From the majestic Umbrellabird to the elusive Uakari monkey, explore the diverse world of wildlife that starts with the letter ‘U’

Discover a fascinating array of animals whose names start with the letter ‘u’. There are more than you might think… though that could be because several are named after an umbrella!

Animals beginning with the letter ‘u’

Uakari

A type of monkey found in the Amazon Rainforest, the Uakari is characterised by its bald head and bright red face.

Umbrellabird

A tropical bird native to Central and South America, known for its distinctively shaped crest of feathers on its head, hence its name.

Umbrella octopus

A species of octopus found in deep ocean waters, known for its translucent body and webbing between its tentacles, which gives it the appearance of an umbrella.

Urial

A wild sheep native to Central Asia, recognised by its long, curved horns and reddish-brown coat.

Uguisu

Also called the Japanese Bush warbler, it’s a small songbird found in Japan, known for its melodious call.

Ugandan kob

A type of antelope found in East Africa, particularly in Uganda, characterised by its reddish-brown coat and spiralled horns.

Uinta ground squirrel

A species of ground squirrel found in North America, primarily in the Rocky Mountains region.

Uromastyx

A genus of lizard native to North Africa and the Middle East, known for their spiny tails and herbivorous diet.

Umbrella cockatoo

A species of cockatoo native to Indonesia, known for its distinctive crest of feathers and playful personality.

Numbers of this bird are in decline as a result of large-scale trapping (this was made illegal in 1999, but still continues) and the decimation of their habitat (notably tall trees for nesting) by the logging trade.

Unicornfish

A type of tropical fish in the genus Naso, which is found in coral reefs. It’s characterised by a long, slender body and a prominent horn-like projection on its forehead.

Umbonia spinosa

A species of treehopper insect found in Central and South America, known for its thorn-like protrusions on its body, resembling miniature umbrellas. We named the treehopper one of the weirdest insects in the world.

Uroplatus fimbriatus

A genus of gecko native to Madagascar, commonly known as leaf-tailed geckos due to their flattened bodies and leaf-like tails.

Urocyon

A genus of Canidae native to North America, made up of the Urocyon cinereoargenteus (gray fox) and the Urocyon littoralis (island fox).

Ucides cordatus

Also known as the mangrove crab or uçá crab, Ucides cordatus is a species of crab found in mangrove habitats along the Atlantic coast of the Americas.

Umbrella slug

A species of sea slug found in tropical waters, known for its translucent body and umbrella-like mantle.