It’s a wide, wild, and wonderful wildlife world out there, and even wackier with these interesting Animals that start with letter W!

From fun Animal Coloring Sheets that are ready to be filled in with your special touch to interesting facts and increasing your animal knowledge with each critter’s Genus⁽¹⁾ and Species⁽²⁾, which make up its Scientific Name.

Get your W.W.A.T.S.W.L.W. (What would Animals That Start With Letter W) cap on, and let’s get exploring!

Amphibians that Start with the letter W

This teacup sized froggy on our list of Amphibians that start with the letter W doesn’t have to worry about its parachute malfunctioning!

Wallce’s Flying Frog’s incredible ability is all in its name; this tiny frog can glide up to 50 ft in the treetops. When this frog spreads out and takes off, its able to gracefully soar due to the excessive webbing that’s around its feet and even along its body. ⁽⁴⁾

Spiderman just found his cute new animal sidekick!

• Wager’s Bush Squeaker (Arthroleptis wageri)
• Wailing Frog (Cyclorana vagitus)
• Wallace’s Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus)
• Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula)
• Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans)
• Warty Leaf Frog (Agalychnis buckleyi)
• Water Holding Frog (Litoria platycephala)
• Waterfall Frog (Litoria nannotis)
• Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans)
• Waxy Monkey Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa sauvagii)
• Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)
• Western Clawed Frog (Xenopus tropicalis)
• Western Cuba Grassfrog (Eleutherodactylus varleyi)
• Western Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea paludicola)
• Western Leopard Toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus)
• Western Long-fingered Frog (Cardioglossa occidentalis)
• Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula)
• Western Spadefoot (Spea hammondii)
• Western Spiny Frog (Eleutherodactylus symingtoni)
• Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)
• Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)
• Western Water-holding Frog (Cyclorana occidentalis)
• Western White Lipped Treefrog (Boophis occidentalis)
• Werner’s Button Frog (Cycloramphus asper)
• Whistling Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus pipilans)
• White Lipped Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata)
• Whites Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea)
• White-snouted Robber Frog (Craugastor galacticorhinus)
• White-spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus)
• Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
• Woodhouse’s Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)
• Wugongshan Horned Toad (Boulenophrys wugongensis)
• Wyoming Toad (Anaxyrus baxteri)

Birds that Start with the letter W

Have you been asking yourself: By golly, I wish there was some sort of interesting animal out there that could be my companion; one that’s entertaining and lives for a long time. Well you’re just in luck, your oddly specific question is about to be answered!

The Cockatoo, in its 21 species, is one lively creature! Showing off their birdy vocal chords is one of their favorite things. Aside from the person that they become attached to; and that happens quicker than you may think! When a Cockatoo sets its eyes on you as a pal, it’s for life. And most likely your whole life, because White Cockatoos that are well taken care of in captivity have been known to live to the whooping age of 100. ⁽⁵⁾

