Explore a fascinating array of creatures commencing with the letter “s”! Behold the delightful sloths, the charming sun bears, the formidable saltwater crocodiles, and the captivating scorpions. Delve into their world as you peruse through an enthralling compilation of images and intriguing facts about these remarkable animals.
Animals That Start With S: Pictures & Facts
Welcome to this page where you’ll encounter a captivating collection of creatures whose names start with the letter “s.” Behold stunning visuals and delve into intriguing details about each remarkable animal. Discover links accompanying many of these creatures, leading you to additional information, captivating pictures, and captivating videos.
Within this compilation, you’ll find specific species such as the Steller’s sea eagle, as well as renowned groups of species like scorpions, all commencing with the letter “s.” For each individual species, we present their scientific name and conservation status, providing a comprehensive view of their uniqueness and importance.
List of Animals Beginning With S
Salmon
Salmon, remarkable wanderers of the aquatic world, embark on epic journeys throughout their lives. They begin their existence in freshwater, emerging from delicate eggs and gradually growing into resilient beings. Eventually, they embark on an expedition to the vast ocean, where they dwell for a period ranging from one to five years. However, their primal instincts guide them back to the very river they originated from, as they prepare to fulfill their ultimate purpose: spawning, or the act of reproducing.
This crucial stage marks the completion of their life cycle, and it is a rarity for the salmon to return to the ocean once they have accomplished their reproductive mission. Within the family of Salmonidae, which encompasses trout and other akin species, various distinct types of salmon thrive. Among these notable examples are the renowned Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and Sockeye salmon.
Saltwater Crocodile
Meet the Crocodylus porosus, a formidable creature and the largest reptile in the world. With an impressive length of approximately 6.3 meters (20.7 feet) and a weight of up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), this saltwater crocodile commands attention.
Although it is labeled as “Least Concern” in terms of conservation status, tales have circulated about these salties reaching a staggering length of 7 meters (23 feet) in Australia!
You can encounter saltwater crocodiles in Southeast Asia and Australia, as they are highly adaptable. They possess the remarkable ability to embark on extensive sea voyages and can be spotted in various habitats, including beaches, estuaries, freshwater rivers, and swamps.
Scarab Beetle
Scarab beetles are a fascinating collection of beetles characterized by their rounded bodies, belonging to the Scarabaeidae family. Among the notable members of this group are dung beetles, rhinoceros beetles, rose chafers, and the magnificent goliath beetles, which hold the title for being the largest beetles on our planet.
The diversity within scarab beetles is truly astonishing, with over 30,000 distinct species identified to date.
Scorpion
Scorpions, fascinating creatures of the arachnid family, possess notable characteristics such as formidable pincers and a segmented tail that curves forward over their bodies. At the tail’s tip lies a venomous stinger, utilized for subduing or eliminating the scorpion’s prey. This potent weapon also serves as a means of self-defense against potential predators.
Similar to their arachnid counterparts, scorpions possess eight legs and bodies divided into segments. Their pincers are situated on specialized appendages called “pedipalps,” resembling limbs.
With approximately 1,750 different species, scorpions exhibit a wide variety of forms and behaviors. While their stings can cause significant pain, fatalities resulting from scorpion venom are rare occurrences.
Sea Otter
Known by its scientific name Enhydra lutris, the sea otter is an endangered marine mammal and a remarkable member of the weasel family, Mustelidae. Despite being the heaviest in its family, it holds the title of the world’s smallest marine mammal. Its habitat spans the coastal regions of Canada, Alaska, the western coast of the United States, and Russia.
Preferring to stay close to the shore, the sea otter rarely strays beyond a kilometer (two-thirds of a mile). It explores the kelp forests and sea floor in search of a variety of sustenance including shellfish, crustaceans, worms, and fish.
During the period from the 18th century to the early 20th century, the sea otter faced intense hunting due to the high demand for its fur. By 1911, the sea otter population had plummeted to a mere 2,000 individuals. While protective measures have contributed to a partial recovery, this species is once again threatened, and its population is believed to be declining.
Sea Turtle
Sea turtles are magnificent reptiles that inhabit the vast expanses of our planet’s oceans. There exist seven distinct species of these remarkable creatures, with all but one, known as the leatherback sea turtle, belonging to the Cheloniidae family.
