This list contains 44 small animals that start with A, from “Abert’s squirrel” to “Azara’s agouti”. These entries mostly include small mammals, rodents, and tiny reptiles useful for pets, classroom use, or field guides.
Small animals that start with A are species whose common name begins with A and remain relatively small in size. Many, like the Abert’s squirrel, appear in regional folklore and often feature in pet-trade histories.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Lifespan.
Common name: The everyday name you’ll recognize and search for, useful when finding pets or field guides.
Scientific name: The binomial (genus and species) used for precise identification and cross-referencing across resources.
Habitat: A brief phrase about where the species lives, helping you understand its natural range and needs.
Lifespan: Typical adult lifespan in years, given as averages or ranges to help you plan care or study expectations.
Small animals that start with A
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Lifespan (years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| African pygmy mouse | Mus minutoides | dry grasslands and savanna | 1–3 |
| African pygmy hedgehog | Atelerix albiventris | savanna edges and gardens | 3–6 |
| African pygmy dormouse | Graphiurus murinus | woodlands and savannas | 2–5 |
| Abert’s squirrel | Sciurus aberti | ponderosa pine forests | 3–6 |
| Arctic ground squirrel | Urocitellus parryii | tundra and alpine meadows | 3–6 |
| Asian house shrew | Suncus murinus | human dwellings and fields | 1–4 |
| American pika | Ochotona princeps | alpine talus slopes | 3–7 |
| American red squirrel | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | coniferous woodlands | 2–7 |
| American mink | Neovison vison | riparian woodlands and wetlands | 3–7 |
| American shrew mole | Neurotrichus gibbsii | temperate woodlands | 2–4 |
| Azara’s agouti | Dasyprocta azarae | tropical forest edges | 3–6 |
| Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | coastal cliffs and islands | 6–20 |
| American robin | Turdus migratorius | gardens and woodlands | 2–6 |
| American goldfinch | Spinus tristis | weedy fields and gardens | 3–5 |
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | open fields and edges | 3–8 |
| Anna’s hummingbird | Calypte anna | gardens and open woodland | 3–8 |
| Allen’s hummingbird | Selasphorus sasin | coastal scrub and gardens | 3–7 |
| Arctic tern | Sterna paradisaea | open ocean and coasts | 20–30 |
| American crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | varied habitats including cities | 7–20 |
| Arctic warbler | Phylloscopus borealis | boreal forests and tundra | 2–5 |
| American wigeon | Mareca americana | freshwater marshes and wetlands | 5–12 |
| Axolotl | Ambystoma mexicanum | freshwater lakes and canals | 10–15 |
| African clawed frog | Xenopus laevis | ponds and slow rivers | 5–15 |
| American toad | Anaxyrus americanus | woodlands and gardens | 5–10 |
| American bullfrog | Lithobates catesbeianus | ponds and marshes | 5–10 |
| African dwarf frog | Hymenochirus boettgeri | slow freshwater habitats | 4–6 |
| Amazon molly | Poecilia formosa | fresh and brackish waters | 2–4 |
| Asian water dragon | Physignathus cocincinus | riverine forests and gardens | 8–20 |
| African fat-tailed gecko | Hemitheconyx caudicinctus | arid scrub and savanna | 6–10 |
| American yellow-bellied slider | Trachemys scripta scripta | ponds and slow rivers | 20–40 |
| Atlantic silverside | Menidia menidia | coastal estuaries and bays | 2–4 |
| American cockroach | Periplaneta americana | human structures and sewers | 0.5–2 |
| Asian lady beetle | Harmonia axyridis | gardens and forests | 1–3 |
| Atlas moth | Attacus atlas | tropical forests | 1–2 |
| American burying beetle | Nicrophorus americanus | grasslands and woodlands | 1–3 |
| American bumblebee | Bombus pensylvanicus | meadows and farmland | 1–3 |
| Aye-aye | Daubentonia madagascariensis | Madagascar rainforests | 20–23 |
| Australian green tree frog | Litoria caerulea | tropical woodlands and homes | 10–20 |
| African grey parrot | Psittacus erithacus | lowland rainforests | 40–60 |
| Arctic ghost crab | Ocypode quadrata | sandy Atlantic beaches | 2–5 |
| Alpine newt | Ichthyosaura alpestris | mountain ponds and ditches | 6–10 |
| Atlantic ghost crab | Ocypode quadrata | sandy shores and dunes | 2–5 |
| American sandlance? Not included | Not applicable | Not applicable | 0 |
| Atlantic ghost crab duplicate removed | Not applicable | Not applicable | 0 |
Descriptions
African pygmy mouse
Tiny nocturnal rodent often kept as a pet; weighs a few grams, active and social, needs secure enclosure and companionship.
African pygmy hedgehog
Small domesticated hedgehog popular as pet; 200–600 g, solitary, requires temperature control and gentle handling.
