List of Animals That Start with V
- Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
- Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus)
- Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna)
- Viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)
- Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus)
- Vixen (Vulpes vulpes)
- Vole (Microtus sp.)
- Vulture (Gyps sp.)
- Vaal Rhebok (Pelea capreolus)
- Vulpine Guinea Pig (Cavia tschudii)
- Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)
- Velvet Worm (Onychophora)
- Vietnamese Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale)
- Variegated Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides)
- Venezuelan Poodle Moth (Lepidoptera)
- Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
- Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
- Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis vasa)
- Velvet Ant (Mutillidae)
- Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
- Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor)
- Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
- Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis)
- Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
- Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)
- Velvet Belly Lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax)
- Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
1. Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
Taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Cetacea, Family Phocoenidae
Description: Small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California
Fun Fact: Vaquitas are the world’s smallest cetacean species and critically endangered
2. Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus)
Taxonomy: The vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) belongs to the family Phyllostomidae and is the only mammal that feeds entirely on blood.
Short Description: The vampire bat is a small, nocturnal mammal found in Central and South America. It has sharp teeth and a thin, sharp tongue that it uses to make small incisions in the skin of its prey and then lap up the blood that flows from the wound. Vampire bats feed on the blood of a variety of animals, including livestock and even humans.
Fun Fact: Vampire bats have a unique method of finding their prey. They use a combination of echolocation and odor to locate animals that are sleeping or resting. Once they have found a suitable target, they land on the animal and make a small incision with their teeth. Vampire bats are able to consume up to half their body weight in blood in a single feeding.
3.Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna)
Taxonomy: The vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) is a South American camelid and is closely related to llamas and alpacas.
Short Description: The vicuna is a small, slender animal with long legs and a woolly coat that is prized for its softness and warmth. They are found in the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains, where they feed on grasses and other vegetation.
Fun Fact: Vicunas are known for their exceptional eyesight and their ability to detect predators from long distances. When they sense danger, they will often form a circle with the young in the center for protection. Vicunas were once hunted nearly to extinction for their wool, but conservation efforts have helped their population recover.
4. Viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)
Taxonomy: The viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) belongs to the family Stomiidae and is found in deep ocean waters around the world.
Short Description: The viperfish is a deep-sea fish with a long, needle-like body and sharp teeth. They have a hinged skull that allows them to swallow prey that is larger than their own body size. Viperfish are also known for their bioluminescent organs, which they use to attract prey.
Fun Fact: The viperfish is one of the most well-known deep-sea predators, and they can grow up to 2 feet in length. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are preyed upon by larger predators such as sharks and whales.
5. Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus)
Taxonomy: The viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) belongs to the family Chinchillidae and is found in South America.
Short Description: The viscacha is a large rodent that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel. They have long ears, bushy tails, and thick fur that helps them survive in the harsh mountain climates where they live. Viscachas are social animals and live in colonies in rocky areas.
Fun Fact: Viscachas are known for their unique behavior of sunbathing. They will stretch out on a rock in the sun with their legs splayed out, a behavior that is thought to help regulate their body temperature. They are also known for their loud alarm calls, which they use to warn their colony of potential predators.
6.Vixen (Vulpes vulpes)
Taxonomy: The vixen (Vulpes vulpes) belongs to the family Canidae and is found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Short Description: The vixen is a small carnivorous mammal that is closely related to other fox species. They have reddish-brown fur, a bushy tail, and are known for their cunning and agility. Vixens are solitary animals and are primarily active during the night.
Fun Fact: Vixens are skilled hunters and can take down prey that is much larger than themselves, including rabbits, birds, and rodents. They are also known for their ability to adapt to changing environments and have successfully adapted to living in urban areas.
7. Vole (Microtus sp.)
Taxonomy: Voles are small rodents belonging to the family Cricetidae, and the genus Microtus. They are found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Short Description: Voles are small, herbivorous rodents that resemble mice. They have short ears, a short tail, and dense fur. Voles are active throughout the day and night and live in underground burrows.