• Wagler’s Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus wagleri)
• Wahlberg’s Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi)
• Wahnes’s Parotia (Parotia wahnesi)
• Waigeo Brushturkey (Aepypodius bruijnii)
• Waigeo Shrikethrush (Colluricincla affinis)
• Wailing Cisticola (Cisticola lais)
• Wakatobi White-eye (Zosterops flavissimus)
• Wake Island Rail (Hypotaenidia wakensis)
• Wakolo Myzomela (Myzomela wakoloensis)
• Walden’s Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni)
• Wallacean Cuckooshrike (Coracina personata)
• Wallacean Drongo (Dicrurus densus)
• Wallacean Whistler (Pachycephala arctitorquis)
• Wallace’s Fairywren (Sipodotus wallacii)
• Wallace’s Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus wallacii)
• Wallace’s Hanging Parrot (Loriculus flosculus)
• Wallace’s Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nanus)
• Wallace’s Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles wallacii)
• Wallace’s Scops Owl (Otus silvicola)
• Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
• Waller’s Starling (Onychognathus walleri)
• Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)
• Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
• Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)
• Warbling Doradito (Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris)
• Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
• Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)
• Ward’s Flycatcher (Pseudobias wardi)
• Ward’s Trogon (Harpactes wardi)
• Warsangli Linnet (Linaria johannis)
• Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
• Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
• Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)
• Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea)
• Watkins’s Antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi)
• Wattled Crane (Grus carunculata)
• Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata)
• Waved Woodpecker (Celeus undatus)
• Wayanad Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus delesserti)
• Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus)
• Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris)
• Weka (Gallirallus australis)
• Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
• West African Batis (Batis occulta)
• West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis)
• West African Seedeater (Crithagra canicapilla) 
• West African Swallow (Cecropis domicella)
• West African Wattle-eye (Platysteira hormophora)
• West Himalayan Bush Warbler (Locustella kashmirensis)
• West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea)
• West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris)
• West Mexican Chachalaca (Ortalis poliocephala)
• West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda)
• West Peruvian Screech Owl (Megascops roboratus)
• Western Alpine Mannikin (Lonchura montana)
• Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens)
• Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
• Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
• Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
• Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
• Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
• Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
• Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
• Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)
• Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
• Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
• Western Wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
• Westland Petrel (Procellaria westlandica)
• Wetar Figbird (Sphecotheres hypoleucus)
• Wetar Ground Dove (Pampusana hoedtii)
• Weyns’s Weaver (Ploceus weynsi)
• Whenua Hou Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis)
• Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
• Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)
• Whiskered Auklet (Aethia pygmaea)
• Whiskered Flowerpecker (Dicaeum proprium)
• Whiskered Myiobius (Myiobius barbatus)
• Whiskered Pitta (Erythropitta kochi)
• Whiskered Screech Owl (Megascops trichopsis)
• Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
• Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata)
• Whiskered Wren (Pheugopedius mystacalis)
• Whiskered Yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis)
• Whistler’s Warbler (Phylloscopus whistleri)
• Whistling Cisticola (Cisticola lateralis)
• Whistling Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus layardi)
• Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)
• Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
• Whistling Warbler (Catharopeza bishopi) 
• White Bellbird (Procnias albus)
• White Cockatoo (Cacatua alba)
• White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
• White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
• White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
• White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)
• White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
• White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
• White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
• White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
• White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus)
• White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
• White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
• White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)
• White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)
• White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
• White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)
• White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
• White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
• White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus)
• White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
• White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
• Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
• Whooping Crane (Grus americana)
• Whooping Motmot (Momotus subrufescens)
• Whyte’s Barbet (Stactolaema whytii)
• Whyte’s Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris whytei)
• Wied’s Tyrant-manakin (Neopelma aurifrons)
• Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
• Wilkins’s Finch (Nesospiza wilkinsi)
• Willard’s Sooty Boubou (Laniarius willardi)
• Willcocks’s Honeyguide (Indicator willcocksi)
• Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
• Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
• Williams’s Lark (Mirafra williamsi)
• Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
• Willis’s Antbird (Cercomacroides laeta)
• Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
• Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
• Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
• Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)
• Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
• Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)
• Wilson’s Indigobird (Vidua wilsoni)
• Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
• Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
• Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
• Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
• Winter Wren (Troglodytes heimalis)
• Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
• Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
• Wood Stork (Mycteria Americana)
• Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
• Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)
• Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)
• Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata)
• Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis)

Dogs that Start with the letter W

The Wire Fox Terrier is known for its adorably quizzical looks and fun size, but did you ever wonder why it has Fox in its name?

