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List of Animals that Start with U with Pictures and Fun Facts

Are you an animal lover? Check out our list of animals that start with the letter “U.” See how many you know from this animal list. Building your vocabulary is a crucial part of learning English. Start with a list of words from a topic that interested you, like animal names! We will provide pictures of the animals as well as some fun facts about them to make the learning extra fun.

List of Animals that Start with U

Here’s the list of animals that you’ll learn in this article.

  • Uganda kob
  • Uguisu
  • Uinta chipmunk
  • Ultimate shrew
  • Ulysses Butterfly
  • Umbrellabird
  • Unau
  • Underwing Moth
  • Unexpected cotton rat
  • Unicorn
  • Unicornfish
  • Upland Sandpiper
  • Ural field mouse
  • Ural owl
  • Urchin
  • Urial
  • Uromastyx
  • Urutu Snake
  • Utonagan

Animals that start with u

Animals that Start with U

See the pictures of each U animal and also read the interesting facts about them.

Uganda kob

Uganda kob

The Uganda kob is a type of antelope found in East Africa, known for its reddish-brown coat and long, spiral horns.

Fun Fact about the Uganda kob: Male Uganda kobs engage in impressive leaping displays, known as “pronking,” to attract mates and establish dominance.

Uguisu

Uguisu

The uguisu, also called the Japanese bush warbler, is a small green bird known for its distinctive and melodious song.

Fun Fact about uguisu: The uguisu’s song has been appreciated in Japanese culture for centuries and is associated with the arrival of spring.

Uinta chipmunk

Uinta chipmunk

The Uinta chipmunk is a small, striped rodent native to the western United States, often found in mountainous regions.

Fun Fact about unita chipmunks: Uinta chipmunks are excellent climbers and use their cheek pouches to store and transport food to their burrows.

Ultimate shrew

Ultimate shrew

The ultimate shrew, also known as the hero shrew, has a remarkable spine with interlocking vertebrae, providing it with incredible flexibility.

Fun Fact about the ultimate shrew: The hero shrew’s spine allows it to withstand pressure that would crush other animals, making it an evolutionary marvel.

Ulysses Butterfly

Ulysses Butterfly

The Ulysses Butterfly, with its striking electric blue wings, is native to Australia and Southeast Asia.

Fun Fact about ulysses butterfly: The Ulysses Butterfly is named after Ulysses, the legendary Greek hero from Homer’s epic poems, adding a touch of mythology to its identity.

Umbrellabird

Umbrellabird

The umbrellabird is a large, black bird found in Central and South America, known for the male’s unique throat pouch resembling an umbrella.

Fun Fact about the umbrellabird: The male umbrellabird uses its throat pouch to amplify its calls, creating deep, resonant sounds during courtship displays.

Unau

Unau

The unau, also known as the two-toed sloth, is a slow-moving mammal found in Central and South America, spending most of its life in trees.

Fun Fact about unaus: Unaus have an extremely slow metabolism and may take up to a month to digest a single meal of leaves.

Underwing Moth

Underwing Moth

The underwing moth is known for its cryptic coloring, with vibrant hindwings hidden beneath dull forewings when at rest.

Fun Fact about underwing moths: When threatened, the underwing moth can flash its brightly colored hindwings suddenly, startling potential predators.

Unexpected cotton rat

Unexpected cotton rat

The unexpected cotton rat is a small rodent native to North America, distinguished by its soft fur and long tail.

Fun Fact about unexpected cotton rats: Despite their name, unexpected cotton rats are not directly related to cotton production but play a role in ecosystem balance.

Unicorn

Unicorn

The unicorn is a mythical horse-like creature with a single, spiraled horn on its forehead.

Fun Fact about unicorns: The unicorn has been a symbol of purity and grace in various cultures throughout history.

Unicornfish

Unicornfish

The unicornfish is a tropical marine fish known for the elongated, horn-like projection on its forehead.

Fun Fact about unicornfish: Some unicornfish species are herbivores and play a crucial role in maintaining the health of coral reefs by controlling algae growth.

Upland Sandpiper

Upland Sandpiper

The upland sandpiper is a bird native to North America, known for its long neck and distinctive, haunting calls.

Fun Fact about upland sandpipers: Despite being called a “sandpiper,” this bird is often found in grasslands and prairies rather than sandy coastal areas.

Ural field mouse

Ural field mouse

The Ural field mouse is a small rodent native to the Ural Mountains in Russia, displaying a mix of gray and brown fur.

Fun Fact about the Ural field mouse: Ural field mice are excellent burrowers and create complex tunnel systems for shelter and protection.

Ural owl

Ural owl

The Ural owl is a nocturnal bird of prey found in Europe and Asia, recognized by its rounded facial disc and tufted ears.

Fun Fact about Ural owls: Ural owls are skilled hunters and are known to catch a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and insects.

Urchin

Urchin

The urchin is a spiny marine creature belonging to the echinoderm family, commonly found in oceans around the world.

Fun Fact about urchins: Urchins play a vital role in marine ecosystems by grazing on algae, helping maintain a balance in underwater environments.

Urial

Urial

The Urial is a wild sheep species native to Central Asia, known for its distinctive curved horns and shaggy coat.

Fun Fact about urials: Male urials use their impressive horns during mating rituals to compete for dominance and attract females.

Uromastyx

Uromastyx

The Uromastyx, also known as the spiny-tailed lizard, is a reptile found in arid regions of Africa and Asia, recognized for its spiky tail.

Fun Fact about uromastyx: Uromastyx is herbivorous and relies on a diet of plants, making it well-adapted to desert environments.

Urutu Snake

Urutu Snake

The urutu is a venomous pit viper found in South America, recognized by its distinctive pattern and triangular head.

Fun Fact about urutu snake: The urutu snake is known for its potent venom, making it one of the most dangerous snakes in its range.

Utonagan

Utonagan

The Utonagan is a dog breed developed to resemble a wolf, with a striking appearance and a friendly, social temperament.

Fun Fact about utonagan: The Utonagan breed was created by crossing various northern dog breeds, aiming to capture the majestic look of a wolf in a domesticated dog.

FAQs About Animals that Start with U

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about animals that start with the letter u.

What animal name starts with a U?

Here are 10 animal names that start with U: Underwing Moth, Unexpected cotton rat, Unicornfish, Upland Sandpiper, Ural field mouse, Ural owl, Urchin, Urial, Uromastyx, and Urutu Snake.

What primates start with U?

The “Uakari” and “Uganda mangabey” are examples of primates that start with the letter U.

What is a sloth-like animal that starts with U?

The “Unau,” also known as the two-toed sloth, is a sloth-like animal that starts with the letter U.

Are there any dog breeds that start with U?

The “Utonagan” is a dog breed that starts with the letter U.

What are monkey names starting with U?

The “Uakari” and “Uganda mangabey” are types of monkeys that start with the letter U.

More Animal Vocabulary List

If you want to learn more animal-related words, check out these articles:

  • List of Animals that Start with E with Pictures
  • Animals that Start with J | Names, Pictures, Fun Facts
  • Animals that Start with T | Names, Pictures, Fun Facts
  • Biggest Animals in the World List | Large Animal Names in English
  • Herbivores Animals Name List in English | Herbivorous Animals
  • Omnivorous Animals List: Animals that Eat Both Plants & Meat

Animals that Start with U: Join the Conversation

Did you learn something new about U animals? If yes, let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 20 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder, 67 ESL Conversation Topics,and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

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