Animal Names

Animals That Start With N (Curious Creatures Uncovered)

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by Emily Wolfe

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You know, finding animals that start with ‘N’ can be a bit of a head-scratcher, right? It’s not like ‘A’ or ‘B’, where examples just jump out at you. But isn’t it fascinating how certain letters challenge our knowledge of the animal kingdom? 

This mix of curiosity and a bit of frustration is what makes this topic so intriguing. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a good challenge now and then? It’s like a mini adventure in the vast world of wildlife.

List Of Animals That Start With N

  • Narwhal
  • Numbat
  • Nene Goose
  • Nightingale
  • Nuthatch
  • Newt
  • Nyala
  • Nighthawk
  • Nurse Shark
  • Nutria
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Nubian Ibex
  • Nilgai
  • Nandu (Rhea)
  • Northern Pike
  • Nautilus
  • Newfoundland Dog
  • Norwegian Forest Cat
  • Natterjack Toad
  • Neapolitan Mastiff
  • Northern Flicker
  • Nubian Goat
  • Nile Crocodile
  • Northern Gannet
  • Nalolo (a type of fish)
  • Nicator (a genus of birds)
  • Northern Shoveler (a duck species)
  • Nase (a type of freshwater fish)
  • Noctule (a type of bat)
  • Napu (a type of deer)

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

1. Narwhal

Narwhal
  • Fun Fact: Narwhals are often referred to as the ‘unicorns of the sea’ due to their long, spiral tusk, which is actually an elongated tooth.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameMonodon monoceros
OriginArctic waters around Greenland, Canada, and Russia
FamilyMonodontidae

2. Numbat

Numbat
  • Fun Fact: Numbats are unique among marsupials because they are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, not at night.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameMyrmecobius fasciatus
OriginWestern Australia
FamilyMyrmecobiidae

3. Nene Goose

Nene Goose
  • Fun Fact: The Nene Goose is Hawaii’s state bird and has adapted to life on the volcanic islands, unlike other geese typically found in wetlands.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameBranta sandvicensis
OriginHawaiian Islands
FamilyAnatidae

4. Nightingale

Nightingale
  • Fun Fact: Nightingales are famous for their powerful and beautiful song, which has inspired poets and musicians for centuries.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameLuscinia megarhynchos
OriginEurope and West Asia
FamilyMuscicapidae

5. Nuthatch

Nuthatch
  • Fun Fact: Nuthatches have the unique ability to walk down trees headfirst, unlike most other birds which can only go upwards.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameSitta europaea
OriginNorth America, Europe, and Asia
FamilySittidae

6. Newt

Newt
  • Fun Fact: Newts can regenerate lost limbs, eyes, spinal cords, hearts, intestines, and upper and lower jaws.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameVaries by species
OriginNorth America, Europe, and Asia
FamilySalamandridae

7. Nyala

Nyala
  • Fun Fact: The male Nyala has long, spiraled horns and a shaggy mane, while the female is smaller and hornless with a more reddish coat.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameTragelaphus angasii
OriginSouthern Africa
FamilyBovidae

8. Nighthawk

Nighthawk
  • Fun Fact: Nighthawks are not actually hawks. They are nocturnal birds known for their distinct booming call at dusk and dawn.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameChordeiles minor
OriginNorth and South America
FamilyCaprimulgidae

9. Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
  • Fun Fact: Nurse sharks are known for their docile nature and are often found resting on the ocean floor during the day.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameGinglymostoma cirratum
OriginWestern Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans
FamilyGinglymostomatidae

10. Nutria

Nutria
  • Fun Fact: Nutrias, also known as coypus, have webbed hind feet and are excellent swimmers.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameMyocastor coypus
OriginSouth America
FamilyEchimyidae

11. Northern Cardinal

  • Fun Fact: The Northern Cardinal is known for its bright red plumage and melodic song, which is why it’s a favorite among birdwatchers.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCardinalis cardinalis
OriginNorth America
FamilyCardinalidae

12. Nubian Ibex

  • Fun Fact: The Nubian Ibex, a desert-dwelling goat, is known for its impressive curved horns, which can grow up to 1.2 meters in males.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCapra nubiana
OriginNortheastern Africa and the Middle East
FamilyBovidae

