Whether you’re a teacher looking to introduce your kiddos to the alphabet using animals, an aspiring zoologist, or just curious about the world, you’ve come to the right place! Your children are probably already able to list a few generic animals starting with the letter “M”, but have they ever heard of these unique animals? Here, you’ll find our stunning collection of the most common to the rarest animals that start with the letter “M”, along with a few interesting facts about each one.
1. Macaque
Macaques form part of a species of primates that are native to Asia and can be easily identified by their red faces. As they’re omnivores, they enjoy a diet of fruit and small insects. They live in groups of up to 200 other animals and make great swimmers and climbers.
Learn More: National Geographic
2. Macaroni Penguin
This adorable fellow is known as a Macaroni Penguin. The name originated because of the fact that their heads are adorned with yellow plumes that look similar to a “macaroni”, a term used in the mid-18th century to describe a fancy young man. These penguins make their home in Antarctica where they love to feed on fish, krill, and crustaceans.
Learn More: Seaworld Parks and Entertainment
3. Macaw
These beautiful parrots are indigenous to the tropical jungles of North America, Central America, and South America. Macaws are social birds and prefer to keep the company of other Macaws. They’re incredibly intelligent as they can be taught simple tricks, how to speak and mimic words as well as other sounds from people and animals.
Learn More: National Geographic
4. Mackerel
Mackerels are large torpedo-shaped fish that can grow to 25 inches long and weigh up to 6 pounds. They’re usually spotted near the coast in oceans such as the South Atlantic and Pacific and during their breeding season, the females tend to lay up to a whopping 70,000 eggs!
Learn More: NOAA Fisheries
5. Maine Coon
This majestic breed of cat is known as the Maine Coon and has been aptly named since they were first bred in the state of Maine. These giant cats can grow to a length of 48.5 inches and weigh around 25 pounds. Although their stares may look intimidating, they’re actually an extremely affectionate breed that loves to play and socialize with humans and other animals.
Learn More: Purina
6. Mallard
Mallards are the typical kind of duck that you’ll find in areas such as North America, Europe, and Asia where they prefer to live near lakes, rivers, and ponds. If you’ve encountered a group of Mallards flying above you, you’ve probably noticed how they fly in a V formation when migrating South for the Winter. Their diet consists of plants, fish, and other insects that they catch by dipping their heads underwater while exposing their little feet and tails above the surface.
Learn More: National Geographic Kids
7. Mamba
Mambas are one of the most venomous species of snake in the world! So if you find yourself traversing the rocky hills of Savannahs while in Africa be sure to be on the lookout for these dangerous creatures. They’re also one of the fastest snakes in the world and can slither as fast as 12 miles per hour – that’s faster than a child can run!
Learn More: National Geographic
8. Manatee
These peaceful cow-like creatures love to chill in the shallow coastal areas of tropical oceans. Although they look pretty harmless, they can weigh up to 3,500 pounds so you probably don’t want to get on the bad side of a manatee. Beautiful to look at and incredible swimmers, the sad reality is that these animals are currently endangered as a result of pollution-caused starvation and are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Learn More: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
9. Mandrill
Mandrills are a colorful breed of primate that make their home in the tropical jungles of South Africa and can easily be identified by their blue and red faces. Their distinct colors tend to attract quite a bit of attention from onlookers, but these creatures are rather shy and reclusive. They also make fast runners and are able to reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.
Learn More: San Diego Zoo
10. Manta Ray
This magnificent marine animal is known as a Manta Ray and is one of the largest rays in the world! Although they look similar to Sting Rays, Manta Rays don’t have a poisonous tail so it can’t hurt you. These intelligent animals make their home in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world, but as a result of pollution, overfishing, and the destruction of coral reefs they’ve become increasingly threatened.
Learn More: The Facts Vault
11. Marbled Salamander
Marbled salamanders can be found hiding under rocks or other objects found in their environment as they love to live in dry soil, rocky habitats, or even swamps! Contrary to popular belief, these salamanders aren’t poisonous but they are carnivores who love to feast on smaller creatures like worms, snails, spiders, and other insects.
Learn More: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection
12. Margay
This tiny big cat is known as a margay. They tend to only grow to lengths of 2.5 feet and weights of up to 11 pounds, but don’t let their small stature fool you as they’re known to be extremely agile creatures and are even able to jump to heights of 8 feet! Margays share a few physical similarities with cheetahs as these super cute cats are covered in brown and black spots.
