RareList

Animals that start with R

196 animals, sorted from the ones everyone says first to the ones almost nobody thinks of. 46 of them are in the Rare tier or rarer.

Rare but real

Names that are easy to defend and hard to guess. Good when you need an answer no one else will have.

Red grouse
Reddish-brown grouse of upland moors of Great Britain. Birds, Rare
Roughtail stingray
One of the largest stingrays. Fish, Rare
Rat chinchilla
Ratlike rodent with soft fur and large ears of the Andes. Mammals, Rare
Redshank
A common Old World wading bird with long red legs. Birds, Rare
Rock rattlesnake
Mountain rock dweller of Mexico and most southern parts of United States southwest. Reptiles, Rare
Royal stag
Stag with antlers of 12 or more branches. Mammals, Rare

All 196 animals that start with R

Sorted by search interest, most familiar first. The last column is average monthly US Google searches.

Showing all 196. Tap a name to copy it.

Animals that start with R, with definition, group, rarity tier and monthly searches
NameWhat it isGroup
Large black bird with a straight bill and long wedge-shaped tail. Birds Plankton 2.2M
Small European thrush having reddish flanks. Birds Plankton 823K
Cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside. Fish Plankton 550K
breed German breed of large vigorous short-haired cattle dogs. Mammals Plankton 450K
also Racoon An omnivorous nocturnal mammal native to North America and Central America. Mammals Plankton 368K
also Bird of prey Any of numerous carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals. Birds Plankton 368K
Any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse. Mammals Plankton 368K
also Lesser panda, Panda, Bear cat Reddish-brown Old World raccoon-like carnivore. Mammals Plankton 368K
also Cony Any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails. Mammals Plankton 301K
also Rattler Pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken. Reptiles Plankton 201K
breed A powerful short-haired African hunting dog having a crest of reversed hair along the spine. Mammals Plankton 201K
also Redbreast, Robin redbreast, Old World robin Small Old World songbird with a reddish breast. Birds Plankton 201K
also Redtail Dark brown American hawk species having a reddish-brown tail. Birds Plankton 165K
also Caribou, Greenland caribou Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes. Mammals Plankton 165K
also Rhinoceros Massive powerful herbivorous odd-toed ungulate of southeast Asia and Africa having very thick skin and one or two horns on the snout. Mammals Plankton 165K
also Saddle horsebreed A lightweight horse kept for riding only. Mammals Plankton 165K
also Chaparral cock Speedy largely terrestrial bird found from California and Mexico to Texas. Birds Plankton 165K
also Ratterbreed Any of several breeds of terrier developed to catch rats. Mammals Plankton 135K
New World fox. Mammals Plankton 135K
European freshwater food fish having a greenish back. Fish Plankton 135K
Found in Pacific coastal waters and streams from lower California to Alaska. Fish Plankton 110K
An esteemed food fish with pinkish red head and body. Fish Plankton 110K
also Assassin bug A true bug: long-legged predacious bug living mostly on other insects. Insects Plankton 110K
Any of various nonvenomous rodent-eating snakes of North America and Asia. Reptiles Too Clever 91K
also Cardinal, Cardinal grosbeak, Cardinalis cardinalis Crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male. Birds Too Clever 91K
also Red drum, Channel bass Large edible fish found off coast of United States from Massachusetts to Mexico. Fish Too Clever 91K
Sociable aquatic animal widely distributed along streams and lake borders in North America. Mammals Too Clever 91K
also Guppy Small freshwater fish of South America and the West Indies. Fish Too Clever 74K
Western United States bird with red undersurface to wings and tail. Birds Too Clever 74K
North American blackbird with scarlet patches on the wings. Birds Too Clever 74K
breed A dog with heavy water-resistant coat that can be trained to retrieve game. Mammals Too Clever 74K
