Animal Names

Animals That Start With R (Wildlife Exploration Awaits)

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by Emily Wolfe

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Discovering animals that start with ‘R’ can be quite the adventure. It’s like a treasure hunt in the vast world of wildlife. You’ve got the regal rhinoceros, robust in its armor-like skin, and then there’s the raccoon, a sneaky little fellow with a knack for mischief. 

Remember the red panda? Absolutely adorable, but often overshadowed by its black-and-white cousin. The range of these creatures is fascinating, from the rainforest canopies to the harsh desert landscapes.

List Of Animals That Start With R

  • Rhinoceros
  • Raccoon
  • Red Panda
  • Robin
  • Reindeer
  • Rattlesnake
  • Roadrunner
  • Rosella (bird)
  • Red Kangaroo
  • Ring-tailed Lemur
  • Red Fox
  • Rockhopper Penguin
  • Ragdoll Cat (breed)
  • Russian Blue (cat breed)
  • Rottweiler (dog breed)
  • Redbelly Snake
  • Razorbill
  • Red-Eyed Tree Frog
  • Rhea (bird)
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • River Dolphin
  • Rock Python
  • Red Admiral (butterfly)
  • Roseate Spoonbill
  • Royal Penguin
  • Rough Green Snake
  • Rufous Hummingbird
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Russell’s Viper
  • Red-backed Shrike

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

1. Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros

Fun Fact: Some rhinoceros species can run up to 30-40 mph, surprising given their massive size.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameRhinocerotidae family (specific species vary)
OriginAfrica, South and Southeast Asia
FamilyRhinocerotidae

2. Raccoon

Raccoon

Fun Fact: Raccoons are known for their intelligence, with studies showing they can remember solutions to tasks for up to three years.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameProcyon lotor
OriginNorth America
FamilyProcyonidae

3. Red Panda

Red Panda

Fun Fact: Despite their name, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas but rather to raccoons and weasels.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameAilurus fulgens
OriginEastern Himalayas, Southwestern China
FamilyAiluridae

4. Robin

Robin

Fun Fact: The American Robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameTurdus migratorius (American Robin)
OriginNorth America
FamilyTurdidae

5. Reindeer

Reindeer

Fun Fact: Reindeer are the only type of deer where both males and females can grow antlers.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameRangifer tarandus
OriginArctic and Subarctic regions
FamilyCervidae

6. Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake

Fun Fact: The rattlesnake’s rattle is made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameCrotalus and Sistrurus (genus)
OriginAmericas
FamilyViperidae

7. Roadrunner

Roadrunner

Fun Fact: The roadrunner can run up to 20 mph and is known for its running ability to catch prey.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameGeococcyx californianus (Greater Roadrunner)
OriginSouthwestern United States, Mexico
FamilyCuculidae

8. Rosella

Rosella

Fun Fact: Rosellas are known for their vibrant plumage and melodic calls.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameGenus Platycercus
OriginAustralia and nearby islands
FamilyPsittaculidae

9. Red Kangaroo

Red Kangaroo

Fun Fact: The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial and can leap up to 30 feet in a single bound.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameMacropus rufus
OriginAustralia
FamilyMacropodidae

10. Ring-tailed Lemur

Ring-tailed Lemur

Fun Fact: Ring-tailed lemurs have scent glands on their wrists which they use to mark their territory.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameLemur catta
OriginMadagascar
FamilyLemuridae

11. Red Fox

Fun Fact: Red foxes have an amazing ability to hear low-frequency sounds, which helps them locate small animals burrowing underground.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameVulpes vulpes
OriginGlobal distribution, native to every continent except Antarctica
FamilyCanidae

12. Rockhopper Penguin

Fun Fact: Known for their distinctive yellow and black plumes, rockhopper penguins are one of the smallest penguin species.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameEudyptes chrysocome
OriginSubantarctic regions
FamilySpheniscidae

13. Ragdoll Cat (breed)

Fun Fact: Ragdolls are known for their docile and placid temperament, often going limp when picked up, hence the name ‘Ragdoll’.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameFelis catus (Ragdoll breed)
OriginUnited States
FamilyFelidae

