This page lists 39 Big animals that start with P. They range from “African Rock Python” to “White-lipped Peccary”. The list focuses on large mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, defined by adult mass or length, not small invertebrates. Use this list for education, field guides, quick reference or content creation.
Big animals that start with P are large vertebrate species whose common English names begin with the letter P. Many have cultural significance or famous examples, such as the polar bear in Arctic stories.
Below you’ll find the table with Scientific name, Primary habitat and Typical wild lifespan.
Name: Common name of the animal, shown so you can quickly recognize and scan entries for species you already know.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial helps you confirm exact species and look up authoritative information when you need deeper details.
Primary habitat: Brief biome and geographic region indicating where the species mostly lives so you can understand its natural context.
Typical wild lifespan: Average or typical lifespan in the wild, given in years, helps you compare longevity across large species.
Big animals that start with P
| Common name | Scientific name | Typical adult size | Primary habitat (biome + region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Bear | Ursus maritimus | 350-700 kg; 2.4-3.0 m | Arctic sea ice, circumpolar |
| Puma | Puma concolor | 50-100 kg; 2.4 m | Forests and mountains, Americas |
| Giant Panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | 75-125 kg; 1.5 m | Temperate bamboo forests, China |
| Panther | Panthera pardus | 40-90 kg; 1.9 m | Savanna and rainforest, Africa and Asia |
| Pilot Whale | Globicephala melas | 1,300-2,300 kg; 6.5 m | Temperate and subarctic oceans, worldwide |
| Pygmy Hippopotamus | Choeropsis liberiensis | 180-275 kg; 1.5-1.75 m | Forests and swamps, West Africa |
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | 40-65 kg; 1.4 m | Grasslands and sagebrush steppe, North America |
| Plains Zebra | Equus quagga | 220-350 kg; 2.3 m | Grasslands and savanna, East and Southern Africa |
| Palawan Bearded Pig | Sus ahoenobarbus | Up to 150 kg; 1.0-1.6 m | Rainforests, Palawan archipelago (Philippines) |
| Philippine Warty Pig | Sus philippensis | 40-80 kg; 1.0 m (body length) | Forests and grasslands, Philippines |
| Puku | Kobus vardonii | 60-80 kg; 1.3 m | Floodplain grasslands near water, Southern Africa |
| Giant Pangolin | Smutsia gigantea | Up to 33 kg; 1.4 m | Savanna and forests, Central and West Africa |
| Crested Porcupine | Hystrix cristata | 15-27 kg; 0.85 m | Forests and rocky areas, Southern Europe and Africa |
| White-lipped Peccary | Tayassu pecari | 25-40 kg; 1.1 m | Rainforests and grasslands, Central and South America |
| Collared Peccary | Dicotyles tajacu | 15-27 kg; 1.0 m | Deserts and forests, Americas |
| Proboscis Monkey | Nasalis larvatus | 16-24 kg (males); 1.0 m (body length) | Mangrove and riverine forests, Borneo |
| Pygmy Sperm Whale | Kogia breviceps | 300-450 kg; 3.5 m | Deep offshore temperate and tropical waters, worldwide |
| Pygmy Right Whale | Caperea marginata | 3,000-3,500 kg; 6.5 m | Sub-antarctic oceans, Southern Hemisphere |
| Dall’s Porpoise | Phocoenoides dalli | 130-220 kg; 2.3 m | Cold subarctic waters, North Pacific Ocean |
| Emperor Penguin | Aptenodytes forsteri | 25-45 kg; 1.2 m | Sea ice and coastal waters, Antarctica |
| King Penguin | Aptenodytes patagonicus | 11-18 kg; 0.95 m | Sub-antarctic islands |
| Dalmatian Pelican | Pelecanus crispus | 11-15 kg; 1.8 m | Lakes, rivers, and estuaries, Eurasia |
| Great White Pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | 9-15 kg; 1.75 m | Shallow lakes and swamps, Eurasia and Africa |
| Indian Peafowl | Pavo cristatus | 4-6 kg; 2.0 m (with train) | Forests and cultivated lands, Indian subcontinent |
| Reticulated Python | Malayopython reticulatus | 75+ kg; 6.5+ m | Rainforests and woodlands, Southeast Asia |
| Burmese Python | Python bivittatus | Up to 90 kg; 5.0 m | Swamps and grasslands, Southeast Asia |
| African Rock Python | Python sebae | 40-55 kg; 4.8 m | Savanna and forests near water, Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Perentie | Varanus giganteus | Up to 15 kg; 2.5 m | Arid rocky regions and deserts, Australia |
