There are so many amazing animals all over the world. The animals listed below all start with the letter G and would be ideal to include in a spelling unit, animal unit, or letter G unit. Your kids will love learning about new animals whilst discovering the unique characteristics of familiar creatures. So, dive right into our global list of 58 great, groovy, good-natured, and genuinely gorgeous animals that start with the letter G!
1. Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest primates; reaching upwards of five feet in height and five hundred pounds. These massive creatures can live for more than 30 years and are some of the closest related animals to humans. These guys are known for their strong, stocky bodies, flat noses, and human-like hands.
Learn More: World Wildlife
2. Gar
The Gar is a fish that has a long, cylindrical body and a flat, long nose. Their ancestors appeared on Earth over 240 million years ago. Today’s Gars are native to the United States and can reach a whopping ten feet in length! These predatory fish are renowned for their strong foraging abilities.
Learn More: Britannica
3. Gecko
The gecko is a small lizard that can be found throughout the world—on all continents except Antarctica. These tiny reptiles are nocturnal and carnivorous so can easily be spotted at night. On the lookout for one? Keep an eye out for their flat heads and brightly colored, stocky bodies!
Learn More: Zilla Rules
4. Giraffe
Giraffes are elegant creatures that are native to Africa. They have hooves and long, thin legs, as well as long, extended necks. These spotted wonders can reach over 15 feet in height—making them the tallest land mammal in the world! Although at first glance you may not think it, giraffes are quick on their feet, clocking up speeds of over 35 miles per hour!
Learn More: San Diego Zoo
5. Goose
Geese are well-known water birds that tend to have wide wing spans, bodies similar to ducks, and can be a wide variety of colors. These guys can live for up to 30 years; however, some species can live even longer. These feathered creatures are found all across the United States and are known for their distinctive honking sounds.
Learn More: Ducks Unlimited
6. Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are common pets that live between four and eight years. Although small in stature, they’re very vocal animals that will grunt when hungry, excited, or upset. These fluffy delights require daily attention and enjoy social interactions with both humans and other guinea pigs.
Learn More: Anti Cruelty
7. Goat
The humble goat is a domesticated animal that originates from wild goats in Asia and Europe. They’re often kept as farm animals and are used for milk. Goats are known for their kind, playful nature, so they’re frequently kept in petting zoos.
Learn More: National Zoo
8. Gazelle
Did you know that the gazelle can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour? These speed demons are a species of antelope that’s closely related to deer. Although gazelles can’t outrun cheetahs, they are often able to outmaneuver them thanks to their agility and swiftness.
Learn More: Safaris Africana
9. Galapagos Penguin
The Galapagos penguin is, as you may have guessed, native to the Galapagos Islands! Although the islands have a tropical climate, the water is cold, comfortably allowing for these birds to live north of the equator. In stature, these penguins are relatively small—reaching only four to five pounds in weight and 20 inches in height.
Learn More: Galapagos Conservation Club
10. Garden Eel
The garden eel is a unique creature that can be found in Indo-Pacific waters. These curious-looking fish can live from 30 to 40 years in colonies of thousands of members. A fun fact about garden eels is that they have very good eyesight; this allows them to easily spot their microscopic food, most frequently plankton, in the water.
Learn More: The Dallas World Aquarium
11. Gaboon Viper
The Gaboon viper is a poisonous snake found in Africa—its poison can kill a human in two to four hours after biting. The pattern of this reptile’s skin mimics that of fallen leaves, allowing it to camouflage itself on the rainforest’s floor to stalk its prey. This comes in especially handy when the Gaboon viper is trying to catch its next meal!
Learn More: Los Angeles Zoo
12. Gerbil
A gerbil is a small rodent that people often keep as a pet. These adorable creatures are social animals that like to play in tunnels and burrow to build their homes. Gerbils live in extended families in the wild and are native to Africa, India, and Asia.
Learn More: RSPCA
13. German Pinscher
The German pinscher is a dog breed known for its pointed ears and stout body. Originally used as rat catchers, German pinschers are very active, sociable, and intelligent. They originate from schnauzers, can be black or brown in color, and make great family dogs!
Learn More: American Kennel Club
14. Garter Snake
Garter snakes are a common, harmless snake native to North America. There are about 35 species of these familiar reptiles, which tend to live in grassy areas. Garter snakes have many different colorations and skin patterns and grow to a medium size of about two feet in length.
Learn More: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
15. Gray Seal
The gray seal is found in the Atlantic Ocean. These aquatic mammals eat a variety of fish and are brown or gray in appearance, with round heads that appear earless. Gray seals are the rarest of all seal species and are larger than common seals.
