Reptile
Alligators have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Baby alligators squeak to call their mom while they are still inside the egg.
Lives in: Rivers & swamps
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter A
Animals That Start With A: List, Facts & Free Coloring Pages
From snappy alligators to fluffy alpacas, the letter A is full of amazing animals. Say the A sound together, read a fun fact or two, then grab the free coloring page for the table. Here is our list of animals that start with the letter A, perfect when a little one asks what animal starts with A.
12animals
2sounds
3free pages
Letter sound
What Sound Does the Letter A Make?
The letter A can make two sounds. Kids usually learn the short sound first, then the long sound that says its own name. Tap any word to hear it.
Aa
Say it together
A is a vowel, which means it can change its sound. Practice both sounds with the words on the right.
/a/
Short A
Open your mouth wide like a little yawn and say “a, a, a”.
/ā/
Long A
This sound says the letter’s name, just like when you sing “A, B, C”.
Use your handsHold an imaginary apple while you say /a/.
Play I spyFind three things at home that start with A.
Sing itClap once for every A word in a song.
Animal list
12 Animals That Start With the Letter A
A mix of favorites kids already know and a few surprising ones to spark questions. Read the name out loud and listen for the A sound. Every one of these animals with A has a short fact you can read aloud.
Mammal
Alpacas come from the high mountains of South America. They hum softly to talk to each other.
Lives in: MountainsMammal
An armadillo’s shell is made of hard, bony plates. The three-banded armadillo can roll up into a tight ball to stay safe.
Lives in: GrasslandsMammal
Giant anteaters have no teeth at all. Their long sticky tongue can flick in and out about 150 times a minute.
Lives in: RainforestsInsect
Ants can carry things much heavier than their own bodies. They live together in big families called colonies.
Lives in: EverywhereBird
The wandering albatross has the longest wings of any bird. It can glide over the ocean for hours without flapping.
Lives in: OceanAmphibian
Axolotls are salamanders that stay in the water their whole lives. If they lose a leg, they can grow a new one!
Lives in: LakesMammal
Antelopes are speedy runners that live in Africa and Asia. Many of them have long, twisty horns.
Lives in: SavannaMammal
Arctic foxes have fur on the bottoms of their paws to keep warm. Their coat turns white in winter so they can hide in the snow.
Lives in: ArcticFish
Angelfish have flat bodies and long, flowing fins. Many of them live near bright, colorful coral reefs.
Lives in: Coral reefsMammal
The name aardvark means “earth pig”. It digs with strong claws to find ants and termites to eat.
Lives in: SavannaReptile
The green anaconda is one of the heaviest snakes in the world. It spends lots of time swimming in rivers and swamps.
Lives in: Rivers & swampsAnimal names that start with A (A animals list): Alligator, Alpaca, Armadillo, Anteater, Ant, Albatross, Axolotl, Antelope, Arctic Fox, Angelfish, Aardvark, Anaconda.
Facts checked with National Geographic Kids and Wikipedia.
Quick quiz
What Animal Starts With A? Quick Quiz
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Letter A Worksheets: Free Coloring Page
A simple black and white sheet with big letters to color and dotted lines for tracing. Perfect for circle time, morning work or a quiet afternoon at home.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase ALowercase aTracing practiceFind the A animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Animals Beginning With A: FAQ
Some easy ones for kids are alligator, ant, alpaca, anteater and armadillo. Fun extras include axolotl, aardvark and albatross.
Ant and alligator are great first words. Both are short to say, easy to picture and start with the short A sound.
Yes. Press the download button to get the PDF, then print as many copies as you need for home or class.
Say “a” like a little yawn while pointing to an apple or an ant. Then ask your child to find things around the room that start with the same sound.
The African elephant is the biggest land animal that starts with A. In the sea, the Antarctic blue whale is even bigger.
Ants are some of the smallest. Many are only a few millimeters long, about the size of a grain of rice.
Albatrosses fly over the ocean, and angelfish and anchovies swim in it. Axolotls live in lakes, not the sea.
Alpacas are kept on many farms for their soft wool. Some farms also keep angora rabbits and angora goats.
The axolotl! If it loses a leg, it can slowly grow a brand new one.
Move on to the letter B page, or print the alphabet flashcards to review A with a quick matching game.