This list includes 40 Zoo animals that start with S, from “Sable antelope” to “Swan goose”. They span mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians and are often kept for conservation, education, and visitor engagement.
Zoo animals that start with S are species whose common names begin with the letter S. Notable examples include the sable antelope and the swan goose, both familiar in zoo exhibits.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The everyday name used in zoos and signage, helping you quickly recognize and identify each species on the list.
Scientific name: The formal binomial helps you locate authoritative information and avoid confusion between similar common names.
Region of origin: Continental and country-level origins show where the species naturally occurs and informs habitat context.
Typical adult size (cm): Average adult length or shoulder height in centimeters, using standard museum or zoo measurement methods.
Zoo animals that start with S
| Common name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sable antelope | Hippotragus niger | Africa (Botswana, Zimbabwe) | 110–140 cm (shoulder height) |
| Sand cat | Felis margarita | Africa/Asia (Sahara, Arabian Peninsula) | 40–60 cm (body length) |
| Sandhill crane | Antigone canadensis | North America (USA, Canada) | 100–140 cm (height) |
| Sand tiger shark | Carcharias taurus | Temperate coasts (global) | 240–340 cm (length) |
| Sandbar shark | Carcharhinus plumbeus | Atlantic coasts (USA, Mediterranean) | 200–250 cm (length) |
| Scarlet macaw | Ara macao | South America (Brazil, Peru) | 80–95 cm (length) |
| Scarlet ibis | Eudocimus ruber | South America (Brazil, Guyana) | 55–65 cm (length) |
| Scimitar-horned oryx | Oryx dammah | Africa (Sahel — Chad, reintroduced) | 180–230 cm (length) |
| Sea otter | Enhydra lutris | North Pacific (USA, Russia) | 100–150 cm (length) |
| Steller’s sea eagle | Haliaeetus pelagicus | Asia (Russia, Japan) | 200–250 cm (wingspan) |
| Steller sea lion | Eumetopias jubatus | North Pacific (USA, Russia) | 240–300 cm (length) |
| South American sea lion | Otaria flavescens | South America (Peru, Chile, Argentina) | 160–230 cm (length) |
| Shoebill | Balaeniceps rex | Africa (South Sudan, Uganda) | 110–140 cm (height) |
| Short-beaked echidna | Tachyglossus aculeatus | Australia (Australia, Tasmania) | 30–50 cm (body length) |
| Shortnose sturgeon | Acipenser brevirostrum | North America (USA, Atlantic coast) | 70–130 cm (length) |
| Siamang | Symphalangus syndactylus | Asia (Sumatra, Malaysia) | 60–75 cm (body length) |
| Siberian tiger | Panthera tigris | Asia (Russia, China) | 220–300 cm (length) |
| Sika deer | Cervus nippon | Asia (Japan, China) | 85–110 cm (shoulder height) |
| Southern two-toed sloth | Choloepus didactylus | South America (Amazon basin) | 50–70 cm (body length) |
| Spiny softshell | Apalone spinifera | North America (USA, Canada) | 25–75 cm (carapace length) |
| Spix’s macaw | Cyanopsitta spixii | South America (Brazil) | 55–60 cm (length) |
| Spotted hyena | Crocuta crocuta | Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) | 70–90 cm (shoulder height) |
| Spectacled caiman | Caiman crocodilus | Central/South America (Costa Rica, Brazil) | 120–200 cm (length) |
| Spectacled bear | Tremarctos ornatus | South America (Ecuador, Peru) | 120–180 cm (length) |
| Spotted turtle | Glyptemys guttata | North America (USA, Canada) | 9–14 cm (carapace length) |
| Sooty mangabey | Cercocebus atys | Africa (West Africa — Guinea, Ivory Coast) | 40–60 cm (body length) |
| Southern cassowary | Casuarius casuarius | Australia/New Guinea (Queensland, Papua New Guinea) | 150–180 cm (height) |
| Southern rockhopper penguin | Eudyptes chrysocome | Southern Oceans (Falklands, Argentina) | 45–55 cm (height) |
| Spotted salamander | Ambystoma maculatum | North America (USA, Canada) | 15–25 cm (length) |
| Sugar glider | Petaurus breviceps | Australia (Australia, New Guinea) | 16–22 cm (body length) |
| Sun conure | Aratinga solstitialis | South America (Brazil, Guyana) | 30–35 cm (length) |
| Sun bear | Helarctos malayanus | Asia (Malaysia, Borneo) | 100–150 cm (length) |
| Swan goose | Anser cygnoides | Asia (China, Mongolia) | 70–90 cm (length) |
| Sidewinder | Crotalus cerastes | North America (USA, Mexico) | 40–90 cm (length) |
| Saker falcon | Falco cherrug | Eurasia (Central Asia, Mongolia) | 40–55 cm (length) |
| Saltwater crocodile | Crocodylus porosus | Asia/Australia (Australia, Indonesia) | 300–500 cm (length) |
| Sunda slow loris | Nycticebus coucang | Asia (Sumatra, Borneo) | 25–38 cm (body length) |
| Sumatran orangutan | Pongo abelii | Asia (Sumatra, Indonesia) | 120–140 cm (height) |
| Sumatran tiger | Panthera tigris | Asia (Sumatra, Indonesia) | 180–260 cm (length) |
| Shingleback | Tiliqua rugosa | Australia (Australia) | 30–50 cm (length) |
Descriptions
Sable antelope
Impressive black-maned antelope in many zoos for education and conservation; known for long, curved horns and striking contrast coat that draws visitor interest.