Marine food fish found among rocks along the northern coasts of Europe and America. Fish Too Clever 74K
also Gnawer Relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing. Mammals Too Clever 74K
also Maned wolf Reddish-grey wolf of southwestern North America. Mammals Too Clever 61K
also Nandu Smaller of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed. Birds Too Clever 61K
Any of various large chiefly tropical beetles having horns on the head. Insects Too Clever 61K
A marine turtle. Reptiles Too Clever 61K
North American hawk with reddish brown shoulders. Birds Too Clever 50K
breed A speedy red or red-and-tan American hound. Mammals Too Clever 50K
Black-and-white North American woodpecker having a red head and neck. Birds Too Clever 50K
Of southeast Asia and East Indies. Reptiles Too Clever 50K
also Nematode, Nematode worm Unsegmented worms with elongated rounded body pointed at both ends. Worms Too Clever 50K
Any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments. Mammals Too Clever 50K
Small wild dog of eastern Asia having facial markings like those of a raccoon. Mammals Too Clever 41K
also Cat squirrel Common reddish-brown squirrel of Europe and parts of Asia. Mammals Too Clever 41K
also Suckerfish, Sucking fish Marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects. Fish Too Clever 41K
also Rhesus Of southern Asia. Mammals Too Clever 41K
breed American breed of heavy-bodied brownish-red general-purpose chicken. Birds Too Clever 41K
also Bassarisk, Cacomistle, Cacomixle Raccoon-like omnivorous mammal of Mexico and the southwestern United States having a long bushy tail with black and white rings. Mammals Too Clever 41K
also Bee killer Swift predatory fly having a strong body like a bee with the proboscis hardened for sucking juices of other insects captured on the wing. Insects Too Clever 41K
also Jackknife clam Marine clam having a long narrow curved thin shell. Molluscs Too Clever 33K
also Razorback hog, Razorbacked hog A mongrel hog with a thin body and long legs and a ridged back. Mammals Too Clever 33K
also Razor-billed auk Black-and-white northern Atlantic auk having a compressed sharp-edged bill. Birds Too Clever 33K
also American elk Common deer of temperate Europe and Asia. Mammals Too Clever 33K
also Spiny lobster, Langouste, Crawfish Large edible marine crustacean having a spiny carapace but lacking the large pincers of true lobsters. Crustaceans Too Clever 33K
also Rattail fish Deep-sea fish with a large head and body and long tapering tail. Fish Too Clever 27K
Large Arctic whalebone whale. Mammals Too Clever 27K
also Madagascar cat Small lemur having its tail barred with black. Mammals Too Clever 27K
Any of several long-snouted usually freshwater dolphins of South America and southern Asia. Mammals Too Clever 27K
also Rock sunfish Game and food fish of upper Mississippi and Great Lakes. Fish Too Clever 27K
Small graceful deer of Eurasian woodlands having small forked antlers. Mammals Too Clever 27K
Tropical rose-colored New World spoonbill. Birds Too Clever 27K
Boa of rocky desert of southwestern United States. Reptiles Too Clever 27K
Valued as a game bird in eastern United States and Canada. Birds Too Clever 27K
Crab of eastern coast of North America. Crustaceans Too Clever 22K
also Rock rabbit Hyrax that lives in rocky areas. Mammals Too Clever 22K
also Black rat Common household pest originally from Asia that has spread worldwide. Mammals Too Clever 22K
A jungle fowl of southeastern Asia that is considered ancestral to the domestic fowl. Birds Too Clever 18K
also Red spider mite Small web-spinning mite. Spiders & arachnids Too Clever 18K
also Nemertean, Nemertine, Proboscis worm Soft unsegmented marine worms that have a threadlike proboscis and the ability to stretch and contract. Worms Too Clever 18K
Common pheasant having bright plumage and a white neck ring. Birds Too Clever 18K
also Common raccoon, Common racoon, Coon North American raccoon. Mammals Too Clever 18K
Minute aquatic multicellular organisms having a ciliated wheel-like organ for feeding and locomotion. Other invertebrates Too Clever 18K
