How many animals that start with R can you name in a minute? In today’s article, you’ll learn about many more animals that start with the letter R!
While there are few obvious animals beginning with R, we can guarantee that the animal kingdom has a plethora of unusual, weird, adorable, solitary, cool, and quick creatures.
You will learn multiple thrilling things about these animals that begin with R, so if you’re looking this up because you’re an animal lover or for a school project, you’re in the right place.
Did we miss your favorite animal that starts with the letter R? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
Animals That Start With R
Here are some amazing animals that begin with the letter R.
Rainbow Lorikeet
The stunning rainbow lorikeet is the first creature on our list of animals that start with R.
This colorful bird is part of the parrot family and is native to Australia. Usually found in pairs, these birds can be pretty noisy.
Rusty-Spotted Cat
The rusty-spotted cat is a small wild cat of Asia with soft fur and a long tail.
As the world’s smallest types of wild cats, they can reach between 14 to 19 inches in length and up to 8 inches in height.
These wild cats prefer a solitary life and are agile hunters and prey on birds and smaller animals, including rodents and frogs.
Rhinoceros Beetle
As one of the strongest animals of its kind, rhinoceros beetles can lift objects 850 times their body weight. Granted, they are considered the heaviest beetle, weighing up to 3.5 ounces.
These powerful animals use their brute strength and strong horn to dig in the soil.
Red Lory
Red lories are small parrots endemic to Indonesia. They are bright red with black and blue markings on the wings and back and a reddish-brown tail.
Their diet consists mainly of pollen, nectar, and fruits, although they may occasionally feed on insects too.
Red-Backed Poison Frog
Red-backed poison dart frogs are small, colorful, and moderately toxic amphibians.
They get their name from their brilliant red-orange backs, which advertise their poisonous nature to potential predators. These amphibians are native to South America.
Raven
Also known as the common raven, these black birds are common animals in the northern hemisphere and are the most widely distributed in the crow family.
These passerines, not birds of prey as popularly thought, can live up to 23 years in the wild and will mate for life.
Some notable feats of problem-solving prove that ravens are unusually intelligent animals.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Native to North America, the ruby-throated hummingbird is next on our list of animals that start with R.
They have a shiny jewel-like red patch on their throats, which gives them their name.
These small, quick birds can beat their wings more than 50 times per second while darting from flower to flower in search of nectar.
Ranitomeya Amazonica Blackwater Dart Frog
The Ranitomeya amazonica is a small amphibian species native to the Amazon rainforest.
They are less than an inch in length and have a colorful appearance. Their bodies are black with red or orange stripes on the back and blue, green, or gray mesh-like markings on the arms and legs.
Roan Antelope
Native to sub-Saharan Africa, roan antelopes are large, horse-like animals that usually live in groups.
They are named after their roan or reddish-brown bodies and have a pair of ringed horns on their heads. They are herbivorous, feeding mainly on grass, leaves, stems, and shoots.
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Red-eyed tree frogs are brightly-colored amphibians named after their bulging bright-red eyes.
They have green-colored bodies, white underparts, blue sides, and reddish orange feet. They aren’t poisonous and can change color too.
Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous hummingbirds are tiny, territorial birds found in North America.
Male birds have reddish-brown bodies along with an orange patch on the throat.
Their diet mainly consists of nectar from colorful flowers, although they may occasionally feed on spiders and insects.
Red Fox
Red foxes are furry animals with excellent hearing abilities.
They have thick reddish fur on their bodies with gray or whitish underparts. Their fluffy tails are white-tipped and make up more than half the length of their bodies.
Risso Dolphin
With an unusually striking appearance, the Risso’s dolphin is among the lesser known dolphin species.
They are highly social and often found traveling in groups ranging from 10 to 50 or more individuals. Their average lifespan is around 30 years in the wild.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Red admiral butterflies are medium-sized insects with black wings speckled with bright red bands and white spots.
Found on several continents around the world, these butterflies are common visitors to gardens with colorful flowers.
Rivoli’s Hummingbird
Rivoli’s hummingbirds are among the bigger hummingbird species native to America.
These magnificent birds are usually between 4.3 to 5.5 inches long and have a long black bill. Male birds can be identified by their purple crowns and emerald green throat patch.
Royal Antelope
The smallest antelope found in the world, royal antelopes, are native to Western Africa.
Their legs are long and slender, with the hind legs being almost twice the length of the forelegs – a feature commonly found in hares.
Males of this African animal species are generally smaller than females.
Ruppell’s Fox
The Ruppell’s fox is next on this list of animals that start with R. These small foxes are named after Eduard Ruppell, a German naturalist.
They are usually between 26 to 29 inches long, although the females are smaller than the males. These are desert-dwelling animals.
Red-Backed Fairywren
Native to Australia, the red-backed fairywren is a small bird with a beautiful song that prefers to reside near water bodies or coastal regions.
During the breeding season, the males of this species showcase a black body with a bright red back, hence earning them the name. They usually feed on insects, fruits, and seeds.
Red Wolf
Red wolves are endangered mammals found in the United States.
