This list includes 27 Big animals that start with A, from “Addax” to “Australian sea lion”. It focuses on large vertebrates—mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish—recognized by typical adult mass or size. Use this resource for education, species comparison, content creation, or quick field reference.

Big animals that start with A are large vertebrate species notable for adult size or mass within their ecosystems. The addax, for example, appears in ancient Saharan art and highlights long-standing human ties to megafauna.

Below you’ll find the table with scientific name, primary habitat (biome and region), and typical lifespan (years).

Scientific name: The species’ Latin name helps you cross-check information and avoid regional name confusion.

Primary habitat: Shows the main biome and region where the animal lives, helping you locate it in the wild.

Typical lifespan: Gives the average wild lifespan in years so you can compare longevity across species.

Big animals that start with A

Name Scientific name Typical size (adult) Primary habitat Description
African elephant Loxodonta africana 6,000 kg / 6.0 m Savanna — Sub-Saharan Africa Largest land mammal, recognizable trunk and tusks; lives ~60–70 years, highly social. Major threats: poaching and habitat loss (IUCN: Endangered).
Asian elephant Elephas maximus 3,500 kg / 4.0 m Tropical forest & grassland — South & Southeast Asia Slightly smaller than African elephant, used for transport historically; lifespan ~60 years. Fragmented populations and habitat loss (Endangered).
African forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis 2,700 kg / 3.0 m Tropical rainforest — Central & West Africa Smaller, straighter tusks and rounded ears; lives ~60 years. Fewer in number, heavily poached for ivory (Critically Endangered).
African buffalo Syncerus caffer 700 kg / 2.5 m Savanna & woodland — Sub-Saharan Africa Robust, horned bovine living ~18–22 years in wild; herd-living and unpredictable temperament. Locally common but threatened by habitat change.
American bison Bison bison 900 kg / 3.5 m Grassland — North America Iconic, shaggy-headed grazer; lifespan ~15–20 years. Once nearly extirpated, now recovering via conservation and ranching (Near Threatened in wild).
Addax Addax nasomaculatus 100 kg / 2.0 m Desert — Sahara (North Africa) Pale-coated desert antelope with spiraled horns; lives ~15–25 years. Critically endangered from hunting and habitat loss.
Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx 80 kg / 1.9 m Desert plains — Arabian Peninsula White antelope with long straight horns; lifespan ~15–20 years. Reintroduced successfully after extinction in wild; still vulnerable.
Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus 140 kg / 1.8 m Temperate & montane forest — Asia Also called moon bear, with throat patch; lives ~20–25 years. Threatened by habitat loss and poaching (Vulnerable).
Andean bear Tremarctos ornatus 100 kg / 1.8 m Montane forest — Andes, South America Only South American bear, short face with “spectacles”; lifespan ~20–25 years. Habitat fragmentation threatens populations (Vulnerable).
American alligator Alligator mississippiensis 360 kg / 4.0 m Freshwater wetlands — Southeastern USA Broad-snouted crocodilian; lives 35–50 years. Conservation success story after hunting bans (Least Concern).
American crocodile Crocodylus acutus 400 kg / 4.5 m Coastal rivers & estuaries — Americas Narrower snout than alligator, more salt-tolerant; lifespan ~70 years. Sensitive to habitat loss and hunting (Vulnerable).
Anaconda Eunectes murinus 200 kg / 6.0 m Tropical freshwater — Amazon Basin & northern South America Massive constrictor snake (green anaconda common), ambush predator; lifespans ~10–15 years in wild. Not currently IUCN-listed globally.
African rock python Python sebae 100 kg / 4.5 m Savanna & forest — Sub-Saharan Africa Large ambush predator, patterned skin; lifespan ~20–30 years. Powerful constrictor occasionally conflicts with humans.
Aldabra giant tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea 250 kg / 1.2 m Island scrub & coastal plains — Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles Long-lived herbivore, can exceed 100 years; domed shell and slow pace. Vulnerable due to habitat threats.
African spurred tortoise Centrochelys sulcata 100 kg / 0.9 m Sahelian drylands — North Africa Large, sandy-colored tortoise with spurred legs; lives 50–150 years. Popular in pet trade; wild populations declining (Vulnerable).
Arapaima Arapaima gigas 200 kg / 3.0 m Freshwater rivers — Amazon Basin One of the world’s largest freshwater fish, obligate air-breather; lifespan ~15–20 years. Overfishing has reduced many populations.
Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus 450 kg / 3.0 m Pelagic ocean — North Atlantic & Mediterranean Powerful migratory predator prized by fisheries; lives ~35–40 years. Severely overfished (Endangered).
Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus 200 kg / 3.5 m Coastal & estuarine — North Atlantic Large, ancient bony fish with bony scutes; long-lived (~60 years). Many populations endangered from fishing and dams.
Atlantic walrus Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus 1,200 kg / 3.5 m Arctic sea-ice & coasts — Arctic Ocean Huge pinniped with tusks and whiskers; lifespan ~20–30 years. Sensitive to sea-ice loss from climate change (Vulnerable).
Andean condor Vultur gryphus 11 kg / 3.3 m Alpine & puna — Andes, South America Massive vulture with huge wingspan; scavenger living ~50–75 years. Cultural icon; locally threatened (Near Threatened).
Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella 200 kg / 2.0 m Subantarctic islands — Southern Ocean Sexually dimorphic: males 150–200 kg, females much smaller; lifespan ~20 years. Historically hunted, now recovering (Least Concern).
Australian sea lion Neophoca cinerea 300 kg / 2.6 m Coastal waters & beaches — Southern Australia Endemic sea lion with limited range; males ~300 kg; lifespan ~20 years. Small population, conservation concern (Endangered).
Arrau turtle Podocnemis expansa 90 kg / 1.1 m Large river habitats — Amazon Basin Large freshwater turtle with broad shell; can live 30+ years. Overharvest of eggs and adults threatens populations (Endangered/Vulnerable regionally).
Alligator gar Atractosteus spatula 140 kg / 3.0 m Freshwater rivers & bays — Southeastern USA & Mexico Large, long-snouted predatory fish with ganoid scales; lifespan ~30+ years. Once persecuted, now locally recovering.
Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara 360 kg / 2.5 m Coastal reefs & wrecks — Western Atlantic Massive reef grouper forming aggregations; lives >40 years. Heavily fished historically; protected in many regions.
Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus 200 kg / 2.5 m Cold temperate continental shelf — North Atlantic Large flatfish, can live 25–50 years. Commercially important and overfished in parts of its range.
Antipodean albatross Diomedea antipodensis 8 kg / 3.1 m Subantarctic islands & ocean — Southern Hemisphere Large albatross with long wingspan; long-lived seabird (~40–60 years). Threatened by longline fisheries and introduced predators.

Descriptions

African elephant
Asian elephant
African forest elephant
African buffalo
American bison
Addax
Arabian oryx
Asiatic black bear
Andean bear
American alligator
American crocodile
Anaconda
African rock python
Aldabra giant tortoise
African spurred tortoise
Arapaima
Atlantic bluefin tuna
Atlantic sturgeon
Atlantic walrus
Andean condor
Antarctic fur seal
Australian sea lion
Arrau turtle
Alligator gar
Atlantic goliath grouper
Atlantic halibut
Antipodean albatross
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.