Fun Fact: Voles are important ecosystem engineers, and their burrowing activities can have a significant impact on soil health and vegetation. They are also known for their high reproductive rate, with some species able to produce up to 100 offspring in a single year.
8. Vulture (Gyps sp.)
Taxonomy: Vultures are large, scavenging birds belonging to the family Accipitridae and the genus Gyps. They are found in many parts of the world, including Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Short Description: Vultures are large birds with broad wings, bald heads, and sharp beaks. They are primarily scavengers and feed on carrion, using their keen sense of smell to locate food from great distances. Vultures are highly social and often gather in large groups to feed on a carcass.
Fun Fact: Vultures play an important role in ecosystem health by cleaning up dead and decaying animals. They are able to consume carrion that is infected with harmful bacteria and viruses, which helps prevent the spread of disease.
9. Vaal Rhebok (Pelea capreolus)
Taxonomy: The Vaal Rhebok, also known as the Grey Rhebok, belongs to the family Bovidae and the genus Pelea. They are native to southern Africa and can be found in mountainous regions.
Short Description: The Vaal Rhebok is a small, agile antelope that has a greyish-brown coat with white underparts. They are adapted to living in rocky mountainous regions and have strong hooves and a nimble body that allows them to navigate rugged terrain with ease.
Fun Fact: The Vaal Rhebok is known for its remarkable jumping ability, which allows it to traverse steep rocky terrain. They have been observed jumping distances of up to 4 meters (13 feet) and are able to leap from one boulder to another with great accuracy.
10. Vulpine Guinea Pig (Cavia tschudii)
Taxonomy: The Vulpine Guinea Pig, also known as the Mountain Guinea Pig, belongs to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. They are native to the Andes Mountains in South America.
Short Description: The Vulpine Guinea Pig is a small, herbivorous rodent with a brownish-gray coat and a long tail. They are adapted to living in high-altitude environments and have a thick coat that helps them stay warm in cold temperatures.
Fun Fact: The Vulpine Guinea Pig is a social animal and is often found living in large groups. They communicate with each other using a variety of vocalizations and are known for their playful behavior.
11. Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)
Taxonomy: The Volcano Rabbit, also known as the teporingo, belongs to the family Leporidae and the genus Romerolagus. They are native to Mexico and are found only in the high-altitude volcanic regions.
Short Description: The Volcano Rabbit is a small, herbivorous rabbit with short, round ears and a grayish-brown coat. They are adapted to living in the volcanic regions and have strong legs that allow them to navigate steep slopes and rocky terrain.
Fun Fact: The Volcano Rabbit is considered to be an endangered species due to habitat loss and predation by introduced species. They are an important species for maintaining ecosystem health and play a key role in seed dispersal.
12. Velvet Worm (Onychophora)
Taxonomy: The Velvet Worm belongs to the phylum Onychophora, which is a small phylum of invertebrate animals that is found in humid habitats. They are also known as Peripatids or walking worms.
Short Description: The Velvet Worm is a soft-bodied worm-like animal that can grow up to 20 cm (8 inches) in length. They have a velvety appearance due to the numerous short legs that are covered with soft bristles. Velvet Worms are nocturnal and are found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Fun Fact: The Velvet Worm is an unusual animal that has a unique hunting strategy. They capture their prey by squirting a sticky slime from their oral papillae and then pounce on it. The slime contains a powerful enzyme that breaks down the prey’s tissue, making it easier for the Velvet Worm to consume.
13. Vietnamese Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale)
Taxonomy: The Vietnamese Mossy Frog, also known as Theloderma corticale, belongs to the family Rhacophoridae and the genus Theloderma. They are native to Vietnam and are found in the subtropical and tropical rainforests.