Learn More: International Society for Endangered Cats Canada
13. Markhor
Markhors possess a set of distinguishable features that set them apart from typical goats. Their heads are adorned with large twisted horns that if left to grow can end up weighing over 200 pounds! You’ll not find these animals at your local farm or petting zoo as these wild creatures are only found within the mountains of Western and Central Asia.
Learn More: Britannica
14. Marmot
These tiny animals, known as Marmots, are a small breed of rodent that enjoy the coziness of underground burrows. Their routine consists of hibernating for most of the year, but if you’re looking to spot one in their natural habitat they can be found in areas of the world such as North America, Asia, and Europe. As a result of their small size, they attract a few predators whom they scare away with their distinguishable whistle.
Learn More: Britannica Kids
15. Masked Palm Civet
This adorable creature is known as a Masked Palm Civet and can be found across Southeast Asia, especially in India. They’re nocturnal animals and thus tend to go about their business at night where they’re often found in trees as they rarely spend their time on the ground. Since they enjoy eating both plants and other small animals they’re omnivores who thrive in their environment and can live for up to 10 years in the wild on their own.
Learn More: Animalia
16. Meerkat
Meerkats live in the desert and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. These charming animals are quite small and are often found sitting on their two back legs, taking a peek at the world around them. Although they’re small, they still have extremely long bodies and prefer to live in groups where they socialize and survive on an omnivorous diet.
Learn More: Tropical World
17. Milkfish
Milkfish can be spotted in the fresh marine waters of tropical areas like the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Their distinctive name originated because of the fact that after being cooked, their meat turns to a white fleshy color that resembles milk.
Learn More: Britannica
18. Miniature Horse
Miniature horses live up to their name as they’re exactly that – mini horses! Also known as ponies, these animals are extremely small compared to their larger cousins as they only grow to be about 3 feet tall. These ponies originated in Europe and have now made their way across the world where they’re usually kept as pets for therapy or as show animals.
Learn More: Kentucky Horse Park
19. Mink
Minks have similar qualities to animals like cats and moles as they let out purrs when they’re happy, are skilled climbers, and love to make burrows. They can make their burrows because they have long bodies with short legs that help them move quickly and dig efficiently. You’ll find these little balls of fur in wetlands and ocean bays across the United States where they feast on small animals like rodents or amphibians and their eggs.
Learn More: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
20. Mockingbird
These tiny birds are super shy and very territorial so if you find yourself wandering into their space you may get an angry Mockingbird coming your way. They can be found across farmlands and cities as well as deserts in North America. Mockingbirds got their name because of their intriguing ability to mimic sounds that they hear, but apart from this amazing ability, they can also be heard singing over 200 songs including some of their own and those of other animals.
Learn More: National Geographic Kids
21. Mole
These peculiar-looking animals, known as moles, enjoy the comfort of living in underground burrows and are actually blind! As a result, they’re quite slow-moving and prefer to eat only insects and worms that stumble upon their underground pathways.
Learn More: National Geographic
22. Mongoose
Mongooses are typically found in semi-aquatic environments, but they’ve also been known to spend some time in trees! Despite their size, these nocturnal creatures are super fast and they use their speed to catch and eat small animals like rodents, reptiles, and insects but they also enjoy a bit of variety and will decide to eat plants and fruit from time to time.
Learn More: National Geographic
23. Moon Jellyfish
Moon jellyfish have been given the scientific name of aurelia aurita – a fitting title for this whimsical water dweller. They’re quite common in areas of the United Kingdom and contrary to popular belief, they can’t harm humans! This is because their sting isn’t strong enough to hurt human skin which means they’re safe to touch.
Learn More: Animal Spot
24. Moorhen
Moorhens are aquatic birds that populate the Eastern hemisphere on the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. These feathered animals look similar to ducks, but have been given the unfortunate nickname of “swamp chickens”. Their distinctive beak is contrasted by the muted tones of their body which makes them easy to spot.
Learn More: RSPB
25. Moose
Moose are gigantic mammals that can be found in the colder forest regions of North America. You don’t want to get in the way of these massive beasts as they can run pretty fast and can grow to heights of over 2 meters – making them the largest deer in the world!
