Here you’ll find 38 Zoo animals that start with A that begin with A, organized from “Addax” to “Aye-aye”. The list covers mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians commonly kept in accredited zoos for education and conservation.
Zoo animals that start with A are species whose common names begin with the letter A and appear in zoos. Many, like the Addax, are notable conservation cases with captive breeding programs worldwide.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The everyday name you see in zoos and on signage, which helps you recognize animals quickly.
Scientific name: The species’ Latin binomial lets you look up authoritative information and avoid name confusion.
Region of origin: The continent or country where the species naturally occurs, helping you understand its native habitat.
Typical adult size (cm): Average adult length or shoulder height in centimeters, using standard wildlife measurement methods for comparability.
Zoo animals that start with A
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Region of Origin | Typical Adult Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| African elephant | Loxodonta africana | Africa; East & Southern Africa | 300-400 (shoulder height) |
| Asian elephant | Elephas maximus | Asia; South & Southeast Asia | 240-330 (shoulder height) |
| African lion | Panthera leo | Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 140-250 (body length) |
| African wild dog | Lycaon pictus | Africa; Southern & East Africa | 75-110 (body length) |
| African penguin | Spheniscus demersus | Africa; South Africa & Namibia | 60-70 (body length) |
| African rock python | Python sebae | Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 200-400 (total length) |
| African crested porcupine | Hystrix cristata | Africa; North Africa & Sub-Saharan regions | 60-90 (body length) |
| African spurred tortoise | Centrochelys sulcata | Africa; Sahel region | 70-100 (shell length) |
| African buffalo | Syncerus caffer | Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 200-300 (body length) |
| African grey parrot | Psittacus erithacus | Africa; West & Central Africa | 30-33 (body length) |
| African civet | Civettictis civetta | Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 60-100 (body length) |
| African fish eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer | Africa; Sub-Saharan & Nile regions | 180-230 (wingspan) |
| African spoonbill | Platalea alba | Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | 65-85 (body length) |
| Addax | Addax nasomaculatus | Africa; Sahara & Sahel | 140-180 (body length) |
| Aoudad | Ammotragus lervia | North Africa; Sahara foothills | 100-130 (body length) |
| Aye-aye | Daubentonia madagascariensis | Madagascar; eastern forests | 40-50 (body length) |
| Axolotl | Ambystoma mexicanum | North America; central Mexico | 23-30 (total length) |
| American alligator | Alligator mississippiensis | North America; SE USA | 300-450 (total length) |
| American bison | Bison bison | North America; USA & Canada | 200-300 (body length) |
| American flamingo | Phoenicopterus ruber | Americas; Caribbean & South America | 120-145 (height) |
| American kestrel | Falco sparverius | Americas; North & South America | 22-31 (body length) |
| American black bear | Ursus americanus | North America; USA & Canada | 120-200 (body length) |
| Andean condor | Vultur gryphus | South America; Andes | 270-320 (wingspan) |
| Andean bear | Tremarctos ornatus | South America; Andes | 120-180 (body length) |
| Arabian oryx | Oryx leucoryx | Middle East; Arabian Peninsula | 120-200 (body length) |
| Alpine ibex | Capra ibex | Europe; Alps | 120-140 (body length) |
| Alpaca | Vicugna pacos | South America; Andes (domesticated) | 100-140 (body length) |
| Alligator snapping turtle | Macrochelys temminckii | North America; SE USA | 40-100 (shell length) |
| Alpine marmot | Marmota marmota | Europe; Alps & Carpathians | 40-70 (body length) |
| Asian small-clawed otter | Aonyx cinereus | Southeast Asia; freshwater wetlands | 50-80 (body length) |
| Asian black bear | Ursus thibetanus | Asia; Himalaya to SE Asia | 100-150 (body length) |
| American avocet | Recurvirostra americana | North America; western & central regions | 40-45 (body length) |
| Atlantic puffin | Fratercula arctica | North Atlantic; Iceland & UK | 28-32 (body length) |
| Australian pelican | Pelecanus conspicillatus | Australia; coastal & inland waters | 230-340 (wingspan) |
| American badger | Taxidea taxus | North America; USA & Canada | 60-90 (body length) |
| American crocodile | Crocodylus acutus | Americas; tropical Atlantic & Caribbean | 250-400 (total length) |
| Arctic fox | Vulpes lagopus | Arctic regions; circumpolar | 45-90 (body length) |
| American anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | Americas; freshwater wetlands | 80-95 (body length) |
Descriptions
African elephant
Iconic large herbivore, common in savanna exhibits; social, long-lived, herbivorous and a high-profile conservation ambassador.
