This list includes 43 Small animals that start with L, from “Laughing kookaburra” to “Lynx spider”. These entries cover small birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates found worldwide, and many are useful as pets, classroom examples, or field-identification subjects.

Small animals that start with L are small species whose common names begin with the letter L. Many have notable cultural roles, such as the laughing kookaburra, famous for its laughing call in Australian folklore.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Lifespan.

Common name: Helps you quickly recognize each animal by the name you encounter in field guides, pet listings, or classroom materials.

Scientific name: Gives the Latin binomial so you can find precise species information and avoid confusion between similar common names.

Habitat: Describes the typical environment where the animal lives, helping you understand distribution and basic care needs for pets.

Lifespan: Lists average or typical lifespans so you can compare longevity and plan long-term care or educational timelines.

Small animals that start with L

Name Scientific name Typical adult mass Habitat & range Description
Little brown bat Myotis lucifugus 8-12 g Forests, buildings North America Common insectivorous bat that roosts in attics; familiar to backyard observers.
Least weasel Mustela nivalis 25-250 g Varied habitats across Holarctic Tiny, fierce predator of rodents; often seen near farms and fields.
Long-tailed weasel Neogale frenata 200-500 g Woodlands and fields Americas Agile carnivore with a long tail; common in rural areas, hunts rodents.
Lesser mouse-deer Tragulus kanchil 1.5-2.5 kg SE Asian forests and plantations Very small ungulate (chevrotain), shy and deer-like, sometimes seen in reserves.
Long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus 200-600 g Arid steppes and deserts Central Asia/Middle East Small hedgehog with large ears; kept in exotic-pet trade in some places.
Lesser bushbaby Galago senegalensis 150-300 g African woodlands and savannas Nocturnal, big-eyed primate with strong leaping ability; sometimes seen in rescues.
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros 6-12 g Caves, woodlands Europe/Asia Small echolocating bat with horseshoe-shaped noseleaf; roosts in buildings and caves.
Laughing kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 280-380 g Eucalypt woodlands Australia Large kingfisher with a famous laughing call; commonly seen in parks and gardens.
Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus 7-9 g Woodlands and hedgerows Eurasia Tiny social songbird with a very long tail; flocks forage acrobatically.
Little auk Alle alle 160-200 g Arctic seas and coastal cliffs Small auk that nests in colonies on rocky coasts; strong diver.
Little egret Egretta garzetta 350-600 g Wetlands, coasts worldwide (Old World) Slim white heron with graceful foraging; common in shallow waters.
Lesser goldfinch Spinus psaltria 8-14 g Shrublands and gardens Americas Small, colorful finch often attracted to feeders; common pet-bird sightings.
Lesser spotted woodpecker Dryobates minor 18-23 g Mature woodlands Eurasia Tiny woodpecker that drums on branches; discreet but widespread.
Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor 1.5-2.5 kg Alkaline lakes Africa/India Smallest flamingo, pink feeding flocks on saline lakes.
Little tern Sternula albifrons 40-60 g Coastal beaches, estuaries worldwide Dainty tern with aerial fishing dives; nesting colonies on sandy shores.
Long-billed dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus 130-300 g Mudflats, marshes N. America, Asia Wading shorebird with long bill, probes mud for invertebrates.
Leopard gecko Eublepharis macularius 45-80 g Rocky, arid areas S. Asia Popular pet gecko; terrestrial, eyelids present, docile temperament.
Little brown skink Scincella lateralis 3-8 g Leaf litter in eastern N. America Small ground skink often seen under logs; secretive and common.
Longfin inshore squid Doryteuthis pealeii 100-400 g Coastal Atlantic waters Small squid of fisheries and study; fast-swimming, common inshore.
Leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes 0.2-0.5 g Neotropical rainforests Social ant that farms fungus; workers commonly kept in educational ant farms.
