Animals That Start with V: Ultimate Guide to Stunning Creatures
The letter V unlocks a surprising yet intriguing group of animals! This list delves into the fascinating world of animals that start with V. We’ll encounter a variety of species, from the social Vervet monkey to the carrion-eating Vulture, each with unique adaptations and ecological roles. Prepare to learn about the blood-feeding Vampire Bat, the sleek Vicuña, and many more animals that begin with V.
Valley Bulldog
The Valley Bulldog, a hybrid breed that blends the English Bulldog and the Boxer, is a distinctive and robust companion known for its muscular build and friendly demeanor. Originating in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada, this breed typically weighs between 50 to 80 pounds and stands about 12 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder. Valley Bulldogs, one of the fascinating animals starting with V, have a short, smooth coat that can come in various colors, including fawn, brindle, white, and combinations thereof. Their lifespan ranges from 10 to 12 years, reflecting a healthy blend of the parent breeds’ longevity.
Vampire Bat
Vampire bats, belonging to the Desmodontinae subfamily, are a type of leaf-nosed bats that inhabit regions in Central and South America. These nocturnal creatures venture out only when the night is fully settled. Similar to fruit bats and in contrast to insectivorous and fish-eating bats, they produce only low-energy sound pulses. The common vampire bat primarily consumes the blood of mammals, occasionally including humans.
On the other hand, the hairy-legged vampire bat and the white-winged vampire bat mostly feed on the blood of birds. A typical female vampire bat, weighing around 40 grams (1.4 ounces), can ingest more than 20 grams (1 fluid ounce) of blood within a 20-minute feeding session. Curious for more? Read the full article here!
Vampire Crab
The Vampire Crab, scientifically known as Geosesarma dennerle, is a captivating and enigmatic freshwater crustacean that has recently gained popularity among aquarium enthusiasts. Native to the lush riverbanks and forest floors of Java and Sulawesi in Indonesia, these diminutive crabs measure just about 2 inches across, with strikingly vibrant purple bodies and bright orange or yellow eyes that give them a hauntingly beautiful appearance. Despite their somewhat eerie moniker, Vampire Crabs are harmless scavengers, feeding primarily on detritus, plant matter, and small invertebrates.
Vampire Squid
The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, meaning ‘vampire squid from hell’) is a small cephalopod inhabiting temperate and tropical oceans in the deep sea. This creature can grow up to 30 cm (1 ft) in total length. Its 15-centimeter (5.9 in) gelatinous body changes color from velvety jet-black to pale reddish, influenced by its surroundings and lighting. The vampire squid, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, exemplifies a deep-sea cephalopod, typically found at aphotic depths between 600 and 900 meters (2,000 to 3,000 ft) or even deeper.
Vaquita
The vaquita is a porpoise species native to the northern part of the Gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico. It is the smallest living cetacean, with females reaching up to 150 cm (4.9 ft) and males up to 140 cm (4.6 ft) in length. The vaquita, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, is critically endangered, as per the IUCN Red List, primarily due to bycatch in gillnets used for the illegal totoaba fishery. This porpoise is easily identifiable by its small size, unusually tall triangular dorsal fin, rounded head, and absence of a pronounced beak.
Veery
The veery (Catharus fuscescens) is a small thrush species native to North America. It typically measures between 16 and 19.5 cm (6.3 and 7.7 inches) in length and weighs between 26 and 39 grams (0.92 and 1.38 ounces), though it can occasionally reach up to 54 grams (1.9 ounces). The average wingspan is about 28.5 cm (11.2 inches). Its wings range from 8.9 to 10.4 cm (3.5 to 4.1 inches) in length, the bill from 1.2 to 1.9 cm (0.47 to 0.75 inches), and the tarsus from 2.7 to 3.25 cm (1.06 to 1.28 inches). Veeries exhibit the typical under-wing stripe seen in Catharus thrushes.
Vegavis
Vegavis, an extinct genus of bird from the Late Cretaceous period, provides fascinating insights into the evolutionary history of modern birds. Discovered on Vega Island in Antarctica, Vegavis iaai lived approximately 66 million years ago, right before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. This ancient bird is particularly significant because it represents one of the earliest known relatives of modern waterfowl, such as ducks and geese. The fossilized remains of Vegavis iaai include parts of the skull, vertebrae, and limb bones, with some specimens even preserving the structure of the syrinx, or vocal organ, which suggests it could produce sounds.
Velociraptor
Velociraptor, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, is a genus of small dromaeosaurid dinosaurs that roamed Asia during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 75 to 71 million years ago. These dinosaurs measured between 1.5 and 2.07 meters (4.9 to 6.8 feet) in length and had a body mass ranging from 14.1 to 19.7 kilograms (31 to 43 pounds). Velociraptors shared many anatomical characteristics typical of dromaeosaurids. They were bipedal, feathered carnivores equipped with long tails and an enlarged, sickle-shaped claw on each hindfoot, likely used for seizing and restraining prey. What sets Velociraptors apart from other dromaeosaurids is their long, low skull with an upturned snout.