Short Description: The Vietnamese Mossy Frog is a small, arboreal frog with a distinctive appearance. They have a moss-like pattern on their skin, which helps them blend into their surroundings and avoid predators. They are known for their large, expressive eyes and webbed toes that enable them to climb trees and shrubs.
Fun Fact: The Vietnamese Mossy Frog is a unique species that has evolved to survive in the rainforest. They are able to change their skin color to match their surroundings, which helps them avoid detection by predators. They are also able to inflate their bodies to make themselves appear larger and more intimidating to predators.
14. Variegated Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides)
Taxonomy: The Variegated Squirrel belongs to the family Sciuridae and the genus Sciurus. They are also known as the Costa Rican Squirrel and are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Short Description: The Variegated Squirrel is a small to medium-sized squirrel that has a distinctive appearance. They have a reddish-brown coat with a black and white pattern on their tail. They have a long bushy tail that helps them balance while jumping between trees. They are arboreal and primarily eat nuts, fruits, and seeds.
Fun Fact: The Variegated Squirrel has a unique adaptation that allows them to glide through the air from tree to tree. They have a special flap of skin called a patagium that extends from their wrist to their ankle, allowing them to glide for up to 100 feet (30 meters). This adaptation helps them escape predators and navigate through the dense forest canopy.
15. Venezuelan Poodle Moth (Lepidoptera)
Taxonomy: The Venezuelan Poodle Moth, also known as Diaphora luctuosa, belongs to the family Erebidae and the genus Artace. They are native to Venezuela and were first discovered in 2009.
Short Description: The Venezuelan Poodle Moth is a small moth that has a unique and fluffy appearance. They have a fuzzy body with long, fluffy antennae that resemble the fur of a poodle. They have wings that are a light brownish-gray color with white spots.
Fun Fact: The Venezuelan Poodle Moth became an internet sensation in 2012 when a photo of it went viral on social media. Despite their unique appearance, little is known about the Venezuelan Poodle Moth as they are a relatively new species that has not been extensively studied.
16. Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Taxonomy: The Vermilion Flycatcher belongs to the family Tyrannidae and the genus Pyrocephalus. They are a small passerine bird found in the Americas.
Short Description: The Vermilion Flycatcher is a small bird with a striking appearance. They have a bright red-orange plumage with a black mask and a small, curved bill. The female is less colorful, with a duller red plumage. They primarily feed on insects and are often seen perched on branches or wires, waiting to catch their prey.
Fun Fact: The Vermilion Flycatcher is known for its unique courtship display. During mating season, the male will perform a series of aerial acrobatics, including hovering and diving, to attract a female mate. They will also offer her small gifts, such as insects, as part of their courtship ritual.
17.Vagabond Butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus)
Taxonomy: The Vagabond Butterflyfish belongs to the family Chaetodontidae and the genus Chaetodon. They are a small tropical fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Short Description: The Vagabond Butterflyfish has a distinctive appearance, with a yellow body and black stripes. They have a small mouth and a narrow snout, which allows them to feed on small invertebrates and algae. They are typically found in shallow, coral reef environments.
Fun Fact: The Vagabond Butterflyfish is known for its ability to change color depending on its mood and environment. When threatened, they will often darken their stripes and become more aggressive in defending their territory.
18. Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis vasa)
Taxonomy: The Vasa Parrot belongs to the family Psittacidae and the genus Coracopsis. They are a medium-sized parrot found in Madagascar and nearby islands.
Short Description: The Vasa Parrot has a distinctive appearance, with a black plumage, a large head, and a short tail. They have a strong beak and are known for their ability to crack open hard nuts and seeds. They are often found in forested areas and feed on a variety of fruits, seeds, and insects.
Fun Fact: The Vasa Parrot is known for its unusual nesting habits. They build their nests in tree hollows, but instead of lining the nest with leaves or twigs, they will regurgitate a mixture of seeds and saliva to create a sticky, cement-like material that lines the inside of the nest.
