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

From deep-diving narwhals and termite-eating numbats, to colorful nudibranchs, singing nightingales, and ancient Nile crocodiles, a surprising variety of animals in English start with the letter N.

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

• A quick list of N animals by group

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

• Detailed profiles of key animals beginning with N

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

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

Quick List of Animals That Start With N

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

Mammals

• Narwhal

• Numbat

• Nyala (a spiral-horned antelope)

• Naked mole-rat

• Nutria (also called coypu)

• Nilgai (large Asian antelope)

Birds

• Nightingale

• Nighthawk

• Nene (Hawaiian goose)

• Northern cardinal

• Northern goshawk

Reptiles & Amphibians

• Newt

• Nile crocodile

• Night snake

• Northern leopard frog

• Northern water snake

Fish & Marine Animals

• Nurse shark

• Napoleon wrasse (humphead wrasse)

• Needlefish

• Neon tetra

• Nase (a European freshwater fish)

Invertebrates (Insects, Mollusks, etc.)

• Nautilus

• Nudibranch (sea slug group)

• Nematode (roundworms as a group)

• Net-winged beetle

• Northern black widow (a widow spider species)

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

N-Animals Overview Table

Detailed Profiles of Key “N Animals”

Below are detailed profiles of some of the most interesting and commonly searched Animals That Start With N.

1. Narwhal

• Class: Mammal (toothed whale)

• Habitat: Cold Arctic waters around Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia

• Diet: Carnivore – fish, squid, shrimp and other marine invertebrates

Key features:

• Narwhals are medium-sized whales best known for the long spiral tusk that grows from the upper left tooth of most males (and some females).

• The tusk can grow over 3 meters (10 feet) long and contains millions of nerve endings; it likely plays roles in social interactions and sensing the environment.

• Narwhals migrate seasonally, spending winters in offshore pack ice and summers in coastal areas.

Fun fact:
Because of their tusks, narwhals were once thought to be “sea unicorns,” and their tusks were sold as magical unicorn horns in medieval Europe.

2. Numbat

• Class: Mammal (marsupial)

• Habitat: Eucalyptus woodlands and shrublands of southwestern Australia

• Diet: Specialized insectivore – almost entirely termites

Key features:

• Numbats are small, striped marsupials with pointed noses and bushy tails.

• Unlike many marsupials, female numbats do not have a true pouch; instead, their young cling to the mother’s underside.

• They have long, sticky tongues—up to 10–11 cm—to reach deep inside termite galleries.

Fun fact:
Each numbat can eat tens of thousands of termites in a single day, making them important controllers of termite populations in their habitat.

3. Nyala

• Class: Mammal (antelope)

• Habitat: Dense woodlands, thickets and savanna edges in southeastern Africa

• Diet: Herbivore – leaves, twigs, fruits and some grasses

Key features:

• Nyalas show strong sexual dimorphism:

• Males are dark brown with long spiral horns and shaggy manes.

• Females are smaller and orange-brown, with more obvious white stripes.

• They are shy, preferring cover near water, and may be most active at dawn and dusk.

• Nyalas are often seen in small groups rather than large herds.

Fun fact:
Nyala numbers have actually increased in some private reserves and protected areas, making them more commonly seen than some other African antelopes.

4. Naked Mole-Rat

• Class: Mammal (rodent)

• Habitat: Underground burrow systems in arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa

• Diet: Herbivore – mainly large underground tubers and roots

Key features:

• Naked mole-rats have wrinkled, nearly hairless skin, tiny eyes and big incisors used for digging and gnawing.

• They are eusocial mammals, living in colonies with a single breeding “queen,” several breeding males and many sterile workers—similar to ant or bee colonies.

• They have unusual biology: high pain tolerance, long lifespans for rodents and resistance to some forms of cancer.

Fun fact:
Naked mole-rats can survive in low-oxygen conditions that would quickly kill many other mammals, making them a focus of medical research.