14. Russian Blue (cat breed)

Fun Fact: Russian Blues are famous for their dense, soft, and silvery-blue fur and striking green eyes.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameFelis catus (Russian Blue breed)
OriginRussia
FamilyFelidae

15. Rottweiler (dog breed)

Fun Fact: Historically, Rottweilers were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat to market.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameCanis lupus familiaris (Rottweiler breed)
OriginGermany
FamilyCanidae

16. Redbelly Snake

Fun Fact: Redbelly snakes are non-venomous and known for their unique defense mechanism of curling up and showing their red belly.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameStoreria occipitomaculata
OriginNorth America
FamilyColubridae

17. Razorbill

Fun Fact: Razorbills, part of the auk family, are deep divers and can swim underwater using their wings to ‘fly’ beneath the surface.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameAlca torda
OriginNorth Atlantic
FamilyAlcidae

18. Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Fun Fact: Famous for their vibrant colors and red eyes, these frogs are not poisonous, unlike many other brightly colored amphibians.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameAgalychnis callidryas
OriginCentral America
FamilyHylidae

19. Rhea (bird)

Fun Fact: Rheas are large, flightless birds, similar to ostriches and emus, and are known for their fast running speed.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameRhea americana (American Rhea)
OriginSouth America
FamilyRheidae

20. Red-winged Blackbird

Fun Fact: The male red-winged blackbird is easily recognizable by its bright red shoulder patches, which are displayed during courtship.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameAgelaius phoeniceus
OriginNorth and Central America
FamilyIcteridae

21. River Dolphin

Fun Fact: River dolphins, unlike their oceanic counterparts, often have a more flexible neck, allowing them to move their head side to side.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameFamilies Platanistidae, Iniidae, Pontoporiidae (species vary)
OriginSouth Asia, South America
FamilyCetacea

22. Rock Python

Fun Fact: The African rock python is one of the largest snake species in Africa and is known for its incredible strength.

DetailInformation
Scientific NamePython sebae (African Rock Python)
OriginSub-Saharan Africa
FamilyPythonidae

23. Red Admiral (butterfly)

Fun Fact: The red admiral butterfly is known for its migratory behavior and can travel long distances.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameVanessa atalanta
OriginNorth America, Europe, Asia
FamilyNymphalidae

24. Roseate Spoonbill

Fun Fact: The roseate spoonbill gets its pink color from the food it eats, similar to how flamingos get their pink hue.

DetailInformation
Scientific NamePlatalea ajaja
OriginSouth America, Coastal regions of the Caribbean, Southeast USA
FamilyThreskiornithidae

25. Royal Penguin

Fun Fact: Royal penguins are unique to the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and are known for their distinctive white faces.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameEudyptes schlegeli
OriginMacquarie Island
FamilySpheniscidae

26. Rough Green Snake

Fun Fact: The rough green snake is an excellent climber and spends most of its time in trees and bushes.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameOpheodrys aestivus
OriginUnited States, Northern Mexico
FamilyColubridae

27. Rufous Hummingbird

Fun Fact: The rufous hummingbird is known for its remarkable long-distance migratory journey, traveling over 3,000 miles from Alaska to Mexico.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameSelasphorus rufus
OriginWestern North America
FamilyTrochilidae

28. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Fun Fact: Despite its name, the red-bellied woodpecker’s most prominent feature is the red stripe along its head and neck.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameMelanerpes carolinus
OriginEastern United States
FamilyPicidae

29. Russell’s Viper

Fun Fact: Russell’s viper is one of the most dangerous snakes in Asia, known for its potent venom and aggressive nature.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameDaboia russelii
OriginAsia
FamilyViperidae

30. Red-backed Shrike

Fun Fact: The red-backed shrike is often called the “butcher bird” due to its habit of impaling its prey on thorns or barbed wire.

DetailInformation
Scientific NameLanius collurio
OriginEurope and Asia
FamilyLaniidae
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!