Naming an animal after another animal might sound like a quirky coincidence, but there’s often a clever reason behind it.
Whether it’s due to shared features, behaviors, or even habitats, many creatures have earned names that nod to their animal counterparts.
This creative naming approach helps paint a vivid picture of their characteristics, making it easier to identify or relate to them.
From puzzles to casual trivia, these names often pop up in surprising ways.
To help you navigate this fascinating category—and ace your next crossword clue—we’ve rounded up some of the most intriguing animals named after other animals (in alphabetical order).
Let’s dive in!
ALLIGATOR TURTLE
ANT BEAR
ANT COW
ANT LION
ANTELOPE CHIPMUNK
ANTELOPE SQUIRREL
BARNACLE GOOSE
BAT FALCON
BAT RAY
BATFISH
BEARCAT
BEE HUMMINGBIRD
BUFFALO BUFFALO
BUFFALO CARPET BEETLE
BUFFALO FISH
BULLDOG ANT
BULLHEAD CATFISH
BURRO DEER
BUTTERFLY COD
BUTTERFLY DRAGONFLY
BUTTERFLY FISH
CAMEL SPIDER
CAT SHARK
CAT SQUIRREL
CATFISH
CATTLE EGRET
COCKATOO WASPFISH
CRAB SPIDER
CRAYFISH
DEER MOUSE
DEER TIGER
DOG SALMON
DOGFISH
DRAGON FISH
ELEPHANT SEAL
ELEPHANT SHREW
FISH HAWK
FLEA BEETLE
FOX SQUIRREL
FROGFISH
GIRAFFE WEEVIL
GNU GOAT
GOAT ANTELOPE
GRASSHOPPER MOUSE
HAWKFISH
HORSE MACKEREL
HUMAN CENTIPEDE
HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH
KANGAROO RAT
LARK SPARROWS
LEOPARD FROG
LEOPARD SEAL
LEOPARD SHARK
LEOPARD SLUG
LIONFISH
MOLE CRICKET
MOLE RAT
MOUSE DEER
MUSHROOM CORAL
PARROT FISH
PEACOCK MANTIS SHRIMP
PRAIRIE DOG
RABBIT BANDICOOT
RABBIT FISH
RACCOON DOG
RAT FISH
RAT TERRIER
RHINOCEROS BEETLE
RHINOCEROS BEETLE
SABLE ANTELOPE
SCORPION FLY
SEA HORSE
SHARK WHALE
SKUNK BEAR
SNAKEHEAD
SPIDER CRAB
SPIDER MONKEY
STARGAZER SNAKE EEL
SWAN GOOSE
TARANTULA HAWK WASP
TIGER BEETLE
TIGER FISH
TIGER SHARK
TIGER SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
TITMOUSE (A BIRD)
TURKEY FISH
TURKEY VULTURE
WOLFFISH
WOLFHOUND
WORM FISH
ZEBRA BULLHEAD SHARK
ZEBRA FISH
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