Active beetle typically having predatory or scavenging habits. Insects Too Clever 18K
Reddish-brown stiff-tailed duck of North America and northern South America. Birds Too Clever 18K
Common Eurasian sandpiper. Birds Too Clever 18K
also Redhorse sucker North American sucker with reddish fins. Fish Too Clever 15K
also Resplendent trogon Very rare Central American bird. Birds Too Clever 15K
Marine fish having a long compressed ribbonlike body. Fish Too Clever 15K
African parakeet. Birds Too Clever 15K
also Rock pigeon Pale grey Eurasian pigeon having black-striped wings from which most domestic species are descended. Birds Too Clever 15K
Red terrestrial form of a common North American newt. Amphibians Too Clever 12K
Bluish-grey nuthatch with reddish breast. Birds Too Clever 12K
also Black weevil Brown weevil that infests stored grain especially rice. Insects Too Clever 12K
also Rock snake Very large python of tropical and southern Africa. Reptiles Too Clever 12K
also Tow-headed snake Boa of grasslands and woodlands of western North America. Reptiles Too Clever 12K
A kind of lorikeet. Birds Schooler 9.9K
Slender yellow-striped North American garter snake. Reptiles Schooler 9.9K
also Ruby-crowned wren American kinglet with a notable song and in the male a red crown patch. Birds Schooler 9.9K
also Borzoibreed Tall fast-moving dog breed. Mammals Schooler 9.9K
also Sockeye, Sockeye salmon, Blueback salmon Small salmon with red flesh. Fish Schooler 8.1K
Widely distributed merganser of America and Europe. Birds Schooler 8.1K
also Whitetip shark Smooth dogfish of Pacific and Indian Oceans and Red Sea having white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins. Fish Schooler 8.1K
also Ringlet butterfly Any of various butterflies belonging to the family Satyridae. Insects Schooler 8.1K
also Cooter Large river turtle of the southern United States and northern Mexico. Reptiles Schooler 8.1K
A kind of percoid fish. Fish Schooler 8.1K
also Yellowbelly marmot Heavy-bodied yellowish-brown marmot of rocky areas of western North America. Mammals Schooler 8.1K
Of southern and eastern United States. Reptiles Schooler 8.1K
European freshwater fish resembling the roach. Fish Schooler 8.1K
Large European chimaera. Fish Schooler 6.6K
also Vermillion rockfish A commercially important fish of the Pacific coast of North America. Fish Schooler 6.6K
also Ratite bird, Flightless bird Flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches. Birds Schooler 6.6K
Of northern North America having red irises and an olive-grey body with white underparts. Birds Schooler 6.6K
also Roughleg Large hawk of the northern hemisphere that feeds chiefly on small rodents and is beneficial to farmers. Birds Schooler 6.6K
Newt of humid coast from Alaska to southern California. Amphibians Schooler 6.6K
Of temperate Europe and Asia. Insects Schooler 5.4K
Corals of especially the Mediterranean having pink or red color used for ornaments and jewelry. Other invertebrates Schooler 5.4K
Harmless woodland snake of southeastern United States. Reptiles Schooler 5.4K
Large grey ground squirrel of rocky areas of the southwestern United States. Mammals Schooler 5.4K
also Honey badger Nocturnal badger-like carnivore of wooded regions of Africa and southern Asia. Mammals Schooler 4.4K
also Earthworm, Angleworm, Fishworm Terrestrial worm that burrows into and helps aerate soil. Worms Schooler 4.4K
also Grass snake, Ringed snake Harmless European snake with a bright yellow collar. Reptiles Schooler 4.4K
also Ring-necked snake, Ring snake Any of numerous small nonvenomous North American snakes with a yellow or orange ring around the neck. Reptiles Schooler 4.4K
Any of several baleen whales of the family Balaenopteridae having longitudinal grooves on the throat and a small pointed dorsal fin. Mammals Schooler 4.4K
also Goatfish, Surmullet Brightly colored tropical fishes with chin barbels. Fish Schooler 3.6K
A conventional name for a fox used in tales following usage in the old epic `Reynard the Fox'. Mammals Schooler 3.6K
