We’ve reached the end of this alphabetic creatures series, finishing with this list of animals that begin with Z! You are probably familiar with a zebra, but what about a zonkey, zedonk, or zorse? These animals are not only fun to say, but they offer some interesting insight into the diversity of our amazing animal kingdom. Curious to know more? Jump into our curated list of 58 amazing animals that begin where the alphabet ends: with Z!
1. Zebras
We have to start with the most iconic Z-animal! Did you know that there are actually three types of zebras – the Grevy’s, plains, and mountain zebras? Other cool facts are that they can be white with black stripes or black with white stripes, and baby zebras know their moms by these unique patterns!
Learn More: San Diego Zoo
2. Zonkey
If you think this animal’s name sounds a little silly, you won’t be alone! This unique animal is the offspring of a male zebra and a female donkey which is of course, where it gets its name. These hybrid animals have brown-gray bodies and zebra-like stripes on their bellies or legs.
Learn More: A-Z Animals
3. Zedonk
The opposite of a zonkey is a zedonk! Their parents are a female zebra and a male donkey but they tend to more closely resemble their donkey parents. Interestingly, these hybrid animals cannot produce their own offspring, but people continue to breed them as work animals.
Learn More: A-Z Animals
4. Zorse
Similar to the zonkey is the zorse! A zorse has one donkey and one zebra parent and can vary widely in their appearance due to the sheer number of types of horses that exist. A cool fact about this animal is that its zebra DNA helps to protect the zorse from diseases.
Learn More: A-Z Animals
5. Zebra Shark
These lazy fellows spend the majority of their lives on the ocean floor. You might think their name is a bit of a mistake as zebras don’t have spots! However, it is the young of the zebra sharks that have stripes, and their markings change into leopard spots as they mature.
Learn More: Oceana
6. Zebra Cobra
Watch out! The venomous zebra snake is one of four spitting species in the country of Namibia. Those infected with its venom can expect pain, swelling, blisters, permanent damage, and scarring. You’ll know to back off if you see it open its hood!
Learn More: African Snake Bite Institute
7. Zebra Finch
These tiny birds are a popular animal to keep as a pet! While they love to socialize with one another, they are not the friendliest of pet birds. They prefer a lot of space or outdoor enclosures where they can communicate with their wild counterparts.
Learn More: Lafeber Company
8. Zebra Mussels
The zebra mussel is a common example of a highly invasive species. They attach themselves to hard surfaces via strong threads like rocks and boats and are known to damage the engines of ships. Female zebra mussels are incredible reproducers, which adds to the stress they cause on their aquatic environments.
Learn More: National Park Service
9. Zebra Pleco
In the wild, these fish live in a tributary of the giant Amazon River where dam construction threatens their habitat. With its beautiful bold black and white stripes, the zebra pleco is a highly-prized aquarium fish that some people breed as a part of conservation efforts.
Learn More: Build Your Aquarium
10. Zebra Duiker
This small African antelope lives in the rainforests of Liberia and is named for its stripes, which it uses as camouflage from predators. These animals have tough nasal bones that function as a protective mechanism and also help them break open fruit.
Learn More: iNaturalist
11. Zebra Seahorse
This striped seahorse lives in the coral reefs off the coast of Australia. Their black and yellowish stripes help them to stay camouflaged among the coral. Like their seahorse cousins, these creatures are known for the role the male plays in carrying the eggs and releasing the young.
Learn More: Fishes Of Australia
12. Zebrafish
The zebrafish is a tiny but mighty creature! They are prolific breeders and hatch 20-200 offspring on each occasion. Scientists use their embryos, eggs, and larvae to study vertebrate development because these little guys are known to grow from a single cell to a swimming adult in just five days!
Learn More: NIH: National Human Genome Research Institute
13. Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly
One glance is enough to see where this butterfly gets its name! This beauty has thick, black, and white stripes along its wings, resembling those of its namesake. They live in moist woodlands where they lay their eggs on paw paw leaves which they then eat after turning into caterpillars!
Learn More: Chesapeake Bay Program
14. Zebra Spider
Zebra spiders are a species of jumping spiders and they can really leap! In fact, they can jump up to ten cm which is a huge distance for an arachnid that measures only 7 mm! Another cool fact is the male’s unique mating dance that involves waving their arms at the females!
