Here you’ll find 31 Mammals that start with L, organized from “Lar gibbon” to “Lowland streaked tenrec”. They range from tiny tenrecs and rodents to large primates and ungulates, showing global diversity. Use this list for quick reference, classroom projects, or exploring species by initial letter.

[Mammals that start with L] are mammals whose common names begin with the letter L, grouped here for easy browsing. For example, the Lar gibbon is a well-known arboreal primate featured in Southeast Asian culture and conservation stories.

Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, habitat, and average size (cm).

Common name: The familiar name you see in field guides, helping you quickly recognize and search for each species.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial provides precise species identity and helps you find authoritative information across languages.

Habitat: Brief habitat categories tell you where each species lives, helping you narrow geographic and ecological context.

Average size (cm): Approximate adult length in centimeters gives a clear sense of scale for comparison and study.

Mammals that start with L

Common name Scientific name Habitat Average size (cm) Description
Lion Panthera leo grassland 215 Iconic African big cat of savannas; social (prides), sexual dimorphism in mane, vulnerable in parts of its range due to habitat loss and conflict.
Leopard Panthera pardus forest, grassland 128 Adaptable solitary predator found across Africa and Asia; spotted coat and powerful climber that drags prey into trees to avoid scavengers.
Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis forest, grassland 50 Small wild cat across South and East Asia; excellent climber and nocturnal; populations decline locally from habitat loss.
Lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus forest 52 Endemic to India’s Western Ghats; distinctive mane and tail tuft resembling a lion; arboreal and endangered from forest fragmentation.
Long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis forest, urban 48 Widespread Southeast Asian primate often seen near humans; opportunistic omnivore sometimes called the crab-eating macaque.
Llama Lama glama grassland 200 Domesticated South American camelid used for transport and wool; hardy at high altitudes and social in herds.
Lesser kudu Tragelaphus imberbis grassland 160 Antelope of East African woodlands and savanna edges; males have spiral horns and bold striping.
Lechwe Kobus leche grassland 160 Semi-aquatic antelope of African floodplains; long hind legs for wading and fleeing predators.
Lesser mouse-deer Tragulus kanchil forest 40 Tiny deer-like ruminant (also called lesser Malay chevrotain) of Southeast Asian forests; shy and solitary.
Lesser anteater Tamandua tetradactyla forest, grassland 60 South American arboreal anteater with a prehensile tail; feeds on ants and termites using a long tongue.
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros forest, urban 5 Small European bat with horseshoe-shaped noseleaf for echolocation; roosts in buildings and caves.
Little brown bat Myotis lucifugus forest, urban 9 Common North American insectivore; small, agile flyer historically abundant before white-nose syndrome impacts.
Little red flying-fox Pteropus scapulatus forest, urban 20 Australian fruit bat with reddish fur; forms large, noisy roosts and is an important pollinator and seed disperser.
Large flying fox Pteropus vampyrus forest 28 One of the world’s largest bats from Southeast Asia; huge wingspan and crucial pollinator of tropical trees.
Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas marine 550 Social deep-diving cetacean found in temperate oceans; lives in tight-knit pods and feeds on squid and fish.
Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx marine 295 Antarctic predator with powerful jaws; hunts penguins and fish, recognizable by long slender head and spotted coat.
Long-nosed bandicoot Perameles nasuta forest, grassland, urban 30 Australian marsupial with elongated snout used for digging; adaptable, sometimes found in suburban gardens.
Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata forest, grassland 33 Slim, agile predator of the Americas; long tail and seasonal color change in northern populations.
Least weasel Mustela nivalis grassland, forest 18 Smallest carnivore in many regions; bold hunter of small rodents across Eurasia and North America.
Least shrew Cryptotis parva grassland, forest, urban 5 Tiny insectivorous mammal of North America; high metabolism and secretive life in leaf litter and grass.
Lesser grison Galictis cuja forest, grassland 38 Small mustelid of South America; bold, diurnal predator resembling a weasel with distinctive dark-and-light fur.
Lowland anoa Bubalus depressicornis forest 150 Dwarf wild buffalo from Sulawesi’s lowland forests; shy and solitary, classified as endangered.
Long-eared jerboa Euchoreutes naso desert 7 Tiny desert rodent from Central Asia with enormous ears and long hind legs for jumping and nocturnal foraging.
Long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus forest 30 Small Australian marsupial that digs for fungi and tubers; important for spore dispersal in forests.
Lesser long-nosed bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae desert, forest 8 Nectar-feeding bat of the Americas; migratory pollinator of agave and cacti.
Large Indian civet Viverra zibetha forest 75 Nocturnal viverrid across South and Southeast Asia; omnivorous and sometimes hunted for musk glands.
Little pocket mouse Perognathus longimembris grassland, desert 9 Tiny North American rodent with fur-lined cheek pouches; nocturnal seed eater adapted to arid habitats.
Long-haired rat Rattus villosissimus grassland 18 Australian rodent with long fur that irrupts after good rains; burrowing and herbivorous.
Lowland streaked tenrec Hemicentetes semispinosus forest 21 Madagascar insectivore with striped spines used for sound production; nocturnal and endemic to lowland rainforests.
Lar gibbon Hylobates lar forest 54 Southeast Asian lesser ape with long arms for brachiation; monogamous pair bonds and loud songs for territory.
Lesser panda Ailurus fulgens forest 57 Also called the red panda; small arboreal mammal of the Himalayas with reddish fur and bamboo diet.

Descriptions

Lion
Leopard
Leopard cat
Lion-tailed macaque
Long-tailed macaque
Llama
Lesser kudu
Lechwe
Lesser mouse-deer
Lesser anteater
Lesser horseshoe bat
Little brown bat
Little red flying-fox
Large flying fox
Long-finned pilot whale
Leopard seal
Long-nosed bandicoot
Long-tailed weasel
Least weasel
Least shrew
Lesser grison
Lowland anoa
Long-eared jerboa
Long-nosed potoroo
Lesser long-nosed bat
Large Indian civet
Little pocket mouse
Long-haired rat
Lowland streaked tenrec
Lar gibbon
Lesser panda
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