Animals That Start With R
Discover 3 animals whose common name begins with the letter R, from Red Panda to Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. This includes 1 mammal, 1 fish, and 1 reptile. Browse photos, taxonomy, habitat, diet, and conservation status for each species. 1 of these species is classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
About Animals That Start With R
Diet among these species breaks down as 2 carnivores and 1 omnivore. They live across forest, mountain, rainforest, wetlands, and desert habitats, and are native to Asia, South America, and North America. Body weight varies across the group, ranging from 0.3kg to 6.2kg.
R Animals
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens
MammalThe red panda is a small, tree-dwelling mammal native to the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, spanning Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Myanmar. Despite the shared name and bamboo-heavy diet, it is unrelated to the giant panda — the two evolved their bamboo-eating habits and thumb-like wrist bone independently, a striking example of convergent evolution.
Red-Bellied Piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
FishThe red-bellied piranha is one of the most notorious freshwater fish in the world, native to rivers and floodplains across the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. Despite its fearsome reputation, it is primarily a scavenger and opportunistic feeder, and unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
ReptileThe western diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous and widely-distributed venomous snakes in North America, easily identified by the diamond pattern along its back.
Alphabetical List
Interesting R Animal Facts
- Red Panda: Red pandas use their bushy tail as a blanket in cold weather.
- Red-Bellied Piranha: Despite their reputation, red-bellied piranhas are mostly scavengers, and unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare.
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake: Its rattle is made of interlocking segments of keratin that click together when vibrated.
R Animals FAQs
How many animals start with the letter R?
This page currently features 3 animals whose common name starts with R, and more are added regularly.
What is the most popular animal starting with R?
Red Panda is the most popular animal starting with R on this site.
What is the rarest animal starting with R?
Red Panda has the most severe conservation status (Endangered) among animals starting with R.
Are any animals starting with R endangered?
Yes — 1 animal starting with R is classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.