Animals come in all shapes and sizes. But you may only know about some amazing animals that start with the letter P!
We will share an incredible list of all the possible animal names starting with P. So next time you’re stuck thinking of an animal name, check out this informative list.
Animals that Start with the Letter P
1. Panda
These friendly giants are known for their adorable looks, and black and white fur. They are often found spending their days sleeping and munching on bamboo. Unfortunately, due to deforestation, these cuddly cuties are endangered. As of now, there are only over 1800 pandas left in the wild, while around 600 live in captivity.
Fun Fact: Pandas spend up to 16 hours a day eating! Apart from bamboo, they also enjoy eating leaves and veggies.
2. Pangolin
This scaly animal lives in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Don’t be fooled by their scales; pangolins are actually mammals! They use these scales as camouflage and protection against predators. When approached by predators, pangolins curl up into a ball, protected by their sharp scales to keep them from becoming a meal.
Fun Fact: Pangolins don’t have any teeth, so they can’t bite. Their unique stomach helps them break down food.
3. Porcupine
Porcupines are known for their sharp quills that cover their back. When they feel threatened, they launch these quills at their predators. However, their quills are not the only way they protect themselves. This rodent also releases a stinky odor to give their predators a warning. They may also use their tail to whip at other animals.
Fun Fact: Just like moles, porcupines have poor eyesight. They mainly rely on their other senses to find food and survive.
4. Potto
These adorable animals belong to the tropical forests of Africa. These nocturnal animals sleep all day and search for food at night. Pottos communicate with their young ones by using vocalizations. Although they look like lemurs, these fluffy animals are related to monkeys and humans.
Fun Fact: In some parts of Africa, pottos are called “softly softly”.
5. Puku
Pukus are a breed of antelope that is found in wet grasslands. They are a Near-Threatened (NT) species which is why they mainly live in protected areas. This mammal has sandy brown fur and long, straight horns. Not only are pukus herd animals, but they also separate their herds by gender.
Fun Fact: Pukus make a loud screeching noise to alert their herd of any nearby predators.
6. Panther
A panther is a big cat related to leopards and jaguars. They get their black color due to an excessive amount of melanin. Like other big cats, they have impressive eyesight, sharp teeth, and retractable claws. Although their shiny coat seems stark black, they actually have markings just like their other big cat relatives.
Fun Fact: Panthers may be carnivores, but they occasionally eat plants. They do this for medicinal reasons.
7. Pelican
Pelicans are best known for their large beaks, which they use to scoop up water and fish. These water birds live in coastal areas, mainly on islands. They have air sacs built into their bones which help them soar with ease. Pelicans may be large birds, but they have predators too! Their main predators are alligators and big cats.
Fun Fact: Pelicans can stay in the air for hours looking for food.
8. Platypus
This unique-looking, semi-aquatic animal is an egg-laying mammal. Female platypuses can produce up to two eggs at a time. They then use their body to keep the eggs warm until they hatch. Platypuses mainly eat shellfish, insects and gravel. The gravel helps them grind their food since they don’t have teeth.
Fun Fact: Female platypuses don’t have nipples! They use their abdomen glands to feed their young.
9. Pony
Many people think of a pony as a baby horse, but that’s far from the truth. Ponies are a breed of horse that is smaller in size. They are used for riding, competitions and even kept as pets. Like other Equus animals, ponies regurgitate their food and chew on it. Their food remains are called cud.
Fun Fact: Although they are smaller, ponies can be much heavier than horses.
10. Pig
These domestic animals are known for their foraging skills and friendly nature. Often kept as farm pets, pigs are easy to train and are affectionate towards their owners. It may not seem like it, but pigs are also quite intelligent! In fact, they tend to be smarter than dogs and even toddlers.
Fun Fact: Pigs have a great sense of smell. This is what allows them to forage for truffles and other food.
11. Penguin
Penguins are flightless birds that live in the Southern Hemisphere. There are over 18 species of penguins, each special in its own way. Flaunting a black and white coat, penguins are excellent swimmers. Their feet are close to their body, giving them a unique walking style. A penguin’s diet mainly consists of fish.
Fun Fact: Penguins propose to their mates by offering them shiny rocks!