13. Nilgai

  • Fun Fact: The Nilgai is the largest Asian antelope and is notable for its robust body and slender legs.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameBoselaphus tragocamelus
OriginIndian subcontinent
FamilyBovidae

14. Nandu (Rhea)

  • Fun Fact: The Nandu, or Greater Rhea, is a large, flightless bird similar to an ostrich but smaller, native to South America.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameRhea americana
OriginSouth America
FamilyRheidae

15. Northern Pike

  • Fun Fact: Northern Pike are aggressive freshwater fish known for their elongated bodies and sharp teeth, making them formidable predators.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameEsox lucius
OriginNorthern Hemisphere
FamilyEsocidae

16. Nautilus

  • Fun Fact: The Nautilus is a marine mollusk with a beautiful spiral shell, and it hasn’t changed much in over 500 million years.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameNautilus pompilius
OriginIndo-Pacific region
FamilyNautilidae

17. Newfoundland Dog

  • Fun Fact: Newfoundland Dogs are known for their giant size, immense strength, and swimming ability, often used for water rescues.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris
OriginCanada (Newfoundland)
FamilyCanidae

18. Norwegian Forest Cat

  • Fun Fact: The Norwegian Forest Cat is a hardy, large breed known for its lush coat, suited for the cold Scandinavian climate.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameFelis catus
OriginNorway
FamilyFelidae

19. Natterjack Toad

  • Fun Fact: Natterjack Toads are distinguished by a yellow line down their back and are known for their distinctive, loud mating call.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameEpidalea calamita
OriginWestern Europe
FamilyBufonidae

20. Neapolitan Mastiff

  • Fun Fact: The Neapolitan Mastiff is famous for its massive size and wrinkled face, originally bred by the Romans as a guard dog.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris
OriginItaly
FamilyCanidae

21. Northern Flicker

  • Fun Fact: The Northern Flicker is a type of woodpecker known for its loud drumming on metal objects during the mating season, often mistaken for construction noise.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameColaptes auratus
OriginNorth America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands
FamilyPicidae

22. Nubian Goat

  • Fun Fact: Nubian Goats are known for their long, floppy ears and are highly prized for their high-quality milk, which has more butterfat content.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCapra aegagrus hircus
OriginMiddle East and North Africa
FamilyBovidae

23. Nile Crocodile

  • Fun Fact: The Nile Crocodile is one of the most feared and respected members of the crocodile family, known for its incredible strength and predatory skills.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameCrocodylus niloticus
OriginAfrica
FamilyCrocodylidae

24. Northern Gannet

  • Fun Fact: Northern Gannets are spectacular divers, plunging into the ocean at high speeds to catch fish, often from heights of 30 meters.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameMorus bassanus
OriginNorth Atlantic coasts
FamilySulidae

25. Nalolo (a type of fish)

  • Fun Fact: The Nalolo is a small, colorful fish known for its unique ability to change colors, helping it blend into coral environments.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameEcsenius nalolo
OriginWestern Pacific Ocean
FamilyBlenniidae

26. Nicator (a genus of birds)

  • Fun Fact: Birds in the Nicator genus are known for their loud and melodious songs, making them a delightful presence in their natural habitats.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameNicator
OriginSub-Saharan Africa
FamilyNicatoridae

27. Northern Shoveler (a duck species)

  • Fun Fact: The Northern Shoveler is easily recognizable by its large, spoon-shaped bill, used to sift food from the water.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameAnas clypeata
OriginWidely distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia
FamilyAnatidae

28. Nase (a type of freshwater fish)

  • Fun Fact: The Nase is known for its distinctive downward-facing mouth, adapted for scraping algae off rocks.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameChondrostoma nasus
OriginRivers in Europe
FamilyCyprinidae

29. Noctule (a type of bat)

  • Fun Fact: The Noctule is one of the largest bats in Europe and is known for its fast and powerful flight, often flying at high altitudes.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameNyctalus noctula
OriginEurope and Asia
FamilyVespertilionidae

30. Napu (a type of deer)

  • Fun Fact: The Napu, or Greater Mouse-Deer, is known for its small size and delicate features, resembling a tiny deer with a mouse-like face.
AttributeDetail
Scientific NameTragulus napu
OriginSoutheast Asia
FamilyTragulidae
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!