Here you’ll find 34 Big animals that start with S, organized from “Sable antelope” to “Swordfish”. The list focuses on large vertebrates — mammals, birds, reptiles and fish — judged by adult mass or length. It excludes most invertebrates and is useful for wildlife education, classroom projects, and content creation.

Big animals that start with S are large vertebrate species whose common names begin with the letter “S”. For example, the sable antelope is a cultural symbol in parts of Africa, while swordfish feature in maritime folklore.

Below you’ll find the table with scientific name, primary habitat and typical wild lifespan.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial helps you identify the exact species and avoid regional name confusion in research and citation.

Primary habitat: Shows the main biome and region where the species lives, so you can understand its natural context.

Typical wild lifespan: Gives the average lifespan in the wild, helping you compare longevity across species quickly and simply.

Big animals that start with S

Name Scientific name Primary habitat (biome + region) Typical adult size (mass in kg and/or length in m) and typical wild lifespan (years) Description
Saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus Mangrove/coastal — Indo-Pacific 400–1,000 kg; 3.0–6.0 m; 60–70 years The largest living crocodile, found in mangroves and coastal waters across the Indo-Pacific. Powerful ambush predator; vulnerable in places from hunting and habitat loss.
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus Open ocean — Worldwide (temperate/tropical) 35,000–57,000 kg; 11–20 m; 60–70 years Deep-diving toothed whale famous for its giant head and spermaceti organ. Feeds on squid; historically hunted for oil, still recovering in some regions.
Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina Marine/Subantarctic — Southern Hemisphere 2,200–4,000 kg; 3.6–6.0 m; 20–22 years Massive pinniped breeding on subantarctic islands; males are much larger than females. Major migrations and dramatic breeding beaches.
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis Open ocean — Global temperate/oceanic 20,000–30,000 kg; 12–16 m; 50–70 years Fast-swimming baleen whale found in deep temperate waters. Heavily whaled in the 20th century; populations remain depleted.
Southern right whale Eubalaena australis Coastal/ocean — Southern Hemisphere 40,000–70,000 kg; 13–18 m; 50–70 years Coastal baleen whale with a rotund body and callosities on its head. Recovering from historic whaling; often seen in sheltered bays.
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus Oceanic — Tropical/subtropical oceans 1,000–3,000 kg; 4.0–7.0 m; 45–60 years Social, long-lived dolphin with strong group bonds. Often mass-strands; feeds on squid and fish in warm waters.
Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus Open ocean — Temperate/tropical 60–500 kg; 2.5–4.5 m; 28–35 years Fast, powerful pelagic shark prized by sport fishers. Warm-blooded physiology allows high-speed hunting; vulnerable to overfishing.
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis Coastal/open ocean — Worldwide temperate/tropical 70–110 kg; 1.6–2.7 m; 20–25 years Sleek, fast dolphin forming large pods. Very widespread and often seen bow-riding near ships.
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris Tropical oceans — Indo-Pacific/Atlantic 50–80 kg; 1.5–2.6 m; 20–25 years Known for spectacular aerial spinning behavior. Coastal and offshore populations often rest in sheltered bays by day.
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba Oceanic — Temperate/tropical (Atlantic, Med, Pacific) 70–110 kg; 1.7–2.5 m; 25–30 years Graceful, fast dolphin with distinctive stripes. Sensitive to noise and pollution in busy ocean regions.
Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus Open ocean — Tropical/subtropical 60–100 kg; 2.0–3.4 m; 4–7 years Iconic billfish with a sail-like dorsal fin and extreme speeds. Popular sportfish known for dramatic fights.
Swordfish Xiphias gladius Open ocean — Worldwide temperate/tropical 150–650 kg; 2.5–4.5 m; 9–15 years Large predatory billfish hunting with a long, flat bill. Important commercial species, subject to fishing pressure.
Sunfish Mola mola Oceanic — Temperate/tropical worldwide 250–2,300 kg; 1.8–3.3+ m; 10–20 years Enormous, oddly shaped bony fish often basking near the surface. Feeds on jellyfish and plankton; bycatch threat in fisheries.
Snow leopard Panthera uncia Alpine/rocky — Central Asian mountains 27–55 kg; 0.9–1.3 m (body); 10–15 years Elusive high-elevation big cat with a long tail for balance. Threatened by habitat loss and poaching.
Sloth bear Melursus ursinus Forest/grassland — Indian subcontinent 55–140 kg; 1.4–1.9 m; 20–25 years Insect-eating bear with a shaggy coat and distinctive snout used to slurp insects. Faces habitat loss and conflict with humans.
