Squawk! Polly wants to read about animals that start with the letter P!

There’s more than talkative Parrots on this fascinating list of animals! Not only will we explore all the different types of critters that begin with the letter P, but you’ll get the scoop on their Genus⁽¹⁾ and Species⁽²⁾, and be on the look out for Animal Coloring Pages that are highlighted on certain creatures!

Buckle up for fun facts, cool animals, and lots of scientific words!

Amphibians that Start with the letter P

There’s a colorful but dangerous little fella amongst the amphibians that start with the letter P, and that’s the Poison Dart Frog.

Beautiful to gaze at but deadly to touch, the Poison Dart Frog can be seen in a variety of colors such as reds, blues, greens, oranges, and yellows. They have these striking features so creatures can instantly know not to touch them; sort of like a stop sign! If a stop sign could hop around and eat insects. Speaking of bugs, it’s believed amongst the Science community that this poisonous fella gets its toxins from the particular creepy crawlers it consumes. ⁽³⁾ I guess the saying is right, you are what you eat!

• Pacific Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei)
• Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla)
• Paddle Tail Newt (Pachytriton labiatus)
• Palau Frog (Cornufer pelewensis)
• Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)
• Panama Rocket Frog (Colostethus panamensis)
• Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki)
• Pandi Mushroomtongue Salamander (Bolitoglossa pandi)
• Panguana Poison Frog (Ameerega panguana)
• Parachuting Red-eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis saltator)
• Parker’s white-lipped Frog (Amnirana parkeriana)
• Passmore’s Rain Frog (Breviceps passmorei)
• Patagonia Frog (Atelognathus patagonicus)
• Pebas Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus spumarius)
• Pebble Toad (Oreophrynella nigra)
• Peeping Glassfrog (Centrolene pipilatum)
• Pegu Torrent Frog (Amolops marmoratus)
• Penelope’s Tadpole Frog (Clinotarsus penelope)
• Peninsular Copper-cheeked Frog (Chalcorana eschatia)
• Peninsular Torrentfrog (Amolops panhai)
• Perija’s Nurse Frog (Aromobates tokuko)
• Perereca-de-pijama (Boana beckeri)
• Peru Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus peruensis)
• Perrin’s Green Toad (Bufotes perrini)
• Peter’s Climbing Salamander (Bolitoglossa adspersa)
• Phantasmal Poison Frog (Epipedobates tricolor)
• Philippine Flat-headed Frog (Barbourula busuangensis)
• Phofung River Frog (Amietia hymenopus)
• Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
• Pine Barrens Tree Frog (Hyla andersonii)
• Pipa (Pipa pipa)
• Pirri Harlequin Frog (Atelopus glyphus)
• Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi)
• Plains Spadefoot Toad (Spea bombifrons)
• Plain Squeaker (Arthroleptis xenochirus)
• Plaintive Rain Frog (Breviceps verrucosus)
• Plateau Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma velasci)
• Plimpton’s Dainty Frog (Cacosternum plimptoni)
• Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobatidae)
• Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae)
• Pope ’s Short-Legged Toad (Brachytarsophrys popei)
• Porthole Treefrog (Charadrahyla taeniopus)
• Poroto Screeching Frog (Arthroleptis reichei)
• Pouched Frog (Assa darlingtoni)
• Power’s Rain Frog (Breviceps poweri)
• Poynton’s River Frog (Amietia poyntoni)
• Precious Stream-toad (Ansonia smeagol)
• Problem Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis palava)
• Puca Sapo (Atelopus guanujo)
• Pumpkin Toadlet (Brachycephalus ephippium)
• Puning Horned Toad (Boulenophrys puningensis)
• Puerto Eden Frog (Chaltenobatrachus grandisonae)
• Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)
• Pygmy Land Frog (Austrochaperina minutissima)
• Pygmy Salamander (Desmognathus wrighti)
• Pygmy Web-footed Salamander (Bolitoglossa pygmaea)
• Pyrenean Brook Salamander (Calotriton asper)

Birds that Start with the letter P

Birds love to present their feathers, and there’s a feathery chirpy buddy on our list of birds that start with the letter P that is quite the show off! The ever-iconic, Peacock and it’s wildly beautiful bundle of tail feathers.

Although the gorgeous feathers may be, at first, deemed feminine this species goes to show that fabulous is gender fluid, as the colorful Peacocks are actually the males! ⁽⁵⁾ The females of this species, the Peahens, are more brown and white and often sporting a green colored neck. ⁽⁶⁾ Next time you see these gaze-worthy creatures, you’ll know which is which!

• Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
• Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
• Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
• Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
• Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
• Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)
• Pagan Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus yamashinae)
• Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops)
• Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
• Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus)
• Painted Tiger Parrot (Psittacella picta)
• Palau Owl (Pyrroglaux podarginus)
• Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
• Pampa Finch (Embernagra platensis)
• Pampas Meadowlark (Sturnella defilippii)
• Pampas Pipit (Anthus chacoensis)
• Panamanian Flycatcher (Myiarchus panamensis)
• Panamanian Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes flavovirens)
• Panay Striped Babbler (Zosterornis latistriatus)
• Pander’s Ground Jay (Podoces panderi)
• Pangani Longclaw (Macronyx aurantiigula)
• Pantepui Thrush (Turdus murinus)
• Paperbark Flycatcher (Myiagra nana)
• Paradise Duck (Tadorna variegata)
• Parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus)
• Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula)
• Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)
• Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
• Parkinson’s Petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni)
• Parrot (Psittaciformes)
• Partridge (Perdix perdix)
• Patagonian Yellow Finch (Sicalis lebruni)
• Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)
• Pavonine Cuckoo (Dromococcyx pavoninus)
• Pavonine Quetzal (Pharomachrus pavoninus)
• Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)
• Peach-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula aurea)
• Peacock (Pavo cristatus)
• Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
• Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
• Peewit (Vanellus vanellus)
• Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
• Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
• Pelican (Pelecanus)
• Penguin (Spheniscidae)
• Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
• Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
• Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
• Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
• Phoenix Petrel (Pterodroma alba)
• Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer)
• Picazuro Pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro)
• Pictorella Mannikin (Heteromunia pectoralis)
• Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui)
• Pied Crow (Corvus albus)
• Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
• Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)
• Pileated Parrot (Pionopsitta pileata)
• Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
• Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus)
• Pincoya Storm Petrel (Oceanites pincoyae)
• Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
• Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
• Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)
• Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri)
• Pink Robin (Petroica rodinogaster)
• Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
• Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
• Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
• Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus)
• Pinto’s Spinetail (Synallaxis infuscata)
• Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
• Piping Bellbird (Ornorectes cristatus)
• Piping Crow (Corvus typicus)
• Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator)
• Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
• Pipipi (Mohoua novaeseelandiae)
• Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius)
• Pirre Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus inornatus)
• Pirre Hummingbird (Goethalsia bella)
• Pirre Warbler (Basileuterus ignotus)
• Pitcairn Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus vaughani)
• Pitt Shag (Phalacrocorax featherstoni)
• Pitta-like Ground Roller (Atelornis pittoides)
• Piura Chat-tyrant (Ochthoeca piurae)
• Piura Hemispingus (Sphenopsis piurae)
• Placid Greenbul (Phyllastrephus placidus)
• Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
• Plain Pigeon (Patagioenas inornata)
• Plumbeous Hawk (Cryptoleucopteryx plumbea)
• Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus)
• Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
• Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema)
• Pohnpei Starling (Aplonis pelzelni)
• Point-tailed Palmcreeper (Berlepschia rikeri)
• Pollen’s Vanga (Xenopirostris polleni)
• Polynesian Ground Dove (Gallicolumba erythroptera)
• Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)
• Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
• Powerful Woodpecker (Campephilus pollens)
• Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
• Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
• Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae)
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
• Puerto Rican Amazon (Amazona vittata)
• Puerto Rican lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vieilloti)
• Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
• Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
• Purple Martin (Progne subis)
• Purus Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus)
• Puvel’s Illadopsis (Illadopsis puveli)
• Pycroft’s Petrel (Pterodroma pycrofti)
• Pygmy Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei)
• Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
• Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)
• Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)

Dogs that Start with the letter P

Who’s a smart pup, who’s a smart pup? We’ll give you a hint, they’re so intelligent, kind, and fluffy that they’ve been breed with 41 known dog breeds to create whole new adorable breeds! You guessed it, it’s the Poodle!

From Goldendoodles to Bassetoodles, if you can think of a dog breed it’s probably been bred with the bright and loyal Poodle! Something else Poodles are known for are their interesting fur styles, but let’s pump the breaks right there. Did you know that Poodles actually have hair instead of fur? Much like us humans, they require hair cuts and their hair grows just like ours! ⁽⁷⁾ Could you imagine walking into your hair salon are seeing a Poodle in the hot seat? There’s a joke you can bark at!