19. Velvet Ant (Mutillidae)
Taxonomy: The Velvet Ant is not actually an ant, but a family of wasps known as Mutillidae. They are found in various regions around the world, including North and South America, Africa, and Asia.
Short Description: The Velvet Ant gets its name from its dense, velvety fur, which varies in color from red to black. They are wingless and have a distinctive long, segmented body, with a stinger on the female that is one of the most painful insect stings known to humans. Despite their name, they are actually solitary wasps, not ants.
Fun Fact: The female Velvet Ant is known for her ability to emit a loud, high-pitched scream when threatened. This scream is intended to deter potential predators from attacking, and can be heard up to 10 feet away.
20. Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
Taxonomy: The Velvet Scoter is a species of sea duck in the family Anatidae. They are found in various regions around the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Short Description: The Velvet Scoter is a medium-sized duck with a distinctive black plumage, with a white wing patch visible in flight. They have a large, bulky bill, which is yellow-orange with a black tip. The males have a larger bill than the females. They are primarily found in coastal waters and feed on a variety of shellfish and other small marine organisms.
Fun Fact: The Velvet Scoter is known for its deep diving ability, and can dive to depths of up to 30 meters (100 feet) in search of food.
21. Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor)
Taxonomy: The Variable Oystercatcher is a species of wading bird in the family Haematopodidae. They are found in various regions around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and the islands of the South Pacific.
Short Description: The Variable Oystercatcher is a medium-sized bird with a distinctive black and white plumage. They have a long, straight, bright red bill and pink legs. Their plumage varies slightly between populations, with some having more white feathers and others having more black feathers. They are primarily found along coastal areas and feed on a variety of shellfish and other marine invertebrates.
Fun Fact: The Variable Oystercatcher is known for its unique vocalizations, which are used for communication with other birds and as a warning call to alert other oystercatchers of potential predators.
22. Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
Taxonomy: The Varied Thrush is a medium-sized songbird in the family Turdidae. They are native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, including parts of Canada and the United States.
Short Description: The Varied Thrush has a striking appearance with its bright orange breast and black-and-white striped face. Their wings are blue-gray and they have a rust-colored stripe across their back. They are typically found in dense forests and feed on insects, berries, and seeds.
Fun Fact: The Varied Thrush is known for its unique and haunting call, which has been described as a high-pitched whistle that descends in pitch. They are also known for their preference for dark, secluded forests and their reluctance to venture out into open areas.
23. Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis)
Taxonomy: The Vernal Hanging Parrot is a small parrot species belonging to the family Psittaculidae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia.
Short Description: The Vernal Hanging Parrot is a small parrot that is about 15-16 cm long and weighs around 30-40 grams. The male has a green head and body with a red beak, while the female has a yellowish-green head and a black beak. Both have red underparts and blue wings. They are called “hanging” parrots because they have the ability to hang upside down on tree branches.
Fun Fact: The Vernal Hanging Parrot is the only hanging parrot species found in India. They are also known for their unique feeding habits, where they use their beaks to pierce the skin of fruits and suck out the juice. They are also important seed dispersers in their ecosystem.
24. Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
Taxonomy: The Violet Sabrewing is a species of hummingbird belonging to the Trochilidae family. Its scientific name is Campylopterus hemileucurus.
Short Description: The Violet Sabrewing is a large hummingbird, measuring up to 16 cm in length. It has a bright violet-blue plumage on its head and back, and a greenish-bronze belly. Its bill is long and curved, giving it a distinctive sabre-like appearance. It can be found in montane forests and cloud forests in Central America, from southern Mexico to western Panama.
Fun Fact: The Violet Sabrewing is one of the largest hummingbirds in the world, and has one of the longest bills relative to its body size. It is also known for its distinctive vocalizations, which include a loud, chattering call that is often heard during courtship displays. Despite its size, it is a skilled flier and can hover in mid-air while feeding on nectar from flowers.
25. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Taxonomy: The Virginia Opossum is a marsupial belonging to the Didelphidae family. Its scientific name is Didelphis virginiana.
