Kids love learning about animals, especially animals that they have never encountered before. The animals below live all over the world and are known for their unique characteristics. These animals are perfect to include in an animal unit or a unit focusing on the letter E. From elephants to elks and elands, here are 30 amazing animals that start with E.
1. Elephant
The elephant is the world’s largest land animal. They have long trunks, a long tails, tusks on either side of their trunks, and large flapping ears. A fun fact about elephants is that their tusks are actually teeth!
Learn More: E-Dreams
2. Electric Eel
Eels live in the water and can grow up to eight feet in length. The electric eel can shock prey in the water using special mechanisms in their organs. The shock can reach up to 650 volts. A fun fact about eels is that they are freshwater fish.
Learn More: 7 ESL
3. Eagle
The eagle encapsulates several different types of large birds. Eagles specifically hunt vertebrates. The eagle is a preying bird in the animal kingdom and has a large beak and feet. The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States of America.
Learn More: Photographic Dictionary
4. Elk
Elk are beautiful animals in the deer family. They are the largest animal in the deer family, in fact. Elk are native to North America as well as Eastern Asia. They can reach over seven hundred pounds and eight feet in height!
Learn More: 7 ESL
5. Echidna
The echidna is an interesting animal that looks like a hybrid animal of a porcupine and an anteater. They have quills like a porcupine, and a long nose, and live off an insect diet like the anteater. Like the platypus, an echidna is one of the only mammals to lay eggs. They are native to Australia.
Learn More: Animals Around The Globe
6. Emu
The emu is a tall bird native to Australia. Only the ostrich is taller than the emu in the bird kingdom. Emus have feathers, but they can’t fly. They can, however, sprint very quickly at up to thirty miles per hour. Another fun fact about emus is that they can go weeks without eating!
Learn More: Active Wild
7. Egret
The egret is a white water bird. They have curved necks, long legs, and sharp beaks. Egrets are also known as herons and they have a large wingspan. They hunt fish by wading in the water and are often admired for their elegant flight patterns.
Learn More: All About Birds
8. Eland
The eland is a massive animal from Africa. The eland can reach over two thousand pounds as a male and over a thousand pounds as a female, and reach about five feet in height. Elands are herbivores and they resemble oxen.
Learn More: Animal Hype
9. Ermine
The ermine is from Asia and North America. They live for four to six years and are also known as weasels. Some ermines can change colors, but most are brown and white with long bodies and short legs.
Learn More: The Website Of Everything
10. Eft
The eft is a type of newt or salamander that lives on both water and land. The eft, specifically, is the juvenile form of a salamander. They can live up to fifteen years. They have long, scaly bodies, small, flat heads, and long tails.
Learn More: Hal Brindley
11. Eider
An eider is a duck. Male eiders have colored heads and bills with black and white feathers whereas the female eider has soft, brown feathers. An interesting fact about eiders is that their feathers are used to create down pillows and comforters.
Learn More: All About Birds
12. Earthworm
The earthworm lives on land and doesn’t have any bones. There are 1800 different species of earthworm, and they are sometimes referred to as angleworms. They exist throughout the world wherever water and soil are present.
Learn More: Animals Around The Globe
13. Earwig
The earwig has about 2000 different species. They are nocturnal bug that hides in wet, dark places and eats other insects and plants. Earwigs are long and have pincers on their tails. They are considered pests in the United States.
Learn More: Photographic Dictionary
14. Elephant Seal
The elephant seal lives in the ocean and is characterized by its oddly shaped nose. They can weigh over eight thousand pounds and be over twenty feet in length. They are slow on land but travel quickly in the water- traveling up to 5000 feet under.
Learn More: Animal Hype
15. Elephant Shrew
The elephant shrew is a tiny mammal that lives in Africa. The elephant shrew only has four toes and can be recognized by its unique nose shape. They eat insects and they are also known as jumping shrews. The elephant shrew is a unique animal, resembling a gerbil.
Learn More: AWF.org
16. Eastern Gorilla
The eastern gorilla is the largest of the gorilla species. The eastern gorilla is sadly a threatened animal species because of poaching. They are the largest living primate and are closely related to humans. There are about 3,800 eastern gorillas in the world.
Learn More: World Wildlife
17. Eastern Coral Snake
The eastern coral snake is extremely venomous. They can reach up to thirty inches in length. The eastern coral snake is also known as the American cobra. The eastern coral snake is colorful, thin, and very quick. Don’t get too close- they bite and are too quick to stop!
Learn More: National Geographic
18. Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is native to Antarctica. It is the largest of the penguins both in height and weight. They can live for up to twenty years and they are known for their amazing diving skills. A fun fact about emperor penguins is that their colonies can be spotted from outer space!
Learn More: Oceanwide Expeditions
19. Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is a type of cat breed. They are known for their short hair and spots. They are a domesticated breed of cat with almond-shaped eyes. Egyptian Maus are considered rare. The word “Mau” actually means “sun” in Egyptian.
Learn More: Pet Finder
20. English Shepherd
The English Shepherd is a common dog breed in the United States. The English shepherd is known for its intelligence and ability to herd flocks. The males can reach over sixty pounds and the females can reach over fifty pounds.
Learn More: Pet Finder
21. Eartheater
The eartheater is a fish that lives in South America. The eartheater is a genus with a large number of species. They are also known as cichlids and live in the Amazon. Many people like to add these types of fish to their aquariums to help control algae buildup.
Learn More: TFH Magazine
22. Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian wolf is native to Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, as of 2021, there are species of the Eurasian wolf that are extinct due to dwindling food supplies. The Eurasian wolf can reach over eighty pounds.
Learn More: Animal Corner
23. Eared Seal
The eared seal is also known as a sea lion. They differ from seals because they have ears and the ability to walk on land. They eat fish, squid, and mollusks. There are sixteen different species of eared seals.
Learn More: Britannica
24. Eastern Cougar
The Eastern cougar is also known as the Eastern puma. The Eastern cougar is a subcategory of species to classify the cougars in the Eastern United States. They live for approximately eight years and they eat deer, beavers, and other small mammals.
Learn More: CPAWS
25. Edible Frog
The edible frog is also known as a common frog or a green frog. They are known as edible frogs because their legs are used for food in France. They are native to Europe and Asia but exist in North America as well.
Learn More: Active Wild
26. Emperor Tamarin
The emperor tamarin is a primate known for its long mustache. They are native to South America- specifically Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. They are very small, only reaching a weight of about one pound. It is rumored that they are named after an old emperor because of their similar appearance.
Learn More: National Zoo
27. Earless Water Rat
The earless water rat is from New Guinea. It is a rodent that prefers cold weather. A baby earless water rat is called a kitten or pup. They are part of the old-world mice and rat classification.
Learn More: The Website Of Everything
28. European Hare
The European hare is a brown rabbit native to Europe and Asia. It can reach over eight pounds and is one of the largest rabbit species. They prefer open land with crops and agriculture and run very quickly through the fields.
Learn More: Animal Diversity
29. Ethiopian Wolf
The Ethiopian wolf is native to the Ethiopian highlands. It has a long narrow head and red and white fur. It can reach thirty-two pounds in weight and three feet in height. The wolf can also reach speeds of 30 miles per hour!
Learn More: Ethiopian Wolf
30. Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian eagle owl has a wingspan of over six feet. It is one of the largest species of owl. It can also reach over two feet in height. It can fly up to thirty miles per hour and lives between twenty-five and fifty years.
Learn More: Animal Corner
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