Discover a complete list of 67 mammals that start with the letter “P,” showcasing a wide range of species from tiny bats to large marine whales. These mammals come from all over the world, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and oceans. Many, like the panda and pangolin, are well-known, while others, such as the pygmy sloth and patagonian mara, highlight the incredible diversity of the animal kingdom beginning with “P.”
Below is a detailed table presenting each mammal alongside key scientific and ecological information to support your learning and research.
Mammal This column shows the common name of each mammal, making it easy to identify familiar and lesser-known species.
Scientific Name Here you will find the official Latin names used by scientists worldwide, ensuring precise identification and classification.
Habitat This section describes the natural environment where each mammal lives, ranging from tropical forests and deserts to oceans and mountains.
Average Size (cm) This column lists the typical body length of each mammal in centimeters, providing a quick sense of their physical size.
Description A brief overview of each species’ characteristics, behavior, and lifestyle gives insight into what makes these mammals unique.
Mammals that start with P
| Mammal | Scientific Name | Habitat | Average Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paca | *Cuniculus paca* | Tropical and subtropical forests, near water | 70 |
| Pacarana | *Dinomys branickii* | Tropical and cloud forests, Western Amazon Basin | 80 |
| Pademelon | *Thylogale spp.* | Forests, woodlands, and dense undergrowth | 50 |
| Painted Dog | *Lycaon pictus* | Savannas and other arid zones with scattered trees | 85 |
| Pale Fox | *Vulpes pallida* | Semi-deserts, savannas, and steppes of the Sahel region | 50 |
| Palawan Stink Badger | *Mydaus marchei* | Primary and secondary forests of Palawan, Philippines | 35 |
| Pallas’s Cat | *Otocolobus manul* | Steppes and grasslands, Central Asia | 60 |
| Pallas’s Squirrel | *Callosciurus erythraeus* | Forests and urban areas, Southeast Asia | 25 |
| Pallid Bat | *Antrozous pallidus* | Deserts, grasslands, and woodlands, North America | 12 |
| Pampas Cat | *Leopardus colocolo* | Grasslands, scrublands, and montane forests, South America | 60 |
| Pampas Deer | *Ozotoceros bezoarticus* | Grasslands and savannas, South America | 80 |
| Pampas Fox | *Lycalopex gymnocercus* | Grasslands, scrublands, and open woodlands, South America | 65 |
| Panda | *Ailuropoda melanoleuca* | Temperate bamboo forests, mountainous regions of China | 160 |
| Pangolin | *Manis spp.* | Forests, savannas, and grasslands, Africa and Asia | 60 |
| Pantropical Spotted Dolphin | *Stenella attenuata* | Tropical and subtropical oceanic waters worldwide | 200 |
| Parma Wallaby | *Notamacropus parma* | Wet sclerophyll forests and temperate rainforests, Australia | 50 |
| Patagonian Mara | *Dolichotis patagonum* | Semi-arid grasslands and deserts of Patagonia, Argentina | 70 |
| Patagonian Weasel | *Lyncodon patagonicus* | Steppes and grasslands, southern South America | 35 |
| Patas Monkey | *Erythrocebus patas* | Savannas and semi-deserts, West and East Africa | 70 |
| Peba | *Dasypus novemcinctus* | Various habitats, including forests, grasslands, and scrublands | 75 |
| Peccary | *Tayassuidae spp.* | Deserts, forests, and rainforests, Americas | 80 |
| Pen-tailed Treeshrew | *Ptilocercus lowii* | Tropical forests of Southeast Asia | 15 |
| Père David’s Deer | *Elaphurus davidianus* | Wetlands and marshy areas, China (extinct in wild) | 120 |
| Persian Onager | *Equus hemionus onager* | Semi-deserts and arid steppes, Iran | 120 |
| Phascogale | *Phascogale spp.* | Forests and woodlands, Australia | 20 |
| Philippine Flying Lemur | *Cynocephalus volans* | Tropical rainforests of the Philippines | 35 |
| Philippine Tarsier | *Carlito syrichta* | Primary and secondary forests of the Philippines | 10 |
| Pichi | *Zaedyus pichiy* | Arid grasslands and steppes of Patagonia, South America | 30 |