Learn More: Fisheries
16. Gannet
The gannet is a large seabird that likes to live near the coast, nesting on oceanside cliffs. These birds have white bodies with yellow heads and black wingtips as adults—juvenile gannets are sooty brown all over. Gannets have an impressive wingspan of up to two meters in length and hunt fish with their long, spear-like bills.
Learn More: All About Birds
17. Giant Clam
Did you know that the giant clam lives up to 100 years!? These underwater marvels can grow to be four feet in width and up to 600 pounds! Giant clams are bottom dwellers found on the Great Barrier Reef and are the largest shellfish on Earth.
Learn More: Barrier Reef
18. Geoffroy’s Tamarin
Geoffroy’s tamarin is a small monkey native to South America. These cuddly-looking creatures only reach about two feet in height and have small faces with black, brown, and white fur. Although they look sweet, Geoffrey’s tamarins are very territorial and primarily eat insects, plants, and sap.
Learn More: Canopy Tower
19. German Shepherd
The German shepherd is a dog breed known for its large stature and intelligence. These affectionate and hard-working canines have stout, muscular bodies and pointed ears. German shepherds are typically black and brown in color and were originally bred as herding dogs—they are still often used as working dogs, including as search and rescue dogs, police dogs, and service dogs.
Learn More: Dog Time
20. Green Sturgeon
The green sturgeon is a fish found in temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The 27 species of green sturgeon are anadromous—meaning they can live in both freshwater and saltwater. These underwater giants can grow to 650 pounds and live up to 60 years—the longest lifespan of any freshwater fish!
Learn More: NOAA Fisheries
21. Grizzly Bear
A native to North America, the grizzly bear can run at an impressive 35 miles per hour—even though they weigh up to 600 pounds! These huge mammals live from 20-25 years, hibernating for up to two-thirds of the year. As omnivores, they will eat insects, plants, and fish among other things.
Learn More: Britannica
22. Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is one of the largest birds in the United States. These massive, predatory birds have a wingspan of six to seven feet and weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. Golden eagles are skilled hunters that can reach speeds of up to 200mph when diving to catch their prey which is mostly reptiles, rodents, and other birds.
Learn More: Peregrine Fund
23. Gray Wolf
The gray wolf is native to North America, Europe, and Asia and is the largest species of wolf. This endangered species travels and hunts in packs and can be found in the Rockies and Alaska in the United States. These wolves grow to about 100 pounds and live between seven and eight years.
Learn More: National Wildlife Federation
24. Gila Monster
The Gila monster is a large, venomous lizard that is found in the southwestern United States. The largest lizard in the United States, they can grow to over 20 inches in length—their heavy mass makes them slow-moving. A Gila monster’s bite can cause swelling, burning, dizziness, and other unpleasant symptoms, so it’s best to avoid getting on this animal’s bad side!
Learn More: Aquarium of Pacific
25. Giant Panda
The giant panda is known for its unique black-and-white appearance! These cuddly-looking giants are native to China—and are not as gentle as they look when they feel threatened. Giant pandas are vulnerable to extinction, mainly because their habitat continues to decrease as China’s human population increases.
Learn More: Animal Fact Guide
26. Gibbon
The gibbon is an ape that lives in Indonesia, India, and China. Unfortunately, all 20 known species of this graceful creature are endangered because of their dwindling habitats. Gibbons are known for their brown or black bodies with white markings on their small faces and are tree dwellers that can travel up to 34 miles per hour—the same speed as a racehorse!
Learn More: Leakey Foundation
27. Grasshopper
Grasshoppers like to live in grass and forest areas where they feed on plant foliage. Interestingly, males rub their legs against their wings in order to emit a sound to attract mates! There are approximately 11,000 different species of grasshoppers, all varying significantly in size, and a fun fact about these common insects is that their ears are located on the sides of their bodies!
Learn More: Thought Co.
28. Greyhound
The greyhound is a dog breed that is tall, thin, and known for their speed. Reaching speeds of up to 45mph, they’re often considered to be racing dogs—but greyhounds are also good family pets! Their calm and sweet dispositions make them the perfect companions for family life, and they’re actually known to be couch potatoes at home!
Learn More: Australian Racing Greyhound
29. Ghost Crab
The ghost crab, also called a sand crab is very small; it reaches only about three inches in size. These speedy, tunneling dynamos are predominantly found on sandy shores and are called ghost crabs because they can camouflage themselves to blend in with the white sand.
