Y is a peculiar letter, isn’t it? And the peculiarity and fascination don’t stop there. There are tons of neat oddities and facts to absorb from this compelling list of animals that start with letter Y!
We aren’t going to stop the fun train there, though; be on the lookout for adorable Animal Coloring Sheets and the Genus(1) and Species(2) names for every animal on our list!
Amphibians that Start with the letter Y
What has the same color scheme as a bee, also has a deadliness to them, and calls South America home on our list of Amphibians that start with the letter Y? Why, it’s the Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog.
This frog has alarming colors to indicate that it is indeed poisonous, but outside of its natural jungle habitat, the Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog is actually not deadly to humans. By touch in the wild, this frog is poisonous, and that is derived from a particular species of bugs that they snack on. (3) I guess the saying is true; you are what you eat!
- Yaeyama Kajika Frog (Buergeria choui)
- Yat-sen’s Torrent Frog (Amolops yatseni)
- Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)
- Yellow Cave Frog (Eleutherodactylus counouspeus)
- Yellow Chevronate Frog (Eleutherodactylus grahami)
- Yellow Dyer Rainfrog (Diasporus citrinobapheus)
- Yellow Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria castanea)
- Yellow-bellied Poison Frog (Andinobates fulguritus)
- Yellow-bellied Stream Frog (Allobates flaviventris)
- Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata)
- Yellow-headed Poison Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)
- Yellow-Peppered Salamander (Ambystoma flavipiperatum)
- Yellow-spotted Narrow-Mouthed Frog (Chaperina fusca)
- Yellow-spotted Treefrog (Boana albopunctata)
- Yellow-striped Dwarf Frog (Eleutherodactylus limbatus)
- Yellow Split-toed Frog (Eleutherodactylus flavescens)
- Yellow-throated Web-footed Salamander (Bolitoglossa aureogularis)
- Yellowbelly Voiceless Treefrog (Charadrahyla altipotens)
- Yenyuan Stream Salamander (Batrachuperus yenyuanensis)
- Yingde Horned Toad (Boulenophrys yingdeensis)
- Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus)
- Ypiranga Button Frog (Cycloramphus duseni)
- Yucatan Salamander (Bolitoglossa yucatana)
- Yunkai Torrent Frog (Amolops yunkaiensis)
Birds that Start with the letter Y
Perhaps you thought you knew all the species of Penguins that there were to know, but there’s a remarkably rare kind that you may have never guessed.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin, as its name indicates, has striking yellow eyes and is very precious to the country of New Zealand for that is the only place in the world where these Penguins can be found. Due to several unfortunate factors, the Yellow-eyed Penguin is on New Zealand’s endangered species list. (4) Which is all the more reason to be conscious of the way we treat our planet and its creatures.
- Yap Cicadabird (Edolisoma nesiotis)
- Yap Monarch (Monarcha godeffroyi)
- Yapacana Antbird (Aprositornis disjuncta)
- Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan)
- Yellow Bishop (Euplectes capensis)
- Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
- Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata)
- Yellow Canary (Crithagra flaviventris)
- Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)
- Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
- Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)
- Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
- Yellow-bibbed Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus solomonensis)
- Yellow-bibbed Lory (Lorius chlorocercus)
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
- Yellow-bridled Finch (Melanodera xanthogramma)
- Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons)
- Yellow-browed Woodpecker (Piculus aurulentus)
- Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)
- Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
- Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)
- Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops)
- Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens)
- Yellow-gaped Honeyeater (Microptilotis flavirictus)
- Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
- Yellow-scarfed Tanager (Iridosornis reinhardti)
- Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona barbadensis)
- Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus)
- Yellow-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aureolimbatum)
- Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow (Gymnoris pyrgita)
- Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (Meliphaga notata)
- Yellow-streaked Greenbul (Phyllastrephus flavostriatus)
- Yellow-streaked Warbler (Phylloscopus armandii)
- Yellow-striped Brushfinch (Atlapetes citrinellus)
- Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea)
- Yellow-tailed Oriole (Icterus mesomelas)
- Yellow-tailed Parrot (Pionites xanthurus)
- Yellow-thighed Brushfinch (Atlapetes tibialis)
- Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
- Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)
- Yellow-tinted Honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens)
- Yellow-tufted Dacnis (Dacnis lineata)
- Yellow-tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops)
- Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus)
- Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
