Holy moly are there some exciting animals that start with letter M, and tons more that you may not even know! Throughout this animal journey, you’ll be able to click on certain animals that will lead you to a free and awesome Coloring Sheet, see the genus ⁽¹⁾ and the species ⁽²⁾ of each animal right next to it, and if you’re curious to know what those words mean exactly you can head over to our Scientific Glossary!

Amphibians that Start with the letter M

We’ve seen cute pictures of a puppy playing in the mud, how about a Mudpuppy? Expect this creature dwells in the water rather than in one’s own backyard, so how did this interesting animal receive its name? Well, this unique-looking Salamander species is one of a kind the fact that they are born with their gills and keep them throughout their whole life, and these frilly gills look similar to a puppy’s big floppy ears! ⁽³⁾ And they are pretty darn cute.

• Mabee’s Salamander (Ambystoma mabeei)
• Magnificent Web-Footed Salamander (Bolitoglossa magnifica)
• Malabar Flying Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus)
• Malayan Stream Toad (Ansonia kraensis)
• Malcolm’s Ethiopian Toad (Altiphrynoides malcolmi)
• Mallorcan Midwife Toad (Alytes muletensis)
• Mantella Frog (Mantella)
• Map Treefrog (Boana geographica)
• Marbled Newt (Triturus marmoratus)
• Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
• Marine Toad (Rhinella marina)
• Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)
• Masako Fishing Frog (Aubria masako)
• Martinique Volcano Frog (Allobates chalcopis)
• McGregor’s Toad (Ansonia mcgregori)
• Medellin Mushroomtongue Salamander (Bolitoglossa phalarosoma)
• Mexican Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
• Mexican Giant Tree Frog (Agalychnis dacnicolor)
• Mexican Mushroom Tongue Salamander (Bolitoglossa mexicana)
• Mexican Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma velasci)
• Michoacan Stream Salamander (Ambystoma ordinarium)
• Midwife Toad (Alytes obstetricans)
• Midwife Toad of Hillenius (Alytes dickhilleni)
• Mindo Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus mindoensis)
• Mink Frog (Lithobates septentrionalis)
• Mississippi Gopher Frog (Lithobates sevosus)
• Mistbelt Moss Frog (Anhydrophryne ngongoniensis)
• Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)
• Monte Iberia Eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia)
• Mount Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus)
• Montane Rocket Frog (Allobates alessandroi)
• Moroccan Midwife Toad (Alytes maurus)
• Mossy Stream Toad (Ansonia lumut)
• Mount Wollumbin Hip-pocket Frog (Assa wollumbin)
• Mountain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus fallax)
• Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona)
• Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)
• Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa)
• Moyer’s River Frog (Amietia moyerorum)
• Mozambique Rain Frog (Breviceps mossambicus)
• Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus)
• Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
• Mueller’s Toad (Ansonia muelleri)
• Murud Black Slender Toad (Ansonia vidua)
• Myers’ Poison Frog (Allobates myersi)

Birds that Start with the letter M

Macaroni Penguins, Mallard Ducks, and Mockingbirds, there are so many recognizable birds that start with the letter M, but there isn’t one quite like the Mute Swan.

Although the Mute Swan appears to be the very essence of gracefulness, Swan Lake had to be drawn from something elegant right, these beauties actually have quite the rebel reputation. Mute Swans are originally from across the pond in Europe but were brought as a luxury to zoos, high-class people, and parks around the mid-1800s. Some of the Mute Swans didn’t like captivity so much, and so escaped and began to mark their breeding grounds and populate in the United States. At times, they are menaces to the ecosystem around them, but they sure are beautiful to spot and admire! ⁽⁴⁾

• Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
• Macaw (Ara macao)
• Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa)
• MacQueen’s Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii)
• Macgillivray’s Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
• Madagascan Owl (Asio madagascariensis)
• Madanga (Madanga ruficollis)
• Madarasz’s Tiger Parrot (Psittacella madaraszi)
• Madeira Firecrest (Regulus madeirensis)
• Magdalena Antbird (Sipia palliata)
• Magdalena Tapaculo (Scytalopus rodriguezi)
• Magellanic Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides magellani)
• Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
• Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens)
• Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
• Magpie (Pica pica)
• Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
• Magpie Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
• Major Mitchell (Lophochroa leadbeateri)
• Makatea Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus chalcurus)
• Mako-mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
• Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
• Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
• Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
• Marabou (Leptoptilos crumenifer)
• Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
• Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
• Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
• Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
• Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
• Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)
• Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)
• Martin (Hirundinidae)
• Mccown’s Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii)
• Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
• Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
• Merlin (Falco columbarius)
• Mew Gull (Larus canus)
• Mexican Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus arizonae)
• Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallic)
• Minivet (Pericrocotus)
• Miromiro (Petroica macrocephala)
• Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)
• Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
• Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)
• Mitred Parakeet (Aratinga mitrata)
• Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
• Monal (Lophophorus)
• Motmot (Momotidae)
• Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata)
• Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
• Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
• Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)
• Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)
• Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
• Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
• Murphy’s Petrel (Pterodroma ultima)
• Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
• Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
• Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Dogs that Start with the letter M

