Here you’ll find 4 Big animals that start with U that begin with U, organized from “Upland moa” to “Utahraptor”. It covers large species measured by typical adult mass or length, and includes extinct as well as living giants. Use this list as a quick reference for teaching, research notes, or content creation.

Big animals that start with U are large vertebrate species whose common names begin with the letter U. Several are notable in paleontology and conservation, like the extinct Upland moa and the famed Utahraptor.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Primary habitat and Typical lifespan (years).

Common name: This lists the everyday name you see in guides, helping you recognize species quickly across sources.

Scientific name: This shows the Latin binomial so you can confirm the exact species and avoid naming confusion.

Primary habitat: This gives the main biome and geographical region where the species lives in the wild.

Typical lifespan (years): This lists typical wild lifespans in years, helping you compare longevity among large species.

Big animals that start with U

Common nameScientific nameTypical adult sizePrimary habitat
UrialOvis vignei35-80 kg and 1.2-1.5 mmontane grassland — Central and South Asia
UrutuBothrops alternatus1.0-1.6 m (length)tropical forest and grassland — eastern South America
Upland moaMegalapteryx didinus50-100 kg and 1.0-1.3 m tallsubalpine shrubland — South Island, New Zealand (extinct)
UtahraptorUtahraptor ostrommaysi5-7 m and 200-500 kg (est.)Cretaceous floodplain/forest — western North America (fossil)

Descriptions

Urial
A wild sheep with long, curved horns and reddish coat; lives on rugged slopes. Males notable for size and horn displays; wild lifespan ~10–12 years.
Urutu
A large pit viper (commonly called urutu) with potent venom; ambushes prey on forest floor and grasslands. Adults frequently exceed one metre in length.
Upland moa
A flightless, heavy-bodied moa adapted to high-country shrublands; extinct after human arrival. Large, long-lived birds; exact lifespan unknown.
Utahraptor
A large, sickle-clawed dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous; powerful predator known from fossils, extinct for millions of years.
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