| Pine Snake | Pituophis melanoleucus | 2-4 kg; 1.5-2.0 m | Pine forests and sandy scrublands, North America |
| Pirarucu | Arapaima gigas | 100-200 kg; 3.0 m | Amazon River basin, South America |
| Piraiba | Brachyplatystoma filamentosum | Up to 200 kg; 2.8 m | Amazon and Orinoco River basins, South America |
| Pacific Halibut | Hippoglossus stenolepis | Up to 230 kg; 2.6 m | Cold continental shelf waters, North Pacific Ocean |
| Patagonian Toothfish | Dissostichus eleginoides | Up to 100 kg; 2.3 m | Cold, deep sub-antarctic waters |
| American Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula | 25-80 kg; 1.5-2.0 m | Mississippi River basin, North America |
| Northern Pike | Esox lucius | Up to 25 kg; 1.5 m | Brackish and freshwaters, Northern Hemisphere |
| Pacific Sleeper Shark | Somniosus pacificus | Over 360 kg; 4.4 m | Deep continental shelves and slopes, North Pacific |
| Porbeagle Shark | Lamna nasus | Up to 135 kg; 2.5 m | Cold and temperate waters, North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere |
| Permit | Trachinotus falcatus | 15-35 kg; 1.2 m | Shallow tropical marine waters, Western Atlantic |
| Pacific Cod | Gadus macrocephalus | Up to 22 kg; 1.0 m | Coastal and continental shelf waters, North Pacific |
Descriptions
Polar Bear
The world’s largest land carnivore, perfectly adapted to the extreme Arctic. Its thick blubber and water-repellent coat provide insulation, making it a powerful marine hunter of seals.
Puma
Also known as a cougar or mountain lion, this adaptable predator has the largest range of any wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It is known for its stealth and powerful leaping ability.
Giant Panda
An iconic bear species with a distinctive black-and-white coat. Despite being classified as a carnivore, its diet consists almost entirely of bamboo, requiring it to eat for up to 12 hours a day.
Panther
Panther is not a distinct species but a term for a black (melanistic) leopard or jaguar. Their spotted patterns are still present but often hidden by the excess dark pigment in their fur.
Pilot Whale
A large species of oceanic dolphin known for its highly social nature, living in tight-knit family pods. They are named for the belief that the pod follows a single “pilot” or leader.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
A much smaller, solitary, and nocturnal relative of the common hippopotamus. It spends more time on land than its larger cousin but still relies on water to keep its skin moisturized and cool.
Pronghorn
The fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, capable of sustained speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). Though not a true antelope, it is often called one due to its appearance.
Plains Zebra
The most common of the three zebra species, famous for its bold black and white stripes. Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, much like a human fingerprint, which helps with social recognition.
Palawan Bearded Pig
A wild pig species recognized by the prominent “beard” of hair on its face. It is a crucial seed disperser in its island ecosystem and is unfortunately now an endangered species.
Philippine Warty Pig
A medium-sized wild pig known for the three pairs of fleshy “warts” on the male’s face, which offer protection during fights. It is a highly social animal living in groups called sounders.
Puku
A medium-sized antelope with a golden-yellow coat and thick, ridged horns on males. Puku are social animals that gather in herds of up to 20 individuals, typically staying close to water sources.
Giant Pangolin
The largest of all pangolin species, this unique mammal is covered in tough, overlapping keratin scales. It is a nocturnal insectivore, using its long, sticky tongue to feast on ants and termites.
Crested Porcupine
One of the world’s largest rodents, armed with long, sharp black-and-white quills for defense. When threatened, it raises its quills and charges backward to impale a potential predator.
White-lipped Peccary
A pig-like mammal that travels in large, formidable herds of 50 to over 300 individuals. They are important “ecosystem engineers” due to their foraging habits that disturb the soil.
Collared Peccary
Also known as the javelina, this adaptable mammal is distinguished by a light-colored band of fur around its neck, resembling a collar. They live in social groups and have a potent scent gland for marking territory.