Learn More: The Wildlife Trusts
15. Zebu
This unusual animal is a type of ox with a distinctive hump on its back. The zebu is an integral part of many cultures across the globe that use the various parts of its body for meat, dairy products, and instruments. Its hump, in particular, is considered a delicacy.
Learn More: Alimentarium
16. Zapata Rail
The Zapata rail is a critically endangered species of bird that lives only in the swamplands of Cuba. Due to the short length of its wings, this bird is thought to be flightless. It’s an elusive creature and if you can believe it, scientists have only found one nest since 1927!
Learn More: Animalia
17. Zokor
You can find the almost-blind zokor living underground in Northern Asia. The zokor resembles a mole in its appearance and in its behavior of digging extensive underground tunnels where they live and raise their young. You’ll still see them in the winter as zokors do not hibernate!
Learn More: Britannica
18. Zorilla
Also known as the striped polecat, the zorilla is a member of the weasel family living in Southern Africa. They not only look like a skunk, but they have a similar feature of special glands that spray a strong-smelling fluid when they are threatened, making them one of the world’s smelliest animals!
Learn More: Kidadl
19. Zenaida Dove
This Caribbean native and national bird of Anguilla is a cousin of mourning doves and pigeons and is also known as a turtle dove. Zenaida doves are known to eat gravel and salt which provide them with minerals that aid in digestion and strengthen their eggs.
Learn More: iNaturalist
20. Zone-Tailed Pigeon
This beautiful bird has brightly colored and distinctive markings along its body that range from gray to bronze and emerald green to pink. Another color feature is that males have red eyelids while females have yellow-orange. Zone-tailed pigeons are native only to a mountainous region of the Philippines.
Learn More: Earth
21. Zoea
Zoea is the scientific name for the larvae of crustaceans like crabs and lobsters. These little aquatic creatures are a large part of what makes up plankton and differ from later phases of crustacean development by the use of thoracic appendages that help them move in water.
Learn More: Amateur Entomologists Society
22. Zig Zag Eel
Another misnomer – this eel is not truly an eel. In fact, the zig zag eel is actually a long fish that is often kept in freshwater aquariums. Zig zag eels will bury themselves in the substrate at the bottom of enclosures, but may also try to launch themselves entirely out of their tanks!
Learn More: Live Aquaria
23. Zigzag Salamander
This colorful little amphibian is marked by an orange zigzag pattern down the length of its body. They are avid hunters who love to eat the spiders and insects found in the moist leaf litter environment of their forest and rocky hillside habitats.
Learn More: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
24. Zeta Trout
The Zeta trout is another elusive species endemic only to the Zeta and Moraca Rivers of Montenegro. They tend to hide in deep pools, but not even their sneaky nature can help prevent the impact of human encroachment. Unfortunately, dams are threatening their existence in this area.
Learn More: Research Gate
25. Zamurito
The zamurito is a whiskered catfish that swims in the waters of the Amazon River Basin. Like many relatives, it lurks near the bottom of the water to feed. This fish is a bit of a scavenger, as it often tries to steal fish already caught by fishermen!
Learn More: Fish Angler
26. Zingel Zingel
Zingel zingel is the scientific name of what is also called the common zingel. They live in the waters of Southeastern Europe where they prefer the fast-moving waters of streams and rivers. The zingel lays thousands of eggs that scientists find attached to pieces of gravel!
Learn More: iNaturalist
27. Zeren
This gazelle lives in the steppe habitats of China, Mongolia, and Russia and is known for the distinctive white heart-shaped patch of fur on its rump. Another interesting feature is the large growth developed on the throats of males during breeding season which is thought to help attract a mate.
Learn More: Ultimate Ungulate
28. Gray Zorro
The gray zorro is a South American species of canine found in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. It is also known as the chilla or gray fox, and even though zorro means fox in Spanish, this animal is part of a species known as “false foxes” because they more closely resemble wolves and coyotes!
Learn More: Animalia
29. Zambezi Flapshell Turtle
The Zambezi Flapshell Turtle can be found in the freshwater streams, rivers, lakes, and swamps of Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi. This large, fully aquatic turtle can grow up to 22 inches and weigh 32 lbs, and is known to bury themselves up to their eyes in sand to catch prey!
Learn More: The Turtle Room
30. Zimmermann’s Poison Frog
It’s no surprise that this frog is part of the poison dart frog family. This critter only grows to about 17-18 mm and is found in the rainforests of Peru, Columbia, and Ecuador. They’re poisonous due to an ant, termite, and beetle diet, and interestingly, they lose this venomous feature when in captivity!
