This page includes all animals that start with the letter R that we plan to cover on Fact Animal. As we publish new content, each of these animals will be linked to their dedicated profile fact pages.
From Rabbit to Russel’s Viper, read extraordinary facts about animals beginning with the letter R.
R
Rabbit
Raccoon
Raccoon Dog
Racer Snake
Rainbow Shark
Rat
Rattlesnake
Raven
Rays
Razorbill
Red-Breasted Merganser
Red-handed Tamarin
Red Kite
Red Knee Tarantula
Red-lipped Batfish
Red Panda
Red Ruffed Lemur
Red Squirrel
Red Wolf
Red-crested Turaco
Red-eared Slider
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Red-tailed Hawk
Redback Spider
Regal Jumping Spider
Reed Frog
Regal Angelfish
Reindeer
Reticulated Python
Rhea
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros Beetle
Ribbon EEl
Right Whale
Ringed Caecilian
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ringtail Cat
River Dolphin
River Otter
Roadrunner
Robin
Rock Hyrax
Rock Python
Rockhopper Penguin
Rottweiler
Rosy Maple Moth
Rough Collie
Round Stingray
Royal Penguin
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Russell’s Viper
Russian Bear Dog
Russian Blue Cat
Rusty-spotted Cat
Please see our Animal A-Z list for animals that start with different letters.
Animal Names That Start With R
Read on for an overview of each of the animals listed above that begin with the letter R.
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals belonging to the Leporidae family, known for their long ears, hopping gait, powder-puff tails and prolific breeding habits.
Fun Fact: While they look and behave a lot like rodents, rabbits are in a separate order, Lagomorpha. While rodents have two incisors in each jaw, lagomorphs have four.
Raccoon
The raccoon is instantly recognisable as the mask-faced trash bandit from North America, but it’s actually a genus of three species of raccoon, spread out across the Americas.
Fun Fact: Raccoons are known to wash their food before eating, a behaviour believed to be an instinctual way of improving tactile sensitivity or removing unwanted debris from their food.
Raccoon Dog
This dog is named after the racoon for its distinctive markings but is firmly in the Canidae family. It’s commonly farmed for its fur in China.
Fun Fact: In Japanese folklore, the raccoon dog, or “tanuki” is a mischievous shape-shifter with supernatural powers, often portrayed carrying a bottle of sake and a large scrotum symbolizing wealth and good fortune.
Racer Snake
Racers are a group of Colubrid snakes from North America and Southeast Asia. They’re typically plain dark coloured, from blues to blacks, and named for being really, really fast.
Fun Fact: These are highly energetic snakes, and will strike repeatedly if their attempts to escape fail. They’ll also vibrate their tails, mimicking rattlesnakes.
Rainbow Shark
These bony fish from Southeast Asia are slender, with a blue-black body and bright orange or red fins. They’re popular in aquariums.
Fun Fact: Rainbow sharks come in a handful of unusual colour morphs, including one that’s genetically modified for fluorescence.
Rat
Rats are extremely intelligent, friendly and adaptable rodents found throughout the world, often thriving in urban environments alongside humans.
Fun Fact: Rats have excellent memories and can remember spatial information, such as the layout of their environment, for up to three years.
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are dangerously venomous vipers from the Americas, iconic for their terrifying rattle, used in self-defence.
Fun Fact: Rattlesnakes are born with a pre-button, a segment of a rattle, which they increase in size each time they moult, keeping a piece of skin from each moult until they develop a functional rattle.
Raven
Ravens are large, intelligent corvids infamous for their glossy black plumage and deep, resonant calls.
Fun Fact: Ravens form complex social bonds and have been observed engaging in playful behaviour, such as aerial acrobatics and sliding down snow-covered slopes for fun.
Rays
Rays are a diverse group of cartilaginous fish characterized by their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. They’re members of the elasmobranch subclass, alongside sharks.
Fun Fact: Some of the largest rays have enormous brains for their taxonomic group. Giant mantas, for example, are said to be smart, friendly and curious animals.
Razorbill
The razorbill is a species of seabird in the auk family, and so looks a lot like a flat penguin with a distinctive stripe on its beak.
Fun Fact: Like penguins, these are predominantly marine birds, and highly adapted to life in the frigid waters of Russia and Canada.
Red-Breasted Merganser
The red-breasted merganser is a powerful diving duck with a long, serrated bill, tufty crest and beautiful colouration.