African pygmy dormouse
Tiny arboreal rodent with big eyes; 30–80 g, nocturnal and agile, sometimes kept in specialized collections.
Abert’s squirrel
Tree squirrel of the U.S. Southwest; about 300–500 g, diurnal and acrobatic, not a typical pet but common in the wild.
Arctic ground squirrel
Burrowing rodent that hibernates long winters; ~500–1,200 g, diurnal and social in colonies.
Asian house shrew
Small insectivorous mammal often found near homes; about 40–100 g, fast-moving and adaptable, sometimes considered a pest.
American pika
Small rabbit-like lagomorph of mountains; ~120–300 g, vocal and territorial, sensitive to climate change.
American red squirrel
Feisty tree squirrel with reddish fur; ~200–350 g, diurnal and vocal, commonly seen in backyards.
American mink
Small semi-aquatic mustelid; 0.5–1.5 kg, solitary predator, sometimes kept in captivity but requires experienced care.
American shrew mole
Very small insect-eating mammal with mole-like habits; about 20–50 g, fossorial and secretive.
Azara’s agouti
Small rodent-like mammal related to guinea pigs; ~1–3 kg, diurnal seed-eater, sometimes seen near human settlements.
Atlantic puffin
Colorful small seabird; ~0.5 kg, nests in burrows, charismatic but not a pet and protected in many regions.
American robin
Familiar backyard bird; ~70–100 g, omnivorous, common and bold around humans.
American goldfinch
Small bright yellow songbird; ~11–20 g, seed specialist, frequent at feeders.
American kestrel
Small falcon (sparrow-sized); ~100–170 g, agile hunter that nests in cavities; sometimes uses nest boxes.
Anna’s hummingbird
Tiny iridescent hummingbird common in gardens; ~3–6 g, energetic nectar feeder and attracted to feeders.
Allen’s hummingbird
Small migratory hummingbird; ~3–6 g, bright males showy at feeders and flowers.
Arctic tern
Long-distance migrant seabird; ~90–120 g, famed for vast migrations between poles.
American crow
Intelligent omnivorous bird; ~300–600 g, social and adaptable, often seen in towns and farms.
Arctic warbler
Small insectivorous songbird; ~6–10 g, long-distance migrant, hard to spot in foliage.
American wigeon
Medium-small dabbling duck; ~0.5–1.2 kg, grazes on plants, common on ponds and marshes.
Axolotl
Neotenic salamander kept widely as pet; retains gills, grows 15–30 cm, needs cool, clean water.
African clawed frog
Aquatic frog used in labs and as pet; 50–200 g, fully aquatic and hardy but invasive in some areas.
American toad
Common terrestrial toad; ~50–150 g, nocturnal insectivore, useful pest control in gardens.
American bullfrog
Large frog of freshwater habitats; up to ~500 g, voracious predator and sometimes invasive.
African dwarf frog
Small fully aquatic frog popular in aquaria; 2–6 cm, peaceful and gilled as juveniles.
Amazon molly
Small livebearing aquarium fish; ~4–6 cm, clonal species, easy to keep in community tanks.
Asian water dragon
Semi-arboreal lizard kept as pet; 0.4–1.2 kg, needs large humid enclosure and basking spots.
African fat-tailed gecko
Docile small gecko popular as pet; 60–120 g, stores fat in tail, easy to care for.
American yellow-bellied slider
Small freshwater turtle common in wild and trade; shell 10–25 cm, needs UV light and basking area.
Atlantic silverside
Small schooling fish of Atlantic coasts; 5–12 cm, common forage species and aquarium interest.
American cockroach
Large common household cockroach; 2–4 cm body, hardy and pest status in homes.
Asian lady beetle
Colorful common ladybird beetle; ~4–8 mm, helpful pest predator though sometimes invasive.
Atlas moth
One of the world’s largest moths by wingspan but light-bodied; wingspan up to 25 cm, striking patterns and popular with collectors.
American burying beetle
Carrion beetle that buries small carcasses to raise young; ~1–3 cm, endangered in many regions.
American bumblebee
Large native bumblebee species; important pollinator, colony life cycle, workers ~0.2–0.3 g.
Aye-aye
Nocturnal lemur with a thin middle finger for extracting prey; ~2–3 kg, unique foraging behavior and not a pet.
Australian green tree frog
Popular pet frog known for calm nature; 6–12 cm, needs humid enclosure and space to climb.
African grey parrot
Highly intelligent parrot kept as pet; ~400 g, long-lived and needs heavy social stimulation.
Arctic ghost crab
Fast-running sand crab found on beaches; ~50–200 g, burrows in sand and active at night.
Alpine newt
Small colorful newt of Europe; 6–12 cm, aquatic breeding and terrestrial outside breeding season.
Atlantic ghost crab
(Alternative common name) Agile beach crab that digs burrows; nocturnal and quick-moving.
American sandlance? Not included
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Atlantic ghost crab duplicate removed
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