You know, it’s quite a task to keep track of all the animals that start with ‘S’. It’s like trying to remember all your distant relatives at a family reunion! From the slithering snake to the swift-footed squirrel, the animal kingdom is brimming with these ‘S’ starters.
It’s a bit of a brain teaser, isn’t it? Sometimes, you find yourself scratching your head, wondering, “What on earth is another animal that starts with S?” But that’s the beauty of it – there’s always something new to discover.
List Of Animals That Start With S
- Sloth
- Shark
- Swan
- Squirrel
- Salamander
- Seahorse
- Skunk
- Sparrow
- Scorpion
- Starfish
- Stingray
- Snow Leopard
- Sloth Bear
- Saiga
- Serval
- Sunfish
- Swordfish
- Shrimp
- Snail
- Sandpiper
- Sea Urchin
- Sea Lion
- Sidewinder (Snake)
- Sugar Glider
- Saker Falcon
- Silkworm
- Siamang
- Sea Anemone
- Stinkbug
- Siberian Tiger
Animals That Start With S (Fun Facts & Species Details)
1. Sloth
Fun Fact: Sloths are known for their slow movement, but did you know they only defecate once a week? This is because their slow metabolism makes food digestion a lengthy process.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Folivora |
Origin | Central and South America |
Family | Bradypodidae (Three-toed sloths), Megalonychidae (Two-toed sloths) |
2. Shark
Fun Fact: Some shark species, like the Greenland shark, can live for hundreds of years. The Greenland shark is currently the longest-living vertebrate known on Earth.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Selachimorpha |
Origin | Worldwide oceans |
Family | Multiple families including Carcharhinidae, Lamnidae, Sphyrnidae |
3. Swan
Fun Fact: Swans are among the largest flying birds. The trumpeter swan can have a wingspan over 3 meters (10 feet).
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Cygnus |
Origin | Northern Hemisphere |
Family | Anatidae |
4. Squirrel
Fun Fact: Squirrels can find food buried beneath a foot of snow. They have a keen sense of smell which helps them locate their hidden caches of nuts and seeds.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Sciuridae |
Origin | Worldwide, except Australia and Antarctica |
Family | Sciuridae |
5. Salamander
Fun Fact: Some salamander species can regenerate lost limbs and other body parts, a trait that fascinates scientists for its potential applications in human medicine.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Caudata |
Origin | Northern Hemisphere |
Family | Multiple families including Ambystomatidae, Salamandridae |
6. Seahorse
Fun Fact: Seahorses are the only animal species in which the male experiences pregnancy and gives birth to the offspring.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Hippocampus |
Origin | Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters |
Family | Syngnathidae |
7. Skunk
Fun Fact: Skunks are famous for their defensive spray, which is a highly effective deterrent. The spray can reach up to 10 feet and the smell can be detected up to 1.5 miles away.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Mephitidae |
Origin | Americas |
Family | Mephitidae |
8. Sparrow
Fun Fact: Sparrows are highly social and often found in large flocks. In urban areas, they’re known to use human-made structures for nesting.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Passeridae |
Origin | Worldwide |
Family | Passeridae |
9. Scorpion
Fun Fact: Scorpions can survive a year without food. They have a highly efficient metabolism that allows them to conserve energy.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Scorpiones |
Origin | Worldwide, especially in deserts and tropical regions |
Family | Multiple families including Buthidae, Scorpionidae |
10. Starfish
Fun Fact: Starfish can regenerate lost arms, and in some cases, an entire new starfish can grow from a single severed limb.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Asteroidea |
Origin | Worldwide oceans |
Family | Multiple families including Asteriidae, Ophidiasteridae |
11. Stingray
Fun Fact: Stingrays have a sixth sense! Besides their five traditional senses, they can detect the electrical charges emitted by their prey using special sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Myliobatiformes |
Origin | Worldwide in coastal waters |
Family | Multiple families including Dasyatidae, Myliobatidae |
12. Snow Leopard
Fun Fact: Snow leopards are unable to roar, a trait that sets them apart from other big cats. Their thick fur and long tail help them survive in the harsh mountainous climates of Central Asia.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Panthera uncia |
Origin | Central and South Asia |
Family | Felidae |
13. Sloth Bear
Fun Fact: Sloth bears primarily eat termites and ants, and they have a unique way of eating: they blow away dirt and then suck up the insects with their lips, which act like a vacuum cleaner.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Melursus ursinus |
Origin | Indian subcontinent |
Family | Ursidae |
14. Saiga
Fun Fact: The saiga antelope has an unusual oversized, flexible nose structure, which helps filter out dust and regulate their blood temperature in the extreme climates of the Eurasian steppes.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Saiga tatarica |
Origin | Eurasian steppes |
Family | Bovidae |
15. Serval
Fun Fact: Servals are known for their remarkable jumping ability. They can leap more than 2 meters (6 feet) in the air to catch birds in flight.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Leptailurus serval |
Origin | Africa |
Family | Felidae |
16. Sunfish
Fun Fact: The ocean sunfish, or mola mola, is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. It can weigh up to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds)!