Fun Fact: Unlike most ducks with highly buoyant back ends, these are skilled divers, capable of chasing fish and crustaceans up to 9m deep.
Red-handed Tamarin
The red-handed tamarin is a tiny species of monkey found in the tropical forests of South America, appropriately named for the red fur on its hands.
Fun Fact: Red-handed tamarins are so light and small that they can drop 20 meters out of the canopy onto the ground without hurting themselves.
Red Kite
The red kite is a large raptor with distinctive reddish-brown plumage and a forked tail.
Fun Fact: Red kites are one of the greatest success stories in the history of British conservation. Breeding and reintroduction programs have seen the populations return from tens to over ten thousand, 35 years later.
Red Knee Tarantula
The red knee tarantula is a large, colourful spider native to the deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Fun Fact: This species is super docile and easy to care for, making it a popular choice among collectors and educational animal displays.
Red-lipped Batfish
The red-lipped batfish is a bizarre marine fish found in the waters around the Galápagos Islands, with bright red lips and modified fins resembling legs.
Fun Fact: Red-lipped batfish are poor swimmers and primarily use their modified pectoral fins to “walk” along the ocean floor, which gives them a permanent expression of disapproval.
Red Panda
The red panda, sometimes unfairly known as the lesser panda, is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
Fun Fact: Red pandas aren’t closely related to giant pandas, and are the only members of their family. But a life of eating bamboo has resulted in very similar tooth morphology.
Red Ruffed Lemur
This arboreal primate is endemic to the rainforests of Madagascar. It has a vibrant reddish-brown fur and distinctive ruff of fur around its neck.
Fun Fact: Red ruffed lemurs are one of the most vocal non-human primates, using a wide range of calls including loud roars, grunts, and wails to communicate with each other.
Red Squirrel
Red squirrels are arboreal rodents from Eurasia. They are close relatives to the American grey squirrel and despite the name can come in a variety of colours from light brown to black.
Fun fact: Unlike their heavier American cousins, red squirrels spend almost all their time in the trees. These are far more arboreal animals and do better at avoiding mustelid predators as a result.
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a critically endangered canid species native to the southeastern United States. It’s somewhere between a grey wolf and a coyote in size and appearance.
Fun Fact: Red wolves are among the rarest canids in the world, with only a small population surviving in the wild, and intensive conservation efforts are underway to prevent their extinction.
Regal Jumping Spider
Regal jumping spiders are a scruffy but pretty-looking species of jumping spiders from North America and the Caribbean. They come in various colour morphs from black to browns and reds.
Fun Fact: This is the largest species of jumping spider in North America, with exceptionally large females growing up to 2.2cm long.
Reindeer
The reindeer, or caribou, depending on which continent you’re on, is a species of deer native to the Arctic, sub-Arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Fun Fact: Reindeer have a specialized nasal structure that warms and humidifies cold air before it reaches their lungs.
Rhinoceros
The rhino is a large, herbivorous mammal with thick, protective skin and one or more distinctive horns on its nose.
Fun Fact: Rhinos are one of the last surviving Pleistocene mega beasts – evolving alongside terrifying extinct predators and so can be extremely dangerous when approached.
Rhinoceros Beetle
The rhinoceros beetle is a very large scarab beetle named for its horn-like protrusions on the heads of males, which they use to fight other males for mates and territory.
Fun Fact: Rhinoceros beetles are among the strongest animals on Earth relative to their size, capable of lifting objects up to 850 times their own weight.
Right Whale
The right whale is a baleen whale species with a sort of upside-down grin and a stocky body. They’re usually covered in barnacles.
Fun Fact: Right whales bore the brunt of the early commercial whaling due to their high oil content and slow swimming speeds. Today, hunting pressure is lessened but population recovery is hampered by new human threats such as sonar and entanglement.
Ringed Caecilian
The ringed caecilian is a limbless, wormlike amphibian found in tropical regions of South America. It’s named for the ringed markings that run down its body.
Fun Fact: Ringed caecilians, along with 75% of caecilian species, give birth to live young. This is unique among the amphibian order, exclusive to just these species.
River Dolphin:
The river dolphins, also known as the freshwater dolphins, are a group of freshwater cetaceans adapted to rivers and estuaries around the world.
Fun Fact: Like their marine cousins, these intelligent mammals use echolocation to navigate. Living in murky freshwater environments has led to an almost total atrophying of their eyes.
