Here you’ll find 6 Big animals that start with Z that begin with Z, organized from “Grevy’s zebra” to “Zebu”. They include large mammals and megafauna you can use for comparison, education, or quick wildlife reference.

Big animals that start with Z are large vertebrate species whose common names begin with the letter Z. A notable example is the Grevy’s zebra, well known for its narrow stripes and cultural ties to East African communities.

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

Scientific name: Shows the species’ Latin name so you can confirm identification and search for more precise biological information.

Primary habitat: Describes the main biome and region where the animal lives, helping you understand its ecological context and distribution.

Typical wild lifespan (years): Gives an approximate adult lifespan in the wild, letting you compare longevity between species at a glance.

Big animals that start with Z

NameScientific nameTypical adult mass (kg)Primary habitat (biome + region)
Plains zebraEquus quagga350Savanna — East & Southern Africa
Grevy’s zebraEquus grevyi450Semi-arid grassland — Kenya & Ethiopia
Mountain zebraEquus zebra250Montane grassland — Southern Africa
ZebuBos indicus400Pasture/domestic — South Asia & worldwide
Zebra sharkStegostoma fasciatum80Coral reefs & lagoons — Indo-Pacific
Zebra morayGymnomuraena zebraCoral reefs — Indo-Pacific

Descriptions

Plains zebra
Black-and-white horse relative, adults about 2–2.5 m long and ~350 kg; grazes in large herds across African savannas, famous for stripe patterns and migratory herding behavior.
Grevy’s zebra
Largest zebra species, adults up to ~2.5 m and ~450 kg; favors arid scrub and grassland, stallions hold territories and individuals rely on sparse water sources.
Mountain zebra
Stocky zebra of rocky, mountainous grasslands, adults around 2.1 m and ~250 kg; forms small family groups and is adapted to steep terrain.
Zebu
Humped domestic cattle breed, adults typically ~400 kg; adapted to hot, tropical climates, kept for meat, milk and draft work across Asia and beyond.
Zebra shark
Spotted, banded shark reaching 2–3 m (adults commonly >1.5 m); a bottom-dweller that eats mollusks and crustaceans around reefs and sandy flats.
Zebra moray
Banded moray eel known for bold black-and-white stripes, can reach ~2 m (adults often ≥1.5 m); slow reef predator that hunts crustaceans and hides in crevices.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.