Learn More: National Park Service
30. Gerenuk
The gerenuk is also known as a giraffe gazelle. Native to Africa and known for their unique appearance, these creatures have long, graceful necks, long ears, and almond-shaped eyes. An interesting fact about the gerenuk is that they eat while balancing on their hind legs and can use their forelegs to help them pull down the foliage to eat.
Learn More: Denver Zoo
31. Grey Reef Shark
As its name suggests, the grey reef shark is dark grey in color on its fin. We should keep our distance because this guy is pretty aggressive! You are most likely to see grey reef sharks in shallow water where they give birth to live babies- having up to six at one time!
Learn More: Florida Museum
32. Great Hornbill
Supporting a large beak, the great hornbill is a bird unlike most others! The large bill looks to be heavy, but it’s actually pretty lightweight and they use it to eat small animals, figs, and other plants. Once the hornbill male mates, he cares for the female until the babies hatch and the female has a chance to molt and grow new feathers.
Learn More: Seaworld
33. Goblin Shark
It’s not too difficult to see how this animal got its name! Luckily, this frightening shark lives in the deepest waters of the ocean and doesn’t bother humans. It is able to use its unique jaw to thrust out and capture prey, like squid and fish. Its jaw can move from under its eyes to all the way out under its snout! Freaky!
Learn More: Australian Museum
34. Gray Mouse Lemur
The gray mouse lemur is extremely tiny and doesn’t grow beyond three inches tall. Eating mostly beetles the gray mouse lemur is a skilled hunter, but they top up on fruits when they need to. Interestingly, studies have found that these animals can develop dementia and have been used in studies to help treat the disease in humans.
Learn More: Duke Lemur Center
35. Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo penguins have a bunch of unique characteristics and features. With bushy tails and bright reddish-orange beaks, they look a little different than some of the other penguin species. Gentoo penguins lay two eggs in their nests that they make out of small pebbles and rocks, and are very protective of their young.
Learn More: British Antarctic Survey
36. Green Bee-Eater
Living in Asia, this brightly colored bird is quite a vibrant beauty. This small and graceful bird is a skilled hunter of insects, particularly bees, and prefers to live in a quiet, secluded environment–like a forest or woodlands. These birds get better with age as adult green bee-eaters are much brighter in color than younger green bee-eaters!
Learn More: eBird
37. Great Horned Owl
You may be surprised to find that the great horned owl doesn’t actually have horns! These large owls have a wingspan of over 4 feet and can hear a mouse step on a twig from around 20 meters away! The great horned owl is a solitary species that likes to live in places like canyons or forests throughout the Americas.
Learn More: National Wildlife Federation
38. Golden Oriole
The golden oriole is a beautifully colored bird with distinctive yellow and black markings. It is found in Asia and Europe and migrates to Africa during the wintertime in search of a warmer climate! They only grow to be around 24cm tall and are usually spotted pretty easily due to their bright, eye-catching coloring.
Learn More: iNaturalist
39. Green Anole
Often found in trees, the green anole is a common animal in the southern United States. Like chameleons, this reptile can change colors to fit in with its surroundings but their ability to do so is not quite as good as the chameleon. Females lay singular eggs and when baby anoles hatch, they look like smaller versions of the adult anoles!
Learn More: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
40. Groundhog
Also called a woodchuck, the groundhog is a type of rodent that likes to stay pretty close to their homes. These large rodents have a healthy appetite for many plant-based foods; they enjoy eating many types of flowers, seeds, grasses, vegetables, fruits, and even wild herbs.
Learn More: Missouri Department of Conservation
41. Guanaco
Found in South America, the guanaco is a large mammal that can grow to weigh up to 300 pounds. Sadly, these beautiful animals are endangered and vulnerable in South American countries, mostly due to starvation. They like to live together with other guanacos and travel as a herd.
Learn More: Natural Habitat Adventures
42. Green Mamba
The green mamba is an amazing snake that is highly venomous! They can grow up to six feet long and their bite can kill humans if left untreated so it’s maybe best to avoid these dangerous reptiles! Found in East Africa, the vividly colored green mamba is aggressive if annoyed, but it is also shy and stays hidden away most of the time.
Learn More: iNaturalist
43. Giant African Snail
You may be thinking that the giant African snail lives in Africa, but it actually wreaks havoc in Florida and Hawaii. This animal is a threat because of its appetite for over 500 different types of crops and, believe it or not, building materials! It reproduces quickly, with hundreds of eggs at a time so it’s important to report any sightings to pest control!
Learn More: US Department Of Agriculture
44. Green Rat Snake
Living mostly in New Mexico and Arizona, this vivid green snake is a large one that can also be found in parts of Central America! As the name suggests, the green rat snake eats rodents and other small animals. They’re easily identified by their vibrant color and thankfully aren’t venomous!
