Here you’ll find 43 Mammals that start with G, organized from “Galápagos fur seal” to “Guinea pig”. Many entries are rodents, bats, and other small mammals with global or regionally specific distributions. You can use this list for study, classroom activities, species comparison, or quick reference.
Mammals that start with G are species whose common names begin with the letter G. A notable example, the Galápagos fur seal, highlights island endemism and modern conservation challenges.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, habitat, and average size (cm).
Common name: The everyday name you recognize, useful for quick identification and matching species to local or classroom references.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial shows exact species identity, so you can locate authoritative information and avoid naming confusion.
Habitat: Short standardized categories (forest, grassland, marine, desert, freshwater, urban) help you compare ecological contexts quickly.
Average size (cm): The typical adult length in centimeters, given as a midpoint when ranges exist, helps you visualize animal scale.
Mammals that start with G
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average adult length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giant armadillo | Priodontes maximus | grassland | 85 cm |
| Giant anteater | Myrmecophaga tridactyla | grassland | 120 cm |
| Giant panda | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | forest | 135 cm |
| Giant otter | Pteronura brasiliensis | freshwater | 160 cm |
| Giant pangolin | Smutsia gigantea | forest | 150 cm |
| Giant forest hog | Hylochoerus meinertzhageni | forest | 180 cm |
| Gerenuk | Litocranius walleri | grassland | 85 cm |
| Geoffroy’s cat | Leopardus geoffroyi | grassland | 58 cm |
| Geoffroy’s tamarin | Saguinus geoffroyi | forest | 22 cm |
| Goeldi’s marmoset | Callimico goeldii | forest | 22 cm |
| Golden jackal | Canis aureus | grassland | 78 cm |
| Golden lion tamarin | Leontopithecus rosalia | forest | 23 cm |
| Golden snub-nosed monkey | Rhinopithecus roxellana | forest | 65 cm |
| Golden-mantled ground squirrel | Callospermophilus lateralis | montane | 27 cm |
| Golden-crowned sifaka | Propithecus tattersalli | forest | 48 cm |
| Golden-headed lion tamarin | Leontopithecus chrysomelas | forest | 23 cm |
| Golden-bellied capuchin | Sapajus xanthosternos | forest | 35 cm |
| Gray wolf | Canis lupus | forest | 133 cm |
| Gray bat | Myotis grisescens | forest | 7 cm |
| Gray seal | Halichoerus grypus | marine | 190 cm |
| Gray mouse lemur | Microcebus murinus | forest | 12 cm |
| Greater horseshoe bat | Rhinolophus ferrumequinum | forest | 7 cm |
| Greater mouse-eared bat | Myotis myotis | forest | 8 cm |
| Greater glider | Petauroides volans | forest | 42 cm |
| Greater bilby | Macrotis lagotis | desert | 42 cm |
| Greater kudu | Tragelaphus strepsiceros | grassland | 230 cm |
| Galápagos fur seal | Arctocephalus galapagoensis | marine | 135 cm |
| Galápagos sea lion | Zalophus wollebaeki | marine | 200 cm |
| Gambian pouched rat | Cricetomys gambianus | forest | 32 cm |
| Greater grison | Galictis vittata | forest | 53 cm |
| Goliath shrew | Crocidura goliath | forest | 13 cm |
| Groundhog | Marmota monax | grassland | 53 cm |
| Guinea pig | Cavia porcellus | grassland | 23 cm |
| Grant’s golden mole | Eremitalpa granti | desert | 7 cm |
| Gray-headed flying fox | Pteropus poliocephalus | forest | 22 cm |
| Greater galago | Otolemur crassicaudatus | forest | 28 cm |
| Giant treeshrew | Tupaia tana | forest | 28 cm |
| Gaur | Bos gaurus | forest | 280 cm |
| Goitered gazelle | Gazella subgutturosa | desert | 115 cm |
| Grant’s gazelle | Nanger granti | grassland | 150 cm |
| Gray fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | forest | 75 cm |
| Ground pangolin | Smutsia temminckii | grassland | 80 cm |
| Giant golden mole | Chrysospalax trevelyani | forest | 15 cm |
Descriptions
Giant armadillo
Large South American armadillo that digs deep burrows, eats termites and ants, and occurs in forests and savannas; vulnerable to habitat loss.
Giant anteater
Iconic long-snouted insect-eater of Central and South American savannas and forests, using a long tongue to consume ants and termites; threatened in parts of its range.
Giant panda
Black-and-white bear-like mammal from China that eats mostly bamboo; a high-profile conservation success with populations slowly recovering.
Giant otter
Social, large river otter of the Amazon basin that hunts fish in family groups and is vocal and active during the day.
