Animals That Start With M: A Complete “M Animals” Guide (With Fun Facts)

From mighty moose and playful monkeys, to mysterious moray eels, soaring macaws, and tiny but troublesome mosquitoes, a surprising number of animals in English start with the letter M.

This guide is written to match real user search intent for “Animals That Start With M”:

• A quick reference list of M animals by group

• An overview table with class, habitat, diet, and fun facts

• Detailed profiles of well-known animals beginning with M

• FAQs: pets that start with M, dangerous M animals, and ecologically important M animals

You can use this structure for an A–Z animal encyclopedia, school projects, or SEO-friendly wildlife content.

Quick List of Animals That Start With M

Here’s a fast reference list of animals that begin with M, grouped by type.

Mammals

• Monkey (baboons, macaques, colobus, etc.)

• Moose

• Manatee

• Meerkat

• Mouse

• Mole

• Mongoose

Birds

• Macaw

• Magpie

• Mallard

• Merganser

• Myna (or mynah bird)

Reptiles & Amphibians

• Monitor lizard (e.g., Nile monitor, savannah monitor)

• Marine iguana

• Mudskipper (fish that behaves a bit like an amphibian)

• Mudpuppy (aquatic salamander)

• Milk snake

Fish & Marine Animals

• Manta ray

• Mackerel

• Moray eel

• Marlin

• Mahi-mahi (also called dorado or dolphinfish)

Invertebrates (Insects, Crustaceans, etc.)

• Moth

• Mosquito

• Millipede

• Mantis shrimp

• Mayfly

Next is an overview table of 15 representative “M animals.”

M-Animals Overview Table

Detailed Profiles of Key “M Animals”

Now let’s look closer at some of the most recognizable and commonly searched Animals That Start With M.

1. Monkey

• Class: Mammal (primate)

• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, savannas, mountains—and increasingly cities—in Africa, Asia and the Americas

• Diet: Mostly omnivores – fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers, insects and small animals

Key features:

• “Monkey” is a general term for many primate species with tails, including macaques, baboons, colobus, capuchins, and more.

• Many monkeys live in social groups with complex hierarchies and communication systems (vocal calls, facial expressions, grooming).

• They are generally agile climbers, using hands, feet and sometimes prehensile tails (in many New World monkeys) to grasp branches.

Fun fact:
Some monkey species, like capuchins, have been observed using tools—for example, using stones to crack nuts or sticks to get food.

2. Moose

• Class: Mammal (deer family)

• Habitat: Boreal forests, wetlands and tundra across northern North America, Europe and Asia

• Diet: Herbivore – twigs, shrubs, tree bark, leaves and aquatic plants

Key features:

• Moose are the largest members of the deer family, with long legs, humped shoulders and a distinctive overhanging nose.

• Adult males (bull moose) grow enormous, broad, palmate antlers that can span more than 1.5 meters (5 ft) across.

• They are strong swimmers and often wade into lakes and ponds to eat aquatic vegetation.

Fun fact:
Despite their size, moose are surprisingly good at moving through deep snow and dense forest, thanks to their long legs and wide hooves.

3. Manatee

• Class: Mammal (marine mammal, but not a whale)

• Habitat: Warm, shallow coastal waters, estuaries, rivers and springs in parts of the Americas and West Africa

• Diet: Herbivore – mostly seagrass and other aquatic plants

Key features:

• Manatees are large, slow-moving, gentle animals often nicknamed “sea cows” because they graze like underwater cows.

• They have paddle-like tails, rounded bodies and flipper-like forelimbs used for steering and slow swimming.

• Manatees must surface regularly to breathe air but can stay submerged for several minutes at a time.

Fun fact:
Manatees can eat up to 10–15% of their body weight in vegetation per day, playing an important role in keeping seagrass beds trimmed and healthy.

4. Meerkat

• Class: Mammal (mongoose family)

• Habitat: Arid plains, savannas and deserts of southern Africa, especially the Kalahari region

• Diet: Insectivore/omnivore – insects, spiders, scorpions, small reptiles, eggs, roots and tubers

Key features:

• Meerkats are small, social mammals that live in cooperative groups called mobs or clans, often with 20 or more individuals.

• They dig complex burrow systems and spend part of the day foraging above ground.

• At least one meerkat often stands on its hind legs as a sentry, scanning for predators like eagles or jackals.

Fun fact:
Meerkats have some resistance to certain scorpion venoms, allowing them to eat prey that would harm many other animals.

5. Mouse

• Class: Mammal (rodent)

• Habitat: Fields, forests, grasslands, farms, homes and cities worldwide

• Diet: Omnivore – seeds, grains, fruit, insects and human scraps

Key features:

• Mice are small rodents with pointed snouts, large ears and long tails, known for their quick movements and ability to squeeze into tiny spaces.