Back in the hunting days of Great Britain, these pups were the shinning stars of fox hunting. The Wire Fox Terrier has come a long way in its successes as a breed, for now they can be found in a variety of environments. From service dog positions, to the intensity of a search and rescue dog, all the way to a loving household family member; there’s a place anywhere and everywhere for the Wire Fox Terrier! ⁽⁶⁾

• Walker Beagle (Beagle Tree Walker Coonhound)
• Walker Greyhound (Greyhound Tree Walker Coonhound)
• Mini Wauzer (West Highland White Terrier Miniature Schnauzer)
• Wee-Chon (West Highland White Terrier Bichon Frise)
• Weeranian (West Highland White Terrier Pomeranian)
• Wiler Dane (Rottweiler Great Dane)
• Weimaraner
• Weimardoodle (Weimaraner Poodle)
• Weimarman (Weimaraner Doberman Pinscher)
• Weim-Pei (Weimaraner Shar-Pei)
• Wel-Chon (Welsh Terrier Bichon Frise)
• Welsh Corgi
• Welsh Sheepdog
• Welsh Springer Spaniel
• Welsh Terrier
• Weshi (West Highland White Terrier Shih Tzu)
• West Country Harrier
• West Highland Husky (West Highland White Terrier Siberian Husky)
• West Highland White Terrier
• West of Argyll Terrier (West Highland White Terrier Beagle)
• West Siberian Laika
• Western Moutain Cur
• Westphalian Dachsbracke
• Wetterhoun
• Whippet Greyhound (Whippet Greyhound)
• Whippet
• White Shepherd
• White Swiss Shepherd Dog
• Wire Fox Terrier
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
• Wirehaired Vizsla

Fish that Start with the letter W

Wolf + Eel = Wolf Eel; okay, we promise that’s the end of the math equations, no more math!

Just as we know Wolves to be majestic creatures, the Wolf Eel does have a graceful way of swimming about the North Pacific Ocean waters. But, what is not so charming is the major chomp action the Wolf Eel is notorious for. Their huge scary mouths don’t have any boundaries when it comes to hard textures, for they love to grub on crabs. Be sure to save a spot for your Wolf Eel pal next time you go to Red Lobster; but make sure you get a booth that can fit a 7 ft long sea critter. ⁽⁷⁾ That shouldn’t be too difficult!

• Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)
• Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus)
• Wallago (Wallago attu)
• Walleye (Sander vitreus)
• Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus)
• Walu (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum)
• Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
• Warty Angler (Brachionichthys hirsutus)
• Waryfish (Scopelosaurus ahlstromi)
• Waspfish (Snyderina yamanokami)
• Weasel Shark (Hemigaleidae)
• Weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis)
• Weever (Trachinidae)
• Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis)
• Whalefish (Cetomimidae)
• Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
• Whiff (Citharichthys)
• Whitebait (Galaxias maculatus)
• White Croaker (Genyonemus lineatus)
• Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
• White Marlin (Kajikia albida)
• White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
• Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)
• Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)
• Wobbegong (Orectolobidae)
• Wolf-eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)
• Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)
• Wolf-herring (Chirocentrus)
• Worm Eel (Ophichthidae)
• Wormfish (Microdesminae)
• Wrasse (Labridae)
• Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes maculatus)

Insects & Spiders that Start with the letter W

Perhaps when you hear about a Walking Stick bug you don’t think much of a warrior. All they do is blend into plants and trees, right? Well, you’re not technically wrong but they’ve got some secret weapons we bet you didn’t know.

Throughout the species of Walking Sticks there are a few that have the ability to spray out their stinky or harmfully blinding liquids from their abdomen if the Walking Stick believes its in danger. And, as an element of surprise, if one of their legs is caught by a predator they can simply detatch from it and worry about growing it back later. ⁽⁸⁾ Talk about breaking a leg!

• Walking Sticks (Phasmatodea)
• Wasp (Vespidae)
• Water Beetle (Hydrophilidae)
• Waxworm (Galleria mellonella)
• Webspinners (Embiidina)
• Weevils (Curculionoidea)
• Wēkiu Bug (Nysius wekiuicola)
• Wētā (Anostostomatidae)
• Wheat Fly (Contarinia tritici)
• Whip-Scorpion (Uropygi)
• Whip Spider (Amblypygi)
• White Ants (Isoptera)
• White Flannel Moth (Norape ovina)
• White-Tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata)
• Whiteflies (Aleyrodidae)
• Witchetty Grub (Endoxyla leucomochla)
• Wolf Spider (Lycosidae)
• Woodworm (Anobium punctatum)
• Wrap-around Spider (Dolophones conifera)

Mammals that Start with the letter W

Aww look up above, it’s a cute little brown bear, how precious! Oh, wait, hold on a second. Is that, a Wolverine?

