Animals That Start With U: Ultimate “U Animals” List (With Fun Facts)

When people search for “Animals That Start With U”, they’re usually looking for:

• A clear list of animals beginning with U

• Rare or unusual animals that start with U

• Mammals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures whose English names start with U

• U animals for kids’ projects, alphabet lessons or quizzes

Compared with letters like S or T, there are fewer common U animals, but they tend to be unusual, tropical, or very specialized.

In this guide you’ll find:

• A quick U-animals list by group

• An overview table (class, habitat, diet, fun fact)

• Detailed profiles of some of the most interesting Animals That Start With U

• FAQ: pets, dangerous species and ecologically important U animals

You can use this page as an alphabet resource, a homework helper, or as SEO content for a wildlife blog.

1. Quick List of Animals That Start With U

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

Mammals

• Uakari – small South American monkey with a bright red face

• Urial – wild sheep found in central and South Asia

• Ugandan kob – a type of antelope from East Africa

• Uinta ground squirrel – a ground squirrel from the western United States

• Uromastyx (sometimes kept as pet “uromastyx lizard”) – technically a reptile, but often searched together with pet mammals

Birds

• Umbrellabird – tropical bird with a huge crest like an umbrella

• Ural owl – large owl of European and Asian forests

• Upland sandpiper – grassland shorebird of North America

• Ultramarine lorikeet – a small, brightly colored parrot (very localized)

• Uniform crake / Uniform finch – less well-known tropical species that also start with U

Reptiles & Amphibians

• Uromastyx – spiny-tailed lizards of deserts and rocky hills

• Urutu pit viper – venomous snake from South America

• Uta lizard (side-blotched lizard) – small lizards in the genus Uta

• Upland chorus frog – North American frog often heard calling in spring

Fish & Marine Animals

• Unicornfish – tropical surgeonfish with a horn-like projection on the head

• Upside-down catfish – freshwater fish that swims belly-up

• Uaru cichlid – Amazonian freshwater fish, popular in aquariums

• Umber goby / Uniform wrasse – less common U-starting reef fish names

Invertebrates (Insects & Others)

• Sea urchin – spiny echinoderm living on the seafloor

• Underwing moth – cryptic moth with bright hindwings

• Ulysses butterfly – brilliant blue tropical swallowtail

• Urchin crab – crabs that carry sea urchins as living shields

Next, a table with key facts about some of the most representative U animals.

2. U-Animals Overview Table

3. Detailed Profiles of Key “U Animals”

Now let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting and frequently searched Animals That Start With U.

3.1 Uakari

• Class: Mammal (New World monkey)

• Habitat: Flooded forests and river edges in the Amazon Basin (South America)

• Diet: Mostly fruit and seeds, plus buds, nectar and occasional insects

Key features:

• Uakaris (especially the bald uakari) are small monkeys with short tails, shaggy fur and a completely bald head.

• Their most striking feature is a bright red face. A healthy uakari has deep red skin on the face; pale or blotchy coloration may indicate illness or parasite load.

• They live in social groups and move through the middle and upper layers of the forest, often near rivers that flood seasonally.

Fun fact:
Because their redness is linked to health, scientists think the uakari’s face may act as a visual signal in mate choice—a natural “health indicator.”

3.2 Urial

• Class: Mammal (wild sheep)

• Habitat: Dry, open, hilly terrain and mountain slopes in Central and South Asia (Pakistan, Iran, India, etc.)

• Diet: Herbivore – grasses, herbs and leaves of shrubs

Key features:

• The urial is a wild sheep species with a reddish-brown to gray coat and white underside.

• Males have large, curved horns that can spiral outward and backward, used in displays and battles during the mating season.

• They are adapted to rugged, rocky terrain and can navigate steep slopes with ease.

Fun fact:
Urials are sometimes called “shapo” in local languages and are important both culturally and ecologically in parts of their range.

3.3 Ugandan Kob

• Class: Mammal (antelope)

• Habitat: Moist savannas, floodplains and grasslands near rivers and lakes in East Africa (especially Uganda)

• Diet: Grazing herbivore – mainly grasses

Key features:

• The Ugandan kob is a medium-sized antelope with a reddish-golden coat and white throat patches.

• Males grow lyre-shaped horns and are slightly heavier than females.

• In some populations, males gather in leks—small territories clustered together—where they display and fight for access to visiting females.

Fun fact:
Ugandan kob appears on the coat of arms of Uganda and is a national symbol of the country’s wildlife.

3.4 Uinta Ground Squirrel

• Class: Mammal (rodent)

• Habitat: Mountain meadows, sagebrush grasslands and open fields in the western United States (e.g., Utah, Wyoming, Idaho)

• Diet: Seeds, grasses, roots, bulbs and insects

Key features:

• These ground squirrels live in underground burrow systems in open habitats.

• They are active mainly during the warmer months; for the rest of the year they hibernate, surviving on stored body fat.