Learn More: New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan
45. Gopher
Pocket gophers are named for how their cheeks can act as pockets! Living all over North America, gophers must really watch their backs, as they are hunted by many different animals; weasels, slithering reptiles, and predatory birds! These gophers must be doing OK at evading capture though, as they’re not currently endangered.
Learn More: National Wildlife Federation
46. Glass Frog
Glass frogs are incredibly unique amphibians. Extremely small and good at hiding, we don’t know too much about this uncommon animal which can only be found in South America and Central America. If you look at the underside of their bodies, you will see through them and can even notice the internal organs of these clear and green tree frogs.
Learn More: Tree Hugger
47. Golden Masked Owl
The golden masked owl gets its name from the pale golden color of the circular pattern of its face. They’re commonly found on the islands of New Guinea and New Britain, and they like to be in the trees of the forests there. Feasting mostly on smaller rodents, the golden masked owls are nocturnal predators that hunt best at night!
Learn More: The Owl Pages
48. Giant Wood Moth
Unfortunately, due to human interference, the giant wood moth is in danger of becoming threatened! This beautiful moth is good at staying out of sight—it’s rare to actually see them in the wild. Females tend to be much larger than males and they have a unique life span, only living for a few days after reaching adulthood.
Learn More: Our Breathing Planet
49. Gray Fox
The gray fox is actually a member of the dog family but has some unique characteristics that other dogs are missing. Climbing trees is a special skill that gray foxes have and use to escape when being hunted or to find a safe place to rest. Found all over most of North and Central America, gray foxes are sometimes also found in South America.
Learn More: Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
50. Great White Shark
A fierce predator, the great white shark is one of the most high-profile and dangerous marine animals there is. This famous shark can grow up to 20 feet long and live for around 70 years but is unfortunately at risk of extinction. Although these guys get a bad rap from their portrayal in the movies, there are actually surprisingly few attacks on humans in real life!
Learn More: National Geographic
51. Glass Lizard
Looking not at all like a lizard, the glass lizard is not a snake either! It is actually a legless lizard. It eats small invertebrates and has a unique defense mechanism whereby it can break off its tail to escape a predator! The tail will continue to move and can distract the predator giving the glass lizard a chance to escape.
Learn More: Amphibians And Reptiles Of North Carolina
52. Golden Lion Tamarin
If you look high into the tall trees of the Brazilian forests, you may spot the golden lion tamarin. Very tiny in size, the golden lion tamarin is a type of dwarf monkey with a small, slender body. Sadly, after many years of habitat loss, these primates have become an endangered species.
Learn More: New England Primate Conservancy
53. Gharial
Gharials are a specific and unique-looking type of crocodile found in India. Gharials survive mostly off-eating fish species and small crustaceans and while they do have small legs they travel much better in the water than on land. They are excellent swimmers and use their distinctive mouths to capture their prey!
Learn More: Smithsonian Zoo
54. Guinea Fowl
If you plan to have a guinea fowl for a pet, you may want to consider getting him some friends! These animals are very sociable and so they tend to do better around others of their kind. While they aren’t very bright, these guinea fowl are easily frightened and can be quite loud. They like to roam and explore the area, so they don’t tend to do as well penned up in an enclosure.
Learn More: Heritage Acres Market
55. Genet
Native to Africa, this cat-like animal is called a genet. It’s small and doesn’t grow bigger than about seven pounds maximum. Genets are omnivores and will eat plants and prey on a wide range of small animals, including mice and birds. This African animal eats whatever is available and is often referred to as an “opportunistic feeder.”
Learn More: African Wildlife Foundation
56. Giant Tortoise
Reigning as the largest tortoise in the entire animal kingdom, the giant tortoise is one big guy! Growing up to 700 pounds, these quiet creatures can only be found in the Galapagos Islands. Not extinct quite yet, they are at risk and have become vulnerable due to threats from predators and habitat loss.
Learn More: WWF
57. Golden Retriever
Wildly popular in the United States, golden retrievers make great family pets. With their gentle nature and playful spirit, they make good playmates for children. Golden retrievers are highly social and full of energy, so make sure you can allow plenty of exercise and activity for these busy dogs if you’re planning on adding one to your household!
Learn More: Rover
58. Guppy
A tiny aquatic animal that makes for a perfect pet, the guppy doesn’t require very much care or take up a whole lot of space! Well known for being common pets, guppies can also be found in the wild in the tropical waters of South America and the Caribbean Islands. Perfect for beginner pet owners, guppies are great pets for children!
Learn More: The Spruce Pets
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