50 Animals That Start With B You Probably Didn’t Know | Complete Guide
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50 Animals That Start With B You Probably Didn’t Know
From the Binturong’s Popcorn Scent to the Blobfish’s Deep-Sea Secret
Beyond the familiar bears, birds, and butterflies, the letter B hides an unusually large collection of genuinely obscure animals, species most people have never heard of, let alone seen.
This guide brings together 50 lesser-known animals starting with B, organized across five categories: mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and marine life, and insects and invertebrates.
💡 Quick Fact
Use the dropdown below to jump directly to any category, or scroll through all 50 animals in order.
Jump to a Category
🔬 The Letter B by the Numbers
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lesser-known animals starting with B featured in this guide
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categories organizing this guide’s full list
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meters deep the blobfish’s natural deep-sea habitat can reach
🦡 Mammals
Unusual mammals ranging from Southeast Asian rainforests to the Australian outback.
A wild pig species with distinctive curved tusks that grow upward through its snout.
2. Binturong
Often called a bearcat, known for its prehensile tail and popcorn-like scent.
3. Bilby
A nocturnal Australian marsupial with large ears and a long, pointed snout.
4. Bongo
A striking striped antelope species found in African rainforest habitats.
5. Bushbaby
A small nocturnal primate known for its large eyes and impressive leaping ability.
6. Bettong
A small hopping marsupial native to Australia, resembling a miniature kangaroo.
7. Bandicoot
A small omnivorous marsupial known for digging distinctive conical holes while foraging.
8. Blesbok
A South African antelope recognized by a distinctive white facial blaze.
9. Bharal
Also called the blue sheep, a wild goat-antelope found in high Himalayan terrain.
10. Bat-Eared Fox
Uses unusually large ears to detect insect prey moving underground.
🐦 Birds
Distinctive bird species known for unusual calls, courtship displays, or striking appearance.
11. Bee-Eater
A brightly colored bird specialized in catching flying insects, including bees, mid-air.
12. Bowerbird
Males build elaborate decorated structures to attract mates during courtship.
13. Boobook
A small owl species native to Australia and parts of Southeast Asia.
14. Bustard
A large, ground-dwelling bird known for elaborate courtship displays.
15. Bittern
A wetland bird known for its distinctive, deep booming call.
16. Booby
A seabird known for distinctive colored feet used prominently in courtship displays.
17. Black Skimmer
Feeds by flying low over water with its lower bill skimming the surface.
18. Bearded Vulture
Feeds largely on bone marrow, dropping large bones from height to crack them open.
19. Brolga
An Australian crane species known for elaborate, coordinated courtship dances.
20. Bee Hummingbird
The smallest bird species in the world, roughly the size of a large insect.
🦎 Reptiles & Amphibians
Species ranging from mildly unusual to genuinely dangerous, spanning several continents.
21. Basilisk Lizard
Capable of briefly running across the surface of water to escape predators.
22. Blue-Tongued Skink
Displays a strikingly blue tongue as a defensive warning to potential predators.
23. Boomslang
A highly venomous African snake with unusually large eyes for a snake species.
24. Bushmaster
One of the largest venomous pit vipers found across Central and South America.
25. Budgett’s Frog
Known for an unusually large mouth and a loud, distinctive defensive scream.
26. Box Turtle
Can fully enclose its head and limbs within its hinged shell for protection.
27. Bearded Dragon
Displays a spiny throat pouch that puffs out during territorial or defensive displays.
28. Blind Snake
Spends most of its life underground, with greatly reduced, nearly nonfunctional eyes.
29. Black Mamba
One of the fastest and most venomous snake species found across Africa.
30. Banded Krait
A highly venomous Asian snake recognized by its bold black and yellow banding.
🐟 Fish & Marine Life
Ocean species ranging from deep-sea oddities to powerful open-water predators.
31. Barreleye Fish
Has a transparent head that allows its tubular eyes to rotate and look upward.
32. Blobfish
Adapted to extreme deep-sea pressure, appearing dramatically different at the surface.
33. Blue Tang
A brightly colored reef fish commonly found across Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
34. Basking Shark
One of the largest shark species, feeding entirely on tiny plankton.
35. Bigfin Reef Squid
Capable of rapidly changing skin color and pattern for communication and camouflage.
36. Blacktip Reef Shark
A common, relatively small shark species found in shallow tropical reef waters.
37. Bull Shark
Uniquely able to tolerate both saltwater and freshwater environments.
38. Batfish
Uses modified fins to walk along the ocean floor rather than swim.
39. Barracuda
A fast, ambush-style predator capable of sudden bursts of speed when striking prey.
40. Beluga Sturgeon
One of the largest freshwater fish species, capable of living for many decades.
🐝 Insects & Invertebrates
Small but remarkable species featuring unusual defenses, colors, or chemistry.
41. Bombardier Beetle
Sprays a hot, chemical defense mixture at attackers with remarkable precision.
42. Bullet Ant
Delivers one of the most painful stings of any insect, according to sting pain ranking studies.
43. Bagworm Moth
Larvae construct a protective portable case from silk and surrounding plant material.
44. Brown Recluse Spider
A venomous spider known for its distinctive violin-shaped marking.
45. Black Widow Spider
Displays a red hourglass marking as a clear warning of its venomous bite.
46. Buprestid Beetle
Also called a jewel beetle, known for its brilliant, metallic iridescent coloring.
47. Braconid Wasp
A parasitic wasp species that lays eggs inside host insects for its larvae to develop.
48. Honeybee
Displays measurable hygienic behavior, removing diseased brood from the hive.
49. Bristletail
An ancient, wingless insect group that has changed relatively little over millions of years.
50. Bark Scorpion
One of the more venomous scorpion species found in North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the binturong, and why is it so unusual?
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The binturong is a Southeast Asian mammal often called a bearcat, though it isn’t closely related to either bears or cats. It’s notable for its prehensile tail and a distinct scent often compared to buttered popcorn.
What is a bilby, and where is it found?
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The bilby is a nocturnal, rabbit-sized marsupial native to Australia, recognized by its large ears and long snout, and considered an important conservation symbol due to its declining wild population.
Why does the blobfish look so different in photos taken at the surface versus in its natural habitat?
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The blobfish’s body is adapted to extreme deep-sea pressure, with a gelatinous structure that helps it stay buoyant at depth. When brought to the surface, the sudden pressure change causes it to lose its shape entirely, creating its widely recognized droopy appearance.
How does a bombardier beetle actually defend itself?
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A bombardier beetle mixes chemicals stored in separate internal chambers to trigger a rapid chemical reaction, spraying a hot, irritating liquid at attackers with remarkable speed and precision.
Is the bushmaster snake dangerous to humans?
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Yes, the bushmaster is a venomous pit viper found in Central and South America, and it’s considered one of the more dangerous snake species in its range due to its potent venom and substantial size.
Why do so many lesser-known B animals live in isolated regions like Australia or Madagascar?
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Geographic isolation over long periods of time allows unique species to evolve independently without competition from animals found elsewhere, which is part of why regions like Australia and Madagascar are home to such a high number of unusual, lesser-known species.
Conclusion: A Letter Full of Surprises
From a bearcat that smells like popcorn to a fish that only looks like a “blob” once it leaves its high-pressure home, these 50 animals prove just how much genuine biological weirdness the letter B has to offer once you look past the familiar names.
Whether you’re drawn to the desert-adapted bharal, the venomous bushmaster, or the tiny bee hummingbird, this list barely scratches the surface of how many remarkable, lesser-known species share this single letter.
Want to learn more?
Look into the conservation status of species like the bilby and bongo, and share which animal on this list surprised you the most!
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