Ready to explore the animal kingdom with your kids? Check out this giant list of animals that begin with T. You will be surprised by the many places these animals live worldwide—some in bodies of water, others in caves, and others are found in the Savannas of Africa. Join us on this exciting adventure of the animal kingdom as we explore animals that start with T.
There are so many amazing animals that begin with the letter T. Some kid favorites are the tiger, the turtles, and the turkey. There are of course unique animals that begin with T, like the Tapir.
As we explore and uncover interesting facts, you will be amazed about what we discover along the way about these T animals.
Love animals? Check out Animals that Begin with J and Animals that Start with A to learn even more about different animals.
Commonly Known Animals That Start With T
These animals that begin with T are some of the most commonly known animals worldwide.
Teddy Bear Hamster
Teddy Bear Hamsters are another name for Syrian hamsters. They have long hair and are found in many colors. They are often kept as pets because they are cute, docile, and small. They normally do not like other hamsters and are known to attach to each other.
Teddy Guinea Pig
Teddy Guinea Pigs have wiry curly hair that gives them a teddy bear-like appearance. Due to their unique coat they require regular grooming to their hair becoming tangled or matted. Teddy Guinea Pigs are friendly and social and are known to be less skittish compared to other guinea pig breeds.
Termite
Termites are an insect that primarily feeds on cellulose which is a carbohydrate which is found in wood, leaf litter, and soil. There are over 2700 known species of termites that are classified in three main groups based on their feeding habits: subterranean termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites. Termites can cause significant damage to houses, furniture, and trees, that can lead to costly repairs
Terrier
Terriers are a category of dog breed that comes in various sizes ranging from small to medium. Terriers are known for their energetic and feisty personalities. The most known terrier breeds are the Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, and Boston Terrier.
Tetra
Tetras are the name for many kinds of freshwater fish. They are native to Africa, Central America, and South America. You may find many of them in your home aquarium as they are easy to keep and very popular. They are 1-3 inches in length and have specific fin shapes that make them tetra, tall dorsal fins, and a split tail fin that each side is equal in size.
Texas Rat Snake
Texas Rat Snakes are mostly found in Texas but can also be found in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. They can be up to 4 to 6 feet long. They are usually yellow or tan, with brown to olive-green, irregular blotching from head to toe. They eat a lot of small animals and insects. They are typically non-aggressive towards humans, and they are non-venomous.
Tick
Ticks are insects that eat the blood of animals. They live all over the world, especially in warm, humid places. They locate their food by odor, body heat, moisture, and even vibrations in the environment. They have four stages to their life, egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
Tiger Shark
Tiger Sharks are found in many tropical and temperate waters, especially around the central Pacific islands. They live alone and hunt mostly at night. Orca or killer whales are about the only thing that will eat them. They are known to eat anything that they find, and that includes garbage that people have thrown into the ocean. They have the second most attacks on humans, only behind the Great White.
Titanosaur
Titanosaur is the largest land animal to ever exist. They were about 121 feet long and weighed 76 tons. Their fossils have been found all over the world. They were herbivores, feeding on vegetation such as leaves, ferns, and other plant matter. They had specialized teeth that helped them chew and process the plant material.
Toad
Toads have dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps that help them survive in a dry environment. Unlike mammals, toads do not have teeth for chewing, but instead, they swallow their prey whole.
Tortoise
Tortoises are among the oldest living reptiles on earth and have existed on earth for millions of years and have changed very little. The shell on a tortoise is made of 2 levels that provide protection and support for their bodies. The reason tortoises are so slow is because of their heavy shells and sturdy limbs.
Toy Fox Terrier
Toy Fox Terriers are a very small breed of dog. They are very active and smart. They can be good dogs for older people and love their owners. They are also not big barkers if trained well. They do not necessarily need a yard and do not like the cold. They can live up to 15 years.
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle is the smallest of the poodle breed of dogs. Poodles can live from 10 to 18 years. And toy poodles have been known to live longer than that. They do not shed and need to get their fur cut about every 8 weeks. This fur is known to be ok for people that are allergic to dogs.