• They have a brownish coat with lighter underparts and a short tail.

Fun fact:
Uinta ground squirrels may spend more than half of the year underground in hibernation, escaping cold and food scarcity in high-elevation habitats.

3.5 Umbrellabird

• Class: Bird

• Habitat: Cloud forests and humid tropical forests of Central and northern South America

• Diet: Mainly fruit, plus large insects and small vertebrates

Key features:

• Male umbrellabirds have a distinctive umbrella-like crest of feathers that droops over the beak and head.

• They also have a pendant-shaped wattle (a fleshy, feathered inflatable throat sac) that can be puffed up during courtship displays.

• Usually black or dark-colored, they spend much of their time in the forest canopy.

Fun fact:
The umbrellabird’s deep, booming call is amplified by its throat wattle and can be heard over considerable distances in the forest.

3.6 Ural Owl

• Class: Bird (owl)

• Habitat: Mature coniferous and mixed forests across Europe and northern Asia

• Diet: Mainly small mammals like voles and mice, plus birds, frogs and insects

Key features:

• The Ural owl is a large, robust owl with rounded head, dark eyes and a long tail.

• It nests in tree cavities or old nests of other large birds, and prefers forest areas with old, hollow trees.

• This owl hunts mostly at night or at dusk and dawn, using silent flight and acute hearing to locate prey.

Fun fact:
Ural owls are known to defend their nests aggressively, sometimes swooping at intruders (including humans) that approach too closely during the breeding season.

3.7 Uromastyx (Spiny-Tailed Lizard)

• Class: Reptile

• Habitat: Rocky deserts and semi-arid regions across North Africa, the Middle East and parts of South Asia

• Diet: Primarily herbivorous – leaves, flowers, seeds and occasionally insects

Key features:

• Uromastyx lizards have sturdy bodies, strong digging limbs and a thick, spiny tail used for defense.

• Unlike many lizards, they are mostly plant-eaters, grazing on tough desert vegetation.

• Often bask on warm rocks; they spend the hottest part of the day in burrows they dig themselves.

Fun fact:
Because of their calmer temperament and mostly vegetarian diet, some Uromastyx species are kept as exotic pet reptiles, although they still need very specific heat and light conditions.

3.8 Urutu Pit Viper

• Class: Reptile (snake)

• Habitat: Grasslands, wetlands and forest edges in parts of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina

• Diet: Small mammals, birds, amphibians and other small vertebrates

Key features:

• The urutu pit viper (also called the crossed pit viper) has a bold pattern of dark and light bands or blotches along its body.

• Like other pit vipers, it has heat-sensing pits between the eyes and nostrils to detect warm-blooded prey.

• It has potent hemotoxic venom, used to immobilize prey and defend itself.

Fun fact:
Although dangerous, urutu snakes generally prefer to hide or escape rather than bite if they can avoid confrontation. Most bites occur when people accidentally step on or handle them.

3.9 Unicornfish

• Class: Fish (bony fish, surgeonfish family)

• Habitat: Coral reefs and rocky coasts in tropical Indo-Pacific oceans

• Diet: Mostly herbivorous – algae and other marine plants scraped from rocks and corals

Key features:

• Named for the horn-like projection on their forehead in many species, which makes them look a bit like underwater unicorns.

• Body is oval and streamlined; tail base often has sharp spines (typical of surgeonfish).

• Usually swim in small groups, grazing on algae and helping keep reef surfaces clean.

Fun fact:
The “horn” of unicornfish is not used like a sword; it’s more likely a visual feature involved in species recognition and social interactions.

3.10 Upside-Down Catfish

• Class: Fish

• Habitat: Slow rivers, floodplain lakes and swamps in Central Africa

• Diet: Insects, crustaceans, algae and biofilm scraped from submerged surfaces

Key features:

• As the name suggests, upside-down catfish often swim belly-up.

• This unusual behavior lets them graze more easily on algae and food on the undersides of rocks, logs and leaves, and even at the water’s surface.

• They are relatively small and social, often kept in aquariums.

Fun fact:
In captivity, upside-down catfish are popular because of their quirky behavior—seeing a fish calmly swimming upside-down surprises many new aquarium keepers.

3.11 Uaru Cichlid

• Class: Fish (cichlid)

• Habitat: Slow-moving, tannin-rich backwaters and flooded forests of the Amazon Basin

• Diet: Primarily plant material – leaves, fruits, algae; also some invertebrates

Key features:

• Uaru cichlids have a disc-shaped body, often dark with lighter patches, giving them a rounded, “plate-like” look.

• They are relatively intelligent, social fish that can recognize their owners and show complex behaviors.

• Pairs often form and care for their eggs and fry together, fanning and guarding them.

Fun fact:
Because of their triangular / disc shape and interesting social behavior, Uaru cichlids are sometimes nicknamed “triangle cichlids” in the aquarium hobby.