| Pig | *Sus scrofa domesticus* | Domesticated worldwide, wild boars in forests/woodlands | 150 |
| Pika | *Ochotona spp.* | Mountainous regions, rocky slopes, and grasslands | 20 |
| Pilot Whale | *Globicephala spp.* | Temperate and tropical oceanic waters worldwide | 550 |
| Pine Marten | *Martes martes* | Coniferous and deciduous forests across Europe and Asia | 50 |
| Pipistrelle | *Pipistrellus spp.* | Various habitats, including forests, grasslands, and urban areas | 5 |
| Plains Viscacha | *Lagostomus maximus* | Dry grasslands and scrublands of South America | 60 |
| Planigale | *Planigale spp.* | Various habitats including grasslands, woodlands, and deserts, Australia | 10 |
| Platypus | *Ornithorhynchus anatinus* | Rivers and freshwater bodies, Eastern Australia | 45 |
| Pocket Gopher | *Geomyidae spp.* | Varied habitats with soft soils, North and Central America | 20 |
| Pocket Mouse | *Perognathus spp.* | Arid and semi-arid regions, North America | 10 |
| Polar Bear | *Ursus maritimus* | Arctic regions, sea ice | 250 |
| Porcupine | *Erethizontidae spp.* | Forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains | 70 |
| Porpoise | *Phocoenidae spp.* | Coastal waters and open ocean worldwide | 180 |
| Possum | *Phalangeriformes spp.* | Forests, woodlands, urban areas | 40 |
| Potoroo | *Potorous spp.* | Forests and woodlands, southeastern and southwestern Australia | 35 |
| Potto | *Perodicticus potto* | Tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa | 40 |
| Pouched Mouse | *Saccostomus spp.* | Savannas and grasslands, Africa | 12 |
| Pouched Rat | *Cricetomys spp.* | Forests, savannas, and agricultural areas, sub-Saharan Africa | 40 |
| Prairie Dog | *Cynomys spp.* | Grasslands and prairies, North America | 35 |
| Prehensile-tailed Porcupine | *Coendou spp.* | Forests of Central and South America | 40 |
| Proboscis Monkey | *Nasalis larvatus* | Mangrove forests and lowland rainforests of Borneo | 70 |
| Pronghorn | *Antilocapra americana* | Grasslands, deserts, and sagebrush plains, North America | 100 |
| Przewalski’s Horse | *Equus ferus przewalskii* | Steppes and grasslands, Central Asia (reintroduced) | 130 |
| Pudu | *Pudu spp.* | Temperate rainforests and dense thickets, South America | 40 |
| Puku | *Kobus vardonii* | Floodplains and grasslands near water, Central Africa | 80 |
| Puma | *Puma concolor* | Various habitats, including forests, mountains, deserts, Americas | 200 |
| Pygmy Anteater | *Cyclopes didactylus* | Tropical forests of Central and South America | 18 |
| Pygmy Glider | *Acrobates pygmaeus* | Eucalypt forests, eastern Australia | 7 |
| Pygmy Hippopotamus | *Choeropsis liberiensis* | Forests and swamps of West Africa | 80 |
| Pygmy Hog | *Porcula salvania* | Grasslands of the Himalayan foothills, India | 25 |
| Pygmy Killer Whale | *Feresa attenuata* | Tropical and subtropical deep oceanic waters worldwide | 220 |
| Pygmy Marmoset | *Cebuella pygmaea* | Tropical rainforests of the Amazon Basin, South America | 15 |
| Pygmy Possum | *Burramyidae spp.* | Forests, woodlands, and heathlands, Australia and New Guinea | 10 |
| Pygmy Rabbit | *Brachylagus idahoensis* | Sagebrush habitats of the western United States | 28 |
| Pygmy Right Whale | *Caperea marginata* | Temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere | 600 |
| Pygmy Shrew | *Sorex hoyi* | Forests and woodlands of North America | 7 |
| Pygmy Sloth | *Bradypus pygmaeus* | Mangrove forests of Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama | 50 |
| Pygmy Sperm Whale | *Kogia breviceps* | Temperate and tropical deep oceanic waters worldwide | 350 |
| Pygmy Tarsier | *Tarsius pumilus* | Montane cloud forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia | 9 |
Descriptions
Paca
A large, stout rodent native to Central and South American forests. Pacas are nocturnal, solitary mammals known for their distinctive white-spotted coats. They are excellent swimmers and primarily feed on fruits, leaves, and seeds, playing a role in seed dispersal.
