We don’t know how many animals that start with S you can name, but we didn’t know many before researching for this article. Still, there are many, many animals that start with the letter S!
Today’s list of animals beginning with S has a wide variety of creatures—the animal kingdom’s best creations!
We will talk about a bunch of exciting things about these animals that begin with S, so whether you’re looking this up for school, homeschooling, or yourself, you’re in the right place.
Hey, you! Did we miss any animal that starts with the letter S? Leave a comment below pretty please.
Animals That Start With S
Here are some amazing animals that begin with the letter S.
Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet
The scaly-breasted lorikeet is the first creature on our list of animals starting with S.
Native to Australia, scaly-breasted lorikeets are colorful birds that prefer to stay in flocks.
Although these birds are mostly green, their breast feathers are yellow with green edges, which makes them look like scales. They can be pretty noisy.
Serval
Servals are wild African cats with yellowish coats, numerous black spots, and markings throughout their bodies.
They are carnivorous animals, preying on a variety of insects, lizards, birds, frogs, and reptiles.
Springbok
Native to Africa, springboks are medium-sized antelopes with reddish-brown bodies.
Their diet consists mainly of shrubs, grass, succulents, etc., and they can survive for years without drinking even a drop of water.
Both males and females of the species have a pair of curved black horns. They are among the fastest land animals in the world!
Snow Leopard
Snow leopards are endangered animals native to Asia.
These beautiful leopards have whitish-gray fur with black markings all over their bodies.
They adapt well to living in mountainous regions and are efficient hunters.
Somali Ostrich
Somali ostriches are big flightless birds native to Africa.
These birds have bluish necks and thighs instead of the usual pink and therefore are also known as blue-necked ostriches. These birds follow an omnivorous diet and are the fastest birds on land.
Sunda Clouded Leopard
Native to Borneo and Sumatra, Sunda clouded leopards are medium-sized cats with a beautiful appearance.
They are shy, secretive animals who prefer to remain out of sight, making it difficult to observe their habits.
They follow a carnivorous diet, feeding mainly on many species of squirrels, birds, deer, monkeys, and other small animals.
Saber-Toothed Tiger
Although called tigers, these extinct animals are not closely related to the tiger or any modern wild cat. They lived in the Americas and had two massive upper canines.
These larger animals died out at the same time that most North and South American megafauna disappeared about 10,000 years ago.
Sunset Lorikeet
Next on our list of animals that start with S is the highly energetic sunset lorikeet.
Native to Indonesia, these colorful birds are very popular as pets. Their diet mainly consists of nectar, though they feed on fruits, seeds, and insects.
Sun Bear
As the smallest bears in the world, sun bears stand nearly 28 inches at the shoulder. However, they use lengthy tongues of up to 10 inches to extract honey from bee nests.
Sun bear is a vulnerable species inhabiting Southeast Asia’s tropical forest.
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
Strawberry poison dart frogs are a toxic amphibian species native to Central America.
These slender frogs have been known to have the most diverse color variations among all poison dart frog species. Their diet consists primarily of smaller insects like mites and ants.
Sable Antelope
Sable antelopes are found in Africa, where they inhabit wooded savannas.
They have a dark mane, long faces, and long backward-curved ringed horns. They are usually born with a reddish-brown coat which undergoes changes as they grow older.
Saltwater Crocodile
Reaching over 23 feet in length, the saltwater crocodile is next on our list of animals that begin with the letter S.
These dangerous predators are also the largest reptiles found on earth. They are aggressive, territorial, and very strong animals that have powerful jaws to deliver a strong bite.
Sperm Whale
Sperm whales are among the largest marine mammals on earth and can grow up to a length of over 50 feet.
They are active predators with conical teeth that help trap squids, fishes, and sharks. They also have the largest brain among all living animals on earth.
Sword-Billed Hummingbird
Sword-billed hummingbirds are among the larger species of hummingbird and are native to South America.
They have a unique beak that’s longer than the rest of their body – the only bird species to have this characteristic. They feed mainly on nectar.
Saiga Antelope
Saiga antelopes are critically endangered animals with unusual appearances.
These ugly animals have uniquely structured noses with bloated nostrils that face downwards. This adaptation is thought to help them filter out dust during summer.
The color of their coat varies according to the season.
Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Native to the island of Madagascar, satanic leaf-tailed geckos are mostly found on trees, where they spend time hunting insects and smaller animals.
They are good at camouflage with a leaf-shaped tail and long spines on their bodies that enable them to mimic dead leaves. These geckos are found in a variety of different colors.
Spanish Dancer Nudibranch
One of the largest sea slugs found on earth, Spanish dancer nudibranchs are usually more than 16 inches long.
These colorful animals have an orangish red body, often speckled with tiny white spots. They are nocturnal and usually prey on sponges.
Steenbok
Found in East and South Africa, steenboks are small, slender antelopes with an almost invisible short tail.
Their coats can range from light golden-brown to a more orangish shade. Males of this species have smooth straight horns, which the females lack.