• Pachon Navarro
• Pampas Deerhound
• Papillon
• Parson Russell Terrier
• Pastore Della Lessinia e Del Lagorai
• Patagonian Sheepdog
• Patterdale Terrier
• Pekingese
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
• Perro Majorero
• Perro de Pastor Mallorquin
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Perro de Presa Mallorquin
• Peruvian Inca Orchid
• Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
• Petit Bleu de Gascogne
• Phalène
• Pharaoh Hound
• Phu Quoc Ridgeback
• Picardy Spaniel
• Plummer Terrier
• Plott Hound
• Podenco Canario
• Podenco Valenciano
• Pointer
• Poitevin
• Polish Greyhound
• Polish Hound
• Polish Lowland Sheepdog
• Polish Tatra Sheepdog
• Pomeranian
• Pont-Audemer Spaniel
• Poodle
• Porcelaine
• Portuguese Podengo
• Portuguese Pointer
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Posavac Hound
• Pražský Krysařík
• Pshdar Dog
• Pudelpointer
• Pug
• Puli
• Pumi
• Pungsan dog
• Pyrenean Mastiff
• Pyrenean Mountain Dog
• Pyrenean Sheepdog

Fish that Start with the letter P

Did you know there are fish out there with cool names like Pilot Fish, Pineconefish, and Pirate Perch? Shiver me timbers who gets the fun job of naming these sea creatures?! Well, here’s another neat one for you, the Pineapplefish! You can see from the photo above how it get its eye-catching name. Alas this pattern of theirs goes far beyond looks, these pineapple scales are ready to protect! ⁽⁸⁾ Much like when you pick up a pineapple at the store it’s sometimes an uncomfy grip due to it’s rough exterior; the Pineapplefish is treading the waters with a suite of armor!

Also, is anyone else wondering if Pineapplefish be for or against pineapple on pizza?

• Pacific Albacore (Thunnus albacares)
• Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus)
• Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus)
• Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii)
• Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus)
• Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus)
• Pacific Saury (Cololabis saira)
• Pacific Trout (Oncorhynchus)
• Pacific Viperfish (Chauliodus macouni)
• Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
• Pancake Batfish (Halieutichthys aculeatus)
• Panga (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)
• Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis)
• Parasitic Catfish (Trichomycteridae)
• Parore (Girella tricuspidata)
• Parrotfish (Scaridae)
• Peacock Flounder (Bothus mancus)
• Peamouth (Mylocheilus caurinus)
• Pearleye (Scopelarchidae)
• Pearlfish (Carapidae)
• Pearl Danio (Danio albolineatus)
• Pearl Perch (Glaucosoma scapulare)
• Pelagic Cod (Melanonus gracilis)
• Pelican Eel (Eurypharynx pelecanoides)
• Pencil Catfish (Trichomycteridae)
• Pencil Fish (Nannostomus)
• Pencil Smelt (Microstomatidae)
• Peppered Corydoras (Corydoras paleatus)
• Perch (Perca)
• Peters’ Elephantnose Fish (Gnathonemus petersii)
• Pickerel (Esox niger)
• Pigfish (Bodianus unimaculatus)
• Pike Conger (Muraenesox cinereus)
• Pike Eel (Muraenesox bagio)
• Pike (Esox lucius)
• Pikeblenny (Chaenopsis limbaughi)
• Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)
• Pilchard (Sardina pilchardus)
• Pilot Fish (Naucrates ductor)
• Pineapplefish (Cleidopus gloriamaris)
• Pineconefish (Monocentridae)
• Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
• Píntano (Abudefduf saxatilis)
• Pipefish (Syngnathinae)
• Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
• Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas)
• Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus)
• Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)
• Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)
• Platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus)
• Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus)
• Plownose Chimaera (Callorhinchidae)
• Poacher (Agonidae)
• Pollock (Pollachius)
• Pomfret (Bramidae)
• Pompano (Trachinotus)
• Pompano Dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis)
• Ponyfish (Leiognathidae)
• Popeye Catalufa (Pristigenys serrula)
• Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus)
• Porcupinefish (Diodontidae)
• Porgy (Sparidae)
• Port Jackson Shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni)
• Prickleback (Stichaeidae)
• Prickle Fish (Stephanoberycidae)
• Prickly Shark (Echinorhinus cookei)
• Prowfish (Zaprora silenus)
• Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae)
• Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
• Pupfish (Cyprinodontidae)
• Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma)