Lynx spider Oxyopes salticus 0.02-0.20 g Grasses, shrubs worldwide Agile hunting spider that leaps on prey; often seen in gardens.
Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis 2-4 kg Forests and farmlands Asia Small wild cat often called a “miniature leopard”; occasionally kept as exotic pet.
Lined leaf-tailed gecko Uroplatus lineatus 40-80 g Madagascar rainforests Cryptic, flat gecko with leaf-like tail; popular in specialized collections.
Laughing tree frog Litoria peronii 20-40 g Woodlands and gardens Australia Loud-calling tree frog sometimes kept by enthusiasts.
Lesser short-tailed bat Mystacina tuberculata 12-20 g New Zealand forests and caves Unique bat that forages on ground and in trees; endemic to New Zealand.
Lesser long-nosed bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae 15-22 g Deserts and riparian zones N./C. America Nectar-feeding migratory bat; key pollinator of agave and cacti.
Little penguin Eudyptula minor 1-1.5 kg Coastal islands and shores Australia/NZ Smallest penguin species, often seen in colonies at dusk.
Lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus 100-200 g Open woodlands Sub-Saharan Africa Spectacularly colored bird, popular with birdwatchers and photographers.
Leach’s storm-petrel Hydrobates leucorhous 25-50 g Pelagic oceans, islands N. Atlantic/Pacific Tiny seabird that nests in burrows and feeds at sea.
Long-eared owl Asio otus 150-350 g Woodlands and open country Holarctic Nocturnal owl with ear tufts; roosts in woodlots and towns.
Lesser mouse lemur Microcebus murinus 45-70 g Madagascar dry and rainforest Tiny nocturnal primate, often studied in captivity and research.
Long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus 700-1,300 g Forests and shrublands Australia Small digging marsupial that feeds on fungi and invertebrates.
Long-eared jerboa Euchoreutes naso 40-70 g Desert sands Central Asia Tiny hopping rodent with enormous ears; nocturnal and remarkable appearance.
Lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus 30-100 g Seagrass beds, coastal Western Atlantic Small aquarium seahorse, males brood eggs in a pouch.
Longhorn cowfish Lactoria cornuta 1-2 kg Indo-Pacific coral reefs Boxy, horned fish kept in marine aquaria; slow-swimming.
Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 20-35 g Forest streams North America Energetic warbler that forages along fast-moving streams.
Lesser noddy Anous tenuirostris 80-120 g Tropical island colonies Indian Ocean Small tern-like seabird that nests in trees and shrubs.
Lesser grison Galictis cuja 1-2 kg Open forests and grasslands S. America Small mustelid, carnivorous and elusive.
Least auklet Aethia pusilla 80-120 g Arctic islands and seas Tiny auk forming dense breeding colonies on rocky islands.
Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus 60-80 g Open habitats N. America Small predatory songbird known for impaling prey on thorny perches.
Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis 600-1,200 g Arctic and coastal waters Sea duck with striking winter plumage and long migrations.
Lesser whitethroat Curruca curruca 10-15 g Scrub and open woodlands Europe/Asia Small migratory warbler with a sharp, busy song.
Little owl Athene noctua 150-300 g Farmland and open woodlands Europe/Asia Compact owl often seen perched on fenceposts; adapts to human landscapes.

Descriptions

Little brown bat
Least weasel
Long-tailed weasel
Lesser mouse-deer
Long-eared hedgehog
Lesser bushbaby
Lesser horseshoe bat
Laughing kookaburra
Long-tailed tit
Little auk
Little egret
Lesser goldfinch
Lesser spotted woodpecker
Lesser flamingo
Little tern
Long-billed dowitcher
Leopard gecko
Little brown skink
Longfin inshore squid
Leafcutter ant
Lynx spider
Leopard cat
Lined leaf-tailed gecko
Laughing tree frog
Lesser short-tailed bat
Lesser long-nosed bat
Little penguin
Lilac-breasted roller
Leach’s storm-petrel
Long-eared owl
Lesser mouse lemur
Long-nosed potoroo
Long-eared jerboa
Lined seahorse
Longhorn cowfish
Louisiana waterthrush
Lesser noddy
Lesser grison
Least auklet
Loggerhead shrike
Long-tailed duck
Lesser whitethroat
Little owl
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