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Animal Names

Animals That Start With H (Rare Species Revealed)

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by Emily Wolfe

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You know, it’s really fascinating how the animal kingdom is teeming with creatures whose names start with ‘H’. It’s like opening a treasure trove of biodiversity, each with its unique traits and behaviors. 

You’ve got the hefty hippos lounging in rivers, their massive jaws a sight to behold. And then there’s the humble hedgehog, with its spiky armor, scurrying around gardens at dusk. It’s this mix of the mighty and the modest that makes this group so intriguing.

List Of Animals That Start With H

  • Hippopotamus
  • Hedgehog
  • Hermit Crab
  • Hummingbird
  • Hyena
  • Humpback Whale
  • Harpy Eagle
  • Hamster
  • Hare
  • Hornbill
  • Halibut
  • Hawk
  • Hoatzin
  • Honey Badger
  • Howler Monkey
  • Hyrax
  • Haddock
  • Helmeted Guineafowl
  • Horseshoe Crab
  • Hoverfly
  • Harrier (bird)
  • Harris Hawk
  • Horned Frog
  • Harlequin Fish
  • Himalayan Tahr
  • Hoopoe
  • Hartebeest
  • Hellbender (salamander)
  • Hammerhead Shark
  • Highland Cow

Animals That Start With H (Fun Facts & Species Details)

1. Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

Fun Fact: Hippopotamuses secrete a natural sunscreen called “blood sweat” which is neither blood nor sweat. This red fluid provides protection against germs and sunburn.

Hippopotamus DetailsInformation
Scientific NameHippopotamus amphibius
OriginSub-Saharan Africa
FamilyHippopotamidae

2. Hedgehog

Hedgehog

Fun Fact: Hedgehogs are immune to snake venom, which makes them one of the few mammals with this unique ability.

Hedgehog DetailsInformation
Scientific NameErinaceinae
OriginEurope, Asia, Africa
FamilyErinaceidae

3. Hermit Crab

Hermit Crab

Fun Fact: Hermit crabs don’t grow their own shells. Instead, they find and use discarded shells from other creatures, changing them as they grow.

Hermit Crab DetailsInformation
Scientific NamePaguroidea
OriginWorldwide in oceans
FamilyPaguridae

4. Hummingbird

Hummingbird

Fun Fact: Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards, showcasing their unique and precise flying abilities.

Hummingbird DetailsInformation
Scientific NameTrochilidae
OriginAmericas
FamilyTrochilidae

5. Hyena

Hyena

Fun Fact: Despite their dog-like appearance, hyenas are more closely related to cats and are part of the Feliformia suborder.

Hyena DetailsInformation
Scientific NameHyaenidae
OriginAfrica, Asia
FamilyHyaenidae

6. Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

Fun Fact: Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which can last up to 20 minutes and be heard over great distances underwater.

Humpback Whale DetailsInformation
Scientific NameMegaptera novaeangliae
OriginGlobal oceans
FamilyBalaenopteridae

7. Harpy Eagle

Harpy Eagle

Fun Fact: The harpy eagle is one of the largest and most powerful raptors, capable of lifting prey almost equal to their body weight.

Harpy Eagle DetailsInformation
Scientific NameHarpia harpyja
OriginCentral and South America
FamilyAccipitridae

8. Hamster

Hamster

Fun Fact: Hamsters have expandable cheek pouches which they use to transport food and bedding materials to their burrows.

Hamster DetailsInformation
Scientific NameCricetinae
OriginSyria, Europe, Asia
FamilyCricetidae

9. Hare

Hare

Fun Fact: Unlike rabbits, hares are born with fur and can see at birth, making them more independent from an early age.

Hare DetailsInformation
Scientific NameLepus
OriginWorldwide
FamilyLeporidae

10. Hornbill

Hornbill

Fun Fact: Hornbills are known for their unique breeding behavior where the female is sealed inside a tree cavity with mud by the male during nesting.

Hornbill DetailsInformation
Scientific NameBucerotidae
OriginAfrica, Asia
FamilyBucerotidae

11. Halibut

Fun Fact: Halibuts are among the largest flatfish, and they can weigh up to several hundred pounds. Their eyes migrate to one side of their body as they grow, adapting to their bottom-dwelling lifestyle.

Halibut DetailsInformation
Scientific NameHippoglossus
OriginNorth Pacific and North Atlantic
FamilyPleuronectidae

12. Hawk

Fun Fact: Hawks have incredible vision, being able to see up to eight times more clearly than the sharpest human eye.

Hawk DetailsInformation
Scientific NameAccipitrinae
OriginWorldwide
FamilyAccipitridae

13. Hoatzin

Fun Fact: The hoatzin is often called the “stinkbird” due to its unique, manure-like odor, which is a result of its fermentation-based digestive process.

Hoatzin DetailsInformation
Scientific NameOpisthocomus hoazin
OriginAmazon rainforest
FamilyOpisthocomidae

14. Honey Badger

Fun Fact: Honey badgers are known for their toughness and resilience. They have a reputation for being fearless and have been known to fend off much larger predators.

