Ever wondered what animal names start with I? Look no further! From the well-known Iguana to the mysterious Icefish, we’ve compiled this list to teach you about some of the most interesting animals whose names start with I. We hope you learn something new today! Let’s dive in…
Animals That Start With I
1. Iguana
Iguanas are very well known in the western hemisphere since that is where they are native. Iguanas are a species of lizard that inhabit tropical forests and marine habitats, with some species spending most of their time in or around water. Although the species is native to the coasts and jungles of the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America, they have also been introduced to Hawaii, Thailand, and as far as Singapore.
Fun fact: Apart from the two very prominent eyes, they also have a “third eye” at the back of their head called a parietal eye. It is basically a limb of cells that can detect changes in color and light, and warn the iguana of any approaching danger.
2. Ibex
Ibex is a large species of wild goat native to most parts of the old world. Their name is Latin, which possibly borrows the word from an older Iberian language. Some scholars claim it came from the old Spanish word for bull, “bezerro”. An Ibex (plural: ibexes, ibices) can be distinguished from other similar goat species by the shape of their horns, which are ridged from the front.
Fun fact: Ibexes are amazing climbers since their feet are concave from below, providing suction when they traverse steep mountainous terrain. They can also jump upright up to 6 feet without a running start, making them very adept at balancing.
3. Ibis
Ibises are a species of wading birds found throughout most of the world. They used to be found on every continent until human intervention caused the population in most places to decline. The Ibis has cultural significance throughout most regions, known for its undaunting spirit.
Although once so common in Egypt that there are millions of mummies of them around, Ibises aren’t found anywhere in the wilds of Egypt today. The highest population of Sacred Ibises is found in modern-day Mesopotamia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fun fact: Ibises are most commonly known to be the religious symbol of the god “Thoth” in ancient Egypt.
4. Icefish
Icefish, or noodlefish, is a small species of transparent or translucent fish that are found throughout much of East Asia. They are part of the cuisine of most east-Asian cultures, especially Japan, where they are eaten dried off with sushi. Due to their high demand as food, they’ve also been introduced to a lot of new places where they’ve started to replace the local fauna.
Fun fact: Icefish can mature very rapidly and lay a lot of eggs, which makes them ideal for fisheries. However, the only downside to this is that they only live for up to one year.
5. Inchworm
Inchworms are the larva of the geometer moth, a family of moths spread throughout the world. The earliest specimen of this species was found by a German scientist in some Baltic ambers from 44 million years ago. However, the specimen only measured 5mm or 0.2 inches, much smaller than their current measurements of an inch.
Fun fact: The Greek name “Geometer” comes from the fact that during the larval stage, the Inchworms move in a looping fashion, which makes it seem like they are measuring the Earth as they go.
6. Indri
Indri is a species of lemur found across the rainforests of Madagascar. It is one of the two largest species of lemurs and can grow up to four feet long from head to toe. It is sacred to the Malagasy people, with a lot of legends and myths formed around it. They live in female-dominated societies like most mammals, where the territories and their resources are controlled by a leading female.
Fun fact: Indris are the only mammal apart from humans that are known to have an understanding of rhythm, which they use in their vocalizations and songs.
7. Inland Taipan
The Inland Taipan, also known as the Fierce Snake or Dandarbilla, is a species of snake endemic to the Australian outback. Although first described to the Western world in 1879, the snake was commonly known to the indigenous Aboriginals. The snake is famous for its lethal venom, capable of killing a thousand mice with just one drop of its blood, or up to 100 adult humans with a normal dose.
Fun fact: Although very deadly, the Inland Taipan avoids confrontation and will only attack when provoked. The Fierce in its name is in reference to its venom.
8. Impala
Impalas are medium-sized antelopes native to the Subsaharan plains of Africa. They can be seen running around during the day when they are most active, but seek shelter with their groups at night. They are very water-dependant, and will never stray too far from a water source.
Fun fact: Impalas are the only antelopes that groom themselves and others of their species.
9. Imperial Eagle
Imperial Eagles are a group of raptors found throughout most of continental Eurasia. They nest in breeding grounds in Europe or Central Asia, flying to warmer climates in the south and southeast when the summers end. Seen as a symbol of bravery throughout most Eurasian cultures, they hold a significant spot in popular culture.
Fun fact: The current population of Imperial Eagles is estimated to be only 1600. Many of them die due to electrocution from power lines.
10. Isopod
Isopods are a diverse family of invertebrates that inhabit a number of habitats and play a large number of ecological roles. The highest number of Isopod species can be found in the ocean, where they fulfill most roles from predator to filter feeder to parasite (both internal and external). They are one of the most versatile invertebrate creatures found in water and on land.
Fun fact: The terrestrial species of Isopods are very adept at removing heavy metals from the soil, and are often used to detect the presence of these metals by scientists.
List of Animals that start with I
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Ibizan Hound
- Icadyptes
- Icelandic Sheepdog
- Ichthyosaurus
- Ichthyostega
- Iguana
- Iguanodon
- IMG Boa Constrictor
- Immortal Jellyfish
- Impala
- Imperial Moth
- Inchworm
- Indian Cobra
- Indian Elephant
- Indian Giant Squirrel
- Indian Palm Squirrel
- Indian python
- Indian Rhinoceros
- Indian Star Tortoise
- Indianmeal Moth
- Indigo Snake
- Indochinese Tiger
- Indri
- Inland Taipan
- Insect
- Insects
- IO Moth
- Irish Doodle
- Irish Elk
- Irish Setter
- Irish Terrier
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Irish WolfHound
- Irukandji Jellyfish
- Italian Greyhound
- Ivory-billed woodpecker
- Ivy Bee
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