Roadrunner
The roadrunner is a fast-running bird native to North and Central America, infamous for its distinctive appearance with long legs, a long tail, and its ability to mislead coyotes.
Fun Fact: Roadrunners can fly, they just don’t; they’re so good at running they rarely need to leave the ground at all.
Rock Hyrax
These peculiar-looking rodent-like mammals are actually more closely related to elephants than almost anything else. They’re native to the Middle East and will spend a lot of time sitting adorably on rocks looking derpy.
Fun Fact: The rock hyrax has very rubbery feet, which help it move over slippery rocks without falling off.
Rockhopper Penguin
The rockhopper penguin is a small species of penguin found in subantarctic regions, known for its distinctive crest of spiky feathers above its eyes and its characteristic hopping movement on rocky terrain.
Fun Fact: These highly social birds can dive over 100m down and stay under for several minutes while hunting.
Rosy Maple Moth
This is a species of colourful moth native to North America, with pink and yellow colouration and a fluffy appearance, looking like a rhubarb and custard-flavoured cotton ball.
Fun Fact: Rosy maple moths are a species of ‘great silk’ moth, like the giant Atlas moth. But this species is relatively tiny, at up to 5cm across.
Royal Penguin
The royal penguin is a Macquarie Island penguin species from Antarctica. It’s a pretty standard-looking penguin except for a golden crest on its head.
Fun Fact: These are the largest of the crested penguins, at up to 70cm tall, and while commonly confused with macaroni penguins, are entirely endemic to Macquarie Island.
Russell’s Viper
Russell’s viper is a venomous snake species from South Asia, with a classic viper triangular head and a distinctive pattern of dark brown spots bordered by white or yellow bands.
Fun Fact: Russell’s vipers are responsible for a substantial number of snakebite fatalities in their native range, and they are considered one of the “big four” venomous snakes in India.
Russian Bear Dog
The Russian Bear Dog, also known as the Caucasian Shepherd or Caucasian Ovcharka, is an enormous and powerful breed of dog from the Caucasus region.
Fun Fact: Caucasian Shepherds are traditionally used as livestock guardian dogs, protecting flocks of sheep from predators such as wolves and bears.
Red-crested Turaco
The Red-crested Turaco is a beautifully colourful bird species native to forests and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa.
Fun Fact: Turacos like the red-crested Turaco, are the only birds capable of producing red pigment themselves. In birds, this colour usually comes from the diet and so is a symbol of fitness.
Red-eared Slider
The red-eared slider is a popular turtle native to North America. It’s recognized by the red or orange patches behind its eyes and named for the habit of sliding off rocks and logs into the water when you’re trying to catch them.
Fun Fact: Sliders don’t hear very well, but are highly attuned to vibrations, giving them early warning of approaching zoologists.
Red-eyed Tree Frog
The Red-eyed Tree Frog is a gorgeous amphibian species found in the rainforests of Central America, exhibiting a bright green body, orange feet, and large, red eyes.
Fun Fact: Red-eyed tree frogs have three eyelids on each eye. Whether this is a cause of, or solution to the red eye is unknown.
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a widespread and adaptable raptor species from North America.
Fun Fact: The sound you hear in movies when an American bald eagle flies over, screeching, is actually the call of the red-tailed hawk. It just sounds better than the whiny call of the USA’s chosen mascot.
Redback Spider
The Redback Spider is a notorious arachnid species from Australia, It’s a small spider with a glossy black body and a distinctive red or orange stripe on its abdomen.
Fun Fact: Redback Spiders are feared for their potent venom, which contains neurotoxins that can cause severe pain, and nausea, in humans, though fatalities are rare.
Reed Frog
Reed Frogs are a diverse group of small amphibians found in wetland habitats across Africa, known for their ability to climb reeds and grasses near water bodies and their distinctive calls during mating season.
Fun Fact: Reed frogs are tiny but can make a deafening noise at night when in large groups. Many individuals sound like tiny glass bells but are the loudest animals for their size in their habitats.
Regal Angelfish
The regal, or royal angelfish, is a striking marine fish species native to the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region, recognisable by its blue and yellow colouration, contrasting stripes, and elegant fins.
Fun Fact: Regal Angelfish are highly prized by marine aquarium enthusiasts but they require a large tank with plenty of live rock and hiding places to thrive in captivity.
Reticulated Python
The Reticulated Python is one of the world’s largest snake species, found in Southeast Asia, this is a powerful constrictor and can grow up to ten meters long.
