Discover a world of wonder with animals that start with W! From the majestic wolf to the cute walrus, explore a captivating array of creatures that share a common letter. Learn about their fascinating traits, habitats, and unique behaviors by reading up up on all these animals that begin with the letter W.
Learning facts about animals opens a window to the incredible diversity and wonders of the natural world. Discovering new information about different animals can increase your knowledge about things you never knew. If you love learning new things be sure to check out our animals that start with Z and animals that start with A.
Commonly Known Animals That Start With W
Wallaby
Wallaby, the Kangaroo’s adorable little cousin! They’ve got big back feet, tiny front feet, and cozy pouches for their baby Wallabies. Guess what? Wallabies are like nature’s comedians – they munch on poppy fields and bounce around, sometimes even falling asleep in funny positions! These cuties are from Australia, but they’ve been spotted in Scotland too. Oh, and if you see a crow giving a Wallaby a little head massage, don’t worry – the crow’s just being a helpful buddy, picking off pesky ticks
Walleye Fish
Let’s explor more about the Walleye Fish: Masters of the Deep with Super Eyesight! These fish have big, sensitive eyes that love the dark, so they’re deep water explorers. You’ll find them chilling in the sparkling lakes of North America. When the sun goes down, that’s their time to shine – they’re most playful near the surface during dusk and evening. And guess what’s on their menu? Yummy treats like smaller fish, frogs, and leeches. Walleye Fish: the cool carnivores of the underwater world
Walrus
Did you know there are two types: the Atlantic and Pacific walruses? Both guys and gals sport huge teeth that can reach 35 inches – talk about impressive! These special teeth help them clamber onto icy platforms. And don’t be fooled by their size – these squishy creatures are experts in staying warm with a thick layer of fat, kind of like a cozy winter jacket. Walruses are truly amazing Arctic residents!
Warthog
The Warthog is a larger cousin to the domesticated pig but looks very different. Their large tucks and patches on the side of their face that look like warts (but actually are just skin) set them apart from their pig cousins. The Warthog’s upper tusks can grow up to 11 inches long! Warthogs call the savannas of Africa home but can also be found on Mount Kilimanjaro. Warthogs may look vicious but they are actually herbivores and only eat plants.
Wasp
Even though Wasps are unwelcome additions around your home, they are actually beneficial to plant growth. Like bees, they are pollinators and pest eaters. Wasps are very handy builders and actually make their own paper to create their nests from chewed up bark. A Wasp will chase you if it feels you are threatening its nest but otherwise will leave you alone.
Water Beetle
Water Beetles are found all over the world where ever you find water, except Antarctica. There are actually over 2,000 species of Water Beetles. Water Beetles have a sack that holds air under their hard abdomen so that they can “breath” underwater. They are predatory bugs and will eat decaying fish and water plants.
Whitetail Deer
Whitetail Deer are the smallest members of the deer family. In captivity, they can live to be 15 years old, but in the wild, due to predators and hunting, they only live between 4 and 5 years. Whitetail Deer are native to Central and North America and enjoy woodland areas and agricultural lands. There are estimated to be 11 million Whitetail Deer in Texas alone! Whitetail Deer are impressive animals who can run up to 30 miles per hour and jump 8 feet!
White-Tailed Eagle
The White-tailed Eagle is the European cousin of the Bald Eagle. Instead of brown like the Bald Eagle, the White-tailed Eagle is a grey color with a white tail. They are carnivorous birds so they eat small rodents, fish, and other small birds. If you see two White-tailed Eagles together, it is most likely a mated pair. They have the same mate for life and will raise their young together. Unfortunately, the White-tailed Eagle is on the endangered species list.
Whooping Crane
The Whooping Crane is an endangered species due to the deterioration of this wetland habitat. Due to conservation efforts, their numbers are slowly increasing in captivity programs. The Whooping Crane is the rarest crane of their species. They are also the tallest bird in North America, standing at 5 feet tall! Whooping cranes make a very loud call from their 9-inch-long trachea, which is how they got their name.
Wolf
Wolves are found all over the world, except for Antarctica. Wolves are pack animals that live, breed, and hunt together. Most packs number from 2 (the Alpha mated pair) to 10, which is usually their children. Their main source of food are elk, deer, bison, and moose, so they will go where they can find food. When you hear a wolf howl, it is their way of communicating within their pack and with other packs in the area.
Wolf Spider
Wolf Spiders are large and hairy spiders that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Unlike other spiders, Wolf Spiders do not spin webs, instead, they burrow underground and hunt from there. The Wolf Spider has excellent eyesight because it has 8 eyes!
Wombat
The Wombat is known for one crazy thing, their square poop. You read that correctly, they poop in squares. The Wombats live in burrows and when they are being attacked by a predator, they block the entrance to the burrow with their hind end. Since its hind end is made of mostly cartilage, it is very resistant to scratches and bites. Even though Wombats are large animals, they are very quick runners and can reach speeds of around 24 miles per hour!
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are a very noisy bird species that makes holes in trees. Thankfully, they prefer dead or dying trees since many bugs live in them. Woodpeckers have long tongues that can go into the holes to pull out the bugs and larvae. They poke holes to reach the bugs for food. The Gila Woodpecker, a species that lives in the deserts, will peck holes into cactus to make their homes.
Worm
Worms are those slimy creatures you find on your sidewalk after it rains, but they are actually very important to plant growth. Worms have to stay moist because if they dry out they will suffocate. They breathe through their skin and the moisture on their skin breaks down the oxygen they need. Worms have 5 hearts located near their head, so if they lose part of their body below that point they can regenerate.