5. Nutria (Coypu)

• Class: Mammal (rodent)

• Habitat: Wetlands, riverbanks, lakes and marshes; native to South America but introduced widely elsewhere

• Diet: Herbivore – aquatic plants, roots, crops and grasses

Key features:

• Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents with webbed hind feet, long cylindrical tails and prominent orange front teeth.

• They are strong swimmers and dig extensive burrows along waterways.

• In many regions where they were introduced for fur farming, escaped nutria became invasive, damaging wetlands and levees.

Fun fact:
Because of their ecological impact, some areas have nutria control or bounty programs, turning this “N animal” into a focus of invasive-species management.

6. Nightingale

• Class: Bird (songbird)

• Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, hedgerows and scrub near water in Europe and western Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa

• Diet: Omnivore – insects, spiders, and later in the season berries and fruit

Key features:

• Nightingales are small, plain brown birds, but their appearance hides one of the world’s most celebrated bird songs.

• Males sing powerful, varied, flute-like songs, often at night, to defend territories and attract mates.

• They prefer dense undergrowth where they can stay hidden while foraging on the ground.

Fun fact:
Nightingales have been admired in poetry, music and literature for centuries as symbols of love, inspiration and the beauty of nature.

7. Newt

• Class: Amphibian (salamander group)

• Habitat: Ponds, marshes, ditches and damp forests in Europe, Asia and North America (depending on species)

• Diet: Carnivore – aquatic insects, larvae, worms, small crustaceans and other invertebrates

Key features:

• Newts typically have an aquatic larval stage, then transform into semi-terrestrial juveniles, and later often return to water to breed as adults.

• Many species have smooth, moist skin and tail fins well suited for swimming.

• Some newts produce skin toxins as defense; their bright breeding colors can warn predators.

Fun fact:
Certain newts, like the rough-skinned newt, have potent toxins—yet some predators (like garter snakes) have evolved resistance, resulting in a “chemical arms race.”

8. Nile Crocodile

• Class: Reptile (crocodilian)

• Habitat: Rivers, lakes, swamps and marshes throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa

• Diet: Carnivore – fish, birds, reptiles and mammals; large adults can take antelope, zebras and occasionally livestock

Key features:

• Nile crocodiles are among the largest crocodiles, with some individuals exceeding 5 meters (16 ft) in length.

• They are ambush predators, lying mostly submerged near the water’s edge and lunging out with powerful jaws when prey comes close.

• Social behaviors include basking in groups and sometimes cooperative hunting or feeding.

Fun fact:
Female Nile crocodiles carefully guard nests and may gently carry hatchlings in their mouths down to the water—a surprising tender behavior for such fearsome reptiles.

9. Nurse Shark

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

• Habitat: Warm coastal waters, reefs, mangroves and sandy bottoms in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific

• Diet: Carnivore – fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other bottom-dwelling animals

Key features:

• Nurse sharks have broad heads, small eyes and barbels (whisker-like structures) near the mouth to help detect food on the seafloor.

• They often rest motionless on the bottom in groups during the day and become more active at night.

• Unlike many sharks, nurse sharks can pump water over their gills while stationary, so they don’t need to keep swimming to breathe.

Fun fact:
Nurse sharks are generally docile and are popular with divers, but they can still bite in self-defense if harassed or touched.

10. Nautilus

• Class: Mollusk (cephalopod)

• Habitat: Slopes and deep waters around coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region

• Diet: Carnivore/scavenger – small crustaceans, fish and carrion

Key features:

• Nautiluses have a beautiful, coiled chambered shell divided into gas-filled sections that help control buoyancy.

• Unlike octopuses and squids, they have many more tentacles (up to 90+), lacking suckers but with sticky ridges.

• They are considered “living fossils,” with a basic body plan that has changed little over millions of years.

Fun fact:
As a nautilus grows, it moves its body forward in the shell and seals off old chambers; the spiral pattern of these chambers inspired art, math and architecture.

11. Nudibranch

• Class: Mollusk (sea slug)

• Habitat: Oceans worldwide, especially on coral reefs, rocky shores and seagrass beds

• Diet: Carnivore – sponges, hydroids, sea anemones, coral, eggs of other animals

Key features:

• Nudibranchs are soft-bodied, shell-less sea slugs known for their incredible colors and patterns—neon stripes, spots, frills and more.