also Flickertail Of sagebrush and grassland areas of western United States and Canada. Mammals Schooler 3.6K
also Ringhals, Spitting snake Highly venomous snake of southern Africa able to spit venom up to seven feet. Reptiles Schooler 3.6K
also Hippopotamus, Hippo Massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa. Mammals Schooler 3.6K
also Rusty grackle North American blackbird whose bluish-black plumage is rusty-edged in the fall. Birds Schooler 3.6K
Streamlined cigar-shaped jack. Fish Schooler 2.9K
breed Hardy sheep developed from the merino producing both good mutton and fine wool. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
North American bat of a brick or rusty red color with hairs tipped with white. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
also Corn snake Large harmless snake of southeastern United States. Reptiles Schooler 2.9K
Western North American sapsucker. Birds Schooler 2.9K
Small siskin-like finch with a red crown and a rosy breast and rump. Birds Schooler 2.9K
Any of numerous sharks from small relatively harmless bottom-dwellers to large dangerous oceanic and coastal species. Fish Schooler 2.9K
Hardy agile rat of grassy marshes of Mexico and the southeastern United States. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
also Long-clawed prawn Large (a foot or more) edible freshwater prawn common in Australian rivers. Crustaceans Schooler 2.9K
also Bighorn, Bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain sheep Wild sheep of mountainous regions of western North America having massive curled horns. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
also Mountain goat Sure-footed mammal of mountainous northwestern North America. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
Common Arctic turnstone that winters in South America and Australia. Birds Schooler 2.9K
Important marine and landlocked food fish of eastern North America and Alaska. Fish Schooler 2.4K
also Irish setterbreed An Irish breed with a chestnut-brown or mahogany-red coat. Mammals Schooler 2.4K
also Bangtailbreed A horse bred for racing. Mammals Schooler 1.9K
Any of several small wrasses with compressed sharp-edged heads of the West Indies and Mediterranean. Fish Schooler 1.9K
also Red-bellied turtle, Redbelly Freshwater turtle of Chesapeake Bay tributaries having red markings on the lower shell. Reptiles Schooler 1.9K
European songbird with a reddish breast and tail. Birds Schooler 1.9K
also Rose beetle A common metallic green European beetle: larvae feed on plant roots and adults on leaves and flowers of e.g. roses. Insects Schooler 1.9K
Any of several rabbit-sized ratlike Australian kangaroos. Mammals Schooler 1.6K
Similar to the banded purple but with red spots on underwing surfaces. Insects Schooler 1.6K
also Barred pickerel Small but gamy pickerel of Atlantic coastal states. Fish Schooler 1.6K
also Crested penguin Small penguin of the Falkland Islands and New Zealand. Birds Schooler 1.6K
also Pika, Mouse hare, Cony Small short-eared burrowing mammal of rocky uplands of Asia and western North America. Mammals Schooler 1.6K
Any fish useless for food or sport or even as bait. Fish Schooler 1.6K
also Apple maggot Larvae bore into and feed on apples. Insects Schooler 1.3K
Large stocky grebe of circumpolar regions having a dark neck. Birds Schooler 1.3K
Wren inhabiting badlands and mesa country of western United States and Mexico. Birds Schooler 1.3K
Any of several varieties of mite that burrow into plants and cause a reddish-brown discoloration on the leaves or fruit. Spiders & arachnids Schooler 1.3K
also Rock kangaroo Slender long-legged Australian wallabies living in caves and rocky areas. Mammals Schooler 1K
also Moorfowl, Moorbird, Moor-bird Reddish-brown grouse of upland moors of Great Britain. Birds Rare 880
One of the largest stingrays. Fish Rare 880
also Abrocome Ratlike rodent with soft fur and large ears of the Andes. Mammals Rare 720
Food fish of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe and America. Fish Rare 720
Common western European partridge with red legs. Birds Rare 720
