Here you’ll find 14 Zoo animals that start with V, organized from “Vancouver Island marmot” to “Vulturine guineafowl”. Many are birds and medium-sized mammals kept in zoos for conservation, education, and public engagement.
Zoo animals that start with V are zoo-housed species whose common names begin with the letter V. Notable examples include the Vancouver Island marmot, a high-profile captive-breeding conservation success.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The everyday name shown on signs and labels, so you can quickly identify each species.
Scientific name: The binomial (genus and species) used for exact identification and for reliable cross-referencing across databases and literature.
Region of origin: The species’ native continent or country, helping you understand its natural habitat and conservation context.
Typical adult size (cm): Typical adult length or height in centimeters, noting whether measurement is total length or shoulder height.
Zoo animals that start with V
| Common name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vicuña | Vicugna vicugna | South America — Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina | head–body 100–120 cm | Wild camelid kept in many zoos and conservation programs; prized for fine fiber and protected after historic overhunting. |
| Vervet monkey | Chlorocebus pygerythrus | Africa — Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa | head–body 40–55 cm | Social Old World monkey often seen in primate exhibits; vocal and adaptable, with distinctive black face and white eyebrow tufts. |
| Vulturine guineafowl | Acryllium vulturinum | Africa — Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia | length 60–70 cm | Striking, long-necked game bird common in aviaries; known for blue-and-white plumage and social flocking behavior. |
| Victoria crowned pigeon | Goura victoria | Oceania — New Guinea (lowland forests) | length 70–75 cm | Large, ground-dwelling pigeon frequently exhibited in zoos; ornate crest and deep cooing calls make it a favorite of visitors. |
| Violet turaco | Musophaga violacea | Africa — West to Central Africa (Ghana to Angola) | length 40–45 cm | Colorful canopy bird common in zoo aviaries; bright violet plumage and unique “turacin” pigment. |
| Verreaux’s sifaka | Propithecus verreauxi | Madagascar — southern Madagascar | head–body 45–55 cm | Leaping lemur seen in some primate collections; famous for its bipedal hopping on the ground and vertical-clinging locomotion. |
| Venezuelan red howler | Alouatta seniculus | South America — Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Peru | head–body 45–70 cm | Loud-calling primate often kept in zoo rainforest exhibits; males produce deep howls audible for kilometres. |
| Visayan warty pig | Sus cebifrons | Asia — Philippines (Panay, Negros) | total length 110–150 cm | Endangered pig housed in conservation breeding programs at zoos; notable facial “warts” and conservation importance. |
| Visayan spotted deer | Rusa alfredi | Asia — Philippines (Panay, Negros) | head–body 80–105 cm | Rare, small deer commonly part of zoo conservation efforts; reddish coat with white spots and endangered status. |
| Vancouver Island marmot | Marmota vancouverensis | North America — Canada (Vancouver Island) | total length 50–60 cm | Charismatic recovery species bred in zoos; one of North America’s rarest mammals with strong captive-breeding programs. |
| Vasa parrot | Coracopsis vasa | Africa — Madagascar, Comoros, nearby islands | length 30–40 cm | Unusual parrot seen in some zoo collections; glossy black plumage and distinctive breeding behaviors. |
| Variable bush viper | Atheris squamigera | Africa — West and Central Africa | total length 60–80 cm | Arboreal venomous snake kept in many reptile collections; variable color patterns give the common name. |
| Vietnamese mossy frog | Theloderma corticale | Asia — Vietnam, adjacent Myanmar and China | snout–vent length 6–8 cm | Amphibian popular in zoo and aquarium amphibian displays; remarkable moss-like camouflage. |
| Violet-backed starling | Cinnyricinclus leucogaster | Africa — Sub-Saharan Africa (varied range) | length 18–20 cm | Colorful passerine sometimes in aviaries; brilliant male plumage with iridescent violet back. |