Learn More: Gone Froggin
31. Zone-Tailed Hawk
The zone-tailed hawk lives in the forests and foothills of Mexico and Central and South America where they prefer the uneven terrains of cliffs and canyons. The males and females have wingspans of up to four and a half feet and they’re often mistaken for turkey vultures due to their coloring.
Learn More: All About Birds
32. Zimmer’s Woodcreeper
Zimmer’s woodcreeper is a medium-sized, delicate-looking bird that has a relatively long tail and a short, straight bill. It lives and forages in semi-open habitats next to rivers and other bodies of water and can be found along the Amazon, Napo, Maranon, and Ucayali Rivers of South America.
Learn More: Peru Aves
33. Zebra-Tailed Lizard
These fascinating desert-dwelling lizards will run and curl their striped tails when they feel threatened. If they can’t run, they distract predators by wagging their tails from side to side. They have a varied diet which includes buds and flowers, moths, ants, bees, spiders, and smaller lizards.
Learn More: iNaturalist UK
34. Zigzag Heron
The zigzag heron can be found in the wide range of the Amazon River Basin from Venezuela to Bolivia. It prefers the habitats of swamps, small pools, rivers, lakes, and marshes where it can be seen patiently standing in water waiting to catch its next meal of fish and insects.
Learn More: Oiseaux Birds
35. Zanzibar Red Colobus
Unfortunately, the Zanzibar Red Colobus is classified as endangered due to habitat destruction. These cool primates make their home in trees on islands off the coast of Tanzania where they leap around the canopy eating leaves, unripe fruit, flowers, buds, soil, and bark.
Learn More: New England Primate Conservancy
36. Zanj Sun Squirrel
The star feature of this medium-sized squirrel is its magnificent bushy tail! It can be found high on Mt.Kilimanjaro where it survives on a diet of fruit, seeds, flowers, and palm dates. It builds its nest in tree trunk hollows, but sadly, this habitat is under threat from agriculture and resource extraction.
Learn More: GBIF
37. Zarudny’s Worm Lizard
Zarudny’s worm lizard can be found in Iraq, Iran, and across the Arabian Peninsula. It has no legs and is fossorial, meaning that it’s highly adapted to digging. As a result of this, it has poor eyesight and can only detect light. It eats beetle larvae and other subterranean prey like worms.
Learn More: YouTube
38. Zuchon
The result of breeding a Bichon Frise and a Shih Tzu dog is this bundle of cuteness. The Zuchon is a small dog that has no hunting instinct, loves attention, and can adapt extremely well to its owners. They’re playful, intelligent creatures with coats that shed very little.
Learn More: Dog Zone
39. Zebra Dove
The zebra dove, also known as the barred ground dove, is a bird native to Southeast Asia. It is remarkably adaptable and lives in a variety of habitats, from parks and gardens to farmland and open countryside, where it feasts on insects and small invertebrates as well as grass and weed seeds.
Learn More: Earth Life
40. Zhou’s Box Turtle
Little is known about this species as it was only discovered in 1990 in food markets of China’s Guangxi and Yunnan provinces. It’s thought to be extinct in the wild, although they are bred in captivity. One fact we do know is they eat a varied diet of fruit, plants, snails, fish, and worms.
Learn More: Box Turtles
41. Zino’s Petrel
Zino’s Petrels are endangered seabirds that breed only on the island of Madeira. Conservation programs are in place to protect the eggs and young from its main predators, rats and cats. This graceful bird feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans and only returns to the nest during the night.
Learn More: Madeira Birdwatching
42. Zebroid
Zebroid is a term used to describe any cross between a zebra and an equine. They tend to be smaller than the horse parent and nearly all are sterile. Zebroids look more like the equine parent and their inherited zebra stripes tend to only appear on their legs, neck, and head.
Learn More: Horse Factbook
43. Zapata Sparrow
This bird lives in the grasslands of the Zapata swamp in Cuba. It’s endangered due to the destruction of its habitat through urbanization and pollution. The Zapata sparrow can only fly short distances and is a forager that lives off fruit, seeds, and insects.
Learn More: Oiseaux Birds
44. Zebra Longwing Butterfly
This stunning butterfly from Mexico and Central America is known for its longevity. Besides feeding on nectar, it also loves nutritious pollen that is thought to enable its long lifespan of several months. It’s an intelligent little creature that even has a social order!
