Feathers, flutter, fast, flopping and more there’s much to explore and awe over in this list of animals that start with letter F! Perhaps you’ll see some names that make you scratch your head or some familiar favorites. You’re guaranteed to find some new critters, their genus (1) and species (2), and even some Animal Coloring Sheets!
What in the big green Earth do genus and species have to do with animals? Discover these important words’ meanings in our easy-to-read Scientific Glossary, we’ve got your back.
Now, let’s take a gander at some wild and interesting critters!
Amphibians that Start with the letter F
With well over 5,000 species of frogs hopping about (3) you know that some landed on the list of amphibians that start with the letter F!
Let’s hop on over to Australia for this froggy feature, the itty bitty 1.3-inch amphibian pal Fry’s Frog. These little guys and gals can be found in colors of reddish-brown, brown, yellowish-brown, and a cream color decorated with some deep brown specks, and sometimes accompanied by a light-colored stripe down the middle of their back. Unlike other species of frogs whose young tadpoles swim out and develop in the water, Fry’s Frogs’ young hatches as cute little frogs! (4)
- Fairview Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps bramei)
- Faisanes Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus coynei)
- Fast Singer Frog (Allobates velocicantus)
- Fire-Bellied Toad (Bombina)
- Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
- Fornasini’s Spiny Reed Frog (Afrixalus fornasini)
- Four Toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
- Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)
- France’s Squeaker (Arthroleptis francei)
- Frog (Anura)
- Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum)
- Fry’s Frog (Austrochaperina fryi)
Birds that Start with the letter F
F is for fabulous, and Flamingo! These strutting and stunning birds may not be the fastest out of the birds that start with the letter F, like the mighty Falcons who can get up to 240 miles per hour (5), but wow are they a sight to see!
These tropical, and dare we say incredibly photogenic, birds can definitely be spotted out of a crowd. And we hope they are flattered by the art of imitation, because their one-legged pose is well known and acted in silly circumstances.
Why do Flamingos stand on one leg? Wouldn’t you know, it’s actually to help them contain their body heat! By tucking one of their legs up into their feathers, otherwise known as their plumage, they are able to keep the heat flowing throughout their whole body; switching legs when it’s time to heat up the other side. (6) Next time you see a Flamingo standing on one leg, turn up the heat for them or offer a blanket!
- Falcated Duck (Anas falcata)
- Falcon (Falco)
- Fantail (Rhipidura)
- Fearful Owl (Asio solomonensis)
- Fernbird (Megalurus punctatus)
- Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
- Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
- Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
- Figbird (Sphecotheres)
- Finch (Fringillidae)
- Finfoot (Heliornithidae)
- Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus)
- Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
- Flamingo (Phoenicopterus)
- Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus)
- Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)
- Flowerpecker (Dicaeidae)
- Flycatcher (Tyrannidae)
- Forest Buzzard (Buteo trizonatus)
- Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
- Fork-tailed Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma furcata)
- Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
- Francolin (Francolinus)
- Franklin’s Gull (Leucophacus pipixcan)
- Friarbird (Philemon)
- Frogmouth (Podargidae)
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
Dogs that Start with the letter F
Put your paws together for one fetching pup! Among one of the smallest doggos on this list of dogs that start with the letter F, and certainly a lovable character is the French Bulldog.
The cuties, often nicknamed Frenchies, would look 10x more adorable in a mini-pair of floaties and a swimming cap. But that’s where the beach activities cease, because these are not swimming pups. Due to their breed having some breathing issues from their short noses, and the fact that they are a bit on the top-heavy side, they are not adapt to swimming. (8)
That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be a good beach dog, for these good boys and girls love to cuddle up and play, you’ll just have to play lifeguard with the Frenchie!
- Feral Dog (Canis familiaris)
- Field Spaniel
- Fila Brasileiro
- Finnish Hound
- Finnish Lapphund
- Finnish Spitz
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- French Bulldog
- French Spaniel
Fish that Start with the letter F
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the flattest fish that start with the letter F of them all? Sometimes the word flat can be used in a negative tone, but our fishy pal Flounder doesn’t mind it one bit!
Why, without it’s flat-like body, it wouldn’t be able to blend into its ocean floor surroundings as amazingly as it can! That’s not the only neat thing about them, ready to hear something crazy? A Flounder’s eyes move to one side of it’s body as it gets older. Could you imagine being born with your eyes being a part, one eye on one side and vice versa, and then having one eye pack up and move by the other? (9) What an interesting life the Flounder has!
- False Brotula (Parabrotulidae)
- False Cat Shark (Pseudotriakis/Planonasus pseudotriakidae)
- False Moray (Chlopsis bicolor)
- False Trevally (Lactarius lactarius)
- Fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta)
- Fathead Sculpin (Ambophthalmos/Cottunculus/Dasycottus/Ebinania/Eurymen/Gilbertidia/Malacocottus/Neophrynichthys/Psychrolutes)
- Featherback (Chitala ornata)
- Fire Goby (Nemateleotris magnifica)
- Fingerfish (Mondoactylus/Schuettea monodactylidae)
- Fire Bar Danio (Devario maetaengensis)
- Flabby Whale Fish (Cetomimus gillii)
- Flagfin (Aulopus/Hime/Latropiscis/Leptaulopus aulopidae)
- Flagfish (Jordanella floridae)
- Flagtail (Kuhlia kuhliidae)
- Flatfish (Pleuronectiformes)
- Flathead (Pylodictis olivaris)
- Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
- Flier (Centrarchus macropterus)
- Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus)
- Flying Gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans)
- Flying Fish (Exocoetidae)
- Footballfish (Himantolophidae)
- Forehead Brooder (Kurtus gulliveri)
- Four-eyed Fish (Anableps)
- French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
- Freshwater Eel (Anguillidae)
- Freshwater Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecidae)
- Freshwater Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
- Frigate Mackerel (Auxis thazard)
- Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)
- Frogfish (Antennariidae)
- Frogmouth Catfish (Platystacus chaca)
- Fusilier Fish (Caesionidae)
Insects and Spiders that Start with the letter F
As the famous band Owl City would say from their sensational song, “You would not believe your eyes, if ten million fireflies, Lit up the world as I fell asleep.” And indeed their light really would light up the world if 10 million Fireflies banded together! For they give off 100% light from their little bodies. In comparison, your lightbulb’s energy at home most likely gives off 10% light and the other 90% is heat.(10) Holy smokes, imagine a party with lighting by those wild Fireflies, it would definitely be lit!