Asian elephant
Smaller than African elephants, kept in many zoos for education and breeding; socially complex, endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.
African lion
Popular big cat in predator exhibits; prides are social, carnivorous and a key species for talks about ecosystem roles and conservation.
African wild dog
Highly social pack hunter with striking coat patterns; often featured in conservation messaging due to endangered status and complex social behavior.
African penguin
Charismatic penguin species seen in many aquariums; coastal, feeds on fish and threatened by habitat loss and oil pollution.
African rock python
Large constrictor commonly in reptile houses; impressive size, ambush predator that eats mammals and birds.
African crested porcupine
Nocturnal, quill-protected rodent seen in mammal exhibits; herbivorous, interesting for talks about defense and ecology.
African spurred tortoise
Large, hardy tortoise common in zoos and petting areas; grazes on grasses, popular for family education about desert species.
African buffalo
Robust savanna ungulate often in large mixed-species exhibits; powerful herbivore with complex herd dynamics.
African grey parrot
Highly intelligent, vocal parrot frequently on display; excellent for education about cognition and the pet trade threat.
African civet
Nocturnal omnivore with musk glands, seen in small carnivore exhibits; useful for talks on nocturnal adaptations and African ecosystems.
African fish eagle
Striking raptor often in raptor displays; fish-eating, iconic in African riverine habitats.
African spoonbill
Long-legged wading bird found in wetland exhibits; distinctive spoon-shaped bill used for tactile feeding.
Addax
Critically endangered desert antelope kept in conservation breeding programs; adapted to arid life with pale coat and twisted horns.
Aoudad
Also called Barbary sheep, hardy mountain caprid seen in hoofstock collections; browsers adapted to rocky terrain.
Aye-aye
Weird, nocturnal lemur famous for percussive foraging with elongated middle finger; popular in primate and conservation education.
Axolotl
Neotenic salamander common in aquarium and classroom displays; unique regenerative ability and aquatic lifestyle.
American alligator
Common in many zoos and aquariums, familiar to visitors; apex predator of wetlands and central to conservation messaging.
American bison
Large grassland mammal seen in outdoor exhibits; ecological and cultural symbol with successful conservation history.
American flamingo
Striking pink waterbird seen in many collections; filter-feeds on invertebrates and shows social flocking behavior.
American kestrel
Small falcon often in raptor shows; agile aerial hunter, useful for education about birds of prey.
American black bear
Common zoo species, adaptable omnivore; excellent for talks about habitat, diet flexibility, and human-wildlife interactions.
Andean condor
Huge scavenging vulture displayed in aviaries; impressive wingspan and an important ambassador for Andean ecosystems.
Andean bear
Also called spectacled bear, kept in some zoos; primarily herbivorous and important for mountain forest conservation stories.
Arabian oryx
Desert antelope reintroduced successfully into the wild; often in hoofstock exhibits and used as a conservation success story.
Alpine ibex
Mountain-dwelling caprid seen in rockery exhibits; agile climber, good for explaining alpine adaptations.
Alpaca
Domesticated camelid commonly in petting zoos and education programs; gentle grazers used to teach about human-animal relationships.
Alligator snapping turtle
Massive freshwater turtle in many turtle houses; ambush predator with powerful jaws, good for reptile education.
Alpine marmot
Large ground squirrel kept in temperate exhibits; social colonies, hibernates and familiar to visitors for burrowing behavior.
Asian small-clawed otter
Small, social otter often in interactive exhibits; known for dexterous paws and playful behavior.
Asian black bear
Also called the moon bear; featured in many zoos for education about habitat loss and human conflict.
American avocet
Elegant, long-legged shorebird in wetland aviaries; distinctive upturned bill used for sweeping prey.
Atlantic puffin
Colorful seabird popular in aquarium/aviary displays; dives for fish and often used in ocean conservation programs.
Australian pelican
Huge-billed pelican seen in waterbird collections; cooperative fishing behavior and striking bill make it a visitor favorite.
American badger
Solitary, burrowing carnivore featured in some mammal exhibits; strong digger with interesting ecology for children and students.
American crocodile
Large crocodilian kept in many zoos; prefers brackish habitats and highlights differences among crocodile species.
Arctic fox
Small arctic specialist often in cold-climate exhibits; seasonal coat color change and adaptations to extreme cold.
American anhinga
Also called the snakebird, displayed in waterbird collections; dives for fish and dries wings when perched.