This list includes 38 Zoo animals that start with R, from “Raccoon” to “Rüppell’s vulture”. They are mostly mammals and birds kept in zoos for education, conservation, and public engagement.
Zoo animals that start with R are species whose common names begin with R and that appear in zoo collections. For example, the raccoon is well known for its adaptability and frequent appearances in North American folklore.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm, measurement method).
Common name: The everyday name you recognize, useful for signs, searches, and talking with visitors.
Scientific name: The binomial name lets you find precise species information and cross-reference conservation records.
Region of origin: Lists continents or countries where the species naturally occurs, helping you understand habitat context.
Typical adult size (cm): Gives average adult length or height in centimeters, and notes the measurement method.
Zoo animals that start with R
| Name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | North America — USA, Canada | 40 cm (head–body length) | Omnivorous, adaptable mammal often used in education programs; notable for masked face and dexterous forepaws in small mammal exhibits. |
| Raccoon dog | Nyctereutes procyonoides | Asia — Eastern China, Japan | 60 cm (head–body length) | Fox-like canid with raccoon-like face; kept in some zoos for education and conservation of East Asian fauna. |
| Red-eyed tree frog | Agalychnis callidryas | Central America — Costa Rica, Panama | 6 cm (snout–vent length) | Bright green frog with red eyes and adhesive toe pads, popular in rainforest vivaria and amphibian displays. |
| Red panda | Ailurus fulgens | Asia — China, Nepal, Bhutan | 60 cm (head–body length) | Small, arboreal mammal prized for striking reddish fur and long tail; conservation flagship in many zoos. |
| Red kangaroo | Osphranter rufus | Australia — central Australia | 150 cm (shoulder height) | Iconic large marsupial known for powerful hind legs and bounding gait; common in Australian mammal exhibits. |
| Ring-tailed lemur | Lemur catta | Africa — Madagascar | 40 cm (head–body length) | Social, charismatic primate with distinctive ringed tail; a visitor favorite in primate and Madagascar-focused exhibits. |
| Rock hyrax | Procavia capensis | Africa — sub‑Saharan Africa | 50 cm (head–body length) | Small, rock-dwelling mammal often displayed on artificial ledges; surprising evolutionary ties to elephants and manatees. |
| Red fox | Vulpes vulpes | Holarctic — Europe, North America | 60 cm (head–body length) | Widespread, adaptable predator featured in education programs about urban wildlife and carnivore ecology. |
| Red ruffed lemur | Varecia rubra | Africa — Madagascar (Masoala) | 55 cm (head–body length) | Striking red-furred lemur from Madagascar; important for rainforest conservation exhibits and breeding programs. |
| Red-tailed hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | North America — USA, Canada | 120 cm (wingspan) | Common raptor frequently used in flight demonstrations and educational programs; known for reddish tail and broad wings. |
| Red-crowned crane | Grus japonensis | Asia — Japan, Russia, China | 220 cm (wingspan) | Large, elegant crane species and cultural symbol; kept for conservation breeding and wetland exhibits. |
| Red-bellied piranha | Pygocentrus nattereri | South America — Amazon basin | 30 cm (total length) | Freshwater fish famous for sharp teeth and schooling behavior; displayed in aquarium exhibits focused on Amazonian wildlife. |
| Red-handed tamarin | Saguinus midas | South America — northeastern Brazil, Guyana | 25 cm (head–body length) | Small, colorful tamarin kept in primate houses and educational displays about New World primates. |
| Red-necked wallaby | Notamacropus rufogriseus | Australia — eastern Australia | 70 cm (head–body length) | Medium-sized macropod often seen in walk-through or petting-area exhibits; common in Australasian collections. |
| Red deer | Cervus elaphus | Eurasia — Europe, parts of Asia | 120 cm (shoulder height) | Large, iconic deer species kept in park-like enclosures and conservation herds; notable antlers in males. |
| Red wolf | Canis rufus | North America — southeastern USA | 100 cm (head–body length) | Critically endangered canid central to captive-breeding and reintroduction programs in accredited zoos. |
| Red-footed tortoise | Chelonoidis carbonarius | South America — Amazon and Guiana Shield | 35 cm (carapace length) | Colorful, medium-sized tortoise commonly shown in rainforest and reptile displays and used in conservation education. |
| Ringed seal | Pusa hispida | Arctic — circumpolar Arctic | 140 cm (total length) | Small Arctic pinniped found in cold-water exhibits and marine mammal programs focused on polar species. |
