This list includes 38 Zoo animals that start with W, from “Wallace’s flying frog” to “Wreathed hornbill”. These species range from small amphibians to large birds and mammals commonly used for education, conservation, and display.
Zoo animals that start with W are species whose common names begin with W and appear in zoo collections. For example, the Wallace’s flying frog honors naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and highlights Southeast Asian biodiversity.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The name used on signs and guides so you can quickly recognize each species at a zoo.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial that gives precise species identity, so you can locate authoritative information and comparisons.
Region of origin: Indicates the natural range (continent or country), helping you understand habitat and geographic context for each species.
Typical adult size (cm): Adult length or height in centimeters, specified per species so you can compare sizes quickly and accurately.
Zoo animals that start with W
| Common name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walrus | Odobenus rosmarus | Arctic; Canada, Russia | 250–370 cm (length) |
| Warthog | Phacochoerus africanus | Sub-Saharan Africa; Kenya, Tanzania | 55–85 cm (shoulder height) |
| Weddell seal | Leptonychotes weddellii | Antarctic region; Weddell Sea | 250–320 cm (length) |
| Western gorilla | Gorilla gorilla | Central Africa; Cameroon, Republic of Congo | 140–170 cm (shoulder height) |
| Whooping crane | Grus americana | North America; Canada, United States | 140–150 cm (height) |
| White-handed gibbon | Hylobates lar | Southeast Asia; Thailand, Malaysia | 45–65 cm (length) |
| White rhinoceros | Ceratotherium simum | Africa; South Africa, Zimbabwe | 140–185 cm (shoulder height) |
| White-tailed deer | Odocoileus virginianus | North America; United States, Mexico | 80–110 cm (shoulder height) |
| White stork | Ciconia ciconia | Europe, Africa; Poland, Spain, Morocco | 100–115 cm (height) |
| White-tailed eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | Eurasia; Russia, Norway | 70–95 cm (length) |
| Wilson’s bird-of-paradise | Cicinnurus respublica | Asia; Indonesia (Waigeo) | 16–22 cm (length) |
| White-faced saki | Pithecia pithecia | South America; Brazil, Venezuela | 30–45 cm (length) |
| White-faced capuchin | Cebus capucinus | Central America; Costa Rica, Panama | 30–45 cm (length) |
| Water deer | Hydropotes inermis | Asia; China, Korea | 45–55 cm (shoulder height) |
| Wild water buffalo | Bubalus arnee | Asia; India, Nepal | 130–170 cm (shoulder height) |
| White-lipped peccary | Tayassu pecari | Central and South America; Brazil, Peru | 60–80 cm (shoulder height) |
| Weedy seadragon | Phyllopteryx taeniolatus | Australia; Victoria, Tasmania | 35–45 cm (length) |
| Weka | Gallirallus australis | Oceania; New Zealand | 50–60 cm (length) |
| Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Northern Hemisphere; Canada, Russia | 60–100 cm (length) |
| Woolly monkey | Lagothrix lagothricha | South America; Brazil, Peru | 45–70 cm (length) |
| Wood stork | Mycteria americana | Americas; United States (Florida), Brazil | 90–115 cm (height) |
| White-winged dove | Zenaida asiatica | Americas; United States (Texas), Mexico | 26–32 cm (length) |
| Western diamondback rattlesnake | Crotalus atrox | North America; United States, Mexico | 100–150 cm (length) |
| Western hognose snake | Heterodon nasicus | North America; United States | 40–90 cm (length) |
| Western pond turtle | Actinemys marmorata | North America; United States (California), Mexico | 12–20 cm (carapace length) |
| White-bellied sea eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | Australasia; Australia, Indonesia | 66–75 cm (length) |
| White-backed vulture | Gyps africanus | Africa; Kenya, Tanzania | 80–95 cm (length) |
| White sturgeon | Acipenser transmontanus | North America; United States (California), Canada (B.C.) | 150–300 cm (length) |
| Western fence lizard | Sceloporus occidentalis | North America; United States (California) | 12–20 cm (length) |
| Whale shark | Rhincodon typus | Indo-Pacific; Philippines, Australia | 400–1,200 cm (length) |
| Wedge-tailed eagle | Aquila audax | Oceania; Australia | 95–120 cm (length) |
| Wallace’s flying frog | Rhacophorus nigropalmatus | Asia; Malaysia, Borneo | 9–11 cm (length) |
| Water monitor | Varanus salvator | Asia; Indonesia, Thailand | 150–250 cm (length) |
| White-fronted capuchin | Cebus albifrons | South America; Colombia, Venezuela | 30–45 cm (length) |
| Wood duck | Aix sponsa | North America; United States, Canada | 47–56 cm (length) |
| White-bellied caique | Pionites leucogaster | South America; Brazil, Peru | 22–28 cm (length) |
| Waterbuck | Kobus ellipsiprymnus | Sub-Saharan Africa; Kenya, South Africa | 120–140 cm (shoulder height) |
| Wreathed hornbill | Rhyticeros undulatus | Southeast Asia; Indonesia, Borneo | 80–95 cm (length) |
Descriptions
Walrus
Massive, tusked pinniped kept in marine exhibits; social, benthic-feeding and a classic species for polar education and conservation.
