From the vampire bat to viperfish here are 7 animals starting with V

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Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2024 at 16:38 PM


Discover 7 animals that begin with the letter ‘V’. Can you think of more? Let us know what we have missed…

Animals beginning with ‘V’

Vampire bat

The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) © Getty Images

Living in Central and South America vampire bats thrive on the taste of blood, like their name suggests, and feed on cows, pigs, horses, and birds.

Vampire spider

Vampire spider

The vampire spider is a member of the imminently likeable and charismatic jumping spider family (Salticidae). As its name suggests it enjoys a diet of blood, but too small to bite a human, this arachnid manages to get a taste of the red stuff elsewhere – from mosquitoes to be precise.

Vampire squid

Despite its name – inspired by its dark colour and the cloak-like webbing between its arms – the vampire squid is neither vampire nor squid. It is the sole member of its own cephalopod order. Like the octopus, it has eight legs, but is equipped with a pair of thin trailing filaments, which may be derived from the two extra arms possessed by squid.

Vaquita

@ Paula Olson, NOAA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The vaquita is the world’s smallest and rarest cetacean. With just 10 remaining in the wild, the tiny vaquita needs a miracle to save it from extinction.

Vervet monkey

Vervet monkey
© Getty Images

A member of the primate family, this cute small black-faced monkey thrives in East Africa. Although they enjoy a mostly vegetarian diet they are partial to the odd insect, egg, baby bird and rodent.

Viper

ADDER COURTSHIP, UK
© Getty Images

Also known as adder, the common viper are found throughout much of England, Scotland and Wales (but absent from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland), and throughout most of Europe. They are the most northerly found snake with a distribution into the Arctic Circle.

Viperfish

Sloane viperfish (Chauliodus sloani) © Getty Images

Found in most oceans, deep-dwelling viperfish are named after their long fangs that jut out from the upper and lower jaws. They are also famed for their luminescent organs.

An alphabetical adventure through the animal kingdom

Looking for more fascinating animal facts?

Explore our expertly curated collection of captivating animal features, offering everything from insightful animal ID’s to engaging quizzes. Check out our collection of species guides, from big cats to zebra – all the information you need is in one place!