This list includes 33 Mammals that start with W, from “Walrus” to “Woolly opossum.” They range from small arboreal marsupials to large marine mammals and serve educational, conservation, and reference uses.
Mammals that start with W are mammals whose common names begin with the letter W. Many include regionally iconic species, such as the walrus, important in Arctic cultures.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, habitat, and average size (cm).
Common name: The familiar name used in everyday language; you use it to quickly recognize species across regions.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial shows exact species identity, so you can match records and scientific sources.
Habitat: Brief habitat categories tell you where each mammal lives, useful for field studies or classroom comparisons.
Average size (cm): Mean adult length in centimeters gives a quick sense of scale between small and large species.
Mammals that start with W
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Average size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walrus | Odobenus rosmarus | marine | 300 cm |
| Wapiti | Cervus canadensis | grassland; forest | 205 cm |
| Water deer | Hydropotes inermis | freshwater | 68 cm |
| Water opossum | Chironectes minimus | freshwater | 34 cm |
| Waterbuck | Kobus ellipsiprymnus | grassland | 235 cm |
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | forest; grassland | 185 cm |
| White-faced saki | Pithecia pithecia | forest | 40 cm |
| White-faced capuchin | Cebus capucinus | forest | 43 cm |
| White-footed mouse | Peromyscus leucopus | forest | 8 cm |
| White-tailed jackrabbit | Lepus townsendii | grassland | 55 cm |
| White-lipped peccary | Tayassu pecari | forest | 115 cm |
| White-lipped deer | Przewalskium albirostris | grassland | 233 cm |
| White-nosed coati | Nasua narica | forest | 53 cm |
| White-throated woodrat | Neotoma albigula | desert | 25 cm |
| White-eared opossum | Didelphis albiventris | forest | 29 cm |
| White-bellied pangolin | Phataginus tricuspis | forest | 50 cm |
| White-beaked dolphin | Lagenorhynchus albirostris | marine | 240 cm |
| Weddell seal | Leptonychotes weddellii | marine | 300 cm |
| West Indian manatee | Trichechus manatus | freshwater; marine | 325 cm |
| White-tailed mongoose | Ichneumia albicauda | grassland | 55 cm |
| Water buffalo | Bubalus bubalis | grassland; freshwater | 265 cm |
| Wild boar | Sus scrofa | forest; grassland | 160 cm |
| Warthog | Phacochoerus africanus | grassland | 125 cm |
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | forest | 85 cm |
| Woolly opossum | Caluromys philander | forest | 28 cm |
| Woodchuck | Marmota monax | grassland | 53 cm |
| Woodland jumping mouse | Napaeozapus insignis | forest | 12 cm |
| Western gorilla | Gorilla gorilla | forest | 145 cm |
| Western pipistrelle | Parastrellus hesperus | forest; urban | 4 cm |
| Western barred bandicoot | Perameles bougainville | desert | 30 cm |
| Water vole | Arvicola amphibius | freshwater | 25 cm |
| Whiskered bat | Myotis mystacinus | forest | 5 cm |
| Western grey kangaroo | Macropus fuliginosus | grassland | 85 cm |
Descriptions
Walrus
Large Arctic pinniped with tusks and whiskers, found on sea ice and coasts; populations are vulnerable to climate change.
Wapiti
Also called elk, a large deer of North America and Asia, famous for loud bugling and seasonal migrations.
Water deer
Small East Asian deer notable for tusk-like canine teeth and preference for wetlands and riverbanks.
Water opossum
Semi-aquatic opossum from Central and South America that swims and nests near streams.
Waterbuck
Large African antelope always near water, with a shaggy coat and males sporting ridged horns.
White-tailed deer
Widespread North American deer noted for its seasonal tail-flagging and adaptability to human landscapes.
White-faced saki
South American monkey with a striking pale face and strong jaws for seed eating.
White-faced capuchin
Intelligent Central American monkey known for tool use and complex social behavior.
White-footed mouse
Common North American rodent important in ecosystems and as a reservoir for some tick-borne diseases.
White-tailed jackrabbit
Large North American hare with long ears and seasonal coat color changes for camouflage.
White-lipped peccary
Social New World pig found in large herds across tropical America, sensitive to hunting and habitat loss.
White-lipped deer
High-elevation Asian deer with a distinctive pale muzzle; inhabits alpine meadows and steppes.
White-nosed coati
Diurnal raccoon-relative of Central America with a long snout and a curious, social nature.
White-throated woodrat
Southwestern US and Mexico rodent that builds complex stick-and-debris “houses” and stores food.
White-eared opossum
Widespread South American opossum tolerant of disturbed habitats and active at night.
White-bellied pangolin
Arboreal African pangolin with protective scales; heavily poached and of high conservation concern.
White-beaked dolphin
North Atlantic coastal dolphin with a pale beak area and energetic surface behavior.
Weddell seal
Antarctic seal noted for deep diving and hauling out on sea ice; important predator in polar food webs.
West Indian manatee
Slow-moving coastal and riverine herbivore of the Americas, vulnerable to boat strikes and habitat loss.
White-tailed mongoose
Large, long-tailed African mongoose active at night, feeding on small vertebrates and insects.
Water buffalo
Domesticated and wild Asian buffalo used for milk and draft; prefers wetlands and river plains.
Wild boar
Widespread, adaptable suid that can form large populations and is ancestor of domestic pigs.
Warthog
African pig with distinctive facial “warts” and curved tusks, grazing in open savannas.
Wolverine
Solitary, muscular mustelid of northern forests and tundra, known for strength and scavenging ability.
Woolly opossum
Arboreal South American opossum with soft fur and a long prehensile tail.
Woodchuck
Also called groundhog, a burrowing marmot of North America known for hibernation and digging.
Woodland jumping mouse
Nocturnal North American rodent that hops with an elongated tail and nests in leaf litter.
Western gorilla
Large Central African ape, critically endangered, living in family groups and threatened by poaching and disease.
Western pipistrelle
Tiny North American bat that hunts insects near lights and roosts in buildings and trees.
Western barred bandicoot
Small Australian marsupial once widespread, now endangered in much of its original range.
Water vole
Semi-aquatic European rodent living along streams and ditches, important prey for many predators.
Whiskered bat
Small Eurasian insectivorous bat with fine facial whiskers, roosting in buildings and tree crevices.
Western grey kangaroo
Common Australian kangaroo of southern regions, grazing in open woodlands and grasslands.