When it comes to the animal kingdom, aren’t we often amazed by the variety and uniqueness of creatures out there? But, have you ever paused to think about animals that start with the letter U? It’s a quirky challenge, right? These animals, often overlooked, hold their own in the vast tapestry of biodiversity.
Think about it: when was the last time you heard someone talk about the Umbrella Bird or the Uakari monkey in everyday conversation? It’s like these animals are the unsung heroes of the alphabet!
List Of Animals That Start With U
Uinta Ground Squirrel
Urial (a wild sheep)
Umbrellabird
Upland Sandpiper
Upland Goose
Uakari Monkey
Utah Prairie Dog
Unau (a sloth)
Urutu
Ulysses Butterfly
Umbrella Cockatoo
Utonagan
Ural Owl
Unicornfish
Urchin
Uakari Red
Uromastyx
Umbrella Squid
Ugandan Kob
Utahraptor
Ucayali Spiny Mouse
Udzungwa Partridge
Umbrella Octopus
Upupa
Ural Field Mouse
Uakari
Ural Vole
Unicorn
Animals That Start With U (Fun Facts & Species Details)
1. Uinta Ground Squirrel
Fun Fact: Named after the Uinta Mountains, these squirrels are known for their lively social interactions.
Scientific Name
Urocitellus armatus
Origin/Location
Western United States
Family
Sciuridae
2. Urial (a wild sheep)
Fun Fact: Urials are the ancestors of modern-day domesticated sheep and are known for their large, curled horns.
Scientific Name
Ovis vignei
Origin/Location
Central and South Asia
Family
Bovidae
3. Umbrellabird
Fun Fact: These birds are known for their distinctive umbrella-like crest and their deep, booming calls.
Scientific Name
Cephalopterus
Origin/Location
Central and South America
Family
Cotingidae
4. Upland Sandpiper
Fun Fact: These birds are known for their unique jerky movements while walking through grass.
Scientific Name
Bartramia longicauda
Origin/Location
North and South America
Family
Scolopacidae
5. Upland Goose
Fun Fact: Upland Geese are notable for their strong, lifelong pair bonds.
Scientific Name
Chloephaga picta
Origin/Location
Southern South America
Family
Anatidae
6. Uakari Monkey
Fun Fact: Uakari Monkeys have remarkably short tails for a primate.
Scientific Name
Cacajao calvus
Origin/Location
Amazon Rainforest
Family
Pitheciidae
7. Utah Prairie Dog
Fun Fact: The smallest of the prairie dogs, known for their complex social structures.
Scientific Name
Cynomys parvidens
Origin/Location
Southwestern USA
Family
Sciuridae
8. Unau (a sloth)
Fun Fact: Unaus are two-toed sloths, known for their slow movement and tree-dwelling habits.
Scientific Name
Choloepus didactylus
Origin/Location
Central and South America
Family
Megalonychidae
9. Urutu (a venomous snake)
Fun Fact: Known for its potent venom and striking pattern.
Scientific Name
Bothrops alternatus
Origin/Location
South America
Family
Viperidae
10. Ulysses Butterfly
Fun Fact: Renowned for its vibrant blue wings.
Scientific Name
Papilio ulysses
Origin/Location
Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Family
Papilionidae
11. Umbrella Cockatoo
Fun Fact: Known for its expressive crest and sociable nature.
Scientific Name
Cacatua alba
Origin/Location
Indonesia
Family
Cacatuidae
12. Utonagan (a dog breed)
Fun Fact: A breed developed to resemble a wolf, known for its friendly and social nature.
Scientific Name
Not applicable (Domesticated Dog)
Origin/Location
United Kingdom
Family
Canidae
13. Ural Owl
Fun Fact: Notable for its large size and deep hooting call.
Scientific Name
Strix uralensis
Origin/Location
Northern Europe and Asia
Family
Strigidae
14. Unicornfish
Fun Fact: Named for the horn-like extension on its forehead.
Scientific Name
Naso
Origin/Location
Indo-Pacific waters
Family
Acanthuridae
15. Urchin (sea urchin)
Fun Fact: Known for their spiny exterior and role in marine ecosystems.
Scientific Name
Various
Origin/Location
Worldwide oceans
Family
Echinoidea
16. Uakari Red
Fun Fact: Renowned for its striking red face and bald head.
Scientific Name
Cacajao calvus
Origin/Location
Amazon Rainforest
Family
Pitheciidae
17. Uromastyx (a type of lizard)
Fun Fact: Known for their spiky tails and herbivorous diet.
Scientific Name
Uromastyx
Origin/Location
North Africa, Middle East
Family
Agamidae
20. Umbrella Squid
Fun Fact: Named for their unique umbrella-like arms.
Scientific Name
Histioteuthis
Origin/Location
Worldwide deep oceans
Family
Histioteuthidae
21. Ugandan Kob
Fun Fact: Known for their impressive leaping ability and social nature.
Scientific Name
Kobus kob
Origin/Location
Sub-Saharan Africa
Family
Bovidae
22. Utahraptor (a dinosaur)
Fun Fact: One of the largest known members of the raptor family.
Scientific Name
Utahraptor ostrommaysi
Origin/Location
North America (Fossil)
Family
Dromaeosauridae
23. Ucayali Spiny Mouse
Fun Fact: Known for their spiny fur and nocturnal habits.
Scientific Name
Neacomys spinosus
Origin/Location
South America
Family
Muridae
24. Udzungwa Partridge
Fun Fact: A recently discovered species known for its elusive nature.
Scientific Name
Xenoperdix udzungwensis
Origin/Location
Tanzania
Family
Phasianidae
25. Umbrella Octopus
Fun Fact: Renowned for its webbed tentacles, resembling an umbrella.
Scientific Name
Opisthoteuthis
Origin/Location
Deep-sea worldwide
Family
Opisthoteuthidae
26. Upupa (Hoatzin bird)
Fun Fact: Known for their unique feather crest and distinctive call.
Scientific Name
Upupa epops
Origin/Location
Europe, Asia, and Africa
Family
Upupidae
27. Ural Field Mouse
Fun Fact: A widely distributed species known for its adaptability to various habitats.
Scientific Name
Apodemus uralensis
Origin/Location
Europe and Asia
Family
Muridae
28. Uakari
Fun Fact: Uakaris are unique among primates for their bright red faces, which are a sign of good health!
Scientific Name
Cacajao calvus
Origin
Amazonian rainforests
Family
Pitheciidae
29. Ural Vole
Fun Fact: The Ural Vole is known for its remarkable adaptability to harsh climates, thriving in both the cold regions of Northern Asia and parts of Europe!
Scientific Name
Microtus uralensis
Origin
Northern Asia and Europe
Family
Cricetidae
30. Unicorn
Fun Fact: Unicorns have been a beloved element of mythology and folklore for centuries, symbolizing purity, grace, and magical healing powers.
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!