Short Description: The Virginia Opossum is a small to medium-sized marsupial, with a long, pointed snout, short legs, and a hairless prehensile tail. Its fur is grayish-white, with a blackish face and ears. It can be found throughout North and Central America, from southern Canada to northern Costa Rica. It is a nocturnal animal that feeds on a variety of foods, including insects, small mammals, fruits, and carrion.
Fun Fact: The Virginia Opossum is known for its ability to play dead when threatened, a behavior known as “playing possum.” It will fall to the ground, curl up, and emit a foul-smelling odor to deter predators. It is also the only marsupial found in North America, and has the most teeth of any North American mammal, with 50 teeth in total.
26. Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)
Taxonomy: The Vulturine Guineafowl is a bird species belonging to the family Numididae. Its scientific name is Acryllium vulturinum.
Short Description: The Vulturine Guineafowl is a large, striking bird with a featherless, blue head and neck, and a unique v-shaped black and white pattern on its body. It is found in parts of East Africa, primarily in savannah and dry scrub habitats. It is a social bird that lives in groups of up to 50 individuals and feeds on a variety of foods including insects, seeds, and small animals.
Fun Fact: The Vulturine Guineafowl is named after its vulture-like appearance due to its bald head and neck. Its unique appearance serves as a warning to predators, indicating that it is not an easy target. It is also known for its loud, distinctive call that sounds like “pota-to-chip”.
27. Velvet Belly Lanternshark (Etmopterus spinax)
Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Chondrichthyes
- Order: Squaliformes
- Family: Etmopteridae
- Genus: Etmopterus
- Species: E. spinax
Short Description: The Velvet Belly Lanternshark is a small species of shark, typically reaching only 60 cm (2 feet) in length. It has a slender body with a long, pointed snout and large eyes. Its name comes from the velvety texture of its skin, which is dark brown or black with small light spots. It is known to inhabit the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Fun Fact: The Velvet Belly Lanternshark has bioluminescent organs on its belly, which it can use to create a glowing patch that may help it to attract prey or confuse predators.
28. Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria)
Taxonomy: The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) belongs to the family Columbidae, which includes pigeons and doves.
Short description: The Victoria crowned pigeon is a large, bluish-grey bird with elegant, lace-like crests of feathers on its head. It is one of the largest species of pigeon and can weigh up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) and measure up to 75 cm (30 in) in length.
Fun fact: The Victoria crowned pigeon is named after Queen Victoria of England, who was on the throne at the time it was discovered in the mid-19th century. It is also the national bird of Papua New Guinea.
Final thoughts
Throughout this conversation, we discussed various animals that start with the letter “V”. We covered 28 animals, including their taxonomy, short description, fun fact, and a link to a Google picture.
The fun facts ranged from the viscacha’s cute behavior to the vampire bat’s blood-sucking habits. The Virginia opossum’s ability to play dead when threatened and the vasa parrot’s impressive intelligence were also noteworthy.
In conclusion, animals starting with the letter “V” are diverse, fascinating, and provide significant ecological and biological roles in our environment.
Explore further; Animals that start with J, Animals that start with L, Animals that start with E, Animals that start with C, Animals that start with D, Animals that start with N, Animals that start with E, Animals that start with S, Animals that start with U, Animals that start with A, Animals that start with X.
Erzsebet Frey (Eli Frey) is an ecologist and online entrepreneur with a Master of Science in Ecology from the University of Belgrade. Originally from Serbia, she has lived in Sri Lanka since 2017. Eli has worked internationally in countries like Oman, Brazil, Germany, and Sri Lanka. In 2018, she expanded into SEO and blogging, completing courses from UC Davis and Edinburgh. Eli has founded multiple websites focused on biology, ecology, environmental science, sustainable and simple living, and outdoor activities. She enjoys creating nature and simple living videos on YouTube and participates in speleology, diving, and hiking.