Every animal species has two names. The common name and the scientific name.
Many animal names come from the Greek or Latin languages, and the people from that time usually associated names with the animals’ behavior or physical characteristic.
Today, we are going to talk about animals that end with a.Â
Without further due, let’s sneak peek at our 20 awesome animals.
20 Awesome Animals That End With A
Alpaca
Pronunciation: al-pa-kuh
Alpacas are South American long-haired animals closely related to the llama. These long-neck animals are herbivores who mainly feed on grass and hay.
The Alpaca scientific name is Vicugna pacos.
Anaconda
Pronunciation: a-nuh-kaan-duh
Anacondas are huge tropical snakes found in South America. The common green anaconda is the second heaviest snake in the world. Their diet consists of birds, fish, and small to big mammals.
The name anaconda derives from the Tamil word ‘anaikondran‘ that means ‘elephant killed’
Capybara
Pronunciation: ka-puh-baa-ruh
Capybaras are the largest species of rodents native to South America. They are herbivores animals who feed on grass and water plants.
The name Capybara comes from the Tupian language which means “ones who eats slender leaves” or “grass-eaters”.
Chinchilla
Pronunciation: chunh-chi-luh
Chinchillas are small-sized rodents that live in the mountains of South America. These fluffy rodents mainly feed on plants, such as grasses, twigs, and leaves.
The name Chinchilla comes after the people of the Andes, Chincha.
Cobra
Pronunciation: kow-bruh
Cobras are venomous snakes that belong to the genus known as Naja. Cobras are carnivores animals that usually feed on birds, lizards, other snakes, or amphibians.
The name Cobra comes from “cobra de capello” (Portuguese language) meaning “snake with a hood”.
Gorilla
Pronunciation: gr-i-luh
Gorillas are great apes that live in the forests of Sub-Saharan parts of Africa. A gorilla is a vegetarian animal that eats bamboo, grass, and fruits.
The name Gorilla, derived from the Ancient Greek word “gorilla” which means “tribe of hairy women”.
Hyena
Pronunciation: hai-ee-huh
Hyenas are pack scavenger animals native to Africa. These carnivores mainly feed on birds, lizards, snakes, and mammals.
The scientific name is Hyaena brunnea, whereas Hyaena comes from the Ancient Greek “hys” which means hog or pig.
Iguana
Pronunciation: I-gwaa-nuh
Iguanas are herbivores lizards native to tropical parts of South and Central America, and the Caribbean. These reptiles feed on fruits, flowers, vines, and leaves.
Iguana’s name comes from the old Caribbean word “iwana” which was the name for the species.
Koala
Pronunciation: kow-aa-luh
Koalas are tree marsupial animals, that live in Australia. These fluffy animals are herbivores that feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves.
The name Koala comes from the old Greek word “phaskolos” which means pouch and bear.
Llama
Pronunciation: laa-muh
Llamas are domesticated animals native to South America and are related to Alpacas. These wooly mammals are herbivores who primarily feed on grass.
The name llama is derived from the Spanish phrase “Como se llama”? Which means what is the name.
Panda
Pronunciation: pan-duh
The giant panda is adorable bears species that live in South Central China. Pandas are herbivorous creatures that primarily feed on bamboo.
The name Panda comes from the Nepal word “ponya” meaning “bamboo eater”.
Puma
Pronunciation: poo-muh
Panther, cougar, mountain lion, and puma are all the names for the same species that can be found in the mountains of North and South America.
Pumas will hunt and eat a wide variety of animals. Some may include sheep, pigs, horses, coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, etc.
The name Puma originates from the Quechua language, which means “powerful”.
Tarantula
Pronunciation: tr-an-chuh-luh
Tarantulas are a group of big hairy spiders found in almost every part of the world. Most tarantulas are insectivores, and they feed on beetles, grasshoppers, arthropods, and other spiders.
Tarantula’s name comes from the town in Italy, called Taranto.
Rhea
Pronunciation: ree-uh
Rheas are large ratites flightless birds related to emus and ostriches. These giant birds are omnivores, but they would mostly eat plant-based food, such as seeds, fruits, and roots.
The name Rhea derives from old Greece, which means “a flowing stream”. In mythology, Rhea represented the mother of all gods.
Zebra
Pronunciation: zee-bruh
Zebras are legendary African animals characterized by their black and white stripes. Zebras are herbivores, and they prefer grazing on grass, but they would also eat leaves, bushes, and stems.
The name Zebra comes from the old Latin word “equiferus” which means “wild horse”.
Piranha
Pronunciation: pr-aa-nuh
A piranha is a freshwater fish that lives in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs of South America. Even though piranhas are predatory creatures who mainly feed on fish, they are classified as omnivores.
Piranha’s name originates from the Tupi language, formed of two words – “pira” which means fish, and “sainha” which means tooth.
Orca
Pronunciation: or-kuh
The orca or the killed whale is the largest oceanic dolphin family member. Characterized by their black and white bodies, orcas Inhabit a wide variety of water environments.
Orcas are apex predators that feed on fish, seals, birds, and toothed whales.
The name Orca originates from the mythical Roman god Orcus – the god of death and underwater.
Mamba
Pronunciation: maam-buh
Mambas, when translated, literally means “tree asp”. These snakes are fast-moving venomous creatures native to Africa. Mambas are carnivores, and they mainly feed on birds and vertebrates.
The name Mamba comes from the Zulu word “imamba”.
Impala
Pronunciation: uhm-paa-luh
Impalas are African medium-sized antelopes found in woodlands and savannahs. They are herbivores animals that mainly feed on young grass, shrubs, and herbs.
The name Impala derives from the word “Tswana pala” which means red antelope.
Boa
Pronunciation: boh-uh
Boas are large, non-venomous snakes that live in tropical areas of South America and the Caribbean. Boas are carnivores animals that feed on medium animals and birds.
The name Boa originates from the late 14c and it means “large snake”.