Pacarana
The pacarana is a large, slow-moving rodent found in South America. It has a heavy body, a large head, and a short tail. Its coat is dark brown with two lines of white spots. These solitary mammals primarily consume fruits, leaves, and other plant matter.
Pademelon
Pademelons are small marsupials, resembling small wallabies, native to Australia and New Guinea. They typically inhabit dense forest undergrowth, grazing on grasses and leaves. Known for their shy, nocturnal nature, they emerge at dusk to feed.
Painted Dog
The African painted dog, also known as African wild dog, is a highly social canid native to sub-Saharan Africa. Renowned for its unique spotted coat, it hunts in packs, primarily preying on medium-sized antelopes. They are highly endangered.
Pale Fox
The pale fox is a small fox species found across the Sahel region of Africa. Known for its sand-colored coat, it is well-adapted to arid environments. These nocturnal foxes dig extensive burrows and primarily feed on rodents, birds, and insects.
Palawan Stink Badger
The Palawan stink badger is a small, nocturnal mammal endemic to Palawan Island in the Philippines. Despite its name, it’s more closely related to skunks than badgers. It is known for its strong musky odor, used for defense, and feeds on invertebrates.
Pallas’s Cat
Pallas’s cat, or manul, is a small wild cat native to the grasslands and steppes of Central Asia. Known for its thick, dense fur and flattened face, it is well-adapted to cold, arid environments. It hunts small rodents and pikas, primarily at dawn and dusk.
Pallas’s Squirrel
Pallas’s squirrel, or red-bellied tree squirrel, is a common squirrel species native to Southeast Asia. Known for its variable fur color, often reddish underneath, it inhabits forests and frequently adapts to urban environments. It is an omnivore, feeding on nuts, fruits, and insects.
Pallid Bat
The pallid bat is a large bat species found in western North America. Unique among bats, it primarily hunts large, ground-dwelling insects like scorpions and crickets, which it can detect by sound. It is a nocturnal mammal with excellent hearing.
Pampas Cat
The pampas cat is a small wild cat native to various open habitats across South America. Its fur varies widely in color and pattern, helping it camouflage. It is a solitary predator, primarily hunting rodents, birds, and other small mammals.
Pampas Deer
The pampas deer is a medium-sized deer species native to the open grasslands of South America. It is characterized by its light brown coat and small antlers in males. Primarily a grazer, it feeds on grasses and herbs, playing a key role in its ecosystem.
Pampas Fox
The pampas fox is a medium-sized canid native to the open grasslands and forests of South America. It has a gray-brown coat with a distinctive black tip on its tail. It is an opportunistic omnivore, feeding on small mammals, birds, fruits, and insects.
Panda
The giant panda is a bear native to south-central China, famous for its distinctive black and white fur. It primarily feeds on bamboo, consuming vast quantities daily. Pandas are solitary and are a global symbol of wildlife conservation due to their endangered status.
Pangolin
Pangolins are unique, scaly mammals found in Africa and Asia. They are nocturnal and insectivorous, using their long, sticky tongues to feed on ants and termites. When threatened, they curl into a tight ball, protected by their keratin scales. All species are endangered.
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
The pantropical spotted dolphin is a highly social marine mammal found in warm waters globally. Known for its distinct spotted pattern that develops with age, it often forms large pods and feeds on fish and squid. They are agile swimmers and often associate with tuna.