3.12 Sea Urchin

• Class: Echinoderm (same group as sea stars)

• Habitat: Ocean floors worldwide – rocky shores, coral reefs, kelp forests and seagrass beds

• Diet: Primarily algae; some species also eat detritus and small animals

Key features:

• Sea urchins have round, rigid shells called tests, covered with movable spines.

• They move using hundreds of tiny tube feet that extend through the shell and grip surfaces with suction.

• A special chewing structure called Aristotle’s lantern lets them scrape tough algae off rocks.

Fun fact:
In some regions, urchins help control algal growth; but when predators (like sea otters) are removed, urchin populations can explode and create “urchin barrens” where algae and kelp are overgrazed.

3.13 Ulysses Butterfly

• Class: Insect (butterfly)

• Habitat: Tropical rainforests and gardens in northeastern Australia and nearby islands of the South Pacific

• Diet: Caterpillars feed on the leaves of certain trees; adults drink nectar from flowers

Key features:

• The Ulysses butterfly is famous for its brilliant electric-blue wings bordered by black.

• Wingspan can reach around 14 cm (about 5.5 inches), making it very noticeable when fluttering through the forest.

• It’s attracted to bright, nectar-producing garden flowers as well as native forest blossoms.

Fun fact:
Because of its striking appearance, the Ulysses butterfly has become an iconic symbol of tourism in parts of Australia, often used in logos and promotional materials.

4. FAQ: Animals That Start With U

4.1 How many animals start with U?

There is no single official number, because:

• New species and common names are still being described.

• Some names (like urchin or unicornfish) cover many species rather than just one.

• A few animals are better known by scientific or regional names that don’t start with U, even if one of their alternate names does.

However, there are dozens of U animals across different groups, including:

• Mammals: uakari, urial, Ugandan kob, Uinta ground squirrel

• Birds: umbrellabird, Ural owl, upland sandpiper, ultramarine lorikeet

• Reptiles & amphibians: uromastyx, urutu pit viper, Uta (side-blotched lizard), upland chorus frog

• Fish & marine animals: unicornfish, upside-down catfish, Uaru cichlid, several lesser-known U-start fish names

• Invertebrates: sea urchin, underwing moth, Ulysses butterfly, several crabs and small bugs whose common names begin with U

For alphabet projects and SEO pages, these are more than enough to build a solid, interesting U-animals list.

4.2 Are there pets that start with U?

Yes—while less common than other letters, there are a few pets and aquarium species that start with U:

• Uromastyx lizards – kept as exotic pet reptiles by experienced keepers.

• Upside-down catfish – peaceful, quirky freshwater aquarium fish.

• Uaru cichlids – large, intelligent cichlids for advanced aquarists.

• Utonagan dogs – a relatively modern dog type bred to resemble wolves (name starts with U).

Before getting any “U animal” as a pet:

• Always check local laws (especially for reptiles and exotic fish).

• Research space, diet, temperature and lifespan requirements.

• Make sure you’re ready for a long-term commitment—some reptiles and fish can live for many years.

4.3 Are there dangerous animals that start with U?

A few Animals That Start With U can be dangerous if provoked or handled carelessly:

• Urutu pit viper – venomous snake capable of causing serious or fatal bites.

• Some urchins – especially long-spined sea urchins, whose spines can puncture skin and cause painful injuries.

• Certain U-start marine animals and insects (for example, some scorpionfish or underwing moth caterpillars in other genera) can have stings or irritating hairs, although not all are severe.

Most U animals are not aggressive toward humans and only pose a risk when:

• People accidentally step on, grab or corner them (e.g., stepping barefoot on an urchin).

• People try to handle wild animals without proper experience or protective equipment.

Respecting wildlife and observing from a distance is always the safest approach.

4.4 Which U animals are important for ecosystems?

Several U animals play important ecological roles:

• Uakari – seed disperser in flooded Amazon forests, helping maintain tree diversity.

• Urial & Ugandan kob – grazing mammals that shape grassland vegetation and serve as prey for large predators.

• Uinta ground squirrels – aerate soil by digging burrows and are key prey for hawks, owls and carnivores.

• Uromastyx – desert herbivores that influence plant communities and provide prey for larger predators.

• Unicornfish – reef herbivores that help control algae and keep corals from being overgrown.

• Sea urchins – important grazers on rocky reefs; in balanced numbers they keep algal growth under control.

• Underwing moths & Ulysses butterflies – pollinators and part of forest food webs, feeding birds, bats and other insect predators.

Protecting these Animals That Start With U and their habitats helps maintain healthy forests, grasslands, deserts and coral reefs.

If you’re building an A–Z animal project or an SEO-focused wildlife site, the letter U might not have as many obvious options as S or T, but it’s full of unusual, memorable species: uakaris with red faces, umbrellabirds with feather umbrellas, upside-down catfish, unicornfish, urchins and Ulysses butterflies.

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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.