A common Old World wading bird with long red legs. Birds Rare 720
breed Small plump hybrid developed by crossbreeding Plymouth Rock and Cornish fowl. Birds Rare 720
Mountain rock dweller of Mexico and most southern parts of United States southwest. Reptiles Rare 720
Stag with antlers of 12 or more branches. Mammals Rare 720
Phalarope of northern oceans and lakes. Birds Rare 590
A large fish of the Pacific coast of North America. Fish Rare 590
also Red-backed mouse Any of several voles of mountainous regions of Eurasia and America. Mammals Rare 590
Slippery scaleless food fish of the northern Atlantic coastal waters. Fish Rare 590
also True frog Insectivorous usually semiaquatic web-footed amphibian with smooth moist skin and long hind legs. Amphibians Rare 480
also Java sparrow, Java finch Small finch-like Indonesian weaverbird that frequents rice fields. Birds Rare 480
Velvety black Australian bird of paradise with green and purple iridescence on head and tail. Birds Rare 480
also Cigarfish, Quiaquia Small fusiform fish of western Atlantic. Fish Rare 480
South American species of scarlet finch with black head and wings and tail. Birds Rare 390
Moth having dull forewings and red-marked hind wings. Insects Rare 390
Small green-and-bronze bird. Birds Rare 390
A wild and vicious elephant separated from the herd. Mammals Rare 390
also Menominee whitefish A whitefish with a bronze back. Fish Rare 390
also Banded rudderfish Fish having the habit of following ships. Fish Rare 390
also Six-lined racerunner Very swift lizard of eastern and central United States. Reptiles Rare 320
also Holocanthus tricolor Gold and black butterflyfish found from West Indies to Brazil. Fish Rare 320
A kind of sea bass. Fish Rare 320
also Rainbow seaperch Pacific coast fish. Fish Rare 260
also Ring blackbird, Ring thrush European thrush common in rocky areas. Birds Rare 260
Found around rocky coasts or on reefs. Fish Rare 260
also Greek partridge Of mountainous areas of southern Europe. Birds Rare 260
also Florida water rat Of Florida wetlands. Mammals Rare 260
European bunting inhabiting marshy areas. Birds Rare 210
also Righteyed flounder Flounders with both eyes on the right side of the head. Fish Rare 210
Greyish Old World turtledove with a black band around the neck. Birds Rare 170
Found in small streams of tropical America. Fish Rare 170
Body bright scarlet with 2 yellow to reddish strips on side. Fish Rare 140
Whitefish of the western United States and Canada. Fish Rare 140
Moth whose larvae attack dried fruits and cereal products. Insects Deep Cut 90
also Sedge warbler, Sedge bird Small European warbler that breeds among reeds and wedges and winters in Africa. Birds Deep Cut 70
Shad that spawns in streams of the Mississippi drainage. Fish Deep Cut 70
On reefs from Bermuda and Florida to northern South America. Fish Deep Cut 50
Small terrestrial frog of tropical America. Amphibians Deep Cut 50
A Canada jay with a white head. Birds Deep Cut 40
also Rose-colored pastor, Pastor sturnus, Pastor roseus Glossy black bird with pink back and abdomen. Birds Deep Cut 30
A dowitcher with a red breast. Birds Deep Cut 10
Common gregarious Old World bird about the size and color of the American crow. Birds One in a Krillion <10

Questions about animals that start with R

How many animals start with R?

RareList lists 196 animals that start with R, including 12 breeds. 23 are in the Plankton tier, the names everyone knows, and 46 are in the Rare tier or rarer.

What are common animals that start with R?

The most searched animals starting with R are Raven, Redwing, Ray, Raccoon and Raptor.

What is a rare animal that starts with R?

Red-breasted snipe is one of the rarest. A dowitcher with a red breast. It gets about 10 US searches a month. Other rare picks: Red grouse, Roughtail stingray and Rat chinchilla.

How does RareList decide what counts as rare?

Each name is ranked by its average monthly Google searches in the United States. Fewer searches means fewer people are likely to think of it, which is what matters in games that reward unique answers. See how we rank for the details.