Proboscis Monkey
Famous for the male’s extraordinarily long, fleshy nose, which is thought to amplify its calls to attract mates. They are also skilled swimmers, equipped with partially webbed feet.
Pygmy Sperm Whale
A small, elusive whale that is rarely seen at sea. It has a unique defense mechanism where it can eject a dark, reddish-brown intestinal fluid to confuse predators, similar to a squid’s ink.
Pygmy Right Whale
The smallest and most mysterious of all baleen whales. It is so distinct from other whales that it is classified in its own scientific family, making it a rare and unique marine mammal.
Dall’s Porpoise
One of the fastest marine mammals, capable of reaching speeds of 55 km/h (34 mph). It is easily recognized by its striking black-and-white coloration, resembling a miniature orca.
Emperor Penguin
The tallest and heaviest of all penguin species, renowned for its incredible endurance. Males withstand the harsh Antarctic winter without food for months to incubate their single egg on the ice.
King Penguin
The second-largest penguin species, sporting a vibrant orange-yellow patch on its neck. Unlike emperors, they breed on ice-free beaches in massive, noisy colonies numbering in the thousands.
Dalmatian Pelican
One of the world’s largest and heaviest flying birds, with a massive wingspan that can exceed 3.5 meters (11.5 ft). It is distinguished by its silvery-white plumage and shaggy head crest.
Great White Pelican
A huge bird known for traveling in large, coordinated flocks. These pelicans often fish cooperatively, forming a U-shape to encircle fish and scoop them up in their enormous gular pouches.
Indian Peafowl
Commonly known as the peacock, the male is famous for its spectacular tail train, which consists of over 200 elongated feathers. This train is fanned out in a vibrant display to attract mates.
Reticulated Python
Often considered the world’s longest snake, with credible reports of individuals exceeding 7 meters. It is a powerful constrictor, capable of ambushing and consuming prey as large as pigs or deer.
Burmese Python
One of the five largest snakes in the world, known for its docile temperament in captivity but its impact as an invasive species in Florida. It is an ambush predator that kills by constriction.
African Rock Python
Africa’s largest native snake. This formidable predator is known for its aggressive reputation and its ability to prey on large animals, including antelopes, goats, and large crocodiles.
Perentie
Australia’s largest lizard and one of the largest in the world. This powerful monitor lizard is a swift hunter with a venomous bite, preying on a wide variety of animals including mammals, birds, and other reptiles.
Pine Snake
A large, non-venomous constrictor notable for its incredibly loud hiss, which it produces using a specialized piece of cartilage in its throat to mimic a rattlesnake and deter predators.
Pirarucu
One of the world’s largest freshwater fish, also known as the arapaima. It is an air-breather, needing to surface every 10-20 minutes, which makes it vulnerable to harpoon fishing.
Piraiba
A colossal species of catfish, often called the “goliath catfish” of the Amazon. It is a migratory predator that travels vast distances upriver to spawn and preys on other large fish.
Pacific Halibut
The largest species of flatfish in the world. These giants start life with eyes on both sides of their head, but one eye migrates to the other side as they mature and adapt to life on the seafloor.
Patagonian Toothfish
A large, slow-growing predatory fish famously marketed as “Chilean Sea Bass.” It lives at extreme depths of up to 2,500 meters, making it a challenging species to study and manage.
American Paddlefish
A primitive filter-feeding fish easily identified by its extremely long, paddle-like snout (rostrum). The rostrum is covered in electroreceptors used to detect swarms of zooplankton, its primary food.
Northern Pike
A highly aggressive, torpedo-shaped predatory fish known for its voracious appetite. It is a popular game fish, famous for its explosive strikes and powerful fights when hooked by anglers.
Pacific Sleeper Shark
A large, slow-moving deepwater shark related to the Greenland shark. It is an apex predator and scavenger that thrives in the cold, dark depths, feeding on a vast array of prey.
Porbeagle Shark
A powerful, stocky shark that is a smaller relative of the great white. It is one of the few shark species that is warm-blooded, allowing it to remain active and hunt in very cold waters.
Permit
A highly sought-after game fish prized for its strength and fighting ability. It has a deeply forked tail and a compressed, silvery body, often found feeding on crabs and shrimp in flats and channels.
Pacific Cod
An important commercial fish species, closely related to the Atlantic cod. It is a bottom-dwelling predator that plays a key role in the North Pacific marine food web, valued for its mild, flaky white flesh.