12. Peacock
Peacocks are known for their gorgeous tails that spread out like a fan. These birds are native to India and were used as a luxury symbol in old times. Their tail makes up most of their body and contains many exotic shades of blue and green. Their feathers are still used for decorative purposes.
Fun Fact: Peacocks are all males! The female variety is called a peahen.
13. Pademelon
This small mammal is found in Australia, and it moves around by hopping. They look like a mix between a small kangaroo and a koala. Their tails are thin and long, like most rodents. The pademelon’s diet consists of leaves, grass and herbs too.
Fun Fact: This animal sleeps while standing up! They keep their tails between their legs while they sleep.
14. Proboscis Monkey
This species of monkey is known for its unique nose shape. The proboscis monkey has a gorgeous tan-coloured coat and a long tail. This monkey is also an endangered specie, living mainly in mangrove forests.
Fun Fact: Proboscis monkeys have nine stomachs that help them digest a wide variety of food.
15. Possum
These fuzzy animals can be found in swamps, forests, or even trash cans. Possums can be identified by their long tails and grey fur. The most remarkable thing about these animals is that they carry their young ones on their back!
Fun Fact: Possums are omnivores and eat whatever they can find. This includes insects and even human food.
16. Prawn
Although they live in the ocean, prawns cannot be considered fish. They are crustaceans and have a shell, along with several legs. Prawns have over a thousand different species that can be found worldwide.
Fun Fact: The size of a prawn depends on its species.
17. Pug
If you’re a dog lover, you must know about this adorable breed. They are known for their short wrinkly faces and bulging eyes. Pugs make great pets since they are playful and don’t bark much. This breed loves to sleep and is an excellent option for families with kids.
Fun Fact: Despite common misbeliefs, pugs are smart and quick learners.
18. Pygmy Shrew
This mole-like animal is quite fuzzy and has small ears and a pointy nose. Pygmy shrews live in grasslands and hedges, using burrows to rest in. They are omnivorous mammals that eat insects, like spiders and woodlice.
Fun Fact: A Pygmy shrew is the smallest mammal in North America.
19. Pool Frog
Pool frogs are native to the UK and are protected by the country’s laws. They love munching on flies and get their name because of their love of pools. If you ever see a pool frog, don’t worry! They aren’t poisonous and are mostly just looking for an insect snack. Pool frogs are prey animals. Their main predators are birds and foxes.
Fun Fact: A pool frog may not grow more than three inches.
20. Paddlefish
These fish have long noses and can weigh up to 40 lbs. They live off plankton and stay near gravelly areas to lay their eggs. The coolest thing about this fish is that it has existed for over 300 years!
Fun Fact: Paddlefish are also known as freshwater sharks, even though they do not belong to the shark family.
21. Pigeon
Pigeons are a common bird with short necks and often have shimmery feathers too. They are believed to be the first domesticated bird. Pigeons have been used for centuries as letter carriers and are still kept as pets. This bird eats seeds, fruits and breadcrumbs.
Fun Fact: Pigeons were used as spies during world war 1.
22. Pygmy Marmoset
This is another unique breed of monkey that resides in South America. They are sociable animals that eat a healthy diet of fruit, flowers and even insects. Pygmy marmosets are the smallest breed of monkey, also known as finger monkeys.
Fun Fact: Male Pygmy marmosets are colorblind.
23. Pufferfish
Although these fish may look like squishy balloons, they are quite toxic! Their skin is covered in many small spikes that are covered in toxins. They fill up their highly elastic stomach with water or air to blow themselves up to several times their actual size. Pufferfish come in various breeds.
Fun Fact: Pufferfish is also known as blowfish because it can instantly blow itself into a balloon-like shape to evade predators.
24. Pink Fairy Armadillo
This animal is as cute as its name! The pink fairy armadillo has a thick, scaly shell, just like other armadillo species. These small animals live in sandy areas, like deserts and dunes. Unfortunately, they are declared endangered, with only about 100 left.
Fun Fact: These armadillos’ shell is pink because of exposed blood vessels.
25. Pine Marten
A pine marten is a cross between a ferret and an ermine. These fluffy creatures live in parts of Asia, like Iraq and Syria. They are carnivorous and eat small animals like frogs.
Fun Fact: Pine martens can be pretty stinky! This is due to their scent glands located on their anus.
Conclusion
Can you believe that there are so many animal names that start with P? We hope this article helped you learn about new animals.
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