Honey Badger DetailsInformation
Scientific NameMellivora capensis
OriginAfrica, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East
FamilyMustelidae

15. Howler Monkey

Fun Fact: Howler monkeys are named for their loud howls, which can be heard up to three miles away in the dense forest, making them the loudest monkey species.

Howler Monkey DetailsInformation
Scientific NameAlouatta
OriginSouth and Central America
FamilyAtelidae

16. Hyrax

Fun Fact: Despite their small size and rodent-like appearance, hyraxes are actually more closely related to elephants and manatees.

Hyrax DetailsInformation
Scientific NameProcaviidae
OriginAfrica and the Middle East
FamilyProcaviidae

17. Haddock

Fun Fact: Haddock fish are important commercially and are known for their distinctive dark blotch above the pectoral fin, often humorously referred to as the “Devil’s thumbprint.”

Haddock DetailsInformation
Scientific NameMelanogrammus aeglefinus
OriginNorth Atlantic
FamilyGadidae

18. Helmeted Guineafowl

Fun Fact: The helmeted guineafowl is known for its distinctive helmet-like casque on its head and its loud, clucking calls.

Helmeted Guineafowl DetailsInformation
Scientific NameNumida meleagris
OriginAfrica
FamilyNumididae

19. Horseshoe Crab

Fun Fact: Horseshoe crabs are ancient creatures that have existed for over 450 million years, predating even the dinosaurs.

Horseshoe Crab DetailsInformation
Scientific NameLimulidae
OriginCoastal regions of Asia and North America
FamilyLimulidae

20. Hoverfly

Fun Fact: Hoverflies are adept at hovering in one spot, and they play a vital role in pollination, much like bees.

Hoverfly DetailsInformation
Scientific NameSyrphidae
OriginWorldwide
FamilySyrphidae

21. Harrier (Bird)

Fun Fact: Harriers are unique among hawks for their owl-like facial disks, which help channel sound to their ears for improved hearing while hunting.

Harrier DetailsInformation
Scientific NameCircus
OriginWorldwide, especially open areas
FamilyAccipitridae

22. Harris Hawk

Fun Fact: The Harris Hawk is notable for its remarkable social behavior, often hunting in cooperative groups, a rare trait among raptors.

Harris Hawk DetailsInformation
Scientific NameParabuteo unicinctus
OriginSouthwestern United States to Chile and central Argentina
FamilyAccipitridae

23. Horned Frog

Fun Fact: Horned frogs get their name from the prominent ‘horns’ above their eyes. They’re known for their voracious appetite, capable of eating prey almost as big as themselves.

Horned Frog DetailsInformation
Scientific NameCeratophrys
OriginSouth America
FamilyCeratophryidae

24. Harlequin Fish

Fun Fact: Harlequin fish are small, brightly colored fish known for their distinctively patterned bodies, making them popular in the aquarium trade.

Harlequin Fish DetailsInformation
Scientific NameRasbora heteromorpha
OriginSoutheast Asia
FamilyCyprinidae

25. Himalayan Tahr

Fun Fact: The Himalayan Tahr is a rugged mountain goat with impressive agility, able to navigate steep and rocky terrain with ease.

Himalayan Tahr DetailsInformation
Scientific NameHemitragus jemlahicus
OriginHimalayas
FamilyBovidae

26. Hoopoe

Fun Fact: The Hoopoe is known for its distinctive crown of feathers and its unique “oop-oop-oop” call, from which it gets its name.

Hoopoe DetailsInformation
Scientific NameUpupa epops
OriginEurope, Asia, Africa
FamilyUpupidae

27. Hartebeest

Fun Fact: Hartebeests are known for their speed and endurance, capable of maintaining high speeds over long distances to escape predators.

Hartebeest DetailsInformation
Scientific NameAlcelaphus buselaphus
OriginAfrica
FamilyBovidae

28. Hellbender (Salamander)

Fun Fact: The Hellbender is one of the largest salamanders in North America, known for its wrinkly skin which helps in absorbing oxygen from water.

Hellbender DetailsInformation
Scientific NameCryptobranchus alleganiensis
OriginEastern United States
FamilyCryptobranchidae

29. Hammerhead Shark

Fun Fact: Hammerhead sharks have a distinctive hammer-shaped head which improves their ability to find prey, aiding in maneuverability and sensory perception.

Hammerhead Shark DetailsInformation
Scientific NameSphyrnidae
OriginWorldwide in warmer waters
FamilySphyrnidae

30. Highland Cow

Fun Fact: Highland cows are known for their long, shaggy coats and large horns. These hardy cows are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the Scottish Highlands.

Highland Cow DetailsInformation
Scientific NameBos taurus
OriginScotland
FamilyBovidae
About
Emily Wolfe

Emily is a lifelong animal lover and the founder of PETS CRAZIES. She started this blog after realizing the great need for quality pet information on the internet. Emily has two dogs, a cat, and two rabbits of her own.

She has a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University and is a professional writer specializing in the pet industry. Learn More About Our Team!