- Yellow-vented Eremomela (Eremomela flavicrissalis)
- Yellow-vented Flowerpecker (Dicaeum chrysorrheum)
- Yellow-vented Green Pigeon (Treron seimundi)
- Yellow-vented Warbler (Phylloscopus cantator)
- Yellow-vented Woodpecker (Veniliornis dignus)
- Yellow-wattled Bulbul (Poliolophus urostictus)
- Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)
- Yellow-whiskered Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus parvirostris)
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (Eurillas latirostris)
- Yellow-winged Blackbird (Agelasticus thilius)
- Yellow-winged Pytilia (Pytilia hypogrammica)
- Yellow-winged Tanager (Thraupis abbas)
- Yellow-winged Vireo (Vireo carmioli)
- Yemen Linnet (Linaria yemenensis)
- Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis)
- Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis)
- Yemen Warbler (Curruca buryi)
- Yucatan Amazon (Amazona xantholora)
- Yucatan Bobwhite (Colinus nigrogularis)
- Yucatan Flycatcher (Myiarchus yucatanensis)
- Yucatan Gnatcatcher (Polioptila albiventris)
- Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)
- Yucatan Nightjar (Antrostomus badius)
- Yucatan Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus)
- Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister)
- Yucatan Woodpecker (Melanerpes pygmaeus)
- Yucatan Wren (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus)
- Yungas Antwren (Myrmotherula grisea)
- Yungas Dove (Leptotila megalura)
- Yungas Guan (Penelope bridgesi)
- Yungas Manakin (Chiroxiphia boliviana)
- Yungas Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium bolivianum)
- Yungas Screech Owl (Megascops hoyi)
- Yungas Sparrow (Rhynchospiza dabbenei)
- Yungas Tody-tyrant (Hemitriccus spodiops)
- Yungas Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias weedeni)
- Yungas Warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus)
- Yunnan Fulvetta (Alcippe fratercula)
- Yunnan Nuthatch (Sitta yunnanensis)
Dogs that Start with the letter Y
Look out for the popular pup! The Yorkshire Terrier, or better known as the Yorkie, is one of the most popular toy dog breeds in the United States. With their loveable size, big personality, and fun-loving energy, what’s not to fall head over tail for? These are all things we know about the iconic breed, but did you know that your hair and a Yorkie’s are actually pretty similar? With their texture and growth, just like us humans have to schedule haircuts, so does the Yorkie quite often. (5)
- Yakutian Laika
- Yoranian (Yorkshire Terrier Pomeranian)
- Yorkie Pin (Yorkshire Terrier Miniature Pinscher)
- Yorkie Russell (Yorkshire Terrier Jack Russell Terrier)
- Yorkie-Apso (Yorkshire Terrier Lhasa Apso)
- Yorkie-ton (Yorkshire Terrier Coton de Tulear)
- Yorkillon (Yorkshire Terrier Papillon)
- Yorkinese (Yorkshire Terrier Pekingese)
- Yorkipoo (Yorkshire Terrier Poodle)
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Yorksky (Yorkshire Terrier Siberian Husky)
- Yorktese (Yorkshire Terrier Maltese)
- Yorwich (Yorkshire Terrier Norwich Terrier)
- Yugoslavian Hound
Fish that Start with the letter Y
You may have recognized the vivid fish that start with the letter Y above, the Yellowtail Clownfish, due to the very popular and loved Disney Pixar film Finding Nemo. Although this particular species of clownfish wasn’t in the movie, they’re still quite interesting!
One radical thing about the Yellowtail Clownfish is that they are Sequential Hermaphrodites. Essentially, this means that all the Yellowtail Clownfish are first-born males and with maturity and growth, they eventually transition to females. (7) These creatures get to experience life from more than one perspective in the anemone(8)!
- Yellow-and-black Triplefin (Forsterygion flavonigrum)
- Yellowback Fusilier (Caesio xanthonota)
- Yellowbanded Perch (Acanthistius cinctus)
- Yellow Bass (Morone mississippiensis)
- Yellowedge Grouper (Hyporthodus nigritus)
- Yellow-edged Moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
- Yellow-eye Mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri)
- Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
- Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador)
- Yellowfin Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii macdonaldi)
- Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa)
- Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
- Yellowfin Pike (Dinolestes lewini)
- Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus)
- Yellow Jack (Carangoides bartholomaei)
- Yellowmargin Triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus)
- Yellow Moray (Gymnothorax prasinus)
- Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)
- Yellowtail Amberjack (Seriola lalandi)
- Yellowtail Barracuda (Sphyraena flavicauda)
- Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii)
- Yellowtail Horse Mackerel (Trachurus novaezelandiae)
- Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi)
- Yellowtail Snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus)
- Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
- Yellow Weaver (Parapercis gilliesii)
- Yellowtail Catfish (Pangasius pangasius)
Insects & Spiders that Start with the letter Y
They make you squirm and pick up your pace if they decide to buzz around you, it’s the Yellow Jacket Wasp. One of our first instincts when one of these creepy flying things comes by, is to swat at it and make it drop, but here’s something that may not be common knowledge.
