Animal Names Starts With Letter: N

Animals that start with N reveal ocean oddities, forest specialists, and savanna grazers. Meet the tusked narwhal cruising Arctic seas; reef-side nurse sharks and jewel-toned nudibranchs; and spiral-shelled nautiluses rising at dusk. Rivers and wetlands hide stealthy Nile crocodiles and busy nutria, while cool streams shelter spotted newts. In Australia, termite-loving numbats forage by day; African grasslands host elegant nyala and sturdy nilgai. Night skies come alive with swooping nighthawks and the melodic nightingale. Look closer and you’ll find needle-jawed needlefish, rock-hopping nabarleks, and nectar-seeking nectar bats. This “N” lineup spans carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores across polar seas, reefs, rivers, wetlands, grasslands, forests, and rocky deserts. Browse the list below for species profiles—scientific names, habitats, diets, and conservation status—and navigate the surprising diversity that begins with N.