• Many species steal stinging cells from cnidarian prey (like sea anemones) or toxins from sponges, then store them in their own bodies as defense.

• Their exposed gills or cerata often form decorative plumes or finger-like projections on their backs.

Fun fact:
Because they are so colorful and diverse, nudibranchs are favorite photo subjects for underwater photographers and divers searching for “macro” critters.

Frequently Asked Questions About Animals That Start With N

How many animals start with the letter N?

There is no single official number, because:

• New species are still being described.

• Many animals have more than one common English name (for example, nutria vs coypu).

However, there are dozens of well-known “N animals” across all groups:

• Mammals: Narwhal, numbat, nyala, naked mole-rat, nutria, nilgai

• Birds: Nightingale, nighthawk, nene, northern cardinal, northern goshawk

• Reptiles & Amphibians: Newts, Nile crocodile, night snake, northern leopard frog

• Fish & Marine Animals: Nurse shark, Napoleon wrasse, needlefish, neon tetra

• Invertebrates: Nautilus, nudibranch, nematodes, net-winged beetles, northern black widow spiders

For an alphabet-themed project, you can easily expand this list with more scientific or regional names.

What pets start with N?

Some pet or domestic animals that start with N (or have N at the start of their common name) include:

• Neon tetra – a small, brightly colored freshwater aquarium fish.

• Netherland dwarf rabbit – a tiny, popular pet rabbit breed.

• Norwegian Forest Cat – a long-haired, semi-wild-looking domestic cat breed.

• Newfoundland dog – a giant, gentle dog breed known for its swimming ability.

• Newt – some species are kept as exotic aquarium pets by experienced keepers.

• Nanday conure (black-hooded parakeet) – a small parrot sometimes kept as a pet.

Before choosing any N-animal pet, research:

• Legal restrictions on exotic species in your area

• Enclosure size, environmental needs (water, UV light, humidity, etc.)

• Diet, lifespan and specialized veterinary care

Many wild animals that start with N, like narwhals or numbats, obviously cannot and should not be kept as pets.

What dangerous animals start with N?

Some Animals That Start With N can be dangerous to humans, especially if threatened or mishandled:

• Nile crocodile – a large and powerful predator; responsible for more attacks on humans than many other crocodilians.

• Needlefish – not usually aggressive, but their sharp, elongated jaws can cause severe injuries if they leap from the water at high speed.

• Nurse shark – relatively docile, but can deliver strong bites if disturbed or provoked.

• Northern black widow – a venomous spider; bites can be medically significant, though fatalities are rare with modern treatment.

• Nutria – more of an ecological threat than a direct danger, but like any wild rodent they can bite if handled and may carry diseases.

Most wild “N animals” prefer to avoid people. Respecting their space, not feeding wildlife, and following local safety advice greatly reduces the risk of problems.

Which N animals are especially important for ecosystems?

Several Animals That Start With N play important ecological roles:

• Narwhals – part of Arctic marine food webs and considered indicators of changing sea-ice and fish communities.

• Numbats – specialized termite predators, helping keep termite populations in check in Australian ecosystems.

• Newts – control aquatic insect and invertebrate populations and serve as prey for fish, birds and mammals.

• Nile crocodiles – top predators in African freshwater ecosystems, helping remove weak or sick animals and influencing prey behavior.

• Nutria – where native, they are part of wetland food webs; where invasive, they highlight how one species can reshape entire wetlands.

• Nautiluses and nudibranchs – important parts of reef ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and indicating reef health.

Protecting these N animals and their habitats helps maintain the balance of rivers, wetlands, forests, coral reefs and the polar seas.

By exploring this guide to Animals That Start With N, you’ve seen how one letter can connect a whole world of wildlife: narwhals, numbats, nyalas, naked mole-rats, nutrias, nightingales, newts, Nile crocodiles, nurse sharks, nautiluses, nudibranchs 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.