Let’s see what else is buzzing around in the list of Insects that start with the letter F.
- Field Cricket (Gryllinae)
- Fig Wasp (Agaonidae)
- Firefly (Lampyridae)
- Flea (Siphonaptera)
- Flea Beetle (Alticini)
- Flightless Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
- Flour Beetle (Tribolium castaneum)
- Flower Mantis (Mantodea)
- Fly (Diptera)
- Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
- Fungus Gnat (Sciaridae)
- Funnel-web Weaver (Agelenidae)
Mammals that Start with the letter F
What did all the mammals that start with the letter F say at the animals that start with letter F party? “What does the fox say?!” We all remember that strange one hit wonder of a song, and if not we apologize if it is now stuck in your head.
Speaking of foxes, there is something quite interesting about foxes when they arrive into the wild woods of the forest. Baby foxes, called “kits”, are not only born toothless as many young are, but they are also born without their sense of sight or hearing. Typically, for around 2 weeks, kits are blind and deaf. (11)
And what thriving, clever, and majestic creatures they grow up to be. If only we knew what they were saying!
- Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
- False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
- Feral Cat (Felis catus)
- Feral Cattle (Bos taurus)
- Feral Goat (Capra hircus)
- Feral Horse (Equus caballus)
- Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
- Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
- Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
- Fog Shrew (Sorex sonomae)
- Fork-marked Lemur (Phaner)
- Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
- Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- François’s Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus francoisi)
- Fresno Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys nitratoides)
- Friendly Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis amicus)
- Fringed Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus fimbriatus)
- Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes)
- Fur Seal (Arctocephalus)
Reptiles that Start with the letter F
The biggest lions of the pack have their mighty manes, and there’s a fearsome fella amongst the reptiles that start with the letter F that has their equivalent. That is the Frill-necked lizard, as you can see in the photo above its frill is not fanned out because at the moment it does not feel threatened.
If the intimidating standing frill doesn’t freak you out, the sight of a Frill-necked lizard standing up on it’s hind legs, mouth open, hissing, and running towards you will do the trick for these lizards put up a fight! (12)
- Fat-tailed Gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus)
- Fire Skink (Lepidothyris fernandi)
- Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii)
- Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon)
- Flying Lizard (Draco)
- Forest Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia longicauda)
- Frill-necked Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)
- Freshwater Turtle (Testudines)
- Frog-eyed Gecko (Teratoscincus scincus)
From the absolutely adorable to incredibly intriguing there’s a lot of joy in gaining knowledge about these animals that start with letter F. Are you looking to keep your mind engaged, how about tapping into your creative side? Check out our variety of Animal Coloring Sheets, totally free and totally awesome!
Scientific Glossary
Here is your very own easy-peasy scientific glossary that you can refer to in case a word looks peculiar to you. No one likes to have strange words thrown at them, especially if they’re left to scratch their heads and wonder what they just read. Not on our watch!
Genus: The usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species. (1)
Species: The major subdivision of a genus or subgenus, regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species. (2)
Plumage: The feathers of a bird. (7)
Footnotes
1) “Genus”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/genus (accessed 07/07/2022)
2) “Species”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/species (accessed 07/07/2022)
3) “Frog Fact Sheet.” PBS. Last modified May 7, 2021. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/frog-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Frog%3A%20any%20member%20of%20a,short%2Dbodied%2C%20tailless%20amphibians.&text=There%20are%20over%205%2C000%20species,on%20every%20contin.
4) “Fry’s Frog.” Australian Museum . Accessed July 7, 2022. https://australian.museum/learn/animals/frogs/frys-frog/.
5) Mullins, Kaitlin. “How Fast Are Falcons? (Dive Speed & Flight Speed).” Misfit Animals. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://misfitanimals.com/falcons/how-fast-are-falcons/.
6) Mayntz, Melissa. “20 Fun Facts About Flamingos.” The Spruce. Last modified January 15, 2022. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-flamingos-385519.
7) Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “plumage,” accessed July 7, 2022, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumage.
8) “15 Fun Facts About French Bulldogs.” French Bulldog 101. Last modified , 2019. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.frenchbulldog101.com/home/french-bulldog-facts/.
9) Animal Network Team, . “Flounder.” Animal Network. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://animals.net/flounder/.
10) “FACTS ABOUT FIREFLIES.” Firefly.org. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.firefly.org/facts-about-fireflies.html.
11) “Fox Facts.” HavaHart. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://www.havahart.com/fox-facts.
12) Whitehouse Ph.D., Lindy. “Frilled Lizard.” Biology Dictionary . Last modified October 29, 2020. Accessed July 7, 2022. https://biologydictionary.net/frilled-lizard/.