Eighteen mammals that start with the letter “U” make up this complete list, showcasing a remarkable variety from tiny bats to wild sheep. These mammals come from diverse habitats around the world, from the tropical forests of Africa to the high-altitude grasslands of North America. Many are specialized in their environments and diets, such as nectar-feeding bats and burrowing ground squirrels. This list highlights both well-known and lesser-known species, providing a broad picture of mammals beginning with “U.”
Explore the detailed table below to learn more about these unique mammals.
Scientific Name This column shows the official Latin name used by scientists for clear identification. It helps you understand the exact species without confusion from common names.
Habitat Find out where each mammal lives in the wild. This includes the type of environment like forests, grasslands, or mountains, giving you insight into their natural homes.
Average Size (cm) See the typical body length of each mammal, measured in centimeters. This helps you compare their sizes from small creatures like bats to larger animals like wild sheep.
Description Read a brief overview of each mammal’s key features, behaviors, diet, and conservation status. This summarizes what makes each species interesting and important in nature.
Mammals that start with U
| Mammal | Scientific Name | Habitat | Average Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Udzungwa Red Colobus | Piliocolobus gordonorum | Tropical forests | 50-70 |
| Ugandan Crested Mangabey | Lophocebus ugandae | Tropical moist forests | 40-60 |
| Ugandan Red Colobus | Piliocolobus tephrosceles | Tropical forests | 45-67 |
| Uinta Chipmunk | Neotamias umbrinus | Montane forests, woodlands | 20-25 |
| Uinta Ground Squirrel | Urocitellus armatus | High-altitude grasslands, sagebrush | 28-33 |
| Umnak Shrew | Sorex jacksoni | Grasslands, tundra | 9-11 |
| Underwood’s Bonneted Bat | Eumops underwoodi | Deserts, woodlands | 8-10 |
| Underwood’s Long-tongued Bat | Hylonycteris underwoodi | Tropical forests | 5-6 |
| Underwood’s Water Mouse | Rheomys underwoodi | Montane cloud forests, streams | 10-14 |
| Unstriped Ground Squirrel | Xerus rutilus | Arid grasslands, savannas | 20-25 |
| Upemba Shrew | Crocidura upembana | Grasslands, wetlands | 8-10 |
| Ural Field Mouse | Apodemus uralensis | Forests, grasslands | 8-10 |
| Urial | Ovis orientalis vignei | Mountainous terrain, grasslands | 75-100 |
| Usambara Shrew | Crocidura usambarae | Montane forests | 9-12 |
| Ussuri Mole | Mogera ussuriensis | Forests, cultivated fields | 12-16 |
| Ussuri Tube-nosed Bat | Murina ussuriensis | Forests, caves | 4-5 |
| Ussuri White-toothed Shrew | Crocidura lasiura | Forests, grasslands | 6-8 |
| Utah Prairie Dog | Cynomys parvidens | Arid grasslands, sagebrush | 30-36 |
Descriptions
Udzungwa Red Colobus
A vibrant primate endemic to Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains, known for its striking red fur and social tree-dwelling lifestyle. It primarily feeds on leaves, flowers, and fruits, playing a vital role in its forest ecosystem. This endangered monkey faces threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.
Ugandan Crested Mangabey
A distinctive monkey native to Uganda, characterized by its prominent crest of hair on its head. This arboreal primate lives in social groups, foraging for fruits, seeds, and insects in the forest canopy. Its population is vulnerable due to ongoing habitat fragmentation and degradation.
Ugandan Red Colobus
A critically endangered primate found in tropical forests of Uganda, related to other red colobus species. It has reddish-brown fur and a long tail, feeding mainly on young leaves. Habitat destruction and hunting pose significant threats to its survival, making conservation efforts crucial.
Uinta Chipmunk
A small, striped rodent native to the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin regions of western North America. It is characterized by its distinctive facial stripes and agility. These chipmunks are typically found in coniferous forests, foraging for seeds, nuts, and berries, often caching food for winter.
Uinta Ground Squirrel
A common ground squirrel inhabiting the Uinta Mountains and surrounding areas of the western United States. It’s known for its burrowing habits and social colonies in meadows and sagebrush. They hibernate for much of the year, emerging in spring to feed on vegetation and seeds.
Umnak Shrew
A small, elusive shrew endemic to Umnak Island in the Aleutian chain, Alaska. It prefers grassy and tundra habitats, foraging for insects and other invertebrates. Like other shrews, it has a high metabolism, requiring constant feeding to survive. Little is known about its specific ecology.
Underwood’s Bonneted Bat
A large free-tailed bat found in arid and semi-arid regions from the southwestern United States to Central America. It’s named for the bonnet-like fold of skin on its head. These nocturnal bats roost in caves or rock crevices, emerging at night to hunt large insects like beetles and moths.
Underwood’s Long-tongued Bat
A small, specialized nectar-feeding bat native to humid tropical forests of Central America. It possesses an exceptionally long tongue adapted for reaching nectar and pollen deep within flowers. This bat plays a crucial role as a pollinator for many night-blooming plant species.
Underwood’s Water Mouse
A semi-aquatic rodent found in high-altitude cloud forests of Costa Rica and Panama. It is adapted for life near mountain streams, with sleek fur and partially webbed feet. This mouse primarily feeds on aquatic insects and small fish, using its whiskers to navigate underwater.
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
A common ground squirrel native to arid regions of East Africa, distinguished by its lack of prominent stripes on its back. These social rodents live in burrows, foraging for seeds, roots, and insects. They are active during the day, enduring hot climates due to their heat-tolerant physiology.
Upemba Shrew
A small, lesser-known shrew species identified from the Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Like other shrews, it is an insectivore with a high metabolic rate. Information on its specific ecology and conservation status is limited, reflecting its elusive nature.
Ural Field Mouse
A small rodent found across a wide range of habitats from Central Europe to Siberia. It is characterized by its relatively large ears and subtle coloring. These nocturnal mice feed on seeds, insects, and berries, often inhabiting forests, grasslands, and agricultural fields.
Urial
A wild sheep species native to the mountains and hilly regions of Central and South Asia. Males are distinguished by their impressive, curling horns. Urial inhabit open grassy slopes and rocky areas, feeding on grasses and shrubs. They are agile climbers, well-adapted to rugged terrain.
Usambara Shrew
An endemic shrew species found in the humid montane forests of the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. It is a small, dark-furred insectivore, playing a role in forest ecosystems by consuming invertebrates. Its habitat is threatened by deforestation, making it a species of conservation concern.
Ussuri Mole
A burrowing mammal native to the Ussuri region of East Asia, including parts of Russia, China, and Korea. It possesses powerful forelimbs adapted for digging extensive tunnel systems underground. This mole primarily feeds on earthworms and insect larvae, rarely appearing on the surface.
Ussuri Tube-nosed Bat
A tiny bat species recognized by its distinctive tube-shaped nostrils, found in forested areas of East Asia. These small bats typically roost in tree hollows or caves. They are insectivorous, using echolocation to navigate and hunt small flying insects in the dense forest understory.
Ussuri White-toothed Shrew
A small, agile shrew found across a wide range of habitats in East Asia, including the Ussuri region. It is characterized by its white teeth, typical for Crocidura species, unlike red-tipped teeth of Sorex. It preys on insects and other invertebrates, having a very high metabolism.
Utah Prairie Dog
An endangered species of prairie dog endemic to the southwestern high-altitude grasslands of Utah. These highly social rodents live in extensive burrow systems called “towns,” feeding primarily on grasses and forbs. They are a keystone species, important for the health of their ecosystem.