Learn More: US Forest Service
45. Zonetail Butterfly Ray
The zonetail butterfly ray is also known as Bleeker’s butterfly ray and is found in the Eastern Indian and Western Central Pacific Oceans. They’ve been known to get as large as 106 cm and are found in water of up to 37 meters deep.
Learn More: Shark References
46. Zebra Tarantula
Zebra tarantulas are found in the warm, dry forests of northern Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They are brown with beige or white stripes that cover their legs. These are not docile creatures and although they can be defensive, they actually prefer to retreat to a burrow if threatened.
Learn More: The Tarantula Collective
47. Zalophus Wollebaeki
The Zalophus Wollebaeki is a social sea lion that loves to sunbathe on sand or rocks. It eats mainly sardines and can grow up to 2.5 meters in length. It’s the smallest species of sea lion and can be found throughout the Galapagos Islands.
Learn More: The Society for Marine Mammalogy
48. Zapata Wren
Another bird found in the Zapata swamp region of Cuba is the Zapata wren. It has a slightly curved beak which is ideal for finding insects and small invertebrates under leaves and in crevices. Its brown plumage provides the ideal camouflage and it is often heard, rather than seen.
Learn More: Exploration Junkie
49. Zebra Danio
The is a popular freshwater aquarium fish that is from tropical and subtropical waters and grows to just 2.5 inches. It’s sociable and peaceful and has adapted to live in a wide range of habitats from streams and rivers to rice paddies and ponds where it feeds on an omnivorous diet.
Learn More: Fishkeeping World
50. Zebra Lionfish
This fascinating fish can actually be tamed for aquarium life to recognize their owner! Although beautiful, this fish has highly venomous spines. They come from the East and West Indian Oceans and are also found in The Red Sea where they can eat fish nearly their same length, including other lionfish!
Learn More: Reef App
51. Zebra Moray Eel
Zebra moray eels have a striking appearance and are rather shy creatures who live in crevices or under ledges on coral reefs. They have flat teeth that are ideal for crunching crabs, clams, sea urchins, and mollusks and can grow to an amazing 1.5 meters in length!
Learn More: Monterey Bay Aquarium
52. Zebra Bullhead Shark
These sharks get their name from the black stripes that cover their tan or cream bodies. They are a beautiful, peaceful, slow-moving shark that lives in the deeper ocean waters of Japan and Australia where they feed on sea urchins, mollusks, and other crustaceans.
Learn More: Sharks and Rays
53. Zenker’s Fruit Bat
Zenker’s fruit bat is a rare species of bat that is right at home in the tropical and subtropical forests and swamps of West and Central Africa. It’s very small, with brown or greenish-brown wings, and soft, fluffy fur which varies in shades of brown.
Learn More: iNaturalist
54. Zaca Blenny
The Zaca blenny is typically found in the shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean, but it has occasionally been spotted in water as deep as 11 meters. These small fish grow up to 2.6 inches in length and enjoy feasting on bottom-feeding crustaceans like small crabs.
Learn More: Mexican Fish
55. Zanzibar Red Bishop
The Zanzibar red bishop can be found across Northern Africa with small populations in the US and Caribbean. The bright red plumage is a result of their diet but only occurs in males during the mating season, and when this time is over, the colored feathers molt.
Learn More: Aladdin St.
56. Zanzibar Bushbaby
These shy, nocturnal creatures are unfortunately a threatened species that weigh only 5-5.3 ounces, grow to less than 6 inches in length, and have a tail that is almost as long as their body! They live in the forest canopy and can leap more than 2.5 meters in one go!
Learn More: New England Primate Conservancy
57. Zamboanga Bulbul
The Zamboanga Bulbul lives mainly in the forests of Western Mindanao and on other nearby islands in the Philippines. They are a near-threatened species with a distinctive ‘Picha! Picha!’ call. This medium-sized bird has a long tail and brown and white plumage with a reddish throat patch.
Learn More: eBird
58. Zalambdalestes
The Zalambdalestes was a mammal that lived during the late Cretaceous period in Mongolia. They were 20-25 cm long with strong hindlegs which indicates that they could have hopped like rabbits. Their incisors continuously grew so they would have needed to gnaw branches to wear them down.
Learn More: Nix Illustration
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