriqui
One of the world’s largest New World monkeys from Brazil’s Atlantic forest; critically endangered with fragmented populations (IUCN).
Northern hairy-nosed wombat
Critically endangered large burrowing marsupial from Australia with a tiny wild population; vulnerable to habitat change (IUCN).
Northern quoll
Small carnivorous marsupial of northern Australia; declining from feral predators and habitat loss (IUCN).
Northern tamandua
Medium anteater native to Central and parts of South America; arboreal insectivore with prehensile tail (IUCN).
Northern bottlenose whale
Deep-diving beaked whale of North Atlantic waters, notable for bulbous forehead and social pods (IUCN).
Northern right whale dolphin
Sleek, earless dolphin of North Pacific temperate waters, travels in large, active groups (IUCN).
Northern fur seal
Pinniped breeding on North Pacific islands, valued historically for fur; populations vary regionally (IUCN).
Northern elephant seal
Large pinniped of Pacific coasts; males have inflatable proboscis and large seasonal haul-outs (IUCN).
North Atlantic right whale
Massive baleen whale in North Atlantic coastal waters, critically endangered due to ship strikes and entanglement (IUCN).
North Pacific right whale
Rare baleen whale of North Pacific; small, fragmented populations and severely threatened (IUCN).
North American river otter
Playful semi-aquatic mustelid in rivers and lakes across North America; indicator of healthy waterways (IUCN).
Neotropical otter
Medium-sized otter of Central and South American rivers; vulnerable to habitat degradation and hunting (IUCN).
New Zealand fur seal
Pinniped native to New Zealand and southern Australia; breeds on rocky coasts and islands (IUCN).
New Zealand sea lion
Endemic pinniped with small, mostly New Zealand populations; conservation concern due to disease and fisheries interactions (IUCN).
New Guinean quoll
Carnivorous marsupial endemic to New Guinea forests; nocturnal predator of small vertebrates and invertebrates (IUCN).
Natterer’s bat
Medium European bat that forages over woodland edges and hedgerows; insectivorous and common in parts of its range (IUCN).
Nathusius’s pipistrelle
Migratory pipistrelle bat of Europe and Asia, crosses long distances between breeding and wintering sites (IUCN).
Noctule
Large European bat often seen at dusk; hunts aerial insects over woodlands and open areas (IUCN).
Northern pudu
Smallest deer species, native to Andean cloud forests; solitary and elusive, range in high-elevation forests (IUCN).
Natal multimammate mouse
Widespread African rodent, prolific breeder and important disease reservoir (e.g., Lassa virus); common in savannas and near human settlements (IUCN).
Narrow-striped mongoose
Endemic Malagasy carnivore with distinctive stripes; arboreal-inclined and threatened by deforestation (IUCN).
Nicobar treeshrew
Tree-dwelling treeshrew endemic to Nicobar Islands; insectivorous and restricted to island forests (IUCN).
Northern long-eared bat
Small insectivorous bat of North America; impacted by white-nose syndrome and habitat loss (IUCN).
Northern pygmy mouse
Tiny mouse of northern Mexico and southern US; occupies grassy and shrubby habitats (Mammal Diversity Database; IUCN).
New Holland mouse
Small Australian rodent found in heath and grassland; locally endangered from habitat fragmentation and fire regime changes (IUCN).
Northern red-backed vole
Small vole across northern boreal forests of Eurasia and North America; important prey in cold ecosystems (IUCN).
