This list includes 42 Mammals that start with S, from “Sable” to “Sunda pangolin”. They are mostly terrestrial and range from small rodents to large ungulates, with a few marine and flying species. You can use this list for classroom reference, field identification, and general wildlife study.

Mammals that start with S are species whose common names begin with the letter S. A notable example is the Sunda pangolin, which is culturally important in Southeast Asia and faces severe conservation threats.

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

Common name: The widely used English name for the species, so you can quickly recognize familiar animals.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial helps you confirm the exact species and locate authoritative records and research globally.

Habitat: Brief habitat category shows where the species usually lives, helping you understand its ecological context.

Average size (cm): Mean adult length in centimeters gives you a quick idea of the animal’s physical scale for comparison.

Mammals that start with S

Common name Scientific name Habitat Average adult length (cm) Description
Saiga Saiga tatarica grassland 120 Distinct bulbous nose antelope of Eurasian steppes; migratory, endangered from poaching and habitat loss.
Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis forest 170 Rare, forest-dwelling bovine from Vietnam/Laos; extremely elusive and critically endangered.
Sable Martes zibellina forest 54 Forest marten prized for dark fur; slim, arboreal mustelid across northern Eurasia.
Sable antelope Hippotragus niger grassland 220 Striking black-and-white face and backward-curving horns; African savanna antelope.
Sika deer Cervus nippon forest 120 Spotted or plain-backed deer across East Asia; vocal callers and adaptable to woodlands.
Sitka deer Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis forest 140 Subspecies of black-tailed deer in Pacific Northwest islands; smaller, island-adapted deer.
Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekii wetland 160 Marsh-dwelling African antelope with splayed hooves for swampy habitats.
Sambar deer Rusa unicolor forest 200 Large Asian deer with rugged antlers, inhabits forests from India to Southeast Asia.
Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis grassland 90 Graceful leaping antelope of southern African plains; distinctive facial stripe and springing behavior.
Springhare Pedetes capensis grassland 40 Nocturnal, kangaroo-like African rodent that hops on powerful hind legs.
Snow leopard Panthera uncia alpine 115 Elusive high-altitude big cat with smoky-gray coat and long tail; excellent climber.
Siberian tiger Panthera tigris altaica forest 280 (includes tail) Largest tiger subspecies in Russian Far East; powerful solitary predator.
Serval Leptailurus serval grassland 84 Medium wild cat with long legs and large ears, hunts rodents in tall grass.
Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta grassland 120 Social, vocal scavenger-predator of African savannas with powerful jaws and clans.
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena shrubland, desert 100 Nocturnal scavenger with striped coat across Africa and Asia; shy and solitary.
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus marine 1,600 (includes tail) Deep-diving toothed whale with huge head; feeds on squid worldwide.
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus marine 500 (includes tail) Social oceanic dolphin with bulbous head; forms tight pods, mass-strandings noted.
Southern right whale Eubalaena australis marine 1,400 (includes tail) Large baleen whale with callosities; migratory in southern oceans.
Spotted seal Phoca largha marine 150 Temperate North Pacific seal with spotted coat; uses ice and coastal haul-outs.
Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus marine 300 (includes tail) Large pinniped of North Pacific with pronounced sexual size dimorphism.
Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina marine 400 (includes tail) Largest seal species; massive males haul out on sub-Antarctic beaches.
Sea otter Enhydra lutris marine 118 (includes tail) Marine mustelid that uses tools; kelp-forest specialist and conservation icon.
Short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus forest, grassland 38 Spiny monotreme that digs for ants and termites; egg-laying mammal from Australasia.
Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis shrubland, urban 60 Familiar black-and-white omnivore that defends with a strong-smelling spray.
Southern flying squirrel Glaucomys volans forest 24 Small North American gliding rodent; nocturnal and nests in tree cavities.
Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans forest 30 Eurasian glider found in boreal forests; soft fur and membrane for gliding.
Slender loris Loris tardigradus forest 24 Small, slow-moving nocturnal primate from South Asia with big eyes.
Silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus forest 35 Tiny, arboreal anteater from Central/South America that feeds on ants in trees.
Silky sifaka Propithecus candidus forest 43 Critically endangered white lemur of Madagascar; large leaper with showy fur.
Spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus forest 150 Only South American bear; facial markings resemble spectacles, mostly herbivorous.
Sun bear Helarctos malayanus forest 120 Small tropical bear with short sleek fur and distinctive chest patch.
Southern two-toed sloth Choloepus didactylus forest 60 Slow-moving canopy dweller of South American rainforests; feeds on leaves.
Star-nosed mole Condylura cristata wetland 14 Small North American mole with unique star-shaped snout for tactile foraging.
Southern rock elephant shrew Elephantulus rupestris shrubland 25 Small insectivorous African mammal with long snout and rapid runs.
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba marine 220 (includes tail) Sleek, fast pelagic dolphin with blue-and-white striping, widely distributed.
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis marine 200 Social, energetic dolphin species often seen in large pods offshore.
Sunda pangolin Manis javanica forest 100 Scale-covered insectivore from Southeast Asia; critically endangered due to trafficking.
Sunda colugo Galeopterus variegatus forest 35 Southeast Asian gliding mammal (“flying lemur”) with extensive patagium.
South American sea lion Otaria flavescens marine 220 (includes tail) Coastal pinniped of South America; males have thick necks and vocal displays.
Sooty mangabey Cercocebus atys forest 55 West African monkey, social and terrestrial; hunted in some regions.
Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus forest, grassland 120 Eurasian deer common in mixed forests and grasslands; smaller than red deer.
Somali wild ass Equus africanus somaliensis desert, grassland 220 Critically endangered wild ass subspecies from Horn of Africa; adapted to arid regions

Descriptions

Saiga
Saola
Sable
Sable antelope
Sika deer
Sitka deer
Sitatunga
Sambar deer
Springbok
Springhare
Snow leopard
Siberian tiger
Serval
Spotted hyena
Striped hyena
Sperm whale
Short-finned pilot whale
Southern right whale
Spotted seal
Steller sea lion
Southern elephant seal
Sea otter
Short-beaked echidna
Striped skunk
Southern flying squirrel
Siberian flying squirrel
Slender loris
Silky anteater
Silky sifaka
Spectacled bear
Sun bear
Southern two-toed sloth
Star-nosed mole
Southern rock elephant shrew
Striped dolphin
Short-beaked common dolphin
Sunda pangolin
Sunda colugo
South American sea lion
Sooty mangabey
Siberian roe deer
Somali wild ass
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.