Venus Flytrap
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant indigenous to the temperate and subtropical wetlands of North Carolina and South Carolina, located on the eastern coast of the United States. This small plant features a rosette of four to seven leaves emerging from a short, bulb-like subterranean stem. Depending on the season, each stem can grow to a length of about three to ten centimeters. Typically, longer leaves with more substantial traps develop post-flowering. When a Venus flytrap has more than seven leaves, it indicates the presence of colonies formed by rosettes that have divided underground.
Vermilion Flycatcher
The vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus), one of the fascinating animals that start with V, is a small passerine bird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family, found across South America and southern North America. This petite bird measures 13–14 cm (5.1–5.5 inches) in length from tip to tail, with a wingspan of 24 to 25 cm (9.4 to 9.8 inches), and weighs between 11 and 14 grams (0.39 and 0.49 ounces). The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism: males display vibrant red plumage with contrasting dark brown feathers, while females have a drab appearance with a peach-colored belly and dark gray upperparts.
Vervet Monkey
The vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), commonly known as the vervet, is an Old World monkey belonging to the Cercopithecidae family and is native to Africa. The term “vervet” is also used to describe all members of the Chlorocebus genus. There are five distinct subspecies primarily distributed throughout Southern Africa and some eastern African countries. These mostly herbivorous primates have black faces and grey body hair. Females typically measure around 40 cm (16 in) in body length, while males are larger, averaging about 50 cm (20 in).
Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus vestalis, known as the vestal cuckoo bumblebee, is a species of cuckoo bumblebee found throughout most of Europe, as well as in North Africa and western Asia. The queen is a large bumblebee, reaching lengths of up to 21 mm (0.83 in) and a wingspan of 37 mm (1.5 in). Males are significantly smaller, measuring around 16 mm (0.63 in) in length. These bumblebees are primarily black with an orange collar. The third tergite is bordered by yellow hairs, while the fifth tergite has predominantly white hairs. Males resemble females but are smaller and have longer antennae.
Vicuna
The vicuña (Lama vicugna) is one of the two wild camelids native to South America, inhabiting the high alpine regions of the Andes. It is also known as the vicuna, and was formerly classified under the genus name Vicugna. More delicate and slender than the guanaco, the vicuña is smaller in size and has less developed incisor roots compared to its counterpart.
Its long, woolly coat is tawny brown on the back, with white, elongated hair on the throat and chest. The vicuña’s head is slightly shorter than that of the guanaco, while its ears are a bit longer. The body length ranges from 1.45 to 1.60 meters (about 5 feet), with a shoulder height between 75 and 85 centimeters (around 3 feet). Vicuñas, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, typically weigh between 35 and 65 kilograms (under 150 pounds). Their primary predators include the cougar and the culpeo.
Vine Snake
The Vine Snake, scientifically known as Ahaetulla, is a slender, arboreal serpent found predominantly in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. Renowned for its strikingly elongated body and distinctive green or brown coloration, which provides exceptional camouflage among the foliage, the Vine Snake can reach lengths of up to 6 feet. This serpent’s pointed snout and large, horizontal pupils give it a keenly alert appearance, well-suited for its daytime hunting habits. Vine Snakes primarily prey on small vertebrates, such as lizards, frogs, and birds, using their excellent vision and swift, precise strikes to capture prey. Curious for more? Read the full article here!
Vinegaroon
Uropygi, an order of arachnids, includes invertebrates commonly referred to as whip scorpions or vinegaroons (also spelled vinegarroons and vinegarones). These creatures are often known as uropygids. Whip scorpions typically range from 25 to 85 mm (1.0 to 3.3 inches) in length, with most species having a body length of no more than 30 mm (1.2 inches).
The largest species, belonging to the genus Mastigoproctus, can grow up to 85 mm (3.3 inches). An extinct species, Mesoproctus, from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation, may have reached a similar size. Despite their relatively small body size, their legs, claws, and distinctive “whip” can
Viper
The Viperidae family, commonly known as vipers, consists of snakes found throughout most parts of the world, excluding Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, Ireland, and various other isolated islands. All vipers possess a pair of relatively long, hollow fangs, known as solenoglyphous fangs, which are used to inject venom.
These fangs are connected to venom glands situated towards the rear of the upper jaws, just behind the eyes. Each fang is positioned at the front of the mouth on a short maxillary bone that can rotate, allowing the fangs to fold back against the roof of the mouth and be covered by a membranous sheath when not in use.
Viperid venom is rich in proteases, which are protein-degrading enzymes. The venom’s effects typically include intense pain, significant local swelling, necrosis, blood loss due to cardiovascular damage, complications from coagulopathy, and disruption of the blood-clotting system.