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Mola mola |
Origin | Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters |
Family | Molidae |
17. Swordfish
Fun Fact: Swordfish are among the fastest fish in the ocean. They can swim at speeds up to 97 km/h (60 mph) and use their long, sword-like bill to slash at their prey.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Xiphias gladius |
Origin | Worldwide oceans |
Family | Xiphiidae |
18. Shrimp
Fun Fact: Some species of shrimp can make a loud snapping sound with their claws, so loud that it can stun or even kill small fish.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Decapoda |
Origin | Worldwide in marine and freshwater habitats |
Family | Multiple families including Caridea, Dendrobranchiata |
19. Snail
Fun Fact: Snails can sleep for up to three years if the weather is not suitable for their survival. They are also known for their slow movement and unique ability to regenerate a lost body part.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Gastropoda |
Origin | Worldwide |
Family | Multiple families including Helicidae, Achatinidae |
20. Sandpiper
Fun Fact: Sandpipers have a unique hunting technique. They use their beaks to detect and capture prey hidden in the wet sand, often appearing to dance as they hunt.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Scolopacidae |
Origin | Worldwide, especially near water bodies |
Family | Scolopacidae |
21. Sea Urchin
Fun Fact: Sea urchins have no eyes, yet they can see with their entire body. Their spines and tube feet are sensitive to light, helping them navigate their environment.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Echinoidea |
Origin | Worldwide oceans |
Family | Multiple families including Strongylocentrotidae, Echinidae |
22. Sea Lion
Fun Fact: Sea lions are highly social animals and can often be seen sunbathing in large groups on shorelines. They are also known for their loud barks.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Otariidae |
Origin | Pacific coastlines |
Family | Otariidae |
23. Sidewinder (Snake)
Fun Fact: The sidewinder snake moves in a unique sideways motion, which helps it navigate and minimize contact with the hot desert sand.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Crotalus cerastes |
Origin | Deserts of Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico |
Family | Viperidae |
24. Sugar Glider
Fun Fact: Sugar gliders are nocturnal marsupials that can glide for distances of over 50 meters (160 feet) between trees, using a membrane between their front and back legs.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Petaurus breviceps |
Origin | Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania |
Family | Petauridae |
25. Saker Falcon
Fun Fact: The saker falcon is one of the fastest birds in the world, reaching speeds of over 300 km/h (186 mph) when diving for prey.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Falco cherrug |
Origin | Eurasia |
Family | Falconidae |
26. Silkworm
Fun Fact: Silkworms are not actually worms but caterpillars of the silk moth. They spin silk cocoons, which are used to produce silk fabric.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Bombyx mori |
Origin | Northern China |
Family | Bombycidae |
27. Siamang
Fun Fact: Siamangs are known for their loud and complex vocalizations. They have a large throat sac that inflates, amplifying their calls across the rainforest.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Symphalangus syndactylus |
Origin | Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra |
Family | Hylobatidae |
28. Sea Anemone
Fun Fact: Sea anemones are named after the anemone flower. They are predatory animals, using their colorful tentacles to capture prey.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Actiniaria |
Origin | Worldwide oceans |
Family | Multiple families including Actiniidae, Stichodactylidae |
29. Stinkbug
Fun Fact: Stinkbugs get their name from the unpleasant odor they emit as a defense mechanism against predators.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Pentatomidae |
Origin | Worldwide |
Family | Pentatomidae |
30. Siberian Tiger
Fun Fact: The Siberian tiger is the largest of all tiger subspecies and can weigh up to 300 kg (660 lbs). They have thick fur and a layer of fat to survive the harsh Siberian winter.
Detail | Information |
Scientific Name | Panthera tigris altaica |
Origin | Siberia, Russia |
Family | Felidae |