Sand cat
Small desert-adapted cat kept for education and captive-breeding; notable for tufted ears, thick fur and tolerance of arid conditions.
Sandhill crane
Large migratory crane often in aviaries and wetland exhibits; famous for long migrations, booming calls and elaborate group dances.
Sand tiger shark
Common aquarium shark used for public displays and education; menacing teeth contrast with typically docile behavior in captivity.
Sandbar shark
Coastal shark frequently shown in public aquaria; education focus on fisheries and shark conservation, noted for its tall dorsal fin.
Scarlet macaw
Vibrant, noisy parrot common in zoos and conservation programs; draws crowds with bright plumage and strong social behaviors.
Scarlet ibis
Striking red wading bird in mixed waterfowl exhibits; used to teach about wetland ecosystems and shows vivid breeding plumage.
Scimitar-horned oryx
Once extinct in the wild, reintroduced through zoo programs; recognizable curved horns and white coat, emblematic of ex-situ conservation success.
Sea otter
Charismatic marine mammal in aquaria for conservation outreach; famous for dense fur and tool use, great for public engagement.
Steller’s sea eagle
Massive raptor occasionally in raptor centers and zoos; conservation icon with huge yellow bill and powerful presence.
Steller sea lion
Large pinniped found in marine parks and rehabilitation centers; notable for robust size, loud vocalizations and charismatic displays.
South American sea lion
Social pinniped exhibited in marine facilities; playful behavior and noisy colonies make it popular for talks and demonstrations.
Shoebill
Iconic, prehistoric-looking bird in major zoos; slow, patient hunter with a massive shoe-shaped bill that mesmerizes visitors.
Short-beaked echidna
Unique egg-laying mammal in Australasian collections; notable spines and long sticky tongue, great for education about monotremes.
Shortnose sturgeon
Small sturgeon seen in aquaria and conservation programs; ancient-looking fish with bony scutes, used to teach about river conservation.
Siamang
Largest gibbon in many primate exhibits; famous for loud duets, inflatable throat sac, and as an ambassador for forest conservation.
Siberian tiger
Often labeled “Siberian tiger” in zoos, a flagship species for conservation and breeding; notable for large size and thick winter coat.
Sika deer
Common in zoo and park collections; variable coat and vocalizations, useful in education about ungulate ecology.
Southern two-toed sloth
Housed in rainforest exhibits to illustrate arboreal life; very slow-moving with strong grip and algae-coated fur that supports camouflage.
Spiny softshell
Flat, leathery-shelled freshwater turtle in aquarium and herpetology collections; fast swimmer with pointed snout and soft shell.
Spix’s macaw
Critically endangered species central to captive-breeding and reintroduction; pale blue plumage and high conservation profile.
Spotted hyena
Frequently exhibited to demonstrate complex social behavior and scavenging ecology; known for powerful jaws and clan structure.
Spectacled caiman
Common crocodilian in zoos, manageable size for exhibits; used to teach about wetlands, predators and crocodilian diversity.
Spectacled bear
Only South American bear in many zoos, kept for conservation education; distinctive facial markings and arboreal habits.
Spotted turtle
Small freshwater turtle in captive-breeding exhibits; black shell with yellow spots, vulnerable due to trade and habitat loss.
Sooty mangabey
Medium-sized monkey in primate collections; social species used to discuss bushmeat threats and West African ecosystems.
Southern cassowary
Large, flightless bird seen in select zoos; striking casque and powerful legs, important forest seed disperser.
Southern rockhopper penguin
Crested penguin with yellow eyebrows commonly in aquarium-zoos; active, noisy and used to engage visitors with seabird conservation.
Spotted salamander
Terrestrial amphibian in live exhibits, black with yellow spots; useful for teaching metamorphosis and vernal pool ecology.
Sugar glider
Nocturnal gliding marsupial in some zoo exhibits; notable patagium for gliding and social, vocal behavior.
Sun conure
Vivid orange-yellow parrot common in avian displays; very social and loud, often used in education about pet trade impacts.
Sun bear
Smallest bear species exhibited in zoos; important for rainforest conservation messaging and known for chest patch and climbing skill.
Swan goose
Wild swan goose appears in waterfowl collections and education displays; long-necked and ancestral to some domestic breeds.
Sidewinder
Distinctive desert rattlesnake in reptile houses, famous for sidewinding locomotion and adaptation to sandy habitats.
Saker falcon
Large falcon used in raptor centers and captive-breeding programs; prized for speed and hunting prowess, linked to falconry heritage.
Saltwater crocodile
Largest living crocodilian shown in major zoos and aquaria; apex predator with enormous bite force and conservation interest.
Sunda slow loris
Nocturnal primate in some zoo collections, slow-moving with toxic bite from gland secretions; highlights illegal wildlife trade issues.
Sumatran orangutan
Great ape central to many zoo conservation programs; highly arboreal, intelligent and critically endangered due to deforestation.
Sumatran tiger
Critically endangered tiger subspecies often focal in zoo breeding and outreach; smaller size with dense striping compared to continental tigers.
Shingleback
Stocky, slow-moving blue-tongued skink in reptile houses; notable for short tail, strong body and monogamous pairing behavior.