This list includes 15 Small animals that start with U, from “Uaru” to “Utah prairie dog”. These species are typically small (under about 5 kg), and include fish, rodents, small birds, reptiles, and amphibians. You can use this list for pet selection, classroom reference, or quick field identification.

Small animals that start with U are common pet, aquarium, or wild species whose everyday names begin with the letter U. For example, the Uaru is popular in aquaria, and the Utah prairie dog is a notable conservation species.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Lifespan, and Typical adult mass.

Common name: The everyday name you recognize, useful for quick scanning and matching animals to what you already know.

Scientific name: The binomial name lets you find precise species information and compare details across sources.

Habitat: A concise phrase about where the animal lives in the wild or in captive care, useful for context.

Lifespan: Typical adult lifespan or range, so you can judge long-term care needs or ecological longevity.

Typical adult mass: Average adult weight gives a practical sense of size and suitability for pets or study.

Small animals that start with U

NameScientific nameHabitatLifespan
Umbrella cockatooCacatua albaLowland forests and plantations40–60 years
Ulysses butterflyPapilio ulyssesTropical forests and gardens0.04–0.08 years
Uinta chipmunkNeotamias umbrinusMontane forests and rocky slopes3–5 years
Uinta ground squirrelUrocitellus armatusAlpine meadows and sagebrush steppe3–6 years
Utah prairie dogCynomys parvidensHigh desert grasslands3–8 years
Upland sandpiperBartramia longicaudaGrasslands and prairies2–6 years
Upland buzzardButeo hemilasiusOpen steppe and grasslands8–12 years
Upside-down jellyfishCassiopea xamachanaShallow mangroves and lagoons1–2 years
Ural field mouseApodemus uralensisForest edges and fields1–2 years
Upland gooseChloephaga pictaGrasslands and coastal islands10–15 years
Unicolored jayAphelocoma unicolorMontane pine-oak forests4–8 years
Ural owlStrix uralensisBoreal and temperate forests6–10 years
UaruUaru amphiacanthoidesAmazonian slow-moving rivers and floodplains8–12 years
Ultramarine lorikeetVini ultramarinaTropical island forests and scrub10–15 years
Unicolored antshrikeThamnophilus unicolorTropical lowland forest understory4–7 years

Descriptions

Umbrella cockatoo
A popular, white-crested parrot known for its dramatic umbrella-like crest and playful, social personality; common in aviculture.
Ulysses butterfly
A striking electric-blue swallowtail from Australia and New Guinea; adults live only a few weeks but are memorable pollinators and garden favorites.
Uinta chipmunk
A small, stripy ground squirrel of the Rockies; active forager and seed hoarder, often seen around alpine trails.
Uinta ground squirrel
Diurnal burrowing rodent of western North America that hibernates and forms colonies in open, high-elevation habitats.
Utah prairie dog
A social, burrowing rodent native to Utah; lives in colonies and plays a key role in prairie ecosystems, but is conservation-listed.
Upland sandpiper
A long-legged shorebird of inland grasslands with a distinctive whistling flight call; migratory and insect-eating.
Upland buzzard
A large but relatively light raptor of Central Asian steppes; hunts rodents and is commonly seen hovering over open terrain.
Upside-down jellyfish
A curious jellyfish that rests bell-down on the seafloor, hosting symbiotic algae and often seen in tropical aquaria.
Ural field mouse
A small, widespread Eurasian rodent that eats seeds and insects; common in hedgerows and farmland margins.
Upland goose
A stocky, ground-dwelling goose of southern South America with striking plumage; grazes pastures and nests on islands.
Unicolored jay
A glossy, slate-blue jay found in highland forests of Mexico and Central America; curious and often seen in family groups.
Ural owl
A medium-large, fluffy owl with a round face; hunts rodents in mature forest and is relatively secretive.
Uaru
A peaceful, laterally compressed cichlid popular in aquaria; feeds on vegetation and small invertebrates in flooded forests.
Ultramarine lorikeet
A vibrant blue lorikeet from Pacific islands; feeds on nectar and fruit and is prized but threatened by habitat loss.
Unicolored antshrike
A small, insect-eating passerine with plain plumage; often secretive in dense understory and common in parts of Amazonia.
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