Picture and information about animals that begin with p. Beginning with p, learn about remarkable creatures, including two well-known bears, an odd egg-laying mammal, and a well-known kind of flightless bird!
Animals That Start With P: Pictures & Facts
You may see a list of intriguing creatures, starting with p, here, along with images and fascinating facts about each creature.
Individual species (e.g., well-known groups of species (e.g., polar bears) The names of penguins that start with P are: Each of the individual species has its scientific name and conservation status listed.
List of Animals Beginning With P
Panda
- Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
A panda would be missing from any list of animals that begin with the letter p! A species of bear found in China is the panda (also known as the giant panda). The panda is mostly herbivorous (plant-eating), unlike other bears. Its diet consists entirely of bamboo.
The panda’s round face is the result of enormous jaw muscles required to digest the tough bamboo stalks. In addition, the panda has unique bamboo-holding thumb bones in its paws.
Pangolin
The bodies of pangolins are heavily armored with tough scales, making them small to medium-sized mammals. Four of the pangolin species exist in Asia, while the other four exist in Africa.
Pangolins roll up into a ball when they’re threatened, and they may even spray their assailant with a foul-smelling chemical.
Pangolins have long tongues for snaring their tiny insect prey and primarily eat ants and termites.
Parrot
Colorful plumage, strong hooked bills, and feet with two forward-pointing and two rear-pointing toes are all characteristics of parrots. Tropical and subtropical areas are home to the majority of them.
The Psittaciformes family of parrots includes a number of species. Macaws, budgerigars, cockatoos, and New Zealand parrots are just a few of the smaller groups within this group.
Peccary
In the Americas, peccaries are pig-like creatures. Collared peccary, white-lipped peccary, and Chacoan peccary are the three species of peccary. The huge peccary, a newly discovered fourth species, has yet to be verified.
Penguin
Penguins are flightless birds that have adapted to swim instead of fly in the air. The Southern Hemisphere is home to all but one species of penguin (the Galápagos penguin), which thrives in frigid environments. On or around Antarctica, a variety of animals live.
Peregrine Falcon
- Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The world’s fastest-moving animal is the peregrine falcon. It may travel at 320 km/h (200 mph) while diving. Other birds make up the majority of the peregrine falcon’s diet, which it captures in a quick dive.
Pictus Cat
- Scientific Name: Pimelodus pictus
- Conservation Status: Unassessed
The Amazon and Orinoco river systems are home to the pictus cat, a little catfish. It has a silver-blue body with black dots and grows to around 12 cm (5 in) in length. The aquarium fish pictus cat is quite popular.
Pika
The Pikas family of rodents includes little rat-like animals. They are members of the Lagomorpha order, which includes their bigger cousins, rabbits and hares.
There are now forty different types of pika. North America is home to the American pika, while Asia is home to the collared pika. There are 28 other species.
Piranha
In South America, river and lake Piranhas are freshwater fish. Piranhas are fearsome predators with large teeth and jaws, yet they are often the prey of other creatures such as caimans.
Human attackers are rare, but they do happen. Piranhas typically just inflict minor wounds to the hands and feet of humans.
Platypus
- Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened
One of the most unusual creatures in the world is the platypus. This semiaquatic creature is a monotreme, or egg-laying creature, with a bill akin to that of a duck and a tail akin to that of a beaver.
Only in Australia’s wilds may you see a platypus.
Poison Dart Frog
The poison dart frogs are a group of frogs found across Central and South America. The majority of poison dart frogs have vivid colors. Potential predators are warned of the frogs’ toxicity by their bright warning coloration.
The points of darts from South American tribes are dipped in the toxins found in frogs’ skin, according to experts. The frogs get their name from this activity.
Polar Bear
- Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The Kodiak bear, a brown bear subspecies, is similar in size to the polar bear, but brown bears are on average smaller. With a diet that primarily comprises of seals, the polar bear is also the most carnivorous of bears.
The polar bear spends most of its time on sea ice and is found in the Arctic.
Polecat (European)
- Scientific Name: Mustela putorius
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Mustelidae family of weasels includes the European polecat. It’s been discovered in Europe, as well as North Africa. Little animals such as rats and birds are hunted by the polecat, which is a predator. It stinks up its area with a powerful fragrance.secretion.
The ferret’s wild progenitor is the European polecat.
Porbeagle
- Scientific Name: Lamna nasus
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
In both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the porbeagle is a species of shark that lives in cold waters. It feeds primarily on fish and grows to a length of around 2.5 m (8.2 ft.).
Humans are attacked by porbeagles only on rare occasions.
Porcupine
Porcupines are huge rodents with razor-sharp quills on their coats. The coat of a porcupine is quilled, giving it defense against predators. Hardened hairs make up the quills.
New World porcupines (from North and South America) and Old World porcupines (from Europe, Asia, and Africa) are the two types of porcupines that exist. These two species are not closely related, despite both having spines.
Portuguese Man O’ War
- Scientific Name: Physalia physalis
- Conservation Status: Unassessed
The Portuguese man o’war is a colony of animals, each of which has its own function and cannot live alone.
The Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Seas are all home to the Portuguese man o’war. It has a painful sting that its tentacles can deliver.
Prairie Rattlesnake
- Scientific Name: Crotalus viridis
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
Venomous snakes found in North America are the prairie rattlesnake. Prairies, woodlands, and dry, rocky areas are among the habitats where it may be found. It spends the majority of its time on the ground, but will climb into trees and bushes.
The prairie rattlesnake vibrates its tail when threatened, making a rattling sound.
Proboscis Monkey
- Scientific Name: Nasalis larvatus
- Conservation Status: Endangered
The endangered primate of Borneo, the proboscis monkey, is a rainforest primate. Males have bulbous nasal appendages that are different from those of females.
The river-dwelling proboscis monkey is a accomplished swimmer. To help it swim through the water, it has partially webbed feet.
Puffin (Atlantic)
- Scientific Name: Fratercula arctica
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The orange-legged, multi-colored beak of the Atlantic puffin is a medium-sized black and white seabird. It spends the majority of its time at sea, coming ashore only to reproduce.
The Alcidae family includes puffins, which are in the auk family. The species’ conservation status was recently changed to Vulnerable, as its population is declining.
Pygmy Hippo
- Scientific Name: Choeropsis liberiensis
- Conservation Status: Endangered
Only a quarter of the bigger animal, the pygmy hippo is a frequent hippopotamus relative. In West Africa, it may be found in rainforests.
The pygmy hippo spends less time in the water than the common hippo, despite being a semiaquatic animal that is reliant on water.
Animals That Start With P: Conclusion
On this page, we hope you’ve found some interesting new creatures, starting with p.