Distinguishing itself from its relatives, the leatherback sea turtle stands as the sole representative of the Dermochelyidae family and possesses a unique characteristic—a soft and resilient shell, akin to the texture of leather.
These fascinating creatures commence their life journey by hatching from eggs delicately placed on sandy shores. Interestingly, once the hatchlings embark upon their maiden voyage into the ocean, male sea turtles shall never again feel the earth beneath their flippers.
After several years traversing the vast waters, covering incredible distances, sea turtles undertake a remarkable pilgrimage. They return to the very place they were born, driven by an instinctual calling. In this cherished location, they engage in the act of mating, with the females diligently dragging themselves ashore to lay their precious eggs.
Regrettably, all species of sea turtles face significant threats. Among them, the Kemp’s ridley and Hawksbill turtle find themselves on the brink of extinction, classified as critically endangered.
Seahorse
Seahorses, belonging to the Hippocampus genus, are peculiar fish combining elements of horses and sea monsters, as their name suggests. Sporting horse-like heads, long necks, upright bodies, and coiled tails, they possess a unique and unusual appearance. Their skin, adorned with tiny spines, is protected by hard plates.
What sets seahorses apart from most other fish is their distinctive method of swimming. Rather than moving horizontally, they gracefully navigate the waters in a vertical fashion, utilizing their small fins to propel themselves.
Among the remarkable seahorse species, the dwarf seahorse claims the title of the world’s slowest-swimming fish, displaying a leisurely pace that surpasses all others.
Serval
Known by its scientific name Leptailurus serval, the serval is a remarkable feline inhabiting the African continent. This wild cat boasts an extraordinary attribute: it possesses the lengthiest legs and ears among all feline species when compared relative to its body size.
Renowned for its hunting prowess, the serval demonstrates remarkable efficiency, achieving success in approximately half of its hunting endeavors. Its incredible speed is owed to its elongated legs, which have earned it the affectionate moniker of the “giraffe cat,” making it the second swiftest feline species.
Sharks
Sharks belong to a class of fish called Chondrichthyes, which encompasses various related creatures like rays and skates. These remarkable fish are known as cartilaginous fish due to their unique skeletal composition, where their flexible framework is made of cartilage instead of bone.
Sharks have gained a reputation as some of the most feared inhabitants of the oceans. Among them, the great white shark and tiger shark stand out as species responsible for numerous human attacks occurring annually.
The world’s largest fish happen to be sharks—the magnificent whale shark and the impressive basking shark. What sets them apart from most other sharks, and indeed from their relatives like the mega mouth shark, is their feeding behavior. Instead of preying on fish and larger animals, these gentle giants sustain themselves by consuming plankton, demonstrating a distinct dietary preference.
Siamang
Scientifically known as Symphalangus syndactylus, the siamang is a gibbon species facing the threat of extinction. These remarkable creatures can be found in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. Cloaked in black fur, they possess elongated arms and a notable gular sac, a throat pouch that enhances their vocalizations.
Gibbons, categorized as apes, possess remarkably flexible ball and socket wrist joints that allow them to traverse the forest canopy solely using their arms—a remarkable form of locomotion known as brachiation.
Unfortunately, siamangs have experienced severe repercussions due to the loss of their natural habitat, primarily caused by the expansion of palm oil plantations. Furthermore, they fall victim to capture for the purpose of the pet trade, further exacerbating their vulnerable status.
Snakes
Belonging to the reptilian order Squamata, snakes are fascinating creatures characterized by their long, limbless bodies covered in scales. Unlike their fellow reptiles, snakes lack eyelids and external ears, setting them apart from limbless lizards.
Due to their lack of limbs, snakes have developed various methods of locomotion. The most common movement involves a serpentine motion, where waves ripple along their bodies from side to side. By utilizing friction against the ground at each bend, snakes are propelled forward.
Snakes have evolved from lizards, and some species still retain remnants of pelvic girdles, albeit vestigial.
With a staggering diversity of 3,971 species (according to a reliable source), approximately 725 of them possess venomous capabilities. Unfortunately, snake bites contribute to an estimated 100,000 human fatalities each year.