If a Yellow Jacket Wasp has been attacked and is going to die, an odor is released from them that is meant to call attention to the other wasps in its colony. And if the wasp is close enough to its hive, in a matter of seconds, dozens upon dozens of wasps will be in that area, trying to help their fellow fallen wasp. (9) Well, one thing can be said about the Yellow Jacket Wasp; they really drop everything to come help!
- Yellow Ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
- Yellow Jacket Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
- Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)
- Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum)
- Yellow Winged Grasshopper (Arphia sulphurea)
Mammals that Start with the letter Y
When matching up animals with the alphabet in Kindergarten, the Yak is a go-to for mammals that start with the letter Y!
These massively beautiful wild Yaks can be found grazing the grassy fields of the Tibetan Plateau in the Himalayas. In this region, during the winter months, quite a lot of snow can pile up there! Well, the Yak is fully prepared for winter mode. With its incredibly thick fur, it can keep warm, and Yaks use their handy-dandy horns to move snow out of the way so they can find their favorite snack: grass! (10)
- Yak (Bos grunniens)
- Yapok (Chironectes minimus)
- Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
- Yellow Footed Antechinus (Antechinus flavipes)
- Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus)
- Yellow Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus fulvus)
- Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
- Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor)
- Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)
- Yellow-bellied Weasel (Mustela kathiah)
- Yellow-necked Field Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)
- Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat (Sigmodon ochrognathus)
- Yellow-pine Chipmunk (Tamias amoenus)
- Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula)
- Yellow-winged Bat (Lavia frons)
- Yucatan Squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis)
- Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
- Yunnan Hare (Lepus comus)
Reptiles that Start with the letter Y
The Yacare Caiman is not only a reptile that starts with the letter Y but also a species of Crocodile!
These chompy critters can grow to be as long as 5ft and 10in and are scattered throughout the South American countries of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia. Because of their unique skin that has a bone-like structure to it, the Yacare Caiman is unfortunately hunted. Actions have been taken in order to preserve this creature, and it seems to have worked. For the Yacare Caiman is one of the largest Crocodile species on the planet, with almost 10 million on record! (11) That’s more people that live in New York City by 2 million! (12)
- Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare)
- Yellow-bellied Seasnake (Pelamis platura)
- Yellow-foot Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata)
Keep the fun animal exploring going with our awesome and free Animal Coloring Sheets! From the sharp pointy teeth of Alligators, the majestic patterns of the Moth, and the lone stoic vibe of the Wolf, there’s a variety of fun to look through!
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)
Sequential Hermaphrodites: Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life.[1] In particular, a sequential hermaphrodite produces eggs (female gametes) and sperm (male gametes) at different stages in life. (6)
Sea Anemone: Any of numerous, often brightly colored cnidarians of the class Anthozoa, having flexible cylindrical bodies with tentacles surrounding a central mouth. Sea anemones are related to jellyfish and corals, but have no free-swimming (medusoid) stage, and resemble flowers.(8)
Footnotes
1) “Genus”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/genus (accessed 09/09/2022)
2) “Species”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/species (accessed 09/09/2022)
3) “Yellow-Banded Poison Dart Frog.” Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Last modified December 29, 2020. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/experience/animals/amphibians/new-anal/.
4) “PENGUINS: The yellow-eyed penguin.” Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz/penguins/.
5) “12 Things Only Yorkshire Terrier Dog Owners Understand.” YouTube Animal Insider. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9CUjcf0NSI.
6) “Sequential hermaphroditism.” Wikipedia. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequential_hermaphroditism.
7) “Clark’s anemonefish.” Wikipedia. Last modified May 23, 2022. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark%27s_anemonefish.
8) “Sea Anemone”, Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/seaanemone (accessed 09/09/2022)
9) Spencer, Joanne. “Yellow jacket Wasp.” Animal Corner. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://animalcorner.org/animals/yellow-jacket-wasp/.
10) “Yak Facts.” Soft Schools. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/yak_facts/442/.
11) “Yacare Caiman Fact File.” The Animal Facts. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://www.theanimalfacts.com/reptiles/yacare-caiman/.
12) “New York City.” Data Commons: Place Explorer. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/3651000?utm_medium=explore&mprop=count&popt=Person&hl=en.