Insects & Spiders that Start with the letter P

Perhaps we don’t always appreciate the presence of bugs, but these insects that start with the letter P are fairly important; the Pollen Beetles! Hence their name, the play a role in the pollination game. And just how do these little guys help out? Whelp, they actually do their part by eating! These little insects love to munch on pollen, and in the process they get pollen on themselves and travel to other flowers and plants; spreading the pollen goodness! ⁽⁹⁾

• Paper Wasp (Vespidae)
• Pill Bug (Armadillidiidae)
• Pinion Moth (Lithophane georgii)
• Pirate Spiders (Mimetidae)
• Pollen Beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus)
• Portia Spider (Portia)
• Praying Mantids (Mantodea)
• Purse-Web Spiders (Atypus affinis)

Mammals that Start with the letter P

From Polar Bears to the Platypus there’s lots of creatures to marvel over in the list of mammals that start with the letter P, and we can’t forget the unbelievably adorable Panda.

We know that Pandas love their bamboo shoots a lot, and perhaps you even know that their recognizable fur patterns is for camouflaging purposes, but did you know they have something in common with your household cat? If you look up pictures of Pandas, or get the rare chance to see one yourself, you can observe their beautiful eyes and notice that their pupils are vertical lines just like a cats! ⁽¹⁰⁾ Wait until Mr. Fluffy hears about this!

• Paca (Cuniculus)
• Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus)
• Pacific White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
• Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
• Pangolin (Pholidota)
• Painted Bat (Kerivoula picta)
• Pale Fox (Vulpes pallida)
• Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus)
• Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus manul)
• Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata)
• Pale Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops pallidus)
• Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)
• Pampas Cat (Leopardus colocola)
• Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)
• Pampas Fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus)
• Panamint Chipmunk (Tamias panamintinus)
• Panamint Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys panamintinus)
• Papuan Forest Wallaby (Dorcopsulus macleayi)
• Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas)
• Peccary (Tayassuidae)
• Perrin’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon perrini)
• Pika (Ochotona)
• Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus)
• Pinyon Mouse (Peromyscus truei)
• Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis)
• Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
• Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus)
• Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
• Polecat (Mustela putorius)
• Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
• Preble’s Shrew (Sorex preblei)
• Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus)
• Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
• Pygmy Hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis)
• Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)
• Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps)

Reptiles that Start with the letter P

Snakes are intimidating creatures, and the mighty Python is high on that list. Even though this snake isn’t poisioness, that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous!

Other snakes may bite their prey to take them down, but this beast constricts its prey until it’s done for. And the craziness doesn’t stop there, if anything it escilates. The fearsome Python doesn’t take waste a beat after it’s beaten it’s meal, it eats the prey whole! ⁽¹¹⁾

If a Python asks if it can have a bite of your food, you might want to have a back up dish on hand. And also, you may not want to be hanging out with Pythons.

• Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
• Panamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina)
• Panamint Rattlesnake (Crotalus stephensi)
• Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
• Peninsula Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus nocticolus)
• Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
• Pit Viper (Crotalinae)
• Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora)
• Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
• Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)
• Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
• Prehensile-tailed Skink (Corucia zebrata)
• Pygmy Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii)
• Python (Pythonidae)

You sure did take it a lot of neat information and cool facts about some awesome animals that start with letter P. Now you can relax your brain but still have animals on the mind with our Animal Coloring Sheets! Take a look through the wonderful coloring options, print to your hearts desire, and color away!

Footnotes

1) “Genus”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/genus (accessed 08/12/2022)
2) “Species”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/species (accessed 08/12/2022)

3) “Poison Dart Frog.” National Geographic Kids. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/facts/poison-dart-frog.

4) “Toxins”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/toxins (accessed 08/12/2022)

5) “Peacocks.” National Geographic. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/peacocks?loggedin=true.

6) Ferrara, Sue. “THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEACOCKS AND PEAHENS.” Animals Mom.com. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://animals.mom.com/difference-between-peacocks-peahens-7416.html.

7) Reisen, Jan. “10 Fun Facts About Poodles.” American Kennel Club. Last modified December 24, 2019. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-facts-about-poodles/.

8) “Pineapplefish.” Two Oceans Aquarium . Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.aquarium.co.za/species/entry/pineapplefish.

9) “Pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus).” Insect Week. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.insectweek.co.uk/discover-insects/beetles/pollen-beetle.

10) “TOP 10 FACTS ABOUT PANDAS.” WWF. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/pandas.

11) “Python Big muscles, but no venom.” San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers. Accessed August 12, 2022. https://sdzwildlifeexplorers.org/animals/python.