Parma Wallaby
The Parma wallaby is a small, shy marsupial native to southeastern Australia. Once thought extinct, it was rediscovered in the 1960s. It prefers dense undergrowth and feeds on grasses and herbs. They are solitary and primarily nocturnal, emerging at dusk to forage.
Patagonian Mara
The Patagonian mara is a large rodent native to Argentina, resembling a mix of a rabbit and a small deer. It is a diurnal, herbivorous mammal that lives in burrows. Maras often form monogamous pairs and graze on grasses and other vegetation.
Patagonian Weasel
The Patagonian weasel is a small, slender carnivore native to the grasslands and steppes of Argentina and Chile. It has a brownish-gray coat and a distinctive masked face. Little is known about this elusive, solitary mammal, but it preys on small rodents and birds.
Patas Monkey
The patas monkey is a ground-dwelling primate native to the savannas of West and East Africa. Known for its long limbs and reddish-brown fur, it is one of the fastest running primates. They live in social groups and primarily feed on insects, fruits, and seeds.
Peba
The Peba, commonly known as the nine-banded armadillo, is a widespread mammal found across the Americas. It is known for its bony, armored shell and nocturnal, solitary habits. It primarily feeds on insects and invertebrates, digging efficiently with its strong claws.
Peccary
Peccaries are medium-sized pig-like mammals native to the Americas. They are social animals, often living in herds, and are characterized by their stout bodies, coarse hair, and prominent tusks. Peccaries are omnivores, feeding on roots, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates.
Pen-tailed Treeshrew
The pen-tailed treeshrew is a small, nocturnal mammal found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is unique for its long, bare tail with a tuft of hair at the tip, resembling a bird’s feather. It primarily feeds on insects and small vertebrates.
Père David’s Deer
Père David’s deer is a large deer species native to China, now only found in captivity and reintroduction efforts. It prefers marshy habitats and has unique broad hooves. Known for its long, multi-branched antlers, it grazes on aquatic plants and grasses.
Persian Onager
The Persian onager is a subspecies of onager, a wild ass native to Iran. It is a highly agile and elusive mammal adapted to arid environments. Known for its reddish-brown coat and white underparts, it grazes on grasses and herbs, often found near water sources.
Phascogale
Phascogales are small, carnivorous marsupials native to Australia, often called wambengers. They are nocturnal and arboreal, known for their aggressive predatory behavior. They feed on insects, spiders, small birds, and rodents. Males typically die after their first breeding season.
Philippine Flying Lemur
The Philippine flying lemur, or colugo, is a nocturnal gliding mammal endemic to the Philippines. It possesses a large membrane of skin, called a patagium, enabling it to glide long distances between trees. It is a herbivore, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Philippine Tarsier
The Philippine tarsier is a small, nocturnal primate endemic to the Philippines. It is known for its incredibly large eyes, which are fixed in their sockets, and its ability to rotate its head almost 360 degrees. It feeds on insects and small vertebrates.
Pichi
The pichi, or dwarf armadillo, is a small armadillo species native to the arid regions of Argentina and Chile. It has a flexible armor shell and is known for its burrowing abilities. This diurnal mammal primarily feeds on insects, larvae, and some plant matter.
Pig
Pigs are intelligent and social mammals, widely domesticated for millennia. Wild boars, their ancestors, inhabit forests across Eurasia and Africa. Pigs are omnivores, known for their rooting behavior, strong sense of smell, and a wide range of vocalizations.
Pika
Pikas are small, rabbit-like mammals native to mountainous regions of Asia and North America. They are known for their distinctive “haypiles” of dried vegetation, which they collect for winter food. Pikas are diurnal and vocal, often heard calling from rocky areas.
Pilot Whale
Pilot whales are large, dark-colored oceanic dolphins. There are two species: long-finned and short-finned. They are highly social, living in stable pods, and known for their strong family bonds. Primarily feeding on squid, they are often found in deep-water habitats.