Learn More: National Geographic Kids
26. Moray Eel
Moray eels aren’t blessed with the best eyesight so they have to rely on their sense of smell to capture and eat dead or weak prey. And although they can’t see, they do have two sets of jaws and are known to be poisonous which makes them extremely dangerous.
Learn More: Seaworld Parks and Entertainment
27. Motmot
Feast your eyes on the vibrant colors of the Motmot! These stunning birds make their home in parts of the world such as Eastern Mexico and South America and prefer to eat small lizards, frogs, birds, and spiders as well as fruit. They have various shades of blue and green feathers, but one of their most dazzling features is their bright blue crown.
Learn More: Britannica
28. Mountain Lion
These gorgeous big cats are sometimes also referred to as cougars, panthers, or pumas. Mountain lions, as their name suggests, enjoy living in mountainous areas and spend their days lounging around and hunting for food such as mice, rabbits, and even large deer. While these beautiful animals live in areas of harsh terrain, they still face threats of extinction as a result of hunting and habitat loss.
Learn More: National Geographic Kids
29. Muntjac
Muntjacs are members of the deer family but are considerably small compared to other members of this family. Typically found in India, these deer-like creatures protect themselves using their long canine teeth and make a barking sound when they sense that they’re in danger.
Learn More: The Wildlife Trusts
30. Muskrat
This cuddly-looking fellow, known as a Muskrat, makes for an incredible swimmer. They use their long tails to help them change direction while swimming and since they spend a lot of time in water, they’ve developed an ability to hold their breath for up to 20 minutes!
Learn More: Britannica
31. Magpie
Magpies are often seen meandering about the animal kingdom. The most common type of Magpie is found in Europe and can be easily spotted with its black and white feathers. Their long tails help them to balance as they often walk or hop along the ground. They also form part of the crow family and are actually one of the larger birds in this group.
Learn More: Kiddle
32. Maned Wolf
The Maned Wolf is a member of the dog family, and even though it’s called a wolf, it looks more like a fox which it isn’t closely related to either! It currently holds the title of largest canid in South America and it’s the only member of its genus or family category.
Learn More: Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
33. Mandarin Fish
The flamboyant Mandarin Fish finds its home in the vast oceans of the Pacific, between the Philippine islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Also known as the Mandarin Dragonet, they usually grow to be about three inches long and they’re actually carnivorous so they love to eat small worms and crustaceans.
Learn More: Two Fish Divers
34. Madagascar Tenrec
You may think that this is just your standard hedgehog, but you’d be wrong. The Tenrec is only distantly related to the common hedgehog, in fact, the Tenrec is more closely related genetically to elephants! However, they live quite a distance from their distant cousins, the elephant, because they can only be naturally found in Madagascar.
Learn More: Natural History Museum
35. Musk Oxen
Musk Oxen truly are pioneers of their species as they live farther north than any other hoofed animal in Arctic countries like Canada, Siberia, and Greenland. Their thick coat helps them to stay warm in these snowy countries and they usually prefer to travel as a group in a herd.
Learn More: Easy Science for Kids
36. Malayan Tapir
These strange-looking creatures are actually closely related to rhinos and horses. The Malayan Tapir also known as the Indian or Asian Tapir, has a distinctive white/gray pattern that helps them camouflage in the shadows. While their young are covered in a pattern of spots that helps them blend in with the ground.
Learn More: Denver Zoo
37. Marsh Frog
The Marsh Frog is notable for being one of the larger examples of frogs from its species. This is because they can grow to be about 15cm long, that’s nearly twice the size of an average frog! They prefer wet, humid habitats like marshes which is why they’re considered to be native to Western Asia and continental Europe.
Learn More: Frog Life
38. Masked Lapwing
This distinctive-looking bird is native to Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. It has the unusual habit of spending most of its time on the ground searching for food like insects and worms. Apart from its boldly colored mask, the Lapwing also has little yellow spurs on its wings which it uses to scare predators away.
Learn More: Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
39. Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise
The Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise is most commonly known as the “Greek Tortoise” and is naturally found in regions such as North Africa, Southern Europe, and Southwest Asia. They enjoy eating flowers, weeds, and succulents and prefer a reasonably temperate climate. Unfortunately, the wild population of this species is currently listed as vulnerable.
Learn More: Happy Tortoises
40. Mountain Goat
Mountain Goats are native to North America and are one of the most common animals you’ll find in areas such as the Rocky Mountains. Their physical features include a set of curvy black horns and they even grow little beards as they get older!
