This list includes 19 Zoo animals that start with I, from “Iberian lynx” to “Ivory gull”. These species range from small seabirds to mid-sized mammals, and many appear in zoo conservation, education, and public display programs.
Zoo animals that start with I are species whose common names begin with the letter I. The Iberian lynx is a notable example, used widely in conservation stories after reintroduction successes.
Below you’ll find the table with common name, scientific name, region of origin, and typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The familiar name used at zoos and in guides so you can recognize and label species quickly.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives exact species identity so you can find precise information without confusion.
Region of origin: The continent or country where the species naturally occurs, helping you understand habitat and conservation context.
Typical adult size (cm): Average adult size in centimeters, measured as body length or shoulder height to help you compare exhibit space needs.
Zoo animals that start with I
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Region of Origin | Typical adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iberian lynx | Lynx pardinus | Europe; Spain, Portugal | 90 (length) | A critically endangered medium-sized cat native to Iberian woodlands, famous for tufted ears and spotted coat; a major zoo conservation success story with captive breeding programs. |
| Indian rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis | Asia; India, Nepal, Bhutan | 180 (shoulder height) | A single-horned, armored-skinned rhino often seen in large mammal exhibits; big, impressive, and a conservation priority in Asian zoo programs. |
| Indian peafowl | Pavo cristatus | Asia; India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka | 220 (length, including train) | The iconic peacock with iridescent plumage and long train, commonly free-ranging or exhibited at zoos for education and cultural interest. |
| Indian star tortoise | Geochelone elegans | Asia; India, Sri Lanka | 25 (carapace length) | A small, attractively patterned tortoise often kept in reptile collections and used in education about wildlife trade and habitat loss. |
| Indian cobra | Naja naja | Asia; Indian subcontinent | 150 (length) | A highly recognizable hooded snake frequently displayed in reptile houses for venomous snake education and conservation outreach. |
| Inland taipan | Oxyuranus microlepidotus | Australia; arid interior | 200 (length) | One of the most venomous snakes in the world, kept by specialized reptile collections for education and antivenom research demonstrations. |
| Indian muntjac | Muntiacus muntjak | Asia; Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia | 90 (length) | A small deer (also called barking deer) common in zoo hoofstock collections and useful for explaining forest ecosystems and breeding programs. |
| Indian pangolin | Manis crassicaudata | Asia; India, Sri Lanka | 80 (length) | A scaled mammal often rescued and sometimes held in conservation centers; a flagship species for anti-trafficking education. |
| Indian flying fox | Pteropus medius | Asia; Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka | 150 (wingspan) | A large fruit bat frequently found in zoo bat houses or conservation displays; notable for big eyes, nocturnal pollination, and colony behavior. |
| Island fox | Urocyon littoralis | North America; Channel Islands (USA) | 50 (length) | A small, endemic fox used in recovery programs and zoo education about island endemism and conservation success stories. |
| Impeyan pheasant | Lophophorus impejanus | Asia; Himalaya (India, Nepal, Bhutan) | 60 (length) | Also called the Himalayan monal, a brilliantly colored pheasant often featured in aviaries for its dazzling male plumage and cultural importance. |
| Inca tern | Larosterna inca | South America; Peru, Chile | 34 (length) | A charismatic seabird with a distinctive white moustache, seen in aquarium aviaries and used to teach about coastal ecosystems. |
| Indian rock python | Python molurus | Asia; Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia | 300 (length) | A very large constrictor commonly displayed in reptile houses, valued for demonstrations about snake biology and habitat needs. |
| Imperial Amazon | Amazona imperialis | North America; Dominica (Caribbean) | 38 (length) | A rare, colorful parrot kept in some conservation-focused collections; used to highlight island endemics and threats from habitat loss. |
| Indian roller | Coracias benghalensis | Asia; Indian subcontinent | 30 (length) | A striking blue-and-brown bird sometimes exhibited in aviaries; popular for educational displays about perching birds and insect diets. |
| Ivory gull | Pagophila eburnea | Arctic; circumpolar | 45 (length) | A pale, ice-associated gull that appears in polar bird exhibits or educational displays about Arctic ecosystems and climate change. |
| Indian skimmer | Rynchops albicollis | Asia; Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia | 100 (wingspan) | A distinctive riverine bird with a lower bill longer than the upper, sometimes kept in specialist aviaries to educate about river habitats. |
| Indian hog deer | Axis porcinus | Asia; Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia | 100 (length) | A small, compact deer found in some zoo hoofstock collections; useful for talks about grassland conservation and captive breeding. |
| Indian vulture | Gyps indicus | Asia; Indian subcontinent | 250 (wingspan) | A large scavenging bird central to vulture conservation programs in zoos, highlighting recovery efforts after population crashes from poisoning. |
Descriptions
Iberian lynx
Indian rhinoceros
Indian peafowl
Indian star tortoise
Indian cobra
Inland taipan
Indian muntjac
Indian pangolin
Indian flying fox
Island fox
Impeyan pheasant
Inca tern
Indian rock python
Imperial Amazon
Indian roller
Ivory gull
Indian skimmer
Indian hog deer
Indian vulture