Pine Marten
The pine marten is a slender, agile carnivore native to European and Asian forests. It has a distinctive dark brown coat with a creamy yellow bib on its throat. An arboreal mammal, it hunts small mammals, birds, and insects, also consuming fruits.
Pipistrelle
Pipistrelles are a genus of very small bats, common across Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are known for their rapid, erratic flight and high-pitched echolocation calls. These nocturnal insectivores are often seen at dusk, feeding on small flying insects.
Plains Viscacha
The plains viscacha is a large rodent native to the grasslands of South America. It is a highly social mammal, living in colonies in extensive burrow systems called “vizcacheras.” They are nocturnal herbivores, grazing on grasses and other vegetation.
Planigale
Planigales are among the smallest marsupials in the world, endemic to Australia. They are tiny, carnivorous creatures with flattened heads, allowing them to squeeze into narrow cracks. These nocturnal predators feed on insects and small lizards.
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, famous for its unique combination of duck-like bill, beaver-like tail, and otter-like body. It is one of only five monotreme species, meaning it lays eggs. It hunts invertebrates underwater.
Pocket Gopher
Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents native to North and Central America. They are named for their external, fur-lined cheek pouches used for carrying food. These solitary mammals create extensive tunnel systems and feed on roots, tubers, and other plant parts.
Pocket Mouse
Pocket mice are small rodents native to arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. Like pocket gophers, they have external, fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying seeds and food. They are nocturnal and well-adapted to dry environments.
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a large bear native to the Arctic Circle, known for its iconic white fur. It is a top predator of the Arctic, highly adapted to cold environments and primarily hunting seals from sea ice. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and insulated by thick blubber.
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents known for their coats of sharp, stiff quills used as a defense mechanism. They are found across various continents. These herbivorous mammals primarily feed on bark, leaves, and fruits, and can be arboreal or terrestrial.
Porpoise
Porpoises are small toothed whales, closely related to dolphins but generally smaller with spade-shaped teeth and no prominent beak. They are found in oceans and some river systems worldwide. They are fast swimmers, feeding primarily on fish and squid.
Possum
Pygmy possums are a family of very small, nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea. They are arboreal, using their prehensile tails for climbing. They feed on nectar, pollen, insects, and seeds, playing a role in pollination.
Potoroo
Potoroos are small, nocturnal marsupials native to Australia, resembling mini-kangaroos. They are solitary and omnivorous, feeding on fungi (especially truffles), roots, and invertebrates, playing an important role in spore dispersal. Some species are highly endangered.
Potto
The potto is a nocturnal, arboreal primate native to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It is known for its slow, deliberate movements and short, stubby fingers. It feeds on fruits, insects, and tree gum, moving quietly through the forest canopy.
Pouched Mouse
Pouched mice are small rodents found in various parts of Africa. They are named for their large, fur-lined cheek pouches used for carrying food. These nocturnal mammals typically inhabit burrows and feed on seeds, grains, and insects.
Pouched Rat
Pouched rats, particularly the Gambian pouched rat, are large rodents native to sub-Saharan Africa. They have prominent external cheek pouches for carrying food. These intelligent, nocturnal mammals are often trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis.
Prairie Dog
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. They are highly social, living in extensive underground colonies called “towns” and communicating with complex vocalizations. They are herbivores, primarily grazing on grasses.
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
The prehensile-tailed porcupine is an arboreal rodent native to the forests of Central and South America. It has a long, hairless, prehensile tail used for grasping branches. These nocturnal mammals are covered in short quills and primarily feed on leaves, fruits, and flowers.
Proboscis Monkey
The proboscis monkey is a large primate endemic to Borneo, famous for the male’s unusually large, pendulous nose. They are arboreal and semi-aquatic, excellent swimmers. Living in social groups, they primarily feed on leaves and unripe fruits.
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a hoofed mammal native to western and central North America, often called an antelope. It is the fastest land animal in North America. Both sexes grow unique pronged horn sheaths. They are grazers and browsers, adapted to open plains.