Warthog
Savanna pig with facial “warts” and curved tusks; hardy grazers common in African exhibits and living-history displays.
Weddell seal
Antarctic seal held in polar collections and aquaria; known for deep dives and vocalizations under the ice.
Western gorilla
Large African ape commonly exhibited; intelligent, social, and central to zoo conservation and education programs.
Whooping crane
Tall, endangered crane in breeding and reintroduction programs; dramatic visitors to conservation-minded zoos.
White-handed gibbon
Arboreal, long-armed ape known for brachiation and loud calls; frequent in primate houses and canopy exhibits.
White rhinoceros
Huge grazing rhino seen in large savanna enclosures; important for visitor-facing conservation messaging and anti-poaching work.
White-tailed deer
Familiar medium-sized deer often seen in wildlife parks and some zoos; adaptable browser with distinctive tail flash.
White stork
Iconic long-legged wader kept in aviaries and conservation centers; migratory species tied to human-modified landscapes.
White-tailed eagle
Large sea eagle exhibited in raptor centers; impressive fisher and popular in educational flight demos.
Wilson’s bird-of-paradise
Tiny, spectacularly colored bird-of-paradise held by a few major zoos and aviaries; notable for male courtship displays.
White-faced saki
Furry New World monkey with contrasting facial coloration; common in primate displays highlighting Amazonian biodiversity.
White-faced capuchin
Smart, dexterous monkey frequent in zoo primate houses; often used in enrichment and behavioral demonstrations.
Water deer
Small deer without antlers, notable tusk-like canines; kept in some parks and zoos for Asian ungulate exhibits.
Wild water buffalo
Large, endangered bovine displayed at select zoos and conservation centers; wetland-dependent and subject to reintroduction efforts.
White-lipped peccary
Social, pig-like forest mammal seen in many zoos; travels in large herds and shapes tropical ecosystems.
Weedy seadragon
Leafy, colorful relative of seahorses kept in public aquariums; males brood eggs and they require specialized husbandry.
Weka
Curious, flightless New Zealand rail kept by some zoos and conservation programs; bold and inquisitive for public encounters.
Wolverine
Solitary, powerful carnivore in northern or specialty collections; adapted to cold, rugged habitats with strong scavenging and hunting skills.
Woolly monkey
Dense-furred, social New World monkey common in primate exhibits; playful and vocal arboreal foragers.
Wood stork
Large wetland wader kept in wetland displays and recovery programs; tactile feeder used to teach about marsh ecosystems.
White-winged dove
Urban-adapted dove seen in aviaries and rehabilitative collections; recognizable cooing and seed diet.
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Iconic rattlesnake kept in reptile houses for education on venomous snakes and desert ecology.
Western hognose snake
Small, mildly venomous snake common in educational displays; notable upturned snout and dramatic bluffing behavior.
Western pond turtle
Native freshwater turtle in captive-rearing and recovery programs; modest size and frequent educational subject.
White-bellied sea eagle
Coastal raptor kept in bird collections and shows; striking white belly and strong fishing skills.
White-backed vulture
Large scavenging vulture in raptor exhibits and conservation projects; vital for carcass removal and ecosystem health.
White sturgeon
Huge freshwater fish housed in large aquaria; long-lived, important for conservation and public education.
Western fence lizard
Common small lizard used in herpetology displays; hardy, often observed basking and performing push-up displays.
Whale shark
The world’s largest fish kept by major public aquariums; gentle plankton feeder and flagship species for marine conservation.
Wedge-tailed eagle
Australia’s largest raptor featured in avian collections and educational flights; noted for soaring and powerful hunting.
Wallace’s flying frog
Large arboreal frog with webbed “parachute” feet, held in tropical amphibian exhibits and rainforest displays.
Water monitor
Large semi-aquatic lizard common in reptile houses; impressive size, strong swimmer and generalist predator.
White-fronted capuchin
Social capuchin monkey in many primate collections; active, curious, and frequently used in enrichment programs.
Wood duck
Colorful, tree-nesting duck commonly found in waterfowl collections and conservation ponds; striking male plumage.
White-bellied caique
Small, lively parrot often in aviculture and zoo aviaries; playful, colorful, and engaging for visitors.
Waterbuck
Large antelope often seen in African savanna exhibits; shaggy coat and conspicuous rump patch.
Wreathed hornbill
Large, casque-bearing forest hornbill kept in aviaries; impressive bill and key seed-dispersing role in forests.