33 Animals That Start With N, From Nightingales to Narhwals (2024)

Curious about the names of animals that start with different letters of the alphabet? You might have noticed that you don’t see many animals that begin with letters toward the end of the alphabet list. Here, we have answers to satisfy your curiosity. Here are some animals that start with n and some facts about them.

Animals Beginning With The Letter N

Table of contents:

1. Narwhal

Scientific name: Monodon monoceros
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Fun fact: they are one of the only two living whale species in the Monodontidae family

Narwhals are medium-sized species of whales. The average Narwhal can weigh between 800kg to 1600kg. The male narwhal weighs more than its female counterpart. Also, narwhals have a different body structure from other whales. The type of whale has jointed neck vertebrae that allow more neck movement than fused vertebrae found in other whales.

People often refer to narwhals as the unicorn of the ocean because of the long tusks that protrude from their heads. The tusks are enlarged teeth with millions of sensory nerves, which can grow up to 10 feet long.

You can locate the Narwhal whale in the Arctic waters of Canada, Russia, and Greenland.Sadly, these incredible creatures are near threatened with extinction. The narwhal faces threats to its natural habitat due to rising sea temperatures, climate change, and human encroachment.

Related: Read more about whales in our compilation of wondrous whale facts.

2. Nightingale

Scientific name: Luscinia megarhynchos
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: they sing one of the most beautiful songs in the world

The common Nightingale is popularly known among the animal kingdom for its strong vocal abilities. It was previously part of the Turdidae family but was changed to Muscicapidae. The bird has brown feathers and a red tail. Its natural habitat is the shrubs and forests of Europe and the Palearctic regions. However, it migrates to sub-Saharan Africa to hide from the winter season.

Researchers found nightingales quite specific about where they choose to breed, seeking out areas with:

• An open canopy
• The aridity level should be less than 0.35
• It should be less than 1400ft above the mean sea level

Interestingly, they also change their song from their first to second breeding season⁶, adding over 50% of new songs to their repertoire in the second season.

Unfortunately, the nightingale bird is an endangered species in the UK due to the loss of its environment.

3. Nurseryfish

Scientific name: Kurtus
Conservation status: Not Extinct
Fun fact: They have humpbacks.

Nurseryfish, or incubator fish or kurtas, is a genus of percomorph fish. Little information is available about this animal because researchers have struggled to keep it alive long enough in captivity to study it.

We only know about their unusual reproductive behaviors, particularly carrying their eggs on a hook that protrudes from the male fish's forehead. Female nurseryfish don't have this hook.

Nurseryfish have a gas bladder and a tube-shaped bony structure that grows around it from the ribs as a form of protection, which elevates their backs into a hump shape.

Another unique feature they have is humped back. They are endemic to fresh, brackish, and coastal marine waters of India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and northern Australia, where they feed on small fishes, shrimp, and crayfish.

4. Newt

Scientific name: Pleurodelinae
Conservation status: varying status
Fun fact: some newts secrete toxins from their skin as a defense mechanism against predators⁴

Newt is a semiaquatic salamander family in the subfamily Pleurodelinae. They switch between terrestrial and aquatic environments, returning to the marine environment to reproduce. Some species in the salamander family prefer to breed in stagnant water areas like ponds or ditches, where they attach fertilized eggs to aquatic plants.

Newts are endemic to North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. A Newt's skin isn't smooth; they have semi-permeable glandular skin. A species of newt called adult crested newts can breathe through their skin.

Also, newts unusually have circulation in the conus arteriosus¹, a part of the heart, and as a result, they do not have a coronary artery. They only breathe through their lungs when there's no oxygen, or they're engaged in strenuous activity.

5. Needlefish

Scientific name: Platybelone argalus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: they don't have a stomach.

This striking sea creature is next on the list of animals that start with N. Needlefish have a slender body structure that can grow up to 95 cm long. Their unique and most recognizable feature is their beaklike dental structure. Their long, narrow beak houses sharp teeth capable of inflicting human injuries.

Needlefishes live in subtropical and temperate waters. Some species are freshwater fish that prefer brackish and freshwater environments, where they feed on other small fishes, krill, and crustaceans. You will mostly find needlefishes swimming in schools in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

6. Nightfish

Scientific name: Bostockia porosa
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Fun fact: a female nightfish can reproduce up to 1338 eggs

The Nightfish is a freshwater perch with a compressed and oblong body shape and a protruding jaw that passes its pupils. Its eyes have large pores on both sides. Nightfish grow to a maximum of 15 cm in length. Deep olive-purple, black, and dark brown, they are native to the coastal wetlands in southwest Australia. They mostly live in coastal streams, ponds, and lakes.