Przewalski’s Horse
Przewalski’s horse is the last truly wild horse species, native to the steppes of Central Asia. Once extinct in the wild, it has been successfully reintroduced. It is a stocky, hardy horse, well-adapted to harsh environments, and primarily grazes on grasses.
Pudu
Pudus are the smallest deer species in the world, native to the temperate rainforests of South America. They are shy, solitary mammals with short legs and small antlers (males). They browse on leaves, twigs, and fallen fruits in dense undergrowth.
Puku
The puku is a medium-sized antelope native to floodplains and grasslands of Central Africa. Known for its yellowish-brown coat and ridged, lyre-shaped horns in males, it is highly dependent on water. They are grazers, often found in herds near rivers and swamps.
Puma
The puma, also known as cougar or mountain lion, is a large, solitary wild cat native to the Americas. It has the largest range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Pumas are agile predators, hunting deer and other medium-sized mammals.
Pygmy Anteater
The pygmy anteater, or silky anteater, is the smallest anteater species, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. It is arboreal and nocturnal, using its prehensile tail to grasp branches. It feeds exclusively on ants, which it detects by smell.
Pygmy Glider
The pygmy glider, also known as feathertail glider, is the smallest gliding possum in the world, native to eastern Australia. It has a membrane of skin for gliding and a distinctive feather-like tail. These nocturnal marsupials feed on nectar, pollen, and insects.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small, elusive hippo species native to the forests and swamps of West Africa. Unlike its larger cousin, it is more terrestrial and solitary. It is an endangered herbivore, browsing on leaves, shoots, and fruits.
Pygmy Hog
The pygmy hog is the smallest and rarest wild pig species, critically endangered and native to grasslands in India. It builds small nests of grass and is primarily active during dawn and dusk. This elusive omnivore feeds on roots, insects, and small rodents.
Pygmy Killer Whale
The pygmy killer whale is a small oceanic dolphin found in tropical and subtropical deep waters. It is dark-colored with a robust body and conical head. Highly social, it lives in groups and preys on fish and squid, often showing aggressive behaviors towards other cetaceans.
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world, native to the Amazon rainforest. It feeds on tree gum, which it extracts by gnawing holes in bark, and also consumes insects and fruits. They live in family groups, communicating with high-pitched calls.
Pygmy Possum
Pygmy possums are a family of very small, nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea. They are arboreal, using their prehensile tails for climbing. They feed on nectar, pollen, insects, and seeds, playing a role in pollination.
Pygmy Rabbit
The pygmy rabbit is the smallest rabbit species in North America, uniquely dependent on dense sagebrush for food and shelter. It creates its own burrows and is active year-round. This herbivore feeds almost exclusively on sagebrush leaves and stems.
Pygmy Right Whale
The pygmy right whale is the smallest baleen whale and the least known of all living cetaceans. It has a distinctive arching jawline and is found in temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. It feeds on copepods and other small crustaceans by filter-feeding.
Pygmy Shrew
The American pygmy shrew is one of the smallest mammals in the world, found in forests and woodlands across North America. It has a very high metabolism and must eat almost constantly to survive. It primarily feeds on insects and spiders.
Pygmy Sloth
The pygmy sloth is a critically endangered species of three-toed sloth found only on a small island off Panama. It is smaller than other sloths and adapted to its mangrove habitat, feeding on mangrove leaves. Its slow movements conserve energy in its unique ecosystem.
Pygmy Sperm Whale
The pygmy sperm whale is a small, deep-diving whale found in temperate and tropical oceanic waters. It has a shark-like head and a distinctive dark, slender body. It feeds primarily on squid and deep-sea fish, and can expel a dark, inky fluid as a defense mechanism.
Pygmy Tarsier
The pygmy tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the world, rediscovered in 2008 after decades of no sightings. Endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia, it is nocturnal and arboreal. It feeds on insects and small vertebrates, utilizing its large eyes for night vision.