By Paul McGuinness

Published: Wednesday, 06 July 2022 at 12:00 am

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We know that animals make a variety of sometimes self-explanatory, often baffling noises. Many of these noises are made for the same reasons we might make them – to communicate information to others and thereby influence their behaviour.

Sometimes, their calls, whistles, squawks, growls or screeches are to sound the alarm of approaching danger. Other times, they may use their voices to signal willingness or attractiveness to a mate. Or perhaps they’re making noises to threaten, or to display dominance.

Some animals are lucky (or perhaps unlucky) enough to be named after the sounds they make. Read on to learn about our favourite examples of this phenomenon.

10 animals that sound like their names

Cuckoo (Cuculidae family)

Our list kicks off with perhaps the most well-known onomatopoeic animal: the cuckoo. Their fame comes not from their call, however, but mainly from their habit of brood parasitism. This is their unsavoury method of reproduction in which they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, often discarding an egg already present. The young cuckoo once hatched will push the host’s eggs or chicks out of the nest allowing it to eat all of the food brought by the host.

Learn more about these fascinating birds with our cuckoo guide.

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Pobblebonk frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii)

Yes, I promise this is a real name for a real animal! The fabulously named pobblebonk frog, also known as the banjo frog (or Limnodynastes dumerilii if you want to be scientific) can be found in Eastern Australia. Both names are very appropriate.

Their distinctive “bonk” calls are very reminiscent of a banjo string being plucked, and when many frogs join together in chorus it almost sounds like a jaunty bluegrass jig.