Viper Boa
The Viper Boa (Candoia aspera), also known as the New Guinea Ground Boa, is a unique and intriguing snake species native to the rainforests and grasslands of New Guinea and nearby islands. Unlike its name might suggest, the Viper Boa is not related to true vipers but rather is part of the boa family.
Viper boa, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, is relatively small, typically measuring between 2 to 3 feet in length, with a stout, robust body and a distinctive triangular head that gives it a viper-like appearance. Its rough, keeled scales and coloration, ranging from reddish-brown to dark gray, provide excellent camouflage against the forest floor and leaf litter.
Viper Shark
The viper dogfish, also known as the viper shark (Trigonognathus kabeyai), is a rare species of dogfish shark belonging to the family Etmopteridae. This species is believed to migrate vertically, moving between depths of 270–360 meters (890–1,180 feet) during the day and ascending to shallower waters less than 150 meters (490 feet) at night. The viper dogfish is a slender, black shark that can grow up to 54 cm (21 inches) in length. It is distinguished by its narrow, triangular jaws and widely spaced, fang-like teeth. Additionally, it features two spined dorsal fins, dermal denticles with faceted crowns, and numerous photophores that emit light, primarily located on its ventral surface.
Viperfish
A viperfish, one of the fascinating animals starting with V, refers to any species within the genus Chauliodus, known for their presence in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean. These marine fish are characterized by their elongated, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. Viperfish typically reach lengths of up to 30 cm (12 inches). They undergo diel vertical migration, meaning they move to different depths depending on the time of day, and are found globally in tropical and temperate oceans. Species in the Chauliodus genus are particularly noted for their large, fang-like teeth, which are so long that improper alignment could potentially pierce the fish’s brain.
Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko
The British Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero, also known as the Virgin Gorda least gecko or Virgin Islands dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus parthenopion), is one of the smallest terrestrial vertebrates. This species of gecko features a deep brown coloration on its upper side, often speckled with darker scales. On average, it measures 18 mm (0.71 inches) from its snout to its vent, making it nearly as small as a U.S. dime. The gecko weighs up to 0.15 grams (0.0053 ounces).
Vizsla
The Vizsla, also known as the Hungarian Vizsla, Magyar Vizsla, or Hungarian Pointer, is a dog breed originating from Hungary. This breed is a short-coated hunting dog, known for its distinguished appearance and bearing. Although robust, Vizslas are lightly built, lean dogs with well-defined muscles. Their standard coat color is described as French-row yellow, but it can also appear in shades of yellow, orange, copper-brown, russet gold, and dark sandy gold. Vizslas, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, are highly energetic and gentle-mannered dogs, known for their loyalty, caring nature, and affection. They form strong bonds quickly with their owners, children, and even strangers.
Volcano Snail
Chrysomallon squamiferum, commonly referred to as the scaly-foot gastropod, scaly-foot snail, sea pangolin, or volcano snail, is a deep-sea hydrothermal-vent snail belonging to the family Peltospiridae. This unique gastropod is endemic to hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean, where it resides at depths ranging from approximately 2,400 to 2,900 meters (1.5 to 1.8 miles). Known for its adaptation to these extreme environments, the scaly-foot gastropod is exclusively found in these deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems.
Vole
Voles are small rodents closely related to lemmings and hamsters, but they have a stouter body, a longer, hairy tail, a slightly rounder head, smaller eyes and ears, and distinctively shaped molars with high-crowned angular cusps instead of low-crowned rounded cusps. In North America, they are sometimes referred to as meadow mice or field mice. Voles typically grow to a length of 8–23 cm (3–9 inches), depending on the species. Although females can produce five to ten litters per year, their average lifespan of three months and a maturation period of one month mean that producing two litters is more typical.
Volpino Italiano
The Volpino Italiano, also known simply as the Volpino, is an Italian breed of dog belonging to the Spitz family. This small breed stands no more than about 30 cm (12 inches) at the withers and has a roughly square outline, with its body length approximately equal to its height. The Volpino’s coat is long and stands away from the body, typically found in solid white, solid deep red, or black. According to the updated breed standard, other colors are also accepted and tolerated.
Vulture
A vulture, one of the fascinating animals that start with V, is a bird of prey known for scavenging carrion. There are 23 existing species of vultures, including condors. As obligate scavengers, vultures primarily feed on dead animals and are the only known species outside of marine environments to do so. While they seldom attack healthy animals, they may prey on the wounded or sick.
Old World vultures, which inhabit Africa, Asia, and Europe, belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards, and hawks. These vultures locate carcasses exclusively through sight. In Ancient Egyptian art, the goddess Nekhbet, the patron of the city of Nekheb and Upper Egypt, was often depicted as a vulture.
In summary, exploring the diverse list of animals that start with V has provided us with fascinating insights into the animal kingdom. From the majestic Vaquita to the vibrant Viperfish, each species brings its own unique characteristics and ecological significance. This list of animals not only highlights the incredible variety within our natural world but also underscores the importance of conservation efforts to protect these remarkable creatures.
