Animals Names That Start with O [Fun Facts & Complete List]

Did you know that octopuses have three hearts and blue blood? But they’re not the only fascinating animals whose names start with the letter O! In this article, we’ll explore mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and even extinct animals that all start with O.

Popular Animals that Start with O

Here are some of the most well-known animals starting with O:

  • Ocelot – A wild cat with a striking spotted coat.
  • Octopus – A highly intelligent sea creature with eight arms.
  • Orangutan – A large, intelligent great ape known for its red fur.
  • Ostrich – The largest bird in the world, known for its speed.
  • Otter – A playful and agile aquatic mammal.

Pet Animals That Start with O

  • Old English Sheepdog – A fluffy, intelligent herding dog breed.
  • Oranda Goldfish – A fancy goldfish with a distinctive head growth.
  • Ori-Pei – A designer dog breed that’s a mix of a Pug and a Shar-Pei.

Farm Animals That Start with O

  • Onagadori Chicken – A rare Japanese chicken breed with exceptionally long tail feathers.
  • Ox – A strong, domesticated bovine used for farming and labor.

Wild Animals That Start with O

  • Okapi – A rare mammal related to the giraffe, found in Africa.
  • Olive Baboon – A social primate found across Africa.
  • Oribi – A small, graceful antelope found in grasslands.
  • Olingo – A nocturnal mammal related to raccoons.

Diverse Animal Types Starting with O

Mammals That Start with O

  • Onager – A wild ass native to Asia.
  • Olympic Marmot – A rodent found in the Olympic Mountains of Washington state.
  • Opossum – A marsupial known for playing dead when threatened.

Birds That Start with O

  • Ocellated Turkey – A beautifully colored wild turkey found in Central America.
  • Orange-Crowned Warbler – A small migratory songbird.
  • Orchard Oriole – A strikingly colored oriole bird.
  • Osprey – A bird of prey that specializes in hunting fish.

Reptiles and Amphibians That Start with O

  • Olive Python – A large, non-venomous snake from Australia.
  • Olive Sea Snake – A venomous sea snake found in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Oenpelli Python – A rare snake native to Australia.
  • Oregon Spotted Frog – An endangered amphibian found in North America.

Fish That Start with O

  • Oarfish – A long, deep-sea fish often linked to sea serpent legends.
  • Ocean Whitefish – A species of fish found in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Opah – A large, colorful fish also known as the moonfish.
  • Orange Roughy – A deep-sea fish known for its long lifespan.

Insects and Other Small Creatures That Start with O

  • Old House Borer – A beetle that damages wooden structures.
  • Oleander Hawk Moth – A large, striking moth with green markings.
  • Orb Weaver – A spider known for its intricate, circular webs.
  • Owlfly – An insect that resembles both an owl and a dragonfly.

Extinct Animals That Start with O

  • Opabinia – A bizarre prehistoric marine creature with five eyes.
  • Ornithocheirus – A flying reptile from the dinosaur era.
  • Ornithomimus – A fast-running dinosaur that resembled modern ostriches.
  • Oviraptor – A feathered dinosaur believed to have been a nest protector.

Full List of Animals That Start with O

Here’s a complete list of animals starting with O:

Animal NameAnimal NameAnimal Name
Oak ToadOarfishOcean Perch
Ocean PoutOcean WhitefishOceanic Whitetip Shark
Ocellated TurkeyOcelotOctopus
Oenpelli PythonOilfishOkapi
Old English SheepdogOld House BorerOleander Hawk Moth
OlingoOlive BaboonOlive Python
Olive Sea SnakeOlmOlympic Marmot
Onagadori ChickenOnagerOpabinia
OpahOpaleye (Rudderfish)Opossum
Oranda GoldfishOrange Baboon TarantulaOrange Dream Ball Python
Orange RoughyOrange SpiderOrange Tanager
Orange-Crowned WarblerOrangutanOrb Weaver
Orchard OrioleOrchid DottybackOregon Spotted Frog
Ori-PeiOribiOriental Cockroach
Oriental Dwarf KingfisherOrinoco CrocodileOrnate Bichir
Ornate Black-Tailed RattlesnakeOrnate Box TurtleOrnithocheirus
OrnithomimusOrtolan BuntingOscar Fish
OspreyOstracodOstrich
OtterOtterhoundOvenbird
OviraptorOwlOwl Butterfly
OwlflyOxOxpecker
OysterOyster ToadfishOzark Bass

Final Thoughts

That was a lot of animals that start with O! Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments. If you enjoyed this list, check out our other animal name articles for more fun facts and learning!