Here you’ll find 28 Small animals that start with M, organized from “Mangrove rivulus” to “Muskrat”. These small species are typically under about 5 kg and include pets, classroom examples, and wildlife you can observe.
Small animals that start with M are small-bodied species whose common names begin with the letter M. Many, like the muskrat, appear in folk stories or served important roles in local livelihoods.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Lifespan.
Common name: The everyday name helps you quickly recognize the species and match it to care notes or studies.
Scientific name: The binomial lets you find precise species information and avoids confusion between similar common names.
Habitat: A short habitat phrase tells you where each animal lives and what environments to expect them in.
Lifespan: Typical lifespan ranges help you plan care, schooling, or study expectations for each species.
Small animals that start with M
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Typical Adult Weight | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 0.5 g | North America, migratory |
| Meerkat | Suricata suricatta | 700–1,000 g | Southern African savannas and deserts |
| Mosquitofish | Gambusia affinis | 1–4 g | Freshwaters worldwide, often introduced |
| Milk snake | Lampropeltis triangulum | 150–500 g | North American forests, fields and edges |
| Mountain pygmy possum | Burramys parvus | 35–55 g | Alpine bogs and boulder fields, Australia |
| Masked shrew | Sorex cinereus | 4–6 g | Boreal forests and wetlands, North America |
| Meadow vole | Microtus pennsylvanicus | 30–80 g | Grasslands and fields, North America |
| Marsh rice rat | Oryzomys palustris | 60–150 g | Salt and freshwater marshes, southeastern North America |
| Mongolian gerbil | Meriones unguiculatus | 60–120 g | Desert steppes, Mongolia and China |
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | 700–1,200 g | Freshwater wetlands and marshes, North America |
| Monk parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus | 90–140 g | South American woodlands; urban introductions worldwide |
| Mountain beaver | Aplodontia rufa | 600–1,200 g | Pacific Northwest forests and riparian zones |
| Mexican tetra | Astyanax mexicanus | 3–10 g | Freshwater rivers and caves, Mexico and southern U.S. |
| Marbled crayfish | Procambarus virginalis | 10–30 g | Freshwater streams and ponds, invasive in many regions |
| Mexican redknee tarantula | Brachypelma hamorii | 15–35 g | Pacific dry forests, Mexico |
| Marsh frog | Pelophylax ridibundus | 20–60 g | Wetlands and ponds across Europe and Asia |
| Mountain chickadee | Poecile gambeli | 9–12 g | Coniferous mountains, western North America |
| Mourning dove | Zenaida macroura | 100–170 g | Open woodlands, fields, and urban areas, North America |
| Mediterranean house gecko | Hemidactylus turcicus | 4–8 g | Warm buildings, Mediterranean region and global introductions |
| Mudpuppy | Necturus maculosus | 200–500 g | Cool rivers, lakes and streams, eastern North America |
| Midwife toad | Alytes obstetricans | 10–30 g | Woodlands, grasslands and gardens, Europe |
| Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | 400–700 g | North Atlantic islands, pelagic at sea |
| Mangrove rivulus | Kryptolebias marmoratus | 3–8 g | Mangrove pools and tidal pools, Caribbean and Florida |
| Marbled salamander | Ambystoma opacum | 8–30 g | Leaf-littered woodlands and upland forests, eastern North America |
| Masked booby | Sula dactylatra | 1–1.5 kg | Tropical oceanic islands and pelagic waters |
| Marsh tit | Poecile palustris | 10–12 g | Deciduous woodlands and hedgerows, Eurasia |
| Mourning cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | 0.5–1 g | Woodlands and parks across temperate regions |
| Mottled sculpin | Cottus bairdii | 5–20 g | Cold streams and rocky lakes, North America |
Descriptions
Monarch
Danaus plexippus lives about 0.04–0.67 years, breeds on milkweed and migrates long distances; famous for mass migration and orange-and-black wings.
Meerkat
Suricata suricatta lives about 6–10 years, inhabits arid grasslands and scrub; a social mongoose known for sentry behavior and cooperative care.
Mosquitofish
Gambusia affinis lives about 1–2 years, tolerates ponds and canals; used for mosquito control and highly adaptable to disturbed waters.
Milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulum lives about 12–20 years, favors woodlands and farmland; known for bold red-black-white banding and mimicry of venomous snakes.
Mountain pygmy possum
Burramys parvus lives about 6–8 years, restricted to alpine habitats; tiny nocturnal marsupial and critically endangered specialist.
Masked shrew
Sorex cinereus lives about 1–2 years, forages in leaf litter and bogs; has extremely high metabolism and tiny size.
Meadow vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus lives about 1–2 years, prefers dense grasses and meadows; highly fecund and important prey species.
Marsh rice rat
Oryzomys palustris lives about 1–2 years, swims well in marshes and tidal creeks; semiaquatic rodent often found near water.
Mongolian gerbil
Meriones unguiculatus lives about 3–5 years, inhabits arid sandy habitats; common pet known for social behavior and burrowing.
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus lives about 3–4 years, builds lodges and channels in marshes; semiaquatic herbivore useful for wetland ecology.
Monk parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus lives about 10–20 years, nests in colonies on trees and structures; notable for large communal stick nests.
Mountain beaver
Aplodontia rufa lives about 4–10 years, digs extensive burrows and feeds on vegetation; primitive rodent with limited distribution.
Mexican tetra
Astyanax mexicanus lives about 3–5 years, includes surface and cave-dwelling forms; cave populations famous for eye loss and albino traits.
Marbled crayfish
Procambarus virginalis lives about 2–3 years, reproduces by parthenogenesis; all-female, genetically identical populations spread rapidly.
Mexican redknee tarantula
Brachypelma hamorii lives about 8–30 years, dwells in burrows; prized in pet trade for calm nature and striking red knees.
Marsh frog
Pelophylax ridibundus lives about 5–10 years, common in marshes and slow waters; large, loud-calling pond frog.
Mountain chickadee
Poecile gambeli lives about 2–6 years, inhabits pine forests and mountain slopes; small, bold songbird with a distinctive cap.
Mourning dove
Zenaida macroura lives about 1–5 years, common in open habitats; soft cooing calls and quick flight make it familiar to many.
Mediterranean house gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus lives about 5–6 years, clings to walls and lights; nocturnal insect-eater often found in houses.
Mudpuppy
Necturus maculosus lives about 10–15 years, fully aquatic salamander with external gills; retains larval traits into adulthood.
Midwife toad
Alytes obstetricans lives about 5–10 years, males carry eggs on their backs; unique parental care by males.
Manx shearwater
Puffinus puffinus lives about 10–30 years, nests in burrows on islands and migrates long distances; remarkable for night-time colony flights.
Mangrove rivulus
Kryptolebias marmoratus lives about 2–4 years, tolerates brackish, oxygen-poor pools; one of few self-fertilizing vertebrates.
Marbled salamander
Ambystoma opacum lives about 5–10 years, overwinters on land and breeds in fall; striking marbled pattern on dark skin.
Masked booby
Sula dactylatra lives about 10–20 years, nests on remote islands and hunts fish by plunge-diving; conspicuous white seabird with mask.
Marsh tit
Poecile palustris lives about 3–6 years, favors mature woodland with dead wood; small, crested tit with a subdued song.
Mourning cloak
Nymphalis antiopa lives about 0.08–0.5 years, overwinters as adult and feeds on sap; distinctive dark wings with pale border.
Mottled sculpin
Cottus bairdii lives about 2–4 years, benthic fish that hides among stones; important predator of aquatic invertebrates.