200+ Names of Animals in Spanish: Vocabulary for Everyone (2024)

Animals in Spanish are a fun and useful topic to learn for kids of all ages! Wherever we go, animals are part of our everyday lives.

If you like animals and want to expand your Spanish vocabulary and fluency to speak with others about more than basic animals, like dogs or cats, this article is just for you! This massive list is a way for you to have easy access to new Spanish words and names of animals in Spanish. Let’s get to it!

Animal Classification

La clasificación de los animales is the perfect way to categorize the amazing animals of the Earth by their characteristics. This way, it’s easier for experts, zoologists, students, and animal enthusiasts to identify and learn about them.

Here is the classification of the animals in Spanish:

Animals can be classified in multiple categories. For example, dogs are mammals, vertebrates, domestic, and terrestrial animals!

Practice your newly acquired knowledge with this PDF downloadable worksheet!

Domestic Animals in Spanish

Los animales domésticos (domestic animals) are animals that have been chosen and bred to live with in human homes for countless generations.

Domestic animals are genetically different from their wild ancestors and cousins. There are domestic animals for companionship, farming, and other types of work.

Farm Animals

Known as animales de granja in Spanish, farm animals provide food and/or help with work and production for the thriving of humankind.

To learn more about farms, read The Definitive Vocabulary Guide: On the Farm in Spanish.

Companion Animals

On the other hand, los animales de compañía (companionship animals) were domesticated to be companions for humans during their time on Earth and grow with them.

Dogs were initially domesticated to help with hunting. Over time, they’ve evolved to be the perfect companion for the human being. Many other companion animals also make great pets!

Wild Animals in Spanish

Animales salvajes (wild animals) live in the wilderness. Many wild animals are in danger of going extinct because of the expansion of urban areas and poor environmental choices that benefit humans and harm the wildlife.

The wild animals on this list are categorized by their habitat: sea, forest, rainforest, and desert.

Sea Animals

Animals in the sea are known as animales marinos in Spanish. This group contains animals that live in or near the ocean.

Forest Animals

Known as animales del bosque in Spanish, these creatures live in the woods. The forest ecosystem has lots of trees that support a myriad of life forms. The variety of animals that live in the forest is amazing!

Rainforest Animals

The rainforest or jungle is known as el bosque lluvioso in Spanish. It’s a dense tropical forest rich in biodiversity with consistent rainfall throughout the year.

Did you know that the animals that live in the rainforest are different than those that live in drier forests?

Desert Animals

El desierto (desert) is a dry region that is hot during the day and cold at night.

The ecosystem on the deserts is impressive! It consists of animals that endure the heat and know how to survive in extreme temperatures with little water.

Impressed by these creatures that can survive such extreme conditions? Learn to talk about desert animals in Spanish!

Zoo Animals

El zoológico (the zoo) is a manmade park that houses animals from all around the world.

Animals in the zoo live in cautiverio (captivity). What kinds of animals do you find at the zoo? This list is divided into animals from Africa, Oceanía, America, and Asia. Let’s explore!

African Animals

Los animales africanos are used to extreme conditions like long, hot days, and scarce food and water. African weather can be ruthless, and all the animals that live in this territory are resilient.

American Animals

These animals thrive in wet environments, so the North, Central, and South American rainforests, manglars, rivers, and lakes are perfect for them. The different temperatures and heights present throughout the Americas contributes to the region’s biodiversity.

Asian Animals

Asia is a huge continent, so it is not surprising to find such rich diversity of animals in the territory. Los animales asiáticos (Asian animals) are a perfect example of how animals have adapted to the expansion of human territory.

Animals of Oceania

Oceanía is home to several unique animals. Here’s a list of unique animals that are only found in Australia and the other countries in Oceanía.

You may have noticed that several animals in Spanish on this list don’t have a name for male and female, and if you change the “o” for an “a”, like with gato and gata, it may not sound right. So how can you communicate that you are talking about a female or a male in Spanish? Easy, with the words hembra (female) and macho (male). Here are some examples:

• El elefante hembra – female elephant
• El cocodrilo hembra – female crocodile
• Una zarigüeya macho – male possum.
• La rana macho – male frog
• La hyena macho – male hyena

This was a long list full of information and animal names in Spanish! But the best way to secure all this new knowledge is through practice! Download this PDF worksheet to review and put into practice the names of these animals in Spanish and their habitats all around the world!

And another great way to practice all this content is learning how the animal sounds in Spanish! Did you know that the sounds change in Spanish and English? To learn more about check out this Kid’s Guide to Animal Sounds in Spanish.

Keep Learning Spanish!

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