Sun bear Helarctos malayanus Tropical forest — Southeast Asia 25–65 kg; 1.0–1.4 m; 20–25 years The smallest bear species with a striking chest patch and long tongue for extracting insects. Threatened by deforestation and trade.
Spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus Andean montane forest — South America 60–175 kg; 1.2–1.9 m; 20–25 years The only South American bear, often arboreal and primarily herbivorous. Vulnerable from habitat loss.
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena Arid/grassland — North Africa, Middle East, S Asia 25–55 kg; 0.9–1.3 m; 12–15 years Nocturnal scavenger and predator with a striped coat. Persecuted in some regions but plays an ecological role.
Sable antelope Hippotragus niger Savanna/woodland — Southern & East Africa 120–230 kg; 1.4–2.0 m; 16–20 years Striking antelope with backward-curving horns and dark males. Prefers woodland edges; prized by trophy hunters.
Scimitar-horned oryx Oryx dammah Desert/steppe — Sahel (reintroduced) 120–210 kg; 1.6–2.4 m; 20–25 years Elegant desert antelope extinct in the wild but reintroduced from captive stocks. Adapted to arid conditions.
Saiga antelope Saiga tatarica Steppe/semi-desert — Central Asia 26–50 kg; 1.1–1.4 m; 6–10 years Recognizable by its bulbous nose. Populations have crashed from disease and hunting; conservation is urgent.
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis Savanna — Southern Africa 30–50 kg; 1.0–1.2 m; 10–12 years Graceful antelope famous for pronking leaps. Widespread and resilient in arid savannas.
Sambar deer Rusa unicolor Forest/wetlands — South & Southeast Asia 100–300 kg; 1.6–2.7 m; 12–15 years Large deer of forests and marshes; important prey for big predators like tigers.
Sika deer Cervus nippon Forests — East Asia 40–100 kg; 1.0–1.7 m; 10–14 years Spotted deer species with varying sizes by subspecies. Introduced populations exist outside its native range.
Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis Tropical forest — Annamite Range (Vietnam/Laos) 80–115 kg; 1.6–2.0 m; 8–12 years Extremely rare “Asian unicorn” discovered recently. Critically endangered and rarely seen in the wild.
Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus Coastal/sea — North Pacific 600–1,100 kg; 2.5–3.5 m; 20–30 years The largest otariid, breeding on rocky coasts in the North Pacific. Populations fluctuate with prey availability.
South American tapir Tapirus terrestris Rainforest/riverine — Amazon & South America 150–300 kg; 1.8–2.5 m; 25–30 years Heavy-bodied browser often found near water. Important seed disperser; threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Tropical forest — Sumatra & Borneo 500–950 kg; 2.0–3.0 m; 30–45 years Smallest living rhino species, critically endangered and fragmented in small forest populations.
Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta Savanna/woodland — Sub-Saharan Africa 40–86 kg; 1.2–1.6 m; 20–25 years Highly social and intelligent predator-scavenger with powerful jaws. Plays a key ecological role in African ecosystems.
Southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius Tropical forest — New Guinea & NE Australia 45–85 kg; 1.5–1.9 m; 40–60 years Large, flightless bird with a colorful casque and powerful legs. Important seed disperser, dangerous when threatened.
Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii Freshwater/rivers — Siberia & Central Asia 50–200 kg; 1.5–3.0 m; 40–60 years Large riverine fish valued for caviar. Overfishing and habitat changes have reduced wild stocks.
Salmon shark Lamna ditropis Open ocean — North Pacific 60–220 kg; 1.5–3.0 m; 30–35 years Robust, warm-bodied shark linked to cold, productive waters. Important apex predator of North Pacific ecosystems.
Striped marlin Kajikia audax Open ocean — Indo-Pacific & Eastern Pacific 60–200 kg; 2.5–3.7 m; 5–10 years Powerful billfish sought by sport anglers. Migratory predator of tropical and subtropical seas.
South American sea lion Otaria flavescens Coastal/rocky shores — South America 150–300 kg; 2.0–2.5 m; 20–25 years Gregarious pinniped of South American coasts, forming large colonies and showing sexual size dimorphism.

Descriptions

Saltwater crocodile
Sperm whale
Southern elephant seal
Sei whale
Southern right whale
Short-finned pilot whale
Shortfin mako
Short-beaked common dolphin
Spinner dolphin
Striped dolphin
Sailfish
Swordfish
Sunfish
Snow leopard
Sloth bear
Sun bear
Spectacled bear
Striped hyena
Sable antelope
Scimitar-horned oryx
Saiga antelope
Springbok
Sambar deer
Sika deer
Saola
Steller sea lion
South American tapir
Sumatran rhinoceros
Spotted hyena
Southern cassowary
Siberian sturgeon
Salmon shark
Striped marlin
South American sea lion
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