Welsh Corgi
Welsh corgis are perky little dogs that have been around since the 10th century. It was once believed that corgis were magical and pulled the coaches of fairies. Despite their little legs, these dogs love to go for a good run and are actually excellent herd dogs.
Dogs That Start With W
Weimaraner
Weimardoodle
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
West Highland Terrier
West Siberian Laika
Westiepoo
Wheaten Terrier
White German Shepherd
Whoodle
Wire Fox Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Zoo Animals That Start With W
Water Buffalo
There are two species of Water Buffalo: the River and Swamp Buffalo. The wild Water Buffalo can only be found in regions of Asia, while the domesticated Water Buffalo can be found all over the world, except Antarctica. The Water Buffalo is a very large and sturdy animal, growing to be 10 feet long and 6 feet high at the shoulder. They have amazing horns that are curved up and ribbed. Hence their name, they love to wade in the water and submerge themselves to regulate their temperature.
Water Dragon
Water Dragons are lizards that are native to China. They vary in color from green to purple, depending on the region you find them in. Despite their name, the Water Dragon does not spend all of its time in the water. Mostly they live in trees but will drop into the water and stay submerged for 25 minutes to get away from predators.
Weasel
Weasels may look cute but they are carnivorous animals. One species of Weasel grows to be less than 10 inches long and are considered the smallest carnivorous animal in the world. Different species of Weasels can be found all over the world, including the Arctic. Weasels are rarely seen during the day since they are nocturnal and do all of their hunting at night. Like their cousin the skunk, the Weasel sprays a smelly fluid at their predators to keep them from attacking.
Western Lowland Gorilla
The Western Lowland Gorilla is the smallest of the Ape subspecies. Even though they are small, they still weigh up to 500 pounds and stand at 6 feet tall. They primarily live in the Congo basin of Central Africa.
Whale Shark
Despite their name, the Whale Shark is not a whale at all. The Whale Shark is a filter feeder, which means they do not bite or chew their food but swallow it whole. Since they eat whatever comes into their mouth, they swallow things they can not eat and it kills them. The Whale Shark does have a long life span of almost 100 years if it is not caught for its fins or swallows something that it can not digest.
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are actually two types of white ferrets: those who are truly Albino and those who are bred to be all white (but not albino). The way to tell the difference is in the eyes. Truly Albino Ferrets have pink or red eyes, while bred White Ferrets have dark-colored eyes. The dark eyed White Ferrets are most likely to be born deaf. Ferrets in general are wonderful climbers and can sneak into very small spaces.
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros is not really white, but more a light grey color. Their name comes from the Germanic word “weit” which means wide. The White Rhino lives in Africa and there are two different species, one lives in Central Africa while the other lives in Southern Africa. The horn on a Rhino is not made of bone but is attached to its skin and is made of keratin. Keratin is the same stuff your fingernails are made from.
White Tiger
The White Tiger are just Bengal tigers that are born white. Like other tigers, the White Tigers’ stripes are like fingerprints and unique to each tiger. White Tiger births are very rare and both parents must carry a recessive gene in order for the color to occur. Due to the white fur, it is harder for the White Tigers to survive in the wild since they are no longer camouflaged from predators.
Wildebeest
The Wildebeest is often mistaken for a relative of buffalos but they are not even the same species. Wildebeests live in the plains of Africa and are grass-eating animals. For protection, Wildebeests live in large herds because it confuses predators. When a female Wildebeest is about to give birth, the herd will gather around her for protection.
Other Animals That Start With W
- Wahoo Fish
- Waimanu
- Walking Catfish
- Wandering Albatross
- Warbler
- Water Bug
- Water Vole
- Waterbuck
- Wattled Jacana
- Wax Moth
- Weaver Bird
- Wels Catfish
- Welsh Black Cattle
- Western Blacklegged Tick
- Western Blind Snake
- Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Western Green Mamba
- Western Hognose Snake
- Western Rat Snake
- Western Rattlesnake (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake)
- Western Tanager
- Whimbrel
- Whinchat
- Whippet
- Whiptail Lizard
- White Bass
- White Butterfly
- White Catfish
- White Crappie
- White Marlin
- White Shark
- White Sturgeon
- White-Crowned Sparrow
- White-Eyed Vireo
- White-Faced Capuchin
- White-shouldered House Moth
- Whiting
- Wild Boar
- Willow Flycatcher
- Willow Warbler
- Winter Moth
- Wirehaired Vizsla
- Wiwaxia
- Wolf Eel
- Wolf Snake
- Wolffish
- Wolverine
- Woma Python
- Wood Bison
- Wood Frog
- Wood Tick
- Wood Turtle
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodrat
- Wool Carder Bee
- Woolly Aphids
- Woolly Bear Caterpillar
- Woolly Mammoth
- Woolly Monkey
- Woolly Rhinoceros
- Worm Snake
- Wrasse
- Writing Spider
- Wrought Iron Butterflyfish
- Wryneck
- Wyandotte Chicken
Do you know other animals that start with W that we missed? Add them to the comments so we can add them to our list!
If you’re looking for other unique and interesting animals, be sure to check out our other Animals lists.
- Amazing Animals that Start with A
- Captivating Animals that Begin with C
- Animals That Begin With E
- Interesting Animals that Start With G
- Animals That Begin With J
- Animals That Begin With K
- Animals That Begin With L
- Terrific Animals that Start with T
