This list includes 33 Small animals that start with T, from “Tawny frogmouth” to “Turquoise killifish”. They are generally species under about 5 kg, often kept as pets or studied in classrooms. Expect a mix of common pets, widespread wild species, and specialist freshwater or forest dwellers.
Small animals that start with T are small vertebrate and invertebrate species whose common names begin with the letter T. A notable example, the tawny frogmouth, is often mistaken for an owl and appears in Australian folklore.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Typical lifespan.
Common name: The everyday name you search for, so you can quickly find familiar species and pet-care pages.
Scientific name: The binomial Latin name lets you confirm exact species and find detailed biological information across sources.
Habitat: Short habitat phrase tells you where the animal lives, helping you understand care needs and ecological context.
Typical lifespan: Average adult lifespan range gives you expectations for pet care, study planning, or species comparisons.
Small animals that start with T
| Common name | Scientific name | Typical adult mass | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuatara | Sphenodon punctatus | 800 g | 60-100 years |
| Tiger salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | 200 g | 10-15 years |
| Tokay gecko | Gekko gecko | 80 g | 7-10 years |
| Tree swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | 20 g | 2-4 years |
| Tufted titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | 21 g | 2-5 years |
| Thorny devil | Moloch horridus | 100 g | 15-20 years |
| Texas brown tarantula | Aphonopelma hentzi | 25 g | 15-25 years |
| Tiger barb | Puntigrus tetrazona | 15 g | 5-7 years |
| Ten-lined June beetle | Polyphylla decemlineata | 8 g | 1-2 years |
| Three-spined stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus | 5 g | 1-3 years |
| Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | 1.50 kg | 10-20 years |
| Timber rattlesnake | Crotalus horridus | 1.00 kg | 10-20 years |
| Townsend’s vole | Microtus townsendii | 40 g | 1-3 years |
| Tennessee cave salamander | Gyrinophilus palleucus | 15 g | 10-15 years |
| Tiger snake | Notechis scutatus | 1.20 kg | 10-15 years |
| Texas toad | Anaxyrus speciosus | 40 g | 2-5 years |
| Tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | 850 g | 5-10 years |
| Tawny frogmouth | Podargus strigoides | 400 g | 10-20 years |
| Tri-colored bat | Perimyotis subflavus | 7 g | 4-10 years |
| Townsend’s big-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | 9 g | 10-20 years |
| Tiger shrimp | Penaeus monodon | 30 g | 1-2 years |
| Tungara frog | Engystomops pustulosus | 4 g | 1-2 years |
| Townsend’s warbler | Setophaga townsendi | 8 g | 2-5 years |
| Tomtit | Petroica macrocephala | 10 g | 2-6 years |
| Tawny pipit | Anthus campestris | 35 g | 2-5 years |
| Tomato frog | Dyscophus antongilii | 200 g | 5-10 years |
| Turquoise killifish | Nothobranchius furzeri | 1 g | 3-12 months |
| Tibetan ground-tit | Pseudopodoces humilis | 80 g | 5-10 years |
| Three-toed woodpecker | Picoides tridactylus | 100 g | 3-7 years |
| Tawny owl | Strix aluco | 500 g | 3-12 years |
| Tiger beetle (six-spotted) | Cicindela sexguttata | 2 g | 1-3 years |
| Tropical house gecko | Hemidactylus mabouia | 12 g | 5-10 years |
| Tidepool sculpin | Oligocottus maculosus | 20 g | 3-5 years |
Descriptions
Tuatara
Rare reptile from New Zealand forests and coastal areas; a “living fossil” with very slow growth and extraordinary longevity.
Tiger salamander
North American woodland and wetland salamander; common in pet trade, notable for striking tiger-like blotches and terrestrial/larval life stages.
Tokay gecko
Nocturnal arboreal lizard from Southeast Asia forests; common but aggressive pet gecko with a loud, distinctive call.
Tree swallow
Open-country and wetland bird of North America; cavity nester, migratory, and popular with birdwatchers for its iridescent blue back.
Tufted titmouse
Woodland and suburban bird of eastern North America; common backyard visitor, recognizable by its crest and curious behavior.
Thorny devil
Small spiny lizard of Australian deserts; collects water through skin channels and feeds on ants.
Texas brown tarantula
Ground-dwelling spider of the southern U.S.; popular pet tarantula, females live decades while males have shorter lifespans.
Tiger barb
Small, colorful freshwater aquarium fish from Southeast Asia; schooling species known for bold black vertical stripes.
Ten-lined June beetle
Nocturnal beetle of western North America; adults attracted to lights, larvae feed on roots for multiple seasons.
Three-spined stickleback
Small coastal and freshwater fish across northern hemispheres; famous for elaborate mating displays and adaptability to varied habitats.
Turkey vulture
Widespread scavenging bird of the Americas; soars on thermals and has excellent scent detection.
Timber rattlesnake
Venomous pit viper of eastern North American forests; heavy-bodied, secretive, and important predator in woodland ecosystems.
Townsend’s vole
Grassland and wet-meadow rodent of the Pacific Northwest; common prey species with rapid breeding cycles.
Tennessee cave salamander
Cave-dwelling salamander of the southeastern U.S.; obligate subterranean habitat and endangered in parts of its range.
Tiger snake
Highly venomous Australian snake found in wetlands and coastal areas; variable banding and strong swimmer.
Texas toad
Arid-land toad of Texas and northern Mexico; adaptable to disturbed habitats and notable for loud, trumpet-like mating calls.
Tufted duck
Diving duck of Eurasian lakes and ponds; males have a distinctive tuft and striking black-and-white plumage.
Tawny frogmouth
Nocturnal, camouflaged bird of Australian woodlands; often mistaken for owls but part of a different family.
Tri-colored bat
Small insectivorous bat of North American forests; named for tri-colored fur and vulnerable to white-nose syndrome.
Townsend’s big-eared bat
Cave- and building-roosting bat of western North America; large ears and slow, maneuverable flight.
Tiger shrimp
Large penaeid shrimp from the Indo-Pacific; important in aquaculture and fisheries, farmed as a food species.
Tungara frog
Small tropical frog of Central and South American lowland forests; males make complex calls and are model study species in sexual selection.
Townsend’s warbler
Coniferous-forest songbird of western North America; bright facial pattern and migratory behavior.
Tomtit
Small insectivorous bird of New Zealand forests; lively and often found near people, several subspecies vary in plumage.
Tawny pipit
Open-country passerine of Europe, Asia and Africa; ground-nesting and known for undulating flight displays.
Tomato frog
Bright red frog from Madagascar rainforests; popular in the pet trade and secretes sticky toxins when stressed.
Turquoise killifish
Small annual fish from African seasonal pools; extremely short wild lifespan, used in aging research and popular in nano-aquaria.
Tibetan ground-tit
Open plateau bird of the Tibetan Plateau; ground-dwelling, feeds on insects and seeds in high-altitude grasslands.
Three-toed woodpecker
Boreal forest woodpecker across northern regions; specialized on bark beetle prey and nests in dead trees.
Tawny owl
Medium woodland owl across Europe and parts of Asia; secretive, nocturnal, and common in mixed woodlands and parks.
Tiger beetle (six-spotted)
Fast-running predatory beetle of North American woodlands and paths; metallic green and a favorite for naturalists.
Tropical house gecko
Small nocturnal gecko from tropical regions, now widespread in buildings; common house-dwelling lizard and harmless to people.
Tidepool sculpin
Small intertidal fish of Pacific North American rocky shores; well adapted to tides and often spotted in tidepools.