Triceratops
Triceratops is a dinosaur that is known for its three horns on its head. They lived between 66 to 68 million years ago. They are about 26 to 30 feet long and weigh about 5.5 to 9.9 tons.
Trout
Trout is closely related to salmon and are fish that also migrate to spawn their young. They are an important food for humans. They eat insects and flies. They live in cool, clear lakes and streams. Young trout are called troutlets or fry.
Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swans are found in North America and are the largest waterfowl with a wing span of 6 to 8 feet. They are both the heaviest and largest native bird in North America. They are white when they are adults and have a black bill.
Tuna
Tuna are fish that humans like to eat. They are found in warm seas. Tuna is one of the only species of fish that can maintain a body temperature higher than that of the surrounding water. Yellowfin Tuna is able to go at speeds of up to 47 mph. Their body shape is meant for speed.
Turkey
Turkeys are large birds that we find in North America. The fleshy part of the turkey’s forehead is called a snood, which can change colors as the turkey gets excited from pale red to bright red. When it is warm they eat mostly plants and grains, and small animals. In the colder months, they eat nuts and fruit.
Turtle
Turtles eat both plants and meat. A turtle’s shell is mostly bone. When they feel like they are in danger they can either freeze, flee or retreat into their shell depending on what habitat they live in and what species of turtle they are. They can live long lives; some have lived up to 187 years.
Turtle Dove
Turtle Doves are birds that are on the verge of becoming extinct. They migrate long distances; the European turtle doves travel from Western Europe to West Africa for breeding each year. They eat things like wildflower seeds and grain.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex, often called T-Rex, is a dinosaur that lived in western North America. They are believed to have lived 66 to 68 million years ago. They were meat eaters and had big hind legs and small arms, but those arms were unusually strong for their size. They were the largest meat eaters of all time.
Zoo Animals That Start With T
Headed to the zoo? Some fun zoo animals start with T that you may discover. On your next zoo trip, how many of these animals can you find?
Tapanuli Orangutan
Tapanuli Orangutans are one of the three species of orangutan. They live on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. There are so few of them that they are on the critically endangered species list. The dominant males have mustaches and flat cheeks. They have orange fur that is frizzy. They have loud and long calls. They eat caterpillars and evergreen cones.
Tarantula
Tarantulas are a species of spider. There are over 1000 different species of Tarantula that have been identified as of August 2022. They have exoskeletons that, as they grow they have shed and grow new ones. During that time, they are not very active and often do not eat.
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil may be a name that is familiar to you from the Looney Tunes cartoon, but they are actually small animals that are found on the island of Tasmania which is an island off the coast of Australia. It has a large head that makes it able to have one of the strongest bites for its size. It eats both dead animals and hunts live prey. They are often alone but are known to eat and poop in the same places.
Tiger
Tigers are the largest living cat. Most people can recognize it because of its black stripes and orange fur, though there are a few that have other colored fur as well. They eat things like deer and wild boar. They are what is called an apex predator, which means they are at the top of the food chain and nothing hunts them. They usually live and hunt alone but have been seen hunting in groups.
Timber Wolf
Timber Wolves are native to the great lakes area and southeastern Canada. They like to eat small deer and beavers. They live in packs, they usually avoid each other’s packs, and only lone wolves will enter other packs’ territory. Even though they eat meat, they have been known to eat berries when they are in season as well.
Toucan
Toucans are birds that have a large, brightly colored bill. Some of you may know a toucan from the commercials of fruit loops and their spokes animal Toucan Sam. There are several different sizes of toucans. They live in southern Mexico, South America, and everywhere in between. They are very social birds and usually live in groups of up to 20 birds.
Tree Frog
Tree Frogs are named that because they spend most of their life in trees. They live in mostly arid or dry climates and have adapted to make sure they do not get dehydrated. Many never leave the trees as adults, not even to lay eggs. They have sticky toes that are adapted to be able to stick to the trees and make it so they will not fall out.
Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vultures are called that because they resemble the wild turkey in the bald red head and the dark brown feathers. They nest in caves, hollow trees, and thickets. They can’t make beautiful songs like other birds because it doesn’t have the syrinx, which is the part that helps make those noises, and can only grunt and hiss.
Other Animals That Start With T
Love learning about animals that start with T? These are other animals that are less common throughout the world. How many of these animals have you seen or heard of?
- Tahr
- Taco Terrier
- Tailless Tenrec
- Tailless Whip Scorpion
- Taimen Fish
- Taipan
- Takin
- Tamarin
- Tamaskan
- Tanager
- Tang
- Tangerine Leopard Gecko
- Tanuki
- Tapir
- Tarantula Hawk
- Tawny Eagle
- Tarpon
- Tarbosaurus
- Tarsier
- Tasmanian Tiger
- Tasmanian Tiger Snake
- Tawny Frogmouth
- Tawny Mining Bee
- Tawny Owl
- Tayra
- Teacup Chihuahua
- Teacup Maltese
- Teacup Miniature Horse
- Teacup Poodle
- Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
- Tegu
- Tegu Lizard
- Teira Batfish
- Telescope Fish
- Tench
- Ten-Lined June Beetle
- Tennessee Walking Horse
- Tenrec
- Tent Caterpillar
- Tentacled Snake
- Tenterfield Terrier
- Tern
- Terror Bird
- Texas Blind Snake
- Texas Brown Tarantula
- Texas Coral Snake
- Texas Garter Snake
- Texas Heeler
- Texas Indigo Snake
- Texas Night Snake
- Texas Spiny Lizard
- Thai Ridgeback
- Thalassomedon
- Thanatosdrakon
- Therizinosaurus
- Theropod
- Thornback Ray
- Thorny Devil
- Thoroughbred
- Thresher Shark
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Thylacine
- Thylacoleo
- Thylacoleo Carnifex
- Thylacosmilus
- Tibetan Fox
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Tibetan Terrier
- Tiffany
- Tiger Beetle
- Tiger Moth
- Tiger Muskellunge (Muskie)
- Tiger Rattlesnake
- Tiger Salamander
- Tiger Swallowtail
- Tiger snake
- Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
- Tiger Trout
- Tiktaalik
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Timor python
- Tire Track Eel
- Titan Beetle
- Titanoboa
- Toadfish
- Toadfish
- Toddy Cat
- Tokay Gecko
- Tomato Hornworm
- Topi
- Torkie
- Tornjak
- Tosa
- Towhee
- Toxodon
- Toy Fox Terrier
- Transylvanian Hound
- Trapdoor spider
- Tree Cricket
- Tree Kangaroo
- Tree Snake
- Tree swallow
- Tree Viper (Bamboo Viper)
- Treecreeper
- Treeing Tennessee Brindle
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Triggerfish
- Trilobite
- Troodon
- Tropicbird
- Tsessebe
- Tsetse Fly
- Tuatara
- Tuco Tuco
- Tufted Coquette
- Tufted Titmouse
- Tully Monster
- Tundra Swan
- Tur
- Turaco
- Turkish Angora
- Turnspit
- Turtle Frog
- Turtles
- Tusoteuthis
- Tussock Moth
- Tussock Moth Caterpillar
- Tylosaurus
- Twig Snake
There you have it! A great list of animals that start with T to expand your knowledge of all our favorite animals. Did we miss any? Share them in the comments so we can add them to the list.
Be sure to check out our other animal lists.
- 190 Amazing Animals that Start with A
- 236 Captivating Animals That Begin with C
- 119 Intriguing Animals that Begin with E
- 180 Fascinating Animals that Begin with G
- 22 Exciting Animals that Begin with J
- 272 Captivating Animals that Begin with L
- 165 Magnificent Animals that Start with M
- 104 Wonderful Animals that Start with W
- 31 Amazing Animals that Start with Y