Animals That Start With Letter M

June 1, 2023

How many animals that start with the letter M can you name on top of your head? If it’s just a few, our list of animal names that begin with M is for you! Our extensive include common animals and some interesting species you’ve probably never heard of.

Table of Contents

Moose

The taxonomy of these large herbivores makes them an extant species of deer. Moose can weigh up to 1,800 pounds. They can also grow as tall as six feet from hooves to shoulders. Of all the animals that start with the letter M on this list, this one is the largest terrestrial mammal.

Fun Fact: Female moose give birth to no more than two calves after a gestation of about eight months.

Malayan Tiger

This large feline is the smallest of the tiger family but is nonetheless magnificent. Unfortunately, this large cat has been critically endangered since the 19th century because of poaching and progressive habitat loss. The remaining Malayan tigers are protected in Malaysia and the jungles of southern Thailand.

Macaw

This bird’s colorful plumage and gregarious nature make it one of the most adorable animals on this list.

This animal that starts with the letter M is native to Central and South America. They live in flocks, are highly intelligent, and are monogamous for life. Their intelligence, playfulness, and strange ability to mimic the human voice make them popular as pets.

Fun Fact: This is the national bird of Honduras.

Moray Eel

There are over 200 species in this marine family, and some of them live in freshwater or brackish habitats. This opportunistic predator likes to dine on coral reef prey.

Morays are routinely caught, fried, baked, and stewed in Japan and the Korean Peninsula, but some can be toxic. When Moray Eels reproduce, they can lay up to 10,000 eggs.

Maine Coon

This domestic feline is a natural breed of Felis catus. Compared to other breeds, Maine Coon is larger, fluffier, and smarter than your average cat. Prospective pet owners must know that these cats are also louder when communicating. After getting neutered or spayed, Maine Coons become avid hunters appreciated by farmers.

Monk Seal

There are three species in this genus: Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Mediterranean. This marine mammal is a prodigious swimmer poached for centuries, particularly in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

The monk seal is an official state animal of Hawaii, where it enjoys the status of a protected species. In Kahana Beach Park, located in Oahu, monk seals are known to swim close to snorkeling tourists. Conservationists who work to protect monk seals focus on the survival of young females.

Monarch Butterfly

Entomologists once believed this species was not at risk of extinction because of its migratory behavior. Unfortunately, this North American butterfly is at risk because of climate change and habitat loss. Monarchs are known to fly more than 2,000 miles during the migratory season, which starts in the fall. Given the short lifespan of these butterflies, most of them only migrate once.

Megalodon

The last time this leviathan swam in prehistoric oceans was during the Pliocene period. Based on the size of the teeth fossils, this shark measured between 15 and 60 feet long.

Mountain Goat

This sub-alpine animal was crucial to the survival and development of Eskimos, First Nations Canadians, and Native Americans. These goats’ extraordinary and powerful climbing ability allows them to escape predators such as bears.

Fun Fact: In the early 1990s, an American rock band from California became popular after changing its name to The Mountain Goats.

Mallard Ducks

Did you know that the distinctively colorful pattern of these ducks is limited to males? The genetic process of intrasexual selection in Mallard Ducks involves passing traits among females that trigger attraction to colorful adult males.

Fun Fact: Humans have turned the Mallard Duck into an invasive species by relocating them beyond their Northern Hemisphere habitats.

Mastiff

The English Mastiff is a large guardian dog that can make an excellent family companion. This gentle giant is brought to North America by European settlers during the Mayflower voyage. The constant drooling, loud snoring, and prodigious appetite of Mastiffs can be challenging for unprepared pet owners.

Monitor Lizards

The fearsome Komodo dragon of Indonesia is one of dozens of species that belong to the monitor genus. Although these animals grow to impressive sizes, they are not the largest reptiles; those would be the Australian crocodiles.

Fun Fact: In South Florida, the Nile Monitor Lizard became invasive after being introduced as an exotic pet.

Mountain Lion

This wild feline goes by many names, but only two species are within its Puma genus. The Mountain Lion is a North American variant of the cougar, which can be Puma concolor, Puma cougar, or mixed. Cougars are alpha predators, but they are sometimes preyed upon by grizzly bears in North America.