This list includes 19 Big animals that start with T, from “Aldabra Giant Tortoise” to “West Caucasian Tur”. Here, “big” means typical adult mass or length, focusing on large mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Use this list for quick reference, school projects, species comparisons, or inspiration for wildlife content.
Big animals that start with T are large vertebrate species whose adult size makes them locally or globally notable. For example, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise is a cultural icon on its islands and can live over 100 years.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Primary habitat, and Typical wild lifespan (years).
Common name: The everyday species name helps you scan the list quickly and match entries with familiar animals.
Scientific name: You get the formal Latin name that ensures precise identification across languages and regions.
Primary habitat: Shows the main biome and geographic region so you can understand where each species lives in the wild.
Typical wild lifespan (years): Gives approximate adult lifespan in the wild, helping you compare life histories and ecological roles.
Big animals that start with T
| Common name | Scientific name | Typical adult size | Primary habitat (biome + region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger | Panthera tigris | 100-310 kg; up to 3.3 m | Forests, grasslands — Asia |
| Takin | Budorcas taxicolor | 250-400 kg | Alpine forests, rocky slopes — Himalayas & Western China |
| Baird’s Tapir | Tapirus bairdii | 150-400 kg | Tropical rainforests — Central America & northern South America |
| Malayan Tapir | Tapirus indicus | 250-540 kg | Tropical rainforests — Southeast Asia |
| South American Tapir | Tapirus terrestris | 150-320 kg | Rainforests, wetlands — South America |
| Tamaraw | Bubalus mindorensis | 180-300 kg | Forests, grasslands — Mindoro Island, Philippines |
| Topi | Damaliscus lunatus jimela | 100-160 kg | Savanna, floodplains — Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Tiger Shark | Galeocerdo cuvier | 3-6 m long; 385-635 kg | Coastal and oceanic waters — Tropical & temperate seas worldwide |
| Atlantic Bluefin Tuna | Thunnus thynnus | Up to 3 m long; 250-700 kg | Oceanic waters — Atlantic Ocean & Mediterranean Sea |
| Tarpon | Megalops atlanticus | 1.2-2.5 m long; 40-130 kg | Coastal waters, estuaries, rivers — Atlantic Ocean |
| Himalayan Tahr | Hemitragus jemlahicus | 70-140 kg | Mountain slopes — Himalayas |
| West Caucasian Tur | Capra caucasica | 65-100 kg | Alpine meadows — Western Caucasus Mountains |
| East Caucasian Tur | Capra cylindricornis | 60-140 kg | Alpine meadows — Eastern Caucasus Mountains |
| Tsessebe | Damaliscus lunatus lunatus | 120-150 kg | Savanna, grasslands — Southern Africa |
| Galapagos Giant Tortoise | Chelonoidis niger | 150-400 kg | Volcanic islands — Galápagos Islands |
| Aldabra Giant Tortoise | Aldabrachelys gigantea | 150-250 kg | Grasslands, scrub — Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles |
| Thylacine | Thylacinus cynocephalus | Up to 2 m long (with tail) | Woodlands, grasslands — Tasmania (extinct) |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex | Tyrannosaurus rex | Up to 12.3 m long; 5,000-8,000 kg | Forests, river valleys — Western North America (extinct) |
| Titanoboa | Titanoboa cerrejonensis | ~13 m long; ~1,135 kg | Tropical swamps — South America (extinct) |
Descriptions
Tiger
The largest cat species, known for its powerful build and iconic orange coat with dark vertical stripes. A solitary and formidable apex predator.
Takin
A large, muscular goat-antelope with a stocky body and shaggy coat. Sometimes called a “gnu goat,” it is a national animal of Bhutan.
Baird’s Tapir
The largest native land mammal in the Americas, this tapir has a distinctive flexible snout and is an excellent swimmer. It is currently endangered.
Malayan Tapir
Easily identified by its unique black-and-white “saddle” pattern, which provides camouflage. It is the largest of the four tapir species.
South American Tapir
Also known as the Brazilian tapir, it uses its prehensile snout to forage for leaves and fruit. It is a solitary, nocturnal animal.
Tamaraw
A critically endangered dwarf buffalo found only on one island in the Philippines. It is smaller than other wild cattle but powerfully built.
Topi
A highly social and fast-running antelope, recognizable by its reddish-brown coat, dark patches on its legs, and lyre-shaped horns.
Tiger Shark
A large predatory shark known for its dark stripes and an indiscriminate diet. It is a formidable macropredator found in oceans across the globe.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
One of the fastest, largest, and most powerful fish in the sea. This warm-blooded predator is highly prized for sushi, leading to severe overfishing.
Tarpon
A huge, silvery fish famous for its fighting ability and spectacular leaps when hooked. It can gulp air and survive in low-oxygen water.
Himalayan Tahr
A large wild goat with a thick, reddish-brown coat and backward-curving horns. It is well adapted to life on rugged, rocky mountain terrain.
West Caucasian Tur
A mountain-dwelling goat with large, scimitar-shaped horns. They are incredibly agile climbers, living at elevations up to 4,000 meters.
East Caucasian Tur
Similar to its western cousin but with distinctive horns that are rounded and curve backwards. It is a master of navigating steep, treacherous cliffs.
Tsessebe
Considered the fastest antelope in Africa, capable of reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h. It has a glossy, reddish-brown coat and ridged horns.
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
The world’s largest living tortoise, famous for its long lifespan (over 100 years). Different subspecies exist on various islands in the archipelago.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
One of the largest tortoises in the world, with a high-domed carapace. They are one of the longest-living animals on Earth, often exceeding 150 years.
Thylacine
A large carnivorous marsupial declared extinct in 1936. Known as the Tasmanian tiger for its stripes, it had a pouch and an unusually wide gape.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
One of the largest land carnivores of all time. This famous dinosaur possessed a massive skull and powerful jaws with dozens of banana-sized teeth.
Titanoboa
An extinct genus of giant snake that lived 60 million years ago. It is the largest snake ever discovered, preying on crocodiles and giant turtles.