Discover 18 animals beginning with the letter ‘R’, but which have we forgotten? Let us know…
From the cheeky racoon to the deadly rattle snake, here are 18 animals starting with the letter ‘R’
18 animals beginning with ‘R’
Rook
A distinctive corvid species, the rook has a partially bare face which is grey-white in colour, which helps to distinguish it from the carrion crow and other similar birds. As a sociable bird, it is often seen in groups, sometimes with jackdaws as well.
Red grouse
Once considered a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan, which is found widely in northern Eurasia, Alaska and Canada, the red grouse was recently recognised as a separate species and is endemic to Britain and Ireland. Males have a brighter red colouration and more conspicuous combs.
Red deer
The red deer is the largest land mammal in Britain, with males (called stags) growing up to 1.37m in height at the shoulder and weighing up to 190kg. Females are called hinds, and babies are called calves.
Roesel’s bush-cricket
Normally dark brown with yellow markings, but occasionally green, the Roesel’s bush-cricket has spread northwards from southern England in recent years. It is normally short-winged (and flightless), but occasional long-winged (and able to fly) individuals are found.
Reticulated python
The reticulated python is the longest snake species in the world, and one of the heaviest. The longest ever was a 10-metre long specimen found in 1912. It is not venomous, but is instead an ambush predator that then constricts its prey – typically mammals and birds, but sometimes humans.
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Red squirrel
The only native squirrel found in the UK, the red squirrel population has suffered a population decline. The non-native and introduced grey squirrel can outcompete the smaller red squirrel for food and other resources, and it also carries squirrelpox – a virus which can be asymptomatic in grey squirrels but fatal to red squirrels.
Razorbill
One of the pretty auks found breeding on UK coastal cliffs, the razorbill is a black and white with white line on its thick bill and another white line between its eye and bill. It’s closest relative was the now-extinct great auk.
Rusty-spotted cat
The rusty-spotted cat is one of the smallest cat species in the world – only half the size of a domestic cat, with a body length of up to 48cm and a maximum weight of just 1.6kg. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. It is nocturnal and preys on small vertebrates, and possibly insects.
Ring ouzel
The ring ouzel is a member of the thrush family (Turdidae), resembling a slightly small blackbird. However the male ring ouzel has a white bib on his chest, and the female has a cream bib. It is mostly an upland bird, migrating here in spring and departing in autumn.
Red-eyed tree frog
A very recognisable frog, the red-eyed tree frog is well-named for its bright red eyes. Its body is also colourful – vivid green on top, with yellow and blue stripes along its sides, a pale belly, and red feet. The species is found in the forests of Central America, and northwestern Colombia in South America.
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Rainbow squirrel
Squirrels don’t come much bigger than the Malabar giant variety. Weighing four times as much as a grey squirrel and much bigger than the red squirrel, this robust rodent is about the size of a domestic cat. But it’s not the Malabar giant’s size that turns heads and drops jaws, but rather its colour scheme – and it’s quite easy to see how it earn’t its other name – the rainbow squirrel.
Risso’s dolphin
The risso’s,dolphin, which clock in at up to 4m in length and up to 500kg in weight, is one of the world’s biggest dolphins. They have blunt heads with an indistinct beak and a V-shaped cleft at the front, and a tall dorsal fin. There is a huge variation in colour, according to, among other things, age and region.
Rattlesnake
No one wants to accidentally step on a venomous rattlesnake. The snake doesn’t like it much either. Happily for all concerned, as it grows, a rattlesnake accumulates small hollow segments of each shed skin at the tip of its tail, which clank together menacingly when shaken. The result is a warning signal as archetypal as a wasp’s black-and-yellow stripes. Increasing the frequency of the rattle adds to the sense of urgency as danger approaches.
Red panda
The red panda is not related to the giant panda, and is in the Ailuridae family, alongside the skunks (Mephitidae), raccoons (Procyonidae) and mustelids (Mustelidae). However, it exhibits similar behaviour, eating predominantly bamboo.
Reindeer
Reindeer are the same species as caribour deer (rangifer tarandus). However, the distinction between the two variations is that caribou live in North America, and reindeer live in Northern Europe and Asia. Mainly, reindeer are domesticated or semi-domesticated, while caribou are wild, migratory mammals.
Raccoon
The common raccoon is North America’s most numerous mammal and is famed as a nuisance! It belongs to the Procyonidae family and its nearest relatives includes the coati.
Before the urbanisation of North America, raccoons scampered mainly through deciduous woodland. With much of their former habitat gone, these excellent climbers began denning in attics instead, even in city centres. In 2018, one enterprising raccoon went viral by scaling a 25-storey Minnesota high-rise. After its 20-hour ascent, streamed live, the animal was rescued on the roof.
Redstart
Common redstarts are colourful avian summer visitors to the UK. Their scientific name is Phoenicurus phoenicurus, which is an example of a tautonym. Redstarts are about 14cm in length, with a wingspan of between 20-24cm. they usually weigh between 11-19g.
Rabbit
It is always a delight to spot a rabbit hopping through the grass. Widespread across the world, rabbits live in family groups and are one of the most common small mammals.
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