Look at all of those good and cuddly dogs that start with the letter M, especially that witty Miniature Schnauzer! This pup may have the word mini in its title, but it’s heart and intelligence is anything but small. They are lovely companions that can take on either a marathon of walking on a marathon of your favorite TV show, this pup just wants to be by your side! And even though the Miniature Schnauzer is on the smaller side of breeds, they were actually bred to work on farms starting way back in 1899. ⁽⁵⁾ You can’t judge a doggy book by it’s cover!

• Mackenzie River Husky
• Magyar agár
• Mahratta Greyhound
• Maltese
• Manchester Terrier
• Maneto
• Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog
• Mastiff
• McNab dog
• Miniature American Shepherd
• Miniature Bull Terrier
• Miniature Fox Terrier
• Miniature Pinscher
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Molossus of Epirus
• Montenegrin Mountain Hound
• Mountain Cur
• Mountain Feist
• Mucuchies
• Mudhol Hound
• Mudi

Fish that Start with the letter M

From holy Mackerels to itty bitty Minnows there are lots of fish that start with the letter M in the waters of our planet! And sea creature that glides through the vast ocean waters with grace and a tiny bit of misticalness to it is the majestic Manta Ray.

This mighty Manta Ray looks like it could charge along with the Jaws theme song, but perhaps to your surprise these creatures aren’t a threat to humans at all! That’s right, if anything you might scare them, in which they would promptly swim away. Their 300 teeth upon first look might have you think otherwise, but rest assured those teeth are not meant for human beings. ⁽⁶⁾ No wonder that Manta Ray on Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo was so nice!

• Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)
• Mackerel Shark (Lamniformes)
• Madtom (Noturus)
• Mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus)
• Mahseer (Tor putitora)
• Mail-cheeked Fish (Scorpaeniformes)
• Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
• Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus)
• Manefish (Caristiidae)
• Man-of-war Fish (Nomeus gronovii)
• Manta Ray (Manta)
• Marblefish (Aplodactylus etheridgii)
• Marine Hatchetfish (Sternoptychinae)
• Marlin (Istiophoridae)
• Masu Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou)
• Medaka (Oryzias latipes)
• Medusafish (Centrolophidae)
• Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios)
• Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
• Merluccid Hake (Merlucciidae)
• Mexican Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus chrysogaster)
• Midshipman Fish (Porichthys)
• Milkfish (Chanos chanos)
• Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
• Minnow of the Deep (Phoxinus phoxinus)
• Modoc Sucker (Catostomus microps)
• Mojarra (Gerreidae)
• Monkeyface Prickleback (Cebidichthys violaceus)
• Monkfish (Lophius)
• Mooneye (Hiodon)
• Moonfish (Lampris)
• Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)
• Moray Eel (Muraenidae)
• Morid Cod (Moridae)
• Morwong (Cheilodactylidae)
• Moses Sole (Pardachirus marmoratus)
• Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
• Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolour)
• Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
• Mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus)
• Mud Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
• Mudfish (Clarias gariepinus)
• Mud Minnow (Umbra pygmaea)
• Mudskipper (Oxudercinae)
• Mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis)
• Mullet (Mugil cephalus)
• Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
• Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii)
• Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
• Mustache Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens)
• Mustard Eel (Dysomma anguillare)

Insects & Spiders that Start with the letter M

The Mantis, or as we know it by the Praying Mantis, is one perplexing and extremely interesting insect that start with the letter M. You may have heard the bizarre fact that when Mantis’ mate the female bites the male’s head off and proceeds to eat him, and this fact is 100% true 13-28% of the time! It is said by researchers that perhaps the female Mantis does this to improve her egg production because females that eat the male vs those who do not actually lay more eggs. But the fearlessness doesn’t halt there. The Mantis gets a bit cocky sometimes and even attempts to prey on birds such as the humming bird. ⁽⁷⁾ Talk about bravery!