Learn More: Science Trek
41. Mexican Free-tailed Bat
The most striking attribute about this particular bat is that their tails extend well beyond their tail membrane, hence their name. Their fur can be described as being reddish-brown and they choose to roost near water as they prefer to feed on the insects that thrive in these areas. You’ll find the Mexican Free-tailed Bat in areas around the world like the western United States, Central America, and the northern parts of South America.
Learn More: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
42. Mule Deer
Mule Deer can be found throughout most of western North America. Their tails are their most noticeable feature as they’re black-tipped and usually droop down instead of upright like most other species of deer. They also have a unique way of moving around since they don’t run, but rather bound around with all four feet landing at the same time.
Learn More: Nature Mapping Program
43. Milk Snake
Milk snakes have a distinctive bright pattern that covers their bodies and sets it apart from other breeds of snakes. The striped rows of bright colors are separated by smaller bands of light ones, with dark outlines in between, however, their colors do tend to dull as they get older. These snakes are native to Nearctic areas, but you’ll also find them being kept as pets as they’re not venomous.
Learn More: BioKids
44. Mantis Shrimp
The Mantis Shrimp is one of the coolest-looking animals on this list and they’re definitely not all show! These carnivorous shrimp use their sharp claws to attack their prey and have even been known to eat other shrimp. They also have their own unique language and are able to communicate with other Mantis Shrimp by making a rumbling noise.
Learn More: Cool Kid Facts
45. Magellanic Penguin
The Magellanic Penguin is native to South America and chooses to build its nests on cliff faces, in burrows, or on grassy shorelines. They travel extremely long distances to reach their breeding grounds, and when looking for a mate, male Magellanic Penguins will make a noise that’s very similar to the braying of a donkey.
Learn More: Seaworld Parks and Entertainment
46. Marabou Stork
The Marabou Stork has a very unusual nickname – the Undertaker Bird! This is because, from the back, their long gray-black wings look like a shroud. These spooky birds have long, thin legs and the bones in their legs and toes are actually hollow, which helps them to smoothly take flight!
Learn More: Kidadl
47. Mountain Gorilla
Gorillas can be distinguished into two species, namely Eastern Gorillas and Western Gorillas. The Mountain Gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern group and makes its home in the eastern parts of Central Africa. Sadly, they remain an endangered species, with a little over 1,000 of them remaining in the wild.
Learn More: WWF
48. Mexican Wolf
The Mexican Wolf is a very rare and critically endangered member of the Grey Wolf species. They’re found in regions of North America and are more commonly referred to as “El Lobo”. They tend to live for about 7 years and are one of the smallest members of their species, usually growing to about 80cm in height.
Learn More: Animal Corner
49. Mediterranean Monk Seal
Mediterranean Monk Seals are another animal on this list that have become very rare as there are only a few hundred of these mammals left on Earth. Since they don’t like being around humans, they’re generally found hidden in underwater caves. At birth, their pups are only around 80cm long, but by the time they become adults, they’ll typically have grown to around 2.4 meters and a whopping 400kg.
Learn More: Animal Spot
50. Mudpuppy
This charming amphibian, found in North America, is most notable for the fact that it stays in its immature larval stage for its whole life! Mudpuppies are able to live for up to 20 years and they don’t really grow longer than 13 inches. They’re nocturnal animals and prefer to move around at night, but you may be able to spot them during the day if they live in an area with particularly murky water.
Learn More: A-Z Animals
51. Monitor Lizard
The Monitor lizard is the term used to describe the largest known group of lizards in the world. The most famous monitor lizard, and one you probably already know about, is the Komodo Dragon. These animals enjoy living in tropical areas like Africa, Asia, and Australasia.
Learn More: DK Find Out
52. Mandibled Toucan
There are various species of Mandible Toucan that are all native to Central and South America. Each variation looks slightly different, such as the Black-Mandibled Toucan which has a distinctive dark lower beak. This particular toucan is super important to the rainforest ecosystem because it helps to spread fruit seeds around the area.
Learn More: Natural Habitat Adventures
53. Mediterranean Jellyfish
Mediterranean Jellyfish are pretty unique-looking creatures as their body resembles that of an egg, which is why this species has also become known as the Fried-Egg Jellyfish. They’re most commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea and they spend a lot of their time motionless. Their tentacles are also quite short and they haven’t been known to hurt humans.