Fun Fact: Reticulated Pythons are generalist predators, and while they have no venom, large examples are capable of killing and even swallowing a person.
Rhea
Rheas are basically entry-level ostriches from South America. As ratites, they’ve got long legs, and small wings, and are excellent at running.
Fun Fact: Rheas actually have the longest wings of the short-winged ratites, and they use them as rudders to change direction quickly.
Ribbon Eel
The ribbon eel is a species of ribbon-like moray eel found in the Indo-Pacific region. It has vibrant Swedish flag colouration and a narrow face.
Fun Fact: Ribbon Eels are sequentially hermaphroditic, transitioning between sexes as they mature.
Ring-necked Pheasant
The Ring-necked Pheasant is a colourful game bird species native to Asia but introduced to many parts of the world for hunting purposes.
Fun Fact: Ring-necked Pheasants have powerful legs and will only fly when given no other option.
Ringtail Cat
The Ringtail Cat, also known as a ringtail or miner’s cat, is a small carnivorous mammal native to North America. They’re the state animal for Arizona.
Fun Fact: Ringtail cats are in the raccoon family, sharing characteristics with the notorious trash panda, such as a similar tail appearance and omnivorous diet.
River Otter
The river otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found in freshwater habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia. It has a streamlined body, webbed feet, and playful behaviour, making it a beloved mascot for healthy river ecosystems.
Fun Fact: River Otters are adorable but ferocious predators. Legendary English naturalist Terry Nutkins lost two fingers to one when studying them in Scotland.
Robin
The robin is a small songbird species belonging to the thrush family and found across Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. It’s famous for its orange-red breast and melodious singing voice, often associated with the arrival of spring.
Fun Fact: Robins are tiny but territorial birds and will vigorously defend their nesting territories against intruders, including their own reflections in windows and car mirrors.
Rock Python
The Rock Python is a large nonvenomous snake species found in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s a large and robust python, growing up to six meters long.
Fun Fact: Rock Pythons are excellent swimmers and can often be found near water bodies such as rivers, streams, and marshes, where they hunt for prey and hide from predators.
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a large and iconic breed of domestic dog originating from Germany. They’re intelligent and powerful animals with a broad, short head.
Fun Fact: Rottweilers date back to Roman times when they were used as herding and guarding dogs by Roman soldiers, and are one of the oldest domestic dog breeds.
Rough Collie
The Rough Collie is a medium to large-sized herding dog breed from Scotland, known for its intelligence and versatility as both a working dog and a family friend.
Fun Fact: “Lassie”, the heroic TV dog from the ‘50s was a rough collie. The popularity of this fictional show led to countless neglected children dying in wells as the real animal isn’t nearly as smart.
Round Stingray
The Round Stingray is a species of stingray found in coastal waters around the world, named for its circular body shape, flattened appearance, and venomous tail spine.
Fun Fact: Round Stingrays are bottom-feeding hunters, using their entire bodies as electro-receiving plates to pick up on the tiny impulses of prey animals under the sand.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small hummingbird native to North America, named after its distinctive ruby-red throat patch, which is more prominent in males.
Fun Fact: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are incredible migratory birds, despite their small size, travelling over the Gulf of Mexico between Central America and North America, as far as Texas.
Rufous Hummingbird
The Rufous Hummingbird is a small migratory hummingbird found in North and Central America, named for its fiery orange plumage.
Fun Fact: These tiny birds have the longest migration routes of any hummingbird species, travelling up to 4,000 miles from their breeding grounds in western North America to their wintering grounds in Mexico or Central America.
Russian Blue Cat
The Russian blue cat is a medium-sized cat breed with origins in Russia, named for its dense blue-grey coat, and with striking green eyes, it’s a popular choice of pet worldwide.
Fun Fact: Russian blue cats have an unusually upturned mouth, giving them a perpetual sly smile.
Rusty-spotted Cat
The Rusty-spotted Cat is one of the smallest wild cat species native to India and Sri Lanka, it’s a shy little thing, with distinctive rusty-coloured spots on its coat.
Fun Fact: Rusty-spotted Cats are surprisingly fierce for their size and can bring down prey bigger than themselves.
What Other Animals Begin With ‘R’?
That completes our list of animals that begin with the letter R.
Hopefully you’ve learned a few new ones, but are there any that we’re missing in our list that you would like to see covered?
If so, get in touch. Please see our Animal A-Z list for animals that start with different letters.