This list includes 12 Zoo animals that start with Y, from “Yacare caiman” to “Yellow-headed Amazon”. They include reptiles, parrots, and small mammals commonly displayed for conservation, education, and visitor engagement.

Zoo animals that start with Y are species whose common names begin with the letter Y. You can find many of them in zoos worldwide for education and conservation. The Yellow-headed Amazon is a well-known example, prized for its vocal mimicry.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm, measurement method).

Common name: The widely used English name helps you recognize species as listed on zoo signs and educational materials.

Scientific name: The binomial name gives you precise species identification and helps with research or species lookup across languages.

Region of origin: The continent or country shows you the species’ native range and helps contextualize habitat and conservation status.

Typical adult size (cm, measurement method): Typical adult length or height in centimeters, with measurement method noted so you can compare sizes accurately.

Zoo animals that start with Y

NameScientific nameRegion of originTypical adult size (cm)
YakBos grunniensAsia: Tibetan Plateau (China, Tibet)140 (shoulder height)
Yangtze giant softshell turtleRafetus swinhoeiAsia: Yangtze River basin, China/Vietnam100 (carapace length)
Yellow tangZebrasoma flavescensPacific: Hawaii and central Pacific20 (total length)
Yellow-banded poison dart frogDendrobates leucomelasSouth America: Venezuela, Guianas4 (snout–vent length)
Yellow-footed rock-wallabyPetrogale xanthopusAustralia: inland northern/central Australia60 (body length)
Yellow-headed AmazonAmazona oratrixCentral America: Mexico to Honduras35 (total length)
Yacare caimanCaiman yacareSouth America: Pantanal region (Brazil, Bolivia)200 (total length)
YapokChironectes minimusCentral & South America: Amazon basin40 (body length)
Yellow-bellied marmotMarmota flaviventrisNorth America: western USA & Canada60 (body length)
Yellow-eyed penguinMegadyptes antipodesOceania: New Zealand (South Island, subantarctic)70 (body length)
Yellow mongooseCynictis penicillataAfrica: southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia)40 (body length)
Yellow-backed duikerCephalophus silvicultorAfrica: West and Central African forests80 (shoulder height)

Descriptions

Yak
Large, shaggy bovine seen in zoo pastoral or alpine exhibits; educational for high‑altitude ecology and used in some conservation and cultural programs.
Yangtze giant softshell turtle
Critically endangered, subject of captive rescue programs; rarely seen in conservation centers, powerful example of freshwater turtle conservation challenges.
Yellow tang
Bright yellow reef fish common in public aquaria; popular for education about coral reefs and aquarium husbandry.
Yellow-banded poison dart frog
Vivid amphibian frequent in zoo amphibian displays; used for teaching about toxicity, rainforest ecosystems and captive-breeding efforts.
Yellow-footed rock-wallaby
Compact marsupial kept by zoos and wildlife parks for conservation breeding and rocky-habitat interpretation.
Yellow-headed Amazon
Large, charismatic parrot often in aviaries; important for education about illegal wildlife trade and parrot conservation.
Yacare caiman
Medium-sized South American crocodilian found in some herpetological collections—useful for demonstrations about wetland ecology and crocodilian biology.
Yapok
Aquatic marsupial (“water opossum”) occasionally displayed in zoos; interesting for visitors learning about unusual mammal adaptations and freshwater habitats.
Yellow-bellied marmot
Large ground squirrel seen in some wildlife parks and natural-history exhibits; useful for teaching about alpine ecology and seasonal behavior.
Yellow-eyed penguin
Rare, conservation-focused penguin kept in regional breeding and rehabilitation programs; highlights island endemism and human impacts.
Yellow mongoose
Social small carnivore displayed in some zoos and education programs; engages visitors on savanna ecology and mesopredator roles.
Yellow-backed duiker
Forest antelope occasionally in specialized collections; used for education on tropical forest biodiversity and bushmeat conservation.
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