Indeed it is! Even though these forest critters appear like a bear cub, they are in fact a branch off of the weasel family. And perhaps its a family trait, but Wolverines can be a bit guttsy! For if they see a meal they want and they have to steal it from a creature far bigger than they are, they’re going to go for it. ⁽⁹⁾ Hey, maybe that’s where the X-Man character Wolverine got their name from!

• Wallaby (Macropodidae)
• Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
• Water Shrew (Sorex palustris)
• West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)
• Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
• Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
• Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis)
• Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps)
• Western Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis)
• Western Red Bat (Lasiurus blossevillii)
• Western Spotted Skunk (Spilogale gracilis)
• Western Yellow Bat (Lasiurus xanthinus)
• Whale (Cetacea)
• White-eared Pocket Mouse (Perognathus alticolus)
• White-footed Vole (Arborimus albipes)
• White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)
• White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)
• White-throated Woodrat (Neotoma albigula)
• Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)
• Wild Pig (Sus scrofa)
• Wildebeest (Connochaetes)
• Wolf (Canis lupus)
• Woolly Hare (Lepus oiostolus)
• Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
• Wombat (Vombatidae)
• Wyoming Pocket Gopher (Thomomys clusius)

Reptiles that Start with the letter W

Drop the record needle for that groovy hit, Whip It by Devo for this wild Reptiles that start with the letter W; the Whiptail Lizard!

Besides the wicked tail these reptiles have, which can grow significantly larger than their body, there’s a species of Whiptail Lizards that can reproduce all by themselves. Through Parthenogenesis reproduction, a species of all-female Whiptails are able to produce duplicate-like eggs which produce even more female Whiptail Lizards. ⁽¹¹⁾ Now that’s some girl-power!

• Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
• Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
• Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
• Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus)
• Western Black-headed Snake (Tantilla planiceps)
• Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
• Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)
• Western Groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata)
• Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis)
• Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata)
• Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus)
• Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis)
• Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus)
• Western Threadsnake (Rena humilis)
• Whiptail Lizard (Teiidae)
• White-Throated Monitor (Varanus albigularis)
• Wiggins’ Night Lizard (Xantusia wigginsi)

Haven’t had enough fill on the wild animal world fun? Check out our ready to use, free, and entertaining Animal Coloring Sheets to extend your animal creativity time. From Alligators to the mighty Walrus, there’s tons to explore!

Footnotes

1) “Genus”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/genus (accessed 09/06/2022)
2) “Species”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/species (accessed 09/06/2022)

3) “Webbing”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/webbing (accessed 09/06/2022)

4) Abbey, Don. “Rhacophorus nigropalmatus.” Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rhacophorus_nigropalmatus/.

5) Bates, Ashley. “13 Fascinating & Fun Cockatoo Facts You Never Knew.” Pet Keen. Last modified July 28, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://petkeen.com/cockatoo-facts/.

6) “Wire Fox Terrier.” American Kennel Club. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/wire-fox-terrier/.

7) “Meet the Intimidating Eel That Mates For Life.” YouTube National Geographic. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apHssuCCLfE.

8) Rice, Laura. “Six surprising facts about walkingstick insects.” Texas Standard: The National Daily News Show of Texas. Last modified January 5, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/six-surprising-facts-about-walkingstick-insects/.

9) “Wolverine Fact Sheet.” PBS Wisconsin. Last modified March 10, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/wolverine-fact-sheet/.

10) “Parthenogenesis”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/parthenogenesis (accessed 09/06/2022)

11) “Fun Whiptail Facts For Kids.” Kidadl. Last modified August 6, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2022. https://kidadl.com/facts/animals/whiptail-facts.