These nocturnal fish can live for 6-8 years. They stay hidden during the day under rocky slabs and plants but come out to feed at night. Their diet consists of insects, tiny fish, crustaceans, and gastropods.

7. Nilgai

Scientific name: Boselaphus tragocamelus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: only male nilgai have a pair of horns.

Can you imagine the possibility of a blue cow? Nilgai means blue cow. Sadly, nilgai isn't actually blue but is the largest antelope in Asia and endemic to the Indian subcontinent⁹.

Male nilgai can weigh 103 kg to 288 kg and grow up to 5.0ft. In contrast, female nilgai weighs a maximum of 213 kg. They have three different types of social class:

• 1-2 female nilgai with calves
• 3-6 adult females and young females with calves
• 2-18 nilgai adult and young males⁵

Their diet consists of grasses, plants, and small bushes; they can live up to 21 years old. They also have a body coat of yellow-brown and bluish-gray in males. Complementing the male's stocky body is a mane coat. Nilgai has a connection with Indian culture. However, they are considered a pest in northern India because of the damage they cause by destroying farm crops.

8. Naked mole rat

Scientific name: Heterocephalus glaber
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: it is the first mammal to exhibit eusocial structure³

The naked mole rat, commonly called a sand puppy, is a burrowing animal. It is about 10 cm long and has a maximum weight of 35 grams. They are endemic to the tropical grasslands in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. They live in clusters, with up to 80 rats in a group.

The naked mole rat also makes our list of the world’s ugliest animals.

9. Nandu

Scientific name: Struthio americanus
Conservation status: Near Threatened & Least Concern
Fun fact: they are polyandrous and polygynous

Nandu is a bird commonly referred to as rhea or South American ostriches. They're distant members of the ostrich family, which explains why they are flightless birds. The Nandu has long necks and legs like ostriches.

There are two species of Nandu: Lesser Rhea and Greater Rhea. Greater Rhea is 170cm tall and can weigh up to 40 kg. However, Lesser Rhea is a smaller species, with large wings of about 250 cm.

These birds are native to South America but are limited to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay. Greater Rhea species prefer to live in open grasslands, pampas, and Chaco woodlands. Lesser rhea lives in almost all shrublands and puna grassland.

10. Nighthawk

Scientific name: Chordeiles minor
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: they pretend to have a broken wing when a predator approaches its nesting area

The Nighthawk is a nocturnal bird that inhabits the night sky. They are members of the subfamily Chordeilinae, in the family Nightjar (predominately nocturnal birds). Several species of nighthawk exist, including the common nighthawk, plain-tailed nighthawk, short-tailed nighthawk, etc. However, we'll be focusing on the common nighthawk. Common nighthawks are medium-sized and can be found in North and South America.

They have short legs and pointed wings, and their feathers resemble the colors of barks and leaves, helping them easily to hide during the day and making them difficult for humans to spot. They have excellent night vision because of the reflective membrane behind their retinas. In addition, they have big eyes placed on each side of the head, which increases the range of their visual area.

11. Night shark

Scientific name: Carcharhinus signatus
Conservation status: Endangered
Fun fact: it has a slow reproductive status, and coupled with excessive fishing, we see a cause of extinction

Night sharks are also nocturnal fish. They are native to the Atlantic oceans of the United States of Massachusetts, Argentina, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. They can also be found in the range from northern Namibia to Senegal. Night sharks can swim as deep as 2000ft in the ocean.

The night shark has a slender form with a pointy snout. Its eyes are a beautiful shade of green, with weirdly - shaped pupils and a third eyelid. Its dental structure contains 15 teeth on each jaw side, and it primarily feeds on small bony fishes, like butterfish, mackerel, flying fish, squid, and shrimp.

Related: Different types of sharks

12. Nabarlek

Scientific name: Petrogale concinna
Conservation status: Endangered
Fun fact: its molars regenerate regularly

Nabarlek is a tiny marsupial growing to around 36 cm native to Arnhem Land, Groote Eylandt, Gulf of Carpentaria, and between Mary and Victoria Rivers, the top end of the Australian continent. These little animals that start with n, also known as the Little Rock Wallaby, are found on rocky slopes, boulder piles, sandstone cliffs, and scrubby plants. They feed on various kinds of grass and plants.