Giant pangolin
Africa’s largest pangolin, a nocturnal, heavily scaled ant-eater threatened by poaching for meat and scales.
Giant forest hog
Largest wild pig in Africa, a shy, nocturnal omnivore of dense forests with impressive size and sparse sightings.
Gerenuk
East African antelope with a long neck that stands on hind legs to browse leaves from tall bushes and trees.
Geoffroy’s cat
Small, spotted wild cat from South America, mainly nocturnal and solitary, found in grasslands and dry forests.
Geoffroy’s tamarin
Tiny Central American monkey living in family groups, foraging for fruit, insects and small vertebrates in tropical forests.
Goeldi’s marmoset
Small South American primate with a short tail, lives in small family groups and feeds on insects, fruit and gums.
Golden jackal
Widespread canid across Eurasia and Africa, adaptable omnivore that uses varied habitats from grasslands to human-altered areas.
Golden lion tamarin
Striking orange-furred small monkey from Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and a conservation success story involving captive breeding and reintroduction.
Golden snub-nosed monkey
Colorful Chinese primate of montane forests, known for its flattened nose and large social groups in cold mountain habitats.
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
North American squirrel of mountain forests and meadows, recognizable by its facial stripe and seed-caching habits.
Golden-crowned sifaka
Rare Madagascan lemur with a golden crown, leaping between trees and endangered due to habitat loss.
Golden-headed lion tamarin
Endangered Brazilian primate with a striking golden mane, lives in small family groups in Atlantic Forest fragments.
Golden-bellied capuchin
Critically endangered Brazilian monkey with a golden belly, known for intelligence, tool use and living in small troops.
Gray wolf
Iconic northern hemisphere predator that lives and hunts in packs across forests, tundra and grasslands; plays a key ecological role.
Gray bat
Cave-roosting insectivorous bat of North America that depends on rivers and forested foraging areas; considered endangered.
Gray seal
Large North Atlantic seal with pronounced sexual dimorphism, breeds on rocky coasts and feeds on fish and squid.
Gray mouse lemur
Tiny nocturnal lemur from Madagascar, highly adaptable and one of the smallest primates, active at night among trees.
Greater horseshoe bat
Old World insectivorous bat with a distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf, roosting in caves and old buildings.
Greater mouse-eared bat
A large Myotis species in Europe that hunts large insects and sometimes small vertebrates, roosts in caves and structures.
Greater glider
Australian gliding marsupial that feeds on eucalyptus leaves, using a membrane to glide between trees at night.
Greater bilby
Nocturnal burrowing marsupial of arid Australia with long ears and a pointed snout, omnivorous and adapted to dry habitats.
Greater kudu
Large African antelope of woodlands and savannas, males bear impressive spiral horns used in displays and defense.
Galápagos fur seal
Small fur seal endemic to the Galápagos Islands, breeds on rocky shores and forages on nearby reefs.
Galápagos sea lion
Endemic sea lion of the Galápagos, social and often bold around humans, forms large colonies on beaches.
Gambian pouched rat
Large African rodent with cheek pouches, used in scent-detection work and common in savanna and forest edges.
Greater grison
Weasel-like carnivore of Central and South America, diurnal and active, preys on small vertebrates and eggs.
Goliath shrew
One of the largest shrews, found in Central African forests, insectivorous and elusive among leaf litter.
Groundhog
Also called the woodchuck, a burrowing marmot that hibernates and is common in North American meadows and fields.
Guinea pig
Domesticated South American rodent kept as pet and livestock; descended from wild cavies of grasslands and savannas.
Grant’s golden mole
Unusual sand-swimming mole of African deserts that hunts invertebrates and “swims” through loose sand using powerful forelimbs.
Gray-headed flying fox
Large fruit bat from southeastern Australia that forms huge roosts, pollinates trees and feeds on nectar and fruit.
Greater galago
Large African bushbaby with big eyes and strong hind legs for nocturnal leaping between branches.
Giant treeshrew
Relatively large treeshrew from Borneo, active diurnal insectivore that lives in the forest canopy and understory.
Gaur
Massive wild cattle of South and Southeast Asia, a powerful browser that inhabits forests and grasslands; the largest wild bovine.
Goitered gazelle
Open-country gazelle of Central Asian plains, adapted to arid and semi-arid environments and seasonal movements.
Grant’s gazelle
East African savanna antelope with curved horns, noted for speed and frequent presence in open grasslands.
Gray fox
Small North American canid that climbs trees, omnivorous and adaptable to woodlands and suburban edges.
Ground pangolin
African ground-dwelling pangolin that forages for ants and termites, rolls into a ball when threatened and is heavily poached.
Giant golden mole
Rare, robust burrowing mammal from South Africa that uses powerful forelimbs to tunnel and is mostly nocturnal.