• They reproduce rapidly, which is why they are so successful (and sometimes considered pests) in human environments.

• Many species are important prey for owls, snakes, foxes and other predators.

Fun fact:
The common house mouse has been used in scientific research for over a century and is one of the most studied mammals in the world.

6. Macaw

• Class: Bird (parrot family)

• Habitat: Tropical rainforests, savannas and woodland edges in Central and South America

• Diet: Omnivore – seeds, nuts, fruit, flowers and sometimes insects

Key features:

• Macaws are large, long-tailed parrots with bright colors—often red, yellow, blue and green.

• They have strong, curved beaks for cracking tough nuts and seeds and zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two back) for gripping branches.

• Macaws form strong pair bonds and are known for their loud, carrying calls.

Fun fact:
Some macaw species can live 40–60 years or more, and in captivity they may stay with the same mate or human caretaker for decades.

7. Magpie

• Class: Bird (crow family)

• Habitat: Woodlands, farmland, grasslands, towns and cities across Europe, parts of Asia and beyond (depending on species)

• Diet: Omnivore – insects, small animals, eggs, carrion, fruits and seeds

Key features:

• Magpies are medium-sized birds, often black and white with iridescent blue or green sheen on their wings and tail.

• They are highly intelligent, capable of problem solving and, in some tests, even recognizing themselves in mirrors.

• Magpies build large, domed nests and can be very defensive around nesting sites.

Fun fact:
Stories often claim magpies “collect shiny objects,” and while they are curious, research suggests they may actually be cautious around new, reflective items rather than obsessed with them.

8. Monitor Lizard

• Class: Reptile (lizard)

• Habitat: Diverse—tropical forests, savannas, wetlands, deserts in Africa, Asia and Australia (species such as Nile, savannah and water monitors)

• Diet: Carnivore – insects, eggs, small mammals, birds, fish and carrion

Key features:

• Monitor lizards tend to have long necks, muscular tails and limbs, and forked tongues reminiscent of snakes.

• They are active hunters and scavengers, often wandering large areas in search of food.

• Some species, like the Komodo dragon, are extremely large and powerful; others are more modest in size.

Fun fact:
Many monitor lizards are good climbers and swimmers, and some species are kept by experienced reptile keepers (though they need very large, secure enclosures).

9. Marine Iguana

• Class: Reptile (lizard)

• Habitat: Rocky coasts and nearby areas of the Galápagos Islands

• Diet: Herbivore – mainly marine algae and seaweed

Key features:

• Marine iguanas are the only lizard species known to dive in the ocean to graze algae, usually clinging to rocks in the surf.

• They have flattened tails for swimming and strong claws for gripping slimy rocks.

• Salt glands near their noses remove excess salt from their blood; they often “sneeze” out salt crystals.

Fun fact:
Marine iguanas regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun on lava rocks after chilly dives in the cold Pacific waters.

10. Mudpuppy

• Class: Amphibian (salamander)

• Habitat: Freshwater lakes, rivers and streams in North America

• Diet: Carnivore – worms, insects, crustaceans, snails and small fish

Key features:

• Mudpuppies are fully aquatic salamanders with feathery external gills that they keep throughout life (they don’t metamorphose into land forms).

• They are usually active at night and hide under rocks or debris during the day.

• Because they remain in water and retain gills as adults, they are sometimes called “neotenic” amphibians.

Fun fact:
Mudpuppies can make squeaking sounds when handled out of water, which may have led to their name—like a “puppy” sound.

11. Manta Ray

• Class: Fish (cartilaginous fish, related to sharks and rays)

• Habitat: Warm tropical and subtropical oceans around the world

• Diet: Filter-feeder – plankton, tiny crustaceans and small fish

Key features:

• Manta rays have large, triangular pectoral fins that look like wings, with “cephalic fins” (horn-like flaps) near the mouth that help direct plankton into their mouths.

• They swim gracefully through open water and often visit “cleaning stations” on reefs where small fish remove parasites from their skin.

• Some manta rays are very large, with wingspans over 6–7 meters (20+ feet).

Fun fact:
Despite their size and somewhat intimidating appearance, manta rays are gentle giants that pose no threat to humans and do not have venomous stingers like some other rays.

12. Moray Eel

• Class: Fish (bony fish)

• Habitat: Tropical and temperate coral reefs and rocky coasts worldwide

• Diet: Carnivore – fish, crustaceans, squid and octopus

Key features:

• Moray eels usually hide in crevices with just their head protruding, opening and closing their mouths to pump water over their gills.

• They have long, narrow bodies and sharp teeth for gripping slippery prey.