Nabarlek is a nocturnal animal with excellent speed and agility and can move with real speed when seeing people watching them. Naturalists who tried to capture them for studies refer to them as trap-shy. Their features include a grey-colored pelage with red tints on the forearms and hind legs, and their tails have a mix of red and grey. The nabarlek weighs up to 1.6kg.

13. Noodlefish

(no photo available)

Scientific name: Salangidae
Conservation status: Unknown seen
Fun fact: female fishes have no scales, while the male fishes have a few

Noodlefish is a family of small osmeriform fish. They have an almost scaleless, slender body, compressed heads, and multiple rows of sharp teeth. Most noodlefish grow as long as 8 cm, with a few species growing up to 20 cm. East Asian people eat noodlefish and export it to Europe for local cuisine.

You will find the family Salangidae in Eastern Asia. China has an abundance of noodlefish species. Their habitats differ accordingly, but they live in salty and fresh coastal waters. Also, some adult noodlefish live in coastal waters and migrate to freshwater to reproduce.

15. Napu

Scientific name: Tragulus napu
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: they breed throughout the entire year

Napu, aka greater mouse deer, is a terrestrial animal that starts with n. However, it spends a lot of time in swampy areas. It likes to live close to water. Its diet comprises aquatic plants, leaves, shrubs, fruits, and grasses. Greater mouse deer are solitary and nocturnal animals.

These mammals, starting with n, can be found in mangroves and tropical rainforests in Sumatra, Borneo, and smaller Malaysian and Indonesian islands. They also inhabit southern Myanmar, southern Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia.

People refer to napu as living fossils because they haven't changed in 30 million years. They don't have a social hierarchy, although the female napu tends to stay in a single location while the male napu moves from one swampy area to another.

16. Nurse Shark

Scientific name: Ginglymostoma cirratum
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Fun fact: a female nurse shark is ovoviviparous

Nurse sharks, with bodies in a shade of brown, are found in the tropical and subcostal waters of the Western Atlantic, Eastern Atlantic, and Eastern Pacific oceans. They are opportunistic and solitary nocturnal animals. An adult shark can grow up to 10 feet and weigh up to 300 pounds.

A nurse shark's body features two rounded dorsal fins, long caudal fins, rounded pectoral fins, and a broad head. They feed on small fish, crustaceans, tunicates, mollusks, etc.

However, they eat by sucking on their prey, a method of eating formally known as obligate suction feeding. The female nurse shark can give birth to up to 29 young sharks after six months of gestation. Interestingly, several male sharks can fertilize their eggs, which researchers theorize aids genetic diversity. Unfortunately, nurse shark species are vulnerable to extinction.

17. Night Monkey

Scientific name: Simia trivirgata
Conservation status: ranges from Endangered to Vulnerable to Least Concern among different species
Fun fact: male night monkey is the primary caregiver

Night monkeys, also known as Owl Monkey, are a nocturnal type of monkey and the only member of the family Aotidae. They have huge brown eyes with monochromatic vision abilities, giving them an excellent visual range. The night monkeys are primarily a fruit-eating species.

You can find night monkeys in Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru. They rest under shaded trees before their nighttime activities commence. They live in different types of trees and sleep in natural holes formed in them, concave sections of branches, and dense areas of climber, foliage, and epiphyte. The northern night monkey is a species of night monkey native to North-central Brazil and Venezuela.

18. Natal Ghost Frog

Scientific name: Hadromophryne natalensis
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: it used to be known as Hadromophryne natalensis before it became a genus

The natal ghost frog is native to Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini. It prefers grasslands and montane forests and breeds in permanent streams because the larvae take two years to develop. However, due to habitat loss, the population is at risk of extinction.

Female natal ghost frogs are 63 mm long, while male frogs grow to 45mm. They have a flat head and body with half-webbed toes. Their body complexion ranges from dark blue to black and brown, and they have yellow or green spots on their bodies.

19. New Guinea Singing Dog

Scientific name: Canis hallstromi
Conservation status: unknown
Fun fact: they are flexible enough to spread their legs 90° sideways

The New Guinea singing dog is an ancient dog species from the New Guinea Highlands. Speculations state that it used to be a species of its own, with the name Canis hallstromi. According to Australian mammalogist Tim Flannery⁸, this breed is a highly domesticated dog kept by hunters, widows, and bachelors.

They have short and broad legs, weighing a maximum of 15kg with an average shoulder height of 46cm. This ancient dog breed has a good level of flexibility; its spine and limbs are flexible, and it can rotate its paws more than other domestic dogs. Adult dogs have the colors brown, black, and tan. Pups have chocolate fur with gold flecks and reddish tinges.