They are carnivorous animals that prey on a variety of smaller animals, like deer, rabbits, raccoons, etc. They are often found in packs consisting of 5 to 8 individuals.
Ribbon Eel
Also known as the bernis eel or leaf-nosed moray eel, ribbon eels are named so due to their stark resemblance to a piece of ribbon.
Adult males of this species have bright blue bodies with yellow dorsal fins and mouths. Females are usually yellow with some blue highlights.
Commonly found in the Indo-Pacific ocean, their diet consists of small crustaceans and fishes.
Red-Crowned Amazon
Also known as the red-crowned parrot, red-crowned Amazons are colorful birds native to parts of North America.
These birds are green in color and can be recognized by their distinct bright red forehead and blue markings near the eyes. They are an endangered species at present, mainly due to loss of habitat.
Red-Faced Spider Monkey
Red-faced spider monkeys are native to South America, where they reside in the rainforests.
Their bodies are covered in long black hair, and they have reddish faces and strong limbs. They have an average lifespan of 34 to 46 years in the wild.
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Native to parts of South Asia and Africa, rose-ringed parakeets are medium-sized birds with bright-green plumage.
Adult males of this species have a red and black ring around their necks, hence their names. They are highly social birds that can be found foraging noisily in gardens or orchids.
Raccoon
The raccoon is next on our list of animals that start with R. While these animals look quite adorable, they have sharp teeth and claws, which make them dangerous.
Their bodies are covered with dense grayish fur and have a black mask around their eye area.
Reindeer
Also known as caribou, reindeer are large animals that can tolerate cold temperatures.
Adult males can grow up 4 feet tall, while females are generally smaller. Both males and females of this species have long antlers.
Curiously, reindeer are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light.
Radiated Tortoise
Native to Madagascar, radiated tortoises are beautiful animals with a distinctive yellow pattern on a dark-colored shell.
They are herbivorous animals, feeding mainly on grass, flowers, leaves, etc. On average, they may live between 40 and 100 years, although longer lifespans have been recorded for this species.
Red Avadavat
The red avadavat is a small bird commonly found in the grasslands of Asia.
Also known as the red munia or strawberry finch, they can be identified by their red beak and rump and black tail. The breeding males have a red plumage, which gives them their name.
Red-Bellied Piranha
Native to South America, red-bellied piranhas can grow up to a length of over a foot and usually travel in schools of several individuals.
They are typically gray with red undersides and have powerful jaws with sharp triangular teeth.
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Ring-necked pheasants are large birds with mottled brown bodies and long pointy tails.
The males of this species have an iridescent blue-green head with a red eye patch and a white ring around the neck. They follow an omnivorous diet.
Rose-Breasted Cockatoo
Also known as galah, the roseate cockatoo are beautiful birds endemic to Australia.
These birds have distinct and attractive pink and gray plumage that makes them easily identifiable.
They are social birds, often found in large flocks of up to 1,000 individuals. They feed on various seeds, grains, nuts, berries, fruits, insects, and so on.
Red Panda
Red pandas are small furry mammals native to Asia. These animals have reddish-brown coats with darker underparts and patches of white fur on the ears and face.
Their diet consists mostly of vegetation, with bamboo being their favorite food to munch on.
Red-Handed Tamarin
Next on our list of animals that start with R is the red-handed tamarin.
Native to South America, they are small monkeys with long black hair on their faces and bodies. Their hands and feet are covered in reddish-orange fur, which gives them their name. They usually live in groups.
Roseate Spoonbill
Native to North and South America, roseate spoonbills are colorful birds with a spoon-shaped bill. They have bald heads, red eyes, and beautiful, bright pink feathers.
Usually found in groups, their diet includes aquatic animals, including frogs, fish, and crustaceans.
Royal Penguin
The largest of the crested penguins, royal penguins, are found near the pacific coasts of Australia and Argentina.
These birds can be identified by the yellow-orange and black crests on their head and red eyes, although the rockhopper penguins also have red eyes.
Being highly social, these penguin types are often found in large colonies.
Rock Hyrax
Rock hyraxes are terrestrial mammals found in Africa and Asia.
These social animals usually reside in colonies of several individuals and follow an omnivorous diet. They don’t have tails.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Red-winged blackbirds are among the most common bird species found in North and Central America.
Males of this species have glossy black feathers with bright scarlet and yellow shoulder patches. They are omnivorous.
Resplendent Quetzal
Our list of animals that begin with the letter R is incomplete without mentioning the magnificent, resplendent quetzal.
These small birds have iridescent green bodies and red breasts. Depending on the light, their feathers show a variety of splendid colors, making them a sight to behold.
In addition, the bird’s name is derived from the word quetzal, meaning “sacred” in several Mesoamerican languages, so it’s no surprise these creatures were considered sacred animals.
Rainbow Boa
Native to Central and South America, rainbow boas are non-venous medium-sized snakes.
Their skin can refract light, giving them a rainbow-colored gloss. These snakes are solitary creatures who prefer to hunt at night.
Animal Alphabet List
Animals With R
We hope you enjoyed this fun animal list! Feel free to share it with your friends on social media.
Are we missing any animals beginning with R? Then let us know in the comments!