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Animals That Start With The Letter W

Updated: Aug 9, 2023

Wave hello to the wonderful world of the wild as we wade into the captivating universe of animals that start with the whimsical letter "W"! From the wily wanderers of the woods to the watery wonders that navigate our oceans, this adventure promises to whisk you away on a whimsical journey through the animal alphabet. From whiskers to wings, we're about to unravel the tales of the wacky and the winsome creatures that kick-start with the letter "W." So, get ready to wander into a world of wonders and weave through the remarkable stories of the animals that begin with the letter "W"!

Let's Explore Animals That Start With The Letter W!

Wallaby standing in wild flowers

Wallaby

Wallabies are a type of small to medium-sized, herbivorous mammal that is native to Australia and New Guinea. They are closely related to kangaroos and are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a small, stocky body, a long, powerful tail, and a variety of colors, including grey, brown, and red. Wallabies are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and shrubs. Wallabies are often found in open, grassy habitats and are known for their ability to hop long distances using their powerful legs.


Walruses laying on the beach.

Walrus

Walruses are a type of large, carnivorous mammal that is native to the arctic regions of the world. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, stocky body, a long, tusked snout, and a thick, shaggy coat of fur. Walruses are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including fish, shellfish, and seals. Walruses are often found in large herds and are known for their social behavior and for their ability to swim long distances.


Family of warthogs standing in tall grass.

Warthog

Warthogs are a type of medium-sized, herbivorous mammal that is native to the grasslands and savannas of Africa. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, stocky body, a long, narrow snout, and a pair of tusks. Warthogs are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and roots. Warthogs are often found in open, grassy habitats and are known for their strong digging abilities and for their ability to defend themselves using their tusks.


Colony of wasps buzzing around.

Wasp

Wasps are a type of small, carnivorous insect that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of wasps, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Wasps are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a narrow, wasp-like waist, a pair of wings, and a variety of colors, including yellow, red, and black. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, inch-long species to large, 3-inch-long species. Wasps are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. They are also known for their ability to sting and for their role in pollinating plants.


Water Buffalo walking in a field of yellow grass.

Water Buffalo

Water buffaloes are a type of large, herbivorous mammal that is native to the tropical regions of Asia. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, stocky body, a thick, shaggy coat of fur, and a variety of colors, including black, brown, and grey. Water buffaloes are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and shrubs. Water buffaloes are often used as draft animals and are known for their strong, powerful build and their ability to work in wet, marshy environments.


Weasel standing in snow.

Weasel

Weasels are a type of small, carnivorous mammal that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of weasels, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Weasels are known for their small, slender bodies, their long, thin necks, and their ability to squeeze through small openings. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. Weasels are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and insects


Whale jumping out of the water.

Whale

Whales are a type of large, aquatic mammal that is found in the oceans of the world. There are many different species of whales, and they can be found in a variety of marine environments, including coastal waters, open ocean, and polar seas. Whales are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, streamlined body, a blowhole on the top of their head, and a variety of colors, including black, grey, and white. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 100-foot-long species. Whales are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including fish, krill, and squid.


Two Whale Sharks swimming.

Whale Shark

Whale sharks are a type of large, filter-feeding shark that is found in the waters of the world. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, flat head, a long, slender body, and a variety of colors, including blue, grey, and white. Whale sharks are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 40-foot-long species. They are found in a variety of marine environments, including coral reefs, lagoons, and the open ocean. Whale sharks are filter feeders and feed on a variety of prey, including plankton, krill, and small fish.


White Tiger sitting on a rock.

White Tiger

White tigers are a type of tiger that is characterized by their white coat and blue eyes. They are a rare and endangered subspecies of tiger that is found in the wild in only a few small, isolated populations in India. White tigers are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, stocky body, a long, thick tail, and a variety of colors, including white, black, and orange. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. White tigers are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including deer, pigs, and other small mammals.


Wildebeests grazing on grass.

Wildebeest

Wildebeest are a type of large, herbivorous mammal that is native to the grasslands and savannas of Africa. There are two main species of wildebeest, the blue wildebeest and the black wildebeest, which are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a long, slender body, a long, shaggy mane, and a variety of colors, including blue, black, and brown. Wildebeest are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and shrubs. Wildebeest are often found in large herds and are known for their strong social bonds and their migratory habits.


Wolf standing in a thicket of trees.

Wolf

Wolves are a type of large, carnivorous mammal that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of wolves, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Wolves are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a large, stocky body, a long, bushy tail, and a variety of colors, including grey, black, and white.


Wolverine standing in the forest.

Wolverine

Wolverines are a type of medium-sized, carnivorous mammal that is native to the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a stocky, muscular body, a thick, shaggy coat of fur, and a variety of colors, including brown, black, and grey. Wolverines are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and carrion. Wolverines are known for their strong jaws and sharp claws, which they use to catch and kill their prey. They are also known for their territorial behavior and for their ability to defend their territory from other animals.


Wombat

Wombat

Wombats are a type of small, marsupial mammal that is native to Australia. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a short, stocky body, a thick, square head, and a variety of colors, including brown, black, and grey. Wombats are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. They are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and shrubs. Wombats are known for their burrowing habits and for their ability to dig long, complex burrow systems.


Close up of a Woodlouse.

Woodlouse

Woodlice are a type of small, terrestrial crustacean that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of woodlice, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Woodlice are known for their small, segmented bodies, their hard, exoskeletal shells, and their ability to roll up into a ball when threatened. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, inch-long species to large, 3-inch-long species. Woodlice are omnivorous and feed on a variety of plant and animal matter, including leaves, wood, and detritus.


Woodpecker picking at a tree.

Woodpecker

Woodpeckers are a type of medium-sized, arboreal bird that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of woodpeckers, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Woodpeckers are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a strong, chisel-like beak, a long, straight tail, and a variety of colors, including red, yellow, and black. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. Woodpeckers are omnivorous and feed on a variety of plant and animal matter, including insects, fruit, and nuts.


Worms in the dirt.

Worm

Worms are a type of small, invertebrate animal that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. There are many different species of worms, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Worms are known for their long, slender bodies, their lack of legs, and their ability to burrow and tunnel through soil. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, inch-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. Worms are herbivorous and feed on a variety of plant matter, including roots, leaves, and detritus. They play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to break down and recycle organic matter.


Wrasse swimming.

Wrasse

Wrasses are a type of medium-sized, carnivorous fish that is found in the oceans of the world. There are many different species of wrasses, and they can be found in a variety of marine environments, including coral reefs, lagoons, and the open ocean. Wrasses are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a long, slender body, a variety of colors, and a variety of patterns. They are found in a variety of sizes, ranging from small, foot-long species to large, 3-foot-long species. Wrasses are carnivorous and feed on a variety of prey, including small fish, invertebrates, and crustaceans.


Woolly Mammoth standing in the snow.

Woolly Mammoth (extinct)

Woolly mammoths were a type of large, herbivorous mammal that lived during the Pleistocene era, approximately 200,000 to 4,000 years ago. They were closely related to modern-day elephants and were adapted to living in cold, arctic environments. Woolly mammoths are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a thick, shaggy coat of fur, a long, curved tusk, and a large, stocky body. They are believed to have stood up to 12 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed up to 12 tons. Woolly mammoths are thought to have lived in herds and to have fed on a variety of plant matter, including grasses, leaves, and shrubs. They became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene era, possibly due to a combination of climate change and overhunting by humans.


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