• Morays possess a second set of jaws in their throat (pharyngeal jaws) that extend forward to grab and pull prey down.

Fun fact:
Moray eels sometimes cooperate with groupers in joint hunts, with each species using its own hunting skills to flush out and catch prey.

13. Mantis Shrimp

• Class: Crustacean

• Habitat: Shallow tropical and subtropical seas, especially coral reefs and sandy bottoms

• Diet: Carnivore – crabs, snails, shellfish, small fish

Key features:

• Mantis shrimps are famous for their extremely fast and powerful striking limbs, used either to smash shells (smasher types) or spear prey (spearer types).

• Their strike is so fast it can create cavitation bubbles that produce heat and shockwaves, hitting prey twice (mechanically and then via the collapsing bubble).

• They also have some of the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, capable of seeing a wide range of colors and polarized light.

Fun fact:
Aquarium keepers nickname some mantis shrimps the “thumb splitter” because a careless hand can be painfully injured by their punch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Animals That Start With M

How many animals start with the letter M?

There’s no exact, official number, because:

• New species are still being described.

• Many animals have multiple English common names.

However, there are dozens of well-known animals that start with M across all major groups:

• Mammals: Monkey, moose, manatee, meerkat, mouse, mole, mongoose, marmot

• Birds: Macaw, magpie, mallard, merganser, myna, mute swan (if you count the “mute” common name)

• Reptiles & Amphibians: Monitor lizards, marine iguanas, milk snakes, mudpuppies, mudskippers

• Fish & Marine Animals: Manta rays, mackerel, moray eels, mahi-mahi, marlin

• Invertebrates: Moths, mosquitoes, millipedes, mantis shrimps, mayflies

For an alphabet-style animal project, you can easily build a long “M animals” list with extra examples.

What pets start with M?

Some pet or domestic animals that start with M include:

• Mouse – domesticated fancy mice kept in cages as small pets.

• Mastiff – large dog breeds like English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff.

• Maltese – small companion dog breed with long white hair.

• Maine Coon – a giant, fluffy domestic cat breed.

• Macaw – kept as a pet by experienced parrot owners (requires lots of space, attention and enrichment).

• Myna bird – some species, like the hill myna, are known for their mimicry and are kept as cage birds in some regions.

• Miniature horse or miniature pig – kept as companion animals in some places.

Before choosing any pet, always research:

• Legal restrictions in your area (especially for exotic species).

• Space, enrichment and social needs (many parrots and monkeys are not good “beginner” pets).

• Diet, lifespan and access to proper veterinary care.

What dangerous animals start with M?

Several M animals can be dangerous to humans, especially if threatened or mishandled:

• Mosquito – tiny, but one of the deadliest animals to humans because some species transmit diseases like malaria, dengue and others.

• Moray eel – bites can be painful and cause serious wounds if provoked or accidentally grabbed.

• Monitor lizard – large monitors can deliver strong bites and scratches; some carry bacteria in their mouths.

• Mongoose – usually avoids people, but any wild carnivore can bite if cornered.

• Monkey – some species can bite, scratch and transmit diseases (never feed or approach wild monkeys).

• Mantis shrimp – in aquariums, their strikes can injure hands and even crack thin glass.

Most wild animals prefer to avoid confrontation with humans. The best safety strategy is to give wildlife space, not touch or feed them, and follow local guidelines.

Which M animals are especially important for ecosystems?

A number of Animals That Start With M play key ecological roles:

• Monkeys – in tropical forests, many monkeys act as seed dispersers, spreading the seeds of fruits they eat and helping forests regenerate.

• Moose – major herbivores in northern ecosystems, influencing which plants and trees grow, and serving as prey for wolves and bears.

• Manatees – help maintain healthy seagrass beds by grazing, which supports many other marine species.

• Meerkats – control insect and small animal populations and help aerate the soil with their burrowing.

• Mallards – important in wetlands as plant eaters and as prey for foxes, raptors and other predators.

• Manta rays – part of open-ocean food webs and important indicators of healthy, plankton-rich waters.

• Mantis shrimps – top predators in small reef territories, helping regulate snail, crab and small fish populations.

• Mosquitoes – annoying to humans, but their larvae are a significant food source for fish and aquatic insects, and adults feed many bats and birds.

Protecting these species and their habitats supports the health of forests, grasslands, wetlands, coral reefs and oceans.

By exploring this guide to Animals That Start With M, you’ve seen how a single letter connects an impressive variety of creatures: monkeys, moose, manatees, meerkats, mice, macaws, magpies, monitor lizards, marine iguanas, mudpuppies, manta rays, moray eels, mantis shrimps and more.

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We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a Animals Top editor.