This list includes 19 Big animals that start with W, from “Walrus” to “Wildebeest (blue)”. For this list, “big” refers to species whose adults typically reach substantial body mass or length compared with related species. These entries focus on large mammals and marine giants known for significant size and distinctive habits. Use it as a quick reference for learning, teaching, or wildlife content creation.
Big animals that start with W are large wild species whose adult size exceeds common small- to medium-sized relatives. Many feature in folklore and conservation stories; the walrus once fascinated Arctic hunters and naturalists.
Below you’ll find the table with scientific name, primary habitat and typical wild lifespan.
Scientific name: Gives the Latin name so you can confirm species identity and find authoritative information quickly.
Primary habitat: Describe the biome and region where the animal lives, so you can understand its natural range.
Typical wild lifespan: Shows average adult years in the wild, helping you compare longevity across species and plan educational timelines or content.
Big animals that start with W
| Name | Scientific name | Typical adult size (weight or length) | Primary habitat (biome + region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walrus | Odobenus rosmarus | 800–1,700 kg | Arctic coasts — Arctic (Circumpolar) |
| White rhinoceros | Ceratotherium simum | 1,500–2,300 kg | Savanna — Southern & East Africa |
| Wild water buffalo | Bubalus arnee | 700–1,200 kg | Floodplain wetlands — South & Southeast Asia |
| Wildebeest (blue) | Connochaetes taurinus | 150–270 kg | Savanna — East & Southern Africa |
| Whale shark | Rhincodon typus | 8.0–12.0 m (length) | Tropical & warm temperate seas — Global (tropical oceans) |
| West Indian manatee | Trichechus manatus | 400–590 kg | Coastal and estuarine — Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Central America |
| West African manatee | Trichechus senegalensis | 250–400 kg | Rivers & estuaries — West & Central Africa |
| Western gorilla | Gorilla gorilla | 140–200 kg | Tropical rainforest — Central Africa |
| Wapiti (Elk) | Cervus canadensis | 200–500 kg | Forests & grasslands — North America & parts of Asia |
| Wild yak | Bos mutus | 500–1,000 kg | Alpine steppe — Tibetan Plateau & Himalayas |
| Wels catfish | Silurus glanis | 2.0–3.0 m (length) | Freshwater rivers & lakes — Europe & Western Asia |
| White sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | 3.0–6.0 m (length) | Large rivers & estuaries — Pacific coast of North America |
| Wandering albatross | Diomedea exulans | 3.0–3.5 m (wingspan) | Open ocean — Southern Ocean |
| Waved albatross | Phoebastria irrorata | 2.0–2.5 m (wingspan) | Marine islands & ocean — Galápagos region |
| Wedge-tailed eagle | Aquila audax | 2.0–2.84 m (wingspan) | Open woodlands & grasslands — Australia |
| Whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | 2.0–2.4 m (wingspan) | Wetlands & lakes — Eurasia |
| Whooping crane | Grus americana | 2.0–2.3 m (wingspan) | Wetlands & marshes — North America |
| White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | 1.9–2.45 m (wingspan) | Coastal cliffs & wetlands — Europe & Asia |
| White whale (Beluga) | Delphinapterus leucas | 3.0–5.5 m (length) | Arctic & sub-Arctic seas — Circumpolar Arctic |