• Maguey Worm (Aegiale hesperiaris)
• Mantis (Mantodea)
• Mantophasmatodea (Mantophasmatidae)
• Marbled Cellar Spider (Holocnemus pluchei)
• Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)
• Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)
• Mexican Redknee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)
• Mezcal Worm (Comadia redtenbacheri)
• Midges (Chironomidae)
• Millipede (Diplopoda)
• Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
• Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
• Moth (Lepidoptera)
• Mouse Spider (Scotophaeus blackwalli)
• Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium)
• Mushroom-feeding Drosophila (Drosophila phalerata)

Mammals that Start with the letter M

Let’s get into some monkey business! The Mantled Howler Monkey is native to South America and loves to hangout in the trees. But that’s not the only thing they’re known for. You may have guessed they were noisy from their given name, but these little guys are claimed to be one of the loudest animals on the planet as well! ⁽⁸⁾ Looks like Elephants have got some competition!

• Ma’s Night Monkey (Aotus nancymaae)
• Macaque (Macaca)
• Madagascan Dwarf Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus lemerlei Grandidier)
• Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura)
• Manatee (Trichechus)
• Manchurian Hare (Lepus mandshuricus)
• Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
• Maned Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus torquatus)
• Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
• Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata)
• Margay (Leopardus wiedii)
• Marine Otter (Lontra felina)
• Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
• Marmot (Marmota)
• Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
• Marsh Shrew (Sorex bendirii)
• Marten (Martes caurina)
• Mazama Pocket Gopher (Thomomys mazama)
• Meerkat (Suricata suricatta)
• Merriam’s Chipmunk (Tamias merriami)
• Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami)
• Merriam’s Shrew (Sorex merriami)
• Milne-Edwards’s Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur edwardsi)
• Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
• Moore’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi)
• Mongoose (Herpestidae)
• Montane Guinea Pig (Cavia tschudii)
• Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus)
• Montane Vole (Microtus montanus)
• Moose (Alces alces)
• Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa)
• Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
• Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
• Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
• Mountain Pocket Gopher (Thomomys monticola)
• Mouse (Mus musculus)
• Mt. Lyell Shrew (Sorex lyelli)
• Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
• Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus)
• Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
• Mzab Gundi (Massoutiera mzabi)

Reptiles that Start with the letter M (and snakes, too)

Out of all the reptiles that start with the letter M which one would you ask for directions? Why the Map Turtle of course!

Much like how a map has twists, turns, and details, so does the Map Turtle’s unique shell. Hence it’s creative name! These reptiles can be found chilling out in the water most of the time, but they do like to come ashore to catch some sun rays and for breeding/nesting season. ⁽⁹⁾

• Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma grandis)
• Mali Uromastyx (Uromastyx maliensis)
• Mamba (Dendroaspis)
• Mangrove Monitor (Varanus indicus)
• Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
• Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
• Mearns’ Rock Lizard (Petrosaurus mearnsi)
• Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
• Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum)
• Mohave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
• Mohave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia)
• Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)
• Moloch (Moloch horridus)
• Monitor Lizard (Varanus)
• Monkey-tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata)
• Mountain Horned Dragon (Acanthosaura capra)
• Mountain Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis)
• Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)
• Moorish Wall Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica)
• Mud Snake (Farancia abacura)
• Mud Turtle (Kinosternon)
• Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)

From fish in the deep blue sea to critters frolicking in the lush green woods there are so many wonderous animals that start with the letter M. And there’s plenty more animals to color in as well with our gorgeous and entertaining Animal Coloring Sheets! Take a look for yourself and keep the animal exploration going!

Footnotes

1) “Genus”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/genus (accessed 07/26/2022)
2) “Species”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/species (accessed 07/26/2022)

3) “Does the Mudpuppy Bark?.” YouTube Brave Wilderness. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ZeJAzQdlc.

4) “Mute Swan.” The Cornell Lab All About Birds. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/overview.

5) “7 Fun Facts About Miniature Schnauzers.” American Kennel Club. Last modified October 23, 2021. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/is-your-next-dog-going-to-be-a-miniature-schnauzer/.

6) “9 INTERESTING MANTA RAY FACTS.” Sea Paradise. Last modified February 17, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://www.seaparadise.com/9-interesting-manta-ray-facts/.

7) Breyer, Melissa. “10 Wonderous Praying Mantis Facts.” Last modified March 31, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://www.treehugger.com/wondrous-facts-about-praying-mantises-4858807.

8) “Howler Monkeys | National Geographic.” YouTube National Geographic. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://youtu.be/REPoVfN-Ij4.

9) Rahman, Muntaseer. “15 Interesting Map Turtle Facts for Owners.” The Turtle Hub. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://theturtlehub.com/map-turtle-facts/.