Swift Fox
Similar in size to domestic cats, swift foxes are the smallest fox species found in North America.
They usually have tan-colored bodies with paler underparts and big, noticeable ears. They are pretty fast, running at a speed of 30 to 40 miles per hour if required.
Shortfin Mako Shark
The dangerous shortfin mako shark is next on our list of animals that start with S.
These marine predators can grow up to around 12 feet and prey on various fishes and ocean animals. They are the fastest among all shark species, reaching around 45 miles per hour.
Also, they have one of the largest brain-to-body ratios and don’t rely on electroreception when hunting, unlike the great white shark.
Suni Antelope
Next on our list of animals that start with S is the suni antelope.
Native to Africa, these small antelopes have reddish-brown bodies with white underparts.
They are shy, nocturnal animals who camouflage themselves as means of self-defense against predators. They are herbivorous and can survive without drinking water every day.
Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Spanish shawl nudibranchs are colorful sea slugs native to North America.
They are brightly colored with a neon purple body, orange fringes, and two scarlet rhinophores on their heads.
Their vibrant coloring acts as a warning to potential predators that they might be toxic.
Sechuran Fox
Sechuran foxes are small desert-dwelling foxes found in South America.
These foxes derive their name from the Sechura desert of Peru, where they are found.
They are opportunistic hunters, feeding on a variety of food, including insects, berries, eggs, rodents, and other small animals.
Sand Tiger Shark
Also known as the gray nurse shark, sand tiger sharks are slow marine predators that can reach a length of around 10.5 feet.
Their diet consists of a variety of fishes, squids, crabs, lobsters, etc. These sharks are now vulnerable to extinction, mainly due to overfishing.
Southern Cassowary
The third-tallest birds found on earth, Southern cassowaries are next on our list of animals that start with S.
These magnificent cassowaries are also the second heaviest birds, ranking just after the ostrich. These flightless birds have strong legs and a tough casque or helmet on their heads.
Scarlet Macaw
Native to South and Central America, scarlet macaws are large colorful birds belonging to the parrot family.
They have stunning plumage consisting of red, yellow, and blue feathers, which make them a sight to behold while in flight. They feed on nectar, fruit, nuts, insects, and larvae.
South American Coati
South American coatis are part of the raccoon family and are also known as ring-tailed coatis.
Their coat colors often vary between gray, brown, or red, and they have yellowish rings on their tails. They are omnivorous animals.
Spinner Dolphin
Spinner dolphins are slender marine animals that are named after their habit of jumping out of the water and spinning their bodies before landing again.
They are usually dark gray, with the sides and underparts being lighter. They usually move around in groups.
Spix’s Guan
Spix’s guans are named after German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix and have four recognized subspecies.
These birds are found in parts of South America and usually follow a diet of seeds and fruits.
Steelblue Ladybird
Steelblue ladybirds are tiny insects native to Australia.
Common in woodlands, they have rounded bodies with shiny blue-green wing covers. These ladybirds prey on other insects.
Speckled Wood
Speckled woods are a species of butterflies commonly found in the Palearctic realm.
They are brownish with cream and chocolate-colored markings on the wings.
These butterflies prefer woodland with specks of sunlight, where they can easily camouflage themselves.
Southern Tiger Cat
Southern tiger cats are small wild cats native to South America.
They have a beautiful yellowish-ochre coat with black marking all over their bodies. They are carnivorous animals and spend their time hunting small birds, lizards, and mammals.
Spectacled Owl
Native to North and South America, spectacled owls are solitary nocturnal birds.
They are named after the white facial markings around the eyes, which resemble spectacles. These birds are agile hunters, preying on various insects, birds, and small animals.
Sand Dune Cat
Sand dune cats or sand cats are small wild felines that inhabit desert regions.
Similar in appearance to domestic cats, these animals have sandy fur that enables them to blend with their surroundings easily.
They follow a carnivorous diet consisting of birds, hares, reptiles, etc.
Saffron Toucanet
Native to South America, saffron toucanets are long-tailed toucans that inhabit forested areas.
They are named after their unique saffron plumage, although the tails and backs are dark olive. They feed mainly on fruits and seeds.
Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary
Found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, small pearl-bordered fritillaries are medium-sized butterfly species.
They are orange with black markings and patterns on the upper side of the wings and white pearl-like markings on the underside. The larvae of these butterflies feed only on violets.
Splendid Fairywren
Splendid fairywrens are small birds with long tails, native to Australia.
They are also known as blue wrens because the breeding males of this species have brilliant blue plumage. They are insectivorous birds.
Sumatran Orangutan
Last on our list of animals that start with S is the Sumatran orangutan.
Native to Sumatra, these endangered animals are covered in orangish-red hair and spend most of their time up in the trees. Their diet consists of fruits, leaves, flowers, and insects.
Their common name is based on two separate Malay words, “orang” (“people”) and “hutan” (“forest”), forming the Sumatran orang-utan.
Animal Alphabet List
Animals With S
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 S? Then let us know in the comments!
James Henson
Friday 14th of October 2022
Sun conure