Learn More: Oceana
54. Manx Cat
This species of feline is famous for not having a tail! Manx cats originated from the Isle of Man and can come in all varieties of colors, but it’s quite rare to see a fully white Manx. Extraordinarily, the Manx Cat is one of the few breeds that didn’t come about as a result of selective breeding.
Learn More: Manx Cat Cafe
55. Mantella Frog
The Mantella Frog can be found in the forests of East Madagascar as it prefers humid conditions. Its appearance aids in protecting it from predators as its brightness serves as a warning to other animals that it’s toxic and shouldn’t be eaten. These tiny critters spend most of their time on land even laying their eggs on solid ground before carrying their tadpoles to water.
Learn More: Aquarium of the Pacific
56. Mock Viper
Our list of animals wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Mock Viper. It’s a snake that truly lives up to its name because it confuses predators by appearing to be a venomous viper thanks to the triangle on its head, but in reality, it’s harmless. The Mock Viper is one the the smaller varieties of snake that are found in parts of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Southern China.
Learn More: Green Power
57. Mako Shark
Currently, there are only two types of living Mako Shark around, the shortfin and longfin Mako Shark that are also, unfortunately, endangered. The longfin varieties are rarer and relatively little research has been done on them, but they’re some of the fastest sharks alive today!
Learn More: YouTube
58. Malachite Kingfisher
The vibrant Malachite Kingfisher can be found all over Africa in countries located south of the Sahara. They prefer to live in pairs where each couple chooses where they’ll build their nest. However, they’re quite territorial, and if they feel threatened they won’t hesitate to defend the area that they breed in.
Learn More: Mongabay
59. Mole Salamander
Mole Salamanders get their name from the fact that they love to burrow and spend their time underground. Their short and stocky build means that they only tend to grow to be about 4 inches long and in the wild, they can live for up to 20 years!
Learn More: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
60. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
From the forests of Madagascar, this unique cockroach is known to be one of the biggest varieties. They prefer to stay hidden during the day and emerge at night to feast on a diet of fruit and plant material. This massive insect protects itself by hissing at predators to scare them off, hence the name.
Learn More: Maryland Zoo
61. Mouse Lemur
The Mouse Lemur is classed as being a nocturnal primate and one of the smallest on Earth! From the top of its head to the tip of its tail, these adorable little animals generally only grow to be about 10.5 inches long. Even though there are only 24 different species of Mouse Lemur around, they all look pretty similar which makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other.
Learn More: Duke Lemur Center
62. Margined Burying Beetle
The Margined Burying Beetle is usually found in central North America and can be easily spotted because of the distinctive black and orange pattern that covers its body. This colorful beetle forms part of the Carrion Beetle family, which means that its diet consists of dying or dead animals.
Learn More: Picture Insect
63. Muskellunge
The Muskellunge fish is part of the Pike family and is more commonly referred to as a ‘Muskie’. Muskie are native to North America, but they were introduced into other countries for sport fishing. The largest recorded Muskie that anyone caught was over 67 pounds! Even more amazingly, these fish are considered to be ancient as they’ve been around for over 50 million years.
Learn More: ULUA
64. Maned Rat
Also referred to as the African Crested Rat, this fluffy rodent is most commonly found in East Africa. The Maned Rat is the only venomous rodent in the world and it uses the toxins from plants to deter and harm its predators.
Learn More: iNaturalist UK
65. Malagasy Aardvark
Sadly, the Malagasy Aardvark recently became extinct. The first reports about the animal from Madagascar classified it as an aardvark, though doubts now remain about whether it actually was one. Though the reason for its extinction isn’t known, it’s suspected that deforestation in its natural habitat played a major factor.
Learn More: Animals Wiki
66. Mangrove Snake
The Mangrove snake has earned the title of being the largest of all the species of cat snakes. While most venomous snakes have hollow fangs that inject venom, the Mangrove snake is rear fanged which means its fangs have grooves on them that release its venom as it chews on its prey.
Learn More: Belfast Zoo
67. Malayan Tiger
The Malayan Tiger is native to Malaysia and is considered to be one of the world’s most endangered animals. Generally, the Malayan Tiger is the smallest subspecies of Mainland Tigers and each one of these stunning big cats has a series of stripes that are unique to it. Their habitat is the perfect spot for this tiger to hang out as it loves staying cool by swimming in nearby waters.
Learn More: Study
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