| Rainbow lorikeet | Trichoglossus moluccanus | Australasia — eastern Australia | 30 cm (total length) | Vibrant, nectar-feeding parrot popular in aviaries and interactive feeding sessions. |
| Red-eared slider | Trachemys scripta elegans | North America — southern USA | 30 cm (carapace length) | Familiar pond turtle seen in education displays; also highlighted as an invasive species in many regions. |
| Rufous hare-wallaby | Lagorchestes hirsutus | Australia — central Australia | 35 cm (head–body length) | Small, nocturnal macropod involved in Australian reintroduction and captive-breeding programs. |
| Roseate spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | Americas — southeastern USA to Brazil | 120 cm (wingspan) | Pink, spatulate-billed wader displayed in wetland aviaries and conservation talks about coastal birds. |
| Ruddy shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | Eurasia — Central Asia, India | 60 cm (total length) | Distinctive orange waterfowl often kept in waterfowl collections and mixed-duck exhibits. |
| Red-legged pademelon | Thylogale stigmatica | Australia — northeastern Australia | 40 cm (head–body length) | Small rainforest wallaby displayed in Australasian exhibits; valued for education about marsupial diversity. |
| Red-breasted goose | Branta ruficollis | Eurasia — Arctic Russia wintering in Europe | 45 cm (total length) | Striking small goose kept in waterfowl collections; subject of conservation concern. |
| Reindeer | Rangifer tarandus | Eurasia/North America — circumpolar regions | 110 cm (shoulder height) | Well-known Arctic ungulate featured in northern-themed exhibits and seasonal displays; domesticated and wild forms kept. |
| Roan antelope | Hippotragus equinus | Africa — West and Central Africa | 140 cm (shoulder height) | Large, powerful African antelope common in savanna enclosures and mixed ungulate exhibits. |
| Rose-ringed parakeet | Psittacula krameri | Africa, Asia — India and parts of Africa | 40 cm (total length) | Long-tailed, green parakeet frequent in aviaries and urban-wildlife education; adaptable species. |
| Rock dove | Columba livia | Eurasia — native to Europe/Asia | 32 cm (total length) | Wild ancestor of domestic pigeons; sometimes part of historic or urban wildlife displays. |
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | North America — southwestern USA, Mexico | 40 cm (head–body length) | Agile, nocturnal small carnivore kept in small-mammal houses; notable bushy, ringed tail. |
| Roe deer | Capreolus capreolus | Eurasia — Europe | 70 cm (shoulder height) | Small deer species exhibited in park-style enclosures and used for education about European mammals. |
| Reeves’s muntjac | Muntiacus reevesi | Asia — China, Taiwan | 70 cm (shoulder height) | Small barking deer kept in many hoofstock collections and forest mammal displays. |
| Rhesus macaque | Macaca mulatta | Asia — India, Southeast Asia | 55 cm (head–body length) | Widely exhibited primate known for intelligence and adaptability; used in behavior and enrichment programs. |
| Rüppell’s vulture | Gyps rueppelli | Africa — Sahel to East Africa | 220 cm (wingspan) | Large scavenger central to vulture conservation exhibits and educational campaigns about ecosystem services. |
| Rusty-spotted cat | Prionailurus rubiginosus | Asia — India, Sri Lanka | 35 cm (head–body length) | One of the world’s smallest wild cats, featured in small-cat conservation and nocturnal mammal displays. |
| Ribbon seal | Histriophoca fasciata | Arctic — Bering Sea, North Pacific | 150 cm (total length) | Boldly patterned Arctic seal occasionally held in cold-water collections and highlighted in polar programs. |
| Red-legged seriema | Cariama cristata | South America — Brazil, Argentina | 70 cm (total length) | Long-legged, terrestrial bird kept in South American aviaries; known for loud, trumpet-like calls. |
| Rodrigues fruit bat | Pteropus rodricensis | Africa — Rodrigues Island (Mauritius) | 25 cm (head–body length) | Endangered flying fox featured in bat houses and island-species conservation exhibits. |
Descriptions
Raccoon
Raccoon dog
Red-eyed tree frog
Red panda
Red kangaroo
Ring-tailed lemur
Rock hyrax
Red fox
Red ruffed lemur
Red-tailed hawk
Red-crowned crane
Red-bellied piranha
Red-handed tamarin
Red-necked wallaby
Red deer
Red wolf
Red-footed tortoise
Ringed seal
Rainbow lorikeet
Red-eared slider
Rufous hare-wallaby
Roseate spoonbill
Ruddy shelduck
Red-legged pademelon
Red-breasted goose
Reindeer
Roan antelope
Rose-ringed parakeet
Rock dove
Ringtail
Roe deer
Reeves’s muntjac
Rhesus macaque
Rüppell’s vulture
Rusty-spotted cat
Ribbon seal
Red-legged seriema
Rodrigues fruit bat