Here you’ll find 24 Zoo animals that start with M, organized from “Macaroni penguin” to “Muskox”. These species are commonly held in zoos and highlight education, conservation, and diverse global habitats.
Zoo animals that start with M are species commonly exhibited in zoos whose everyday names begin with the letter M. Many, like the Macaroni penguin, play roles in public education and species recovery programs.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm, body length or shoulder height).
Common name: The everyday name visitors and students recognize, helping you quickly identify each species during zoo visits or research.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives the species’ formal identity, useful when you check conservation status or scientific references.
Region of origin: Shows the native continent or country so you can understand natural habitat and geographic conservation context.
Typical adult size (cm, body length or shoulder height): Provides average adult size in centimeters and clarifies whether the figure is body length or shoulder height for comparisons.
Zoo animals that start with M
| Name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandrill | Mandrillus sphinx | Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon) | 70–95 cm (length) |
| Meerkat | Suricata suricatta | Southern Africa (Namibia, South Africa) | 25–35 cm (length) |
| Maned wolf | Chrysocyon brachyurus | South America (Brazil) | 100–120 cm (length) |
| Malayan tapir | Tapirus indicus | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand) | 180–250 cm (length) |
| Marabou stork | Leptoptilos crumenifer | Sub-Saharan Africa | 120–150 cm (height) |
| Moluccan cockatoo | Cacatua moluccensis | Indonesia (Moluccas) | 50–55 cm (length) |
| Mountain lion | Puma concolor | Americas (USA to S. America) | 120–200 cm (length) |
| Moose | Alces alces | Northern Hemisphere (Canada, Russia) | 180–210 cm (height) |
| Mountain zebra | Equus zebra | Southern Africa (Namibia, S. Africa) | 120–135 cm (height) |
| Matschie’s tree kangaroo | Dendrolagus matschiei | New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) | 50–70 cm (length) |
| Margay | Leopardus wiedii | Central & South America | 40–75 cm (length) |
| Markhor | Capra falconeri | Central Asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan) | 80–100 cm (height) |
| Mara | Dolichotis patagonum | South America (Argentina) | 45–75 cm (length) |
| Muskox | Ovibos moschatus | Arctic (Canada, Greenland) | 100–140 cm (height) |
| Military macaw | Ara militaris | Central & South America (Mexico to Argentina) | 70–85 cm (length) |
| Mountain tapir | Tapirus pinchaque | Andes (Colombia, Ecuador) | 140–180 cm (length) |
| Monk parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus | South America (Argentina, Brazil) | 28–33 cm (length) |
| Malayan sun bear | Helarctos malayanus | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Borneo) | 100–140 cm (length) |
| Marbled cat | Catopuma marmorata | Southeast Asia (Borneo, Malay Peninsula) | 40–60 cm (length) |
| Muscovy duck | Cairina moschata | Central & South America (Mexico to Amazon) | 60–76 cm (length) |
| Magellanic penguin | Spheniscus magellanicus | South America (Argentina, Chile) | 50–70 cm (height) |
| Macaroni penguin | Eudyptes chrysolophus | Subantarctic islands (Falklands) | 45–60 cm (height) |
| Mexican beaded lizard | Heloderma horridum | Mexico & Guatemala | 50–90 cm (length) |
| Mountain goat | Oreamnos americanus | North America (Rocky Mountains) | 90–120 cm (height) |
Descriptions
Mandrill
A large, colorful primate prized in zoos for its striking face and social groups; males show vivid rump and snout coloration used in displays.
Meerkat
A small, social mongoose famous for upright sentry behavior; exhibits teach visitors about cooperative breeding and predator awareness.
Maned wolf
A long-legged canid with a foxlike appearance kept to highlight South American grassland conservation; notable for its distinctive mane and solitary hunting.
Malayan tapir
A large, odd-toed mammal recognizable by its black-and-white saddle; zoos use them for education on rainforest ecology and endangered species.
Marabou stork
A massive wading bird often seen in zoo aviaries; noted for its bare head and scavenging habits, it helps teach about scavenger roles.
Moluccan cockatoo
A charismatic, loud parrot prized for its personality and training displays; notable for impressive crest and strong vocalizations.
Mountain lion
Also called cougar or puma, this adaptable big cat is shown to explain predator ecology; famous for powerful leaping and large home ranges.
Moose
The largest deer species displayed for their dramatic antlers and seasonal behaviors; notable for deep aquatic feeding and solitary habits.
Mountain zebra
A compact zebra species kept to illustrate African highland ecosystems; recognized by bold striping and cliff-climbing agility.
Matschie’s tree kangaroo
An arboreal kangaroo often in rainforest exhibits; notable for tree-climbing adaptations and conservation-focused breeding programs.
Margay
A small, nocturnal spotted cat exhibited to showcase Neotropical forest predators; remarkable for its agility and ability to climb headfirst down trees.
Markhor
A spiral-horned wild goat kept in some collections for conservation awareness; famed for dramatic corkscrew horns and cliff-dwelling surefootedness.
Mara
A large, rabbit-like rodent often shown in mixed-species exhibits; notable for monogamous pairs and long-legged hopping across Patagonian steppes.
Muskox
A shaggy Arctic grazer exhibited to teach about tundra ecosystems; notable for dense coat and protective circling behavior against predators.
Military macaw
A colorful, social parrot popular in aviaries and flight shows; notable for loud calls and strong beak used to eat hard seeds.
Mountain tapir
A smaller, high-altitude tapir species kept for rainforest and Andean conservation messaging; notable for woolly fur and endangered status.
Monk parakeet
A sociable parrot common in aviaries and education programs; notable for building communal stick nests and adaptable urban habits.
Malayan sun bear
A small bear species shown for tropical forest conservation work; notable for long tongue used to extract insects and honey.
Marbled cat
A secretive, small wild cat displayed to highlight rainforest biodiversity; remarkable for superb climbing skills and marbled coat camouflage.
Muscovy duck
A large duck often in zoo waterfowl collections; notable for bare facial caruncles and domesticated populations derived from wild stock.
Magellanic penguin
A temperate penguin common in aquariums and zoos; notable for extensive migratory behavior and large coastal colonies.
Macaroni penguin
A crested penguin featured in cold-water exhibits; known for bright yellow crest plumes and noisy, social breeding colonies.
Mexican beaded lizard
A venomous lizard often in reptile houses; notable for stout body, beadlike scales, and a rare venom delivery among lizards.
Mountain goat
A sure-footed climber kept in rocky habitat exhibits; famous for long, sharp hooves and high-elevation agility.