20. Nuthatch

Scientific name: Sitta europaea
Conservation status: ranges from Vulnerable to Threatened to Endangered among different species
Fun fact: the name nuthatch means nut hacker

Nuthatch, a woodland bird nests in tree cavities, is a genus of small passerine birds with large heads, powerful beaks and feet, and short tails. Their colors are grey and blue, with a touch of black eye stripes. A behavioral attribute that sets them apart is their non-migratory tendencies. They live in their habitats all year round, except for the North American red-breasted nuthatch, which migrates to temperate regions during winter.

You can find them in North America, Europe, and Asia. They favor a moderately temperate environment. Nuthatches are also monogamous animals; female nuthatches lay eggs with red or yellow spots. They prefer to breed in a moderate climate region.

21. Noctule

Scientific name: Nyctalus noctula
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: only female noctules migrate, and they migrate during pregnancy

Noctule is an insectivorous bat with dark-brown fur. However, the fur color changes to red-brown in females after molting. An adult noctule has a maximum weight of 30g- they are small animals. They have a wide wingspan, reaching 40 cm, and can fly at 50 km/h. They feed on beetles, moths, winged ants, and other flying insects.

The noctule is found in central Russia, Southwestern Siberia, China, the Himalayas, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, and a massive portion of Europe. This tiny bat mostly lives in small or medium woodlands, but some survive in town areas. It also hibernates in large groups during the winter season.

22. Numbfish

Scientific name: Narcinidae
Conservation status: unknown
Fun fact: they discharge electric currents when threatened

Numbfish, a small to medium-sized fish, also called Narcinidae, is a family of electric rays. Their skeletons are cartilages, and they have giant and rounded pectoral fins. They can only survive in coastal marine waters. So, you can find them on sandy beaches, estuaries, coral reefs, and river mouths. Their diet consists of small fishes and invertebrates.

Numbfishes grow from 15 to 65m long and come in various colors like red, brown, green, and greyish brown, with different sizes of spots and spots. They can discharge a maximum electric current of 56 volts² when you touch their electric organs.

23. Natterjack Toad

Scientific name: Epidalea calamita
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: there is a sac beneath the male natterjack toad's chin, and its purpose is to amplify the toad's mating call

Adult natterjack toads are up to 70mm long. They are endemic to the sandy and heathland regions of Europe. A yellow line runs down the middle of a natterjack toad's back. You can find natterjack toads in 17 European countries, but it is the only species of toad that originates from Ireland.

Like many other animals listed, they are prone to endangerment by losing their habitat, low heathlands, and much more. They have a maximum lifespan of 15 years. They survive by feeding on aquatic insects, and they move around at night as a strategy to gather more territories.

24. Nunbird

Scientific name: Monasa
Conservation status: Least Concern

There are only three species of nunbird, they are:

• yellow-billed nunbird
• black-fronted nunbird
• white-fronted nunbird

You can find these birds in Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The white-fronted nunbird weight varies by location. The ones in Bolivia weigh a maximum of 84g, the white-fronted nunbird of Central America weighs a maximum of 101g, and the Venezuelan birds weigh 80g.

The black-fronted nunbird weighs 98g and is 28 cm long, while the yellow-billed nunbird, the smallest nunbird species, has a maximum weight of 39g.

26. Numbat

Scientific name: Myrmecobius fasciatus
Conservation status: Endangered
Fun fact: an adult numbat eats about 20,000 termites daily

The numbat is a small insectivorous marsupial formerly native to Southern Australia. It is currently endemic to two small regions in Western Australia, Dryandra Woodland and Perup Nature Reserve. The numbat is also a territorial animal with colorful fur and a pointed snout. Its colors are reddish brown and cool grey, with a maximum weight of 700g and a length of 45cm.

The Numbat's diet is heavily dependent on insects, especially termites. Its excellent sense of smell allows it to locate termites' hideouts. Also, numbats integrate their daily feeding activities with the ants' daily activities. Ants wake up in the morning during winter, so the numbat is awake, feeding until mid-afternoon.

27. Noolbenger

Scientific name: Tarsipes rostratus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: they have the longest sperm out of all mammal animals⁷

Noolbenger, a mammal that starts with n, also known as honey possum, is a marsupial species whose diet consists of nectar and pollen of flowers. It's also the only nectarivore mammal apart from bats. It resembles a little mouse, but its long muzzle sets it apart. It has three brown stripes from its head to its bum and a maximum length of 85mm.

Native to the Southwest region of Western Australia, Noolbengers are essential pollinators of the banksia and ananthous plants. Female noolbengers mate with multiple male noolbengers and can carry numerous embryos from different partners. They live together in a group of no more than ten possums.

28. Northern leaf-tailed gecko

Scientific name: Saltuarius cornutus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun Fact: This gecko has clawed toes to help its tree-dwelling lifestyle

This large gecko lives in trees in Australia, where the environment is warm and temperate, typical of tropical rainforests.

Like many geckos, this species can shed and regrow its tail when attacked. When threatened, it wags its tail to draw attention to itself, helping to prevent predators from going after its head.

The geckos share communal nests for their eggs, with each female laying only one to two and a nest containing up to 14 eggs.

Related read: Types of Geckos.

29. Norfolk Terrier

Scientific name: Canis familiaris
Conservation status: Not Listed
Fun fact: they are a rare terrier breed that requires special training and grooming

A less exotic entrant in our list of animals that start with n is the Norfolk terrier, the smallest species of Terrier working dog. They are agile, active, and have good bone structures. The standard height of this British dog breed is 23-35 cm, and they weigh up to 5.4 kg. You can recognize them by their wire-hard fur, which comes in black with tan, grizzle, and all shades of red.

They need human attention to survive—they can't endure as lone or wild dogs. For this reason, they are great animals to have as pets. They make good watchdogs and natural hunters of small insects and vermin in the outdoor world, moving in packs and taking turns to complete tasks.

Their fearlessness and strong courage are admirable traits. They have a lifespan of 14 years, although it could be more sometimes.

30. Northern Inuit Dog

Scientific name: Canis Lupus
Conservation status: Not Listed
Fun fact: Northern Inuit Dogs portrayed dire wolves in the filming of the television series Game of Thrones

Next is the northern Inuit dog, created during a dog breeding project in the United Kingdom in 1980. The project aimed to produce a dog that looked like a wolf, which explains its similar features to wolves.

Northern Inuit dogs are from an unknown hound species that crossbred with Alaskan Malamutes, German Shepherds, and Siberian Huskies.

31. Nase

Scientific name: Chondrostoma nasus
Conservation status: Near Threatened
Fun fact: The nase is known for its ability to graze on algae-covered river stones, which helps keep the aquatic ecosystem balanced.

The nase, a European freshwater fish, prefers fast-flowing, clear river waters; it uses its subterminal mouth to scrape algae from surfaces, contributing to the clarity and quality of the freshwater ecosystems. Despite its resilience, the nase faces challenges due to water pollution and habitat disruption, impacting its population and leading to its current conservation status.

32. Nutria

Scientific name: Myocastor coypus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Fun fact: Nutrias, also known as coypu, have webbed hind feet, which make them excellent swimmers.

The nutria is a large South American aquatic rodent that has been introduced to various parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

With a robust body and long, orange incisors, Nutrias are often mistaken for beavers or muskrats. They are highly adaptable and primarily feed on aquatic plants, which they contribute to controlling through their feeding habits. However, their voracious appetite can also lead to the destruction of wetlands and competition with native species, posing ecological challenges in regions where they are considered invasive species.

33. Northern Fur Seal

Scientific name: Callorhinus ursinus
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Fun fact: Northern fur seals can spend up to 8 months at sea, only coming ashore for breeding.

Last on our list of animals that start with n is the northern fur seal, a marine mammal that spends a significant portion of its life navigating the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Its dense underfur was historically in high demand in the fur trade, leading to a dramatic decline in its population.

Despite their name, northern fur seals have a range that extends far beyond the northern regions. They breed on the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea and off the coasts of California, among several other locations. Their diet mainly consists of small fish and squid, which they can catch thanks to their streamlined bodies and strong swimming abilities.

With their numbers affected by commercial fur trade in the past, Northern fur seals are now protected, yet they still face threats from entanglement in fishing nets and changes in their marine environment.

More A-Z Animals:

• Animals that start with A
• Animals that start with B
• Animals that start with C
• Animals that start with D
• Animals that start with E
• Animals that start with F
• Animals that start with G
• Animals that start with H
• Animals that start with I
• Animals that start with J
• Animals that start with K
• Animals that start with L
• Animals that start with M
• Animals that start with O
• Animals that start with P
• Animals that start with Q
• Animals that start with R
• Animals that start with S
• Animals that start with T
• Animals that start with U
• Animals that start with V
• Animals that start with W
• Animals that start with X
• Animals that start with Y
• Animals that start with Z