Can you name five animals that start with U? How about three animals that start with U? One animal with U as the first letter of their name? Come on, at least say the name of one animal that starts with a U. No? Not so simple, is it?
You never know, knowledge of this seemingly insignificant fact file might just come in handy in the future. Perhaps it will win you the top prize at a pub quiz just for knowing one animal name starting with U.
There’s a chance, albeit ever so slight, such knowledge can help you impress a guy or girl. Who can’t help but fall in love with someone who can readily reel off an alphabetically ordered list of African animal names!
What? Doesn’t everybody love such incredible animal knowledge?
Here’s a list of African animals that start with U, just for you, so that next time you’re asked you have a few quickfire responses ready in your arsenal.
Animal With U is Sometimes Due to Country’s Name
Some animals start with U and will get the beginning letter from the name of the country, region, or place. For example, some animals from Uganda will have the name ‘Ugandan X’.
Other notable lands that have animals named after themselves are Upper Zambezi (Zambia), Usambara (Tanzania), Udzungwa (Tanzania), Uluguru (Tanzania), and Upemba (the Democratic Republic of Congo).
African Animals Beginning With U
What animal starts with U? There are surprisingly many African animals. The following list shows animals with U as the first letter of their names:
Antelope That Start With U
These are the different antelope whose name starts with the letter U.
Ugandan kob
No, this is not a large wedge of corn that you can buy at a local fair covered in melting butter.
The Ugandan kob is a member of the African antelope family. It’s normally reddish-brown, differentiating it from other kob subspecies.
Shrews That Start With U
Let’s take a look at shrews that start with the letter U.
Ugandan shrew
Unlike the common shrew, the Ugandan shrew’s day-to-day movements and motivations are still quite a mystery. Information on preferred places to live, eat, and exist is open to interpretation.
This mouse-like mammal beginning with U has an elongated snout. The Ugandan shrew keeps to itself and, as such, its biological rhythms and behaviors are not widely renowned.
Ugandan musk shrew
Before you ask, no, the Ugandan musk shrew is not an almost identical imitation of the previously mentioned Ugandan shrew, but with the addition of a manly ‘musky’ fragrance.
There is not much information on these curious critters as they are so difficult to catch and study. Its conservation standing has been evaluated as ‘data insufficient’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Usambara shrew
With a rapidly declining population due to a loss of habitat, its cultural power and presence in shrew society are dwindling, much like the next member of its kind.
Ultimate shrew
Saving the best animal for last, the ultimate shrew is a slightly mythical mammal with few genuine pictures of it in the wild. Why its title leads to the belief of superiority over its shrew subordinates remains a mystery.
However, it probably has to do with its threatened status and the fact that people rarely spot them in the wild.
Monkeys That Start With U
Below are all the monkeys beginning with U in Africa.
Ugandan red colobus
Red colobus monkeys live in various African nations (see their closely related cousins: Zanzibar’s red colobus) at varying levels of prosperity.
This particular simian species is sadly endangered and at risk from all angles; environmental changes and habitat annihilation have contributed to its demise.
It’s also prey to plenty of possible predators from its very own primate gene pool! Chimpanzees can sometimes be partial to an almost cannibalistic custom of killing the Ugandan red colobus.
Udzungwa red colobus
A shimmering shock of bright orange hair, sticking straight up like the result of recent electrocution, frames the Udzungwa red colobus as the family punk rocker of the primate ranks.
It has learned to live almost exclusively in the towering trees of the Tanzanian forests.
African Birds That Start With U
There are more than 1500 bird species that are native to the continent of Africa. How many of those species’ names start with the letter U?
Uganda woodland warbler
Africa’s subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests are the perfect places for the Uganda woodland warbler. Despite its name, this variation on the veritable and world-famous warbler takes up residence throughout the African continent in any condition considered conducive to its needs.
Udzungwa forest partridge
Taking on the zany appearance of a coloring book character that a kid wanting to use all of the crayons in the box has colored in, the Udzungwa forest partridge is one surreal-looking bird.
A black and white belly, coupled with a red and black back, make the choice of bright yellow legs and orangey-red face almost understandable.
Upupa Africana (African hoopoe)
Not looking one ounce out of place among such colorful contemporaries, the Upupa bird is notable for its distinctive “crown” of feathers and zebra-style black and white stripes.
Spelled a little like a green-haired man with an orange face from a Roald Dahl classic (an umpa lumpa), the Upupa Africana is a truly international bird that you can spot all over the globe. It’s also one of the more common birds to see on safari. And no, it doesn’t like to eat chocolate.
Ursula’s sunbird
Due to its geographical position on the African continent, specifically Cameroon, Ursula’s sunbird is an aptly named animal. A collage of coordinated colors covers its outer feathers, and its head alone has over five shades of grey and green.
Uluguru violet-backed sunbird
In the case of the Uluguru violet-backed sunbird, the description is in the name. Hailing from the vast mountainous region of Uluguru in Tanzania, its magnificent multi-colored coat of feathers makes it look more like a rainbow than the sun.
Reptiles and Amphibious Animals That Start With U
How many reptiles and amphibians do you know that start with U?
Uganda clawed frog
This animal starting with U is an aggressive and, at times, carnivorous cannibal. The Uganda clawed frog will consume any creature crossing its callous path. They are known to dine upon babies of other frogs without an ounce of regret. If it’s small enough and close enough, it gets snapped up and swallowed.
Uluguru blue-bellied frog
With its saucer-like eyes and glow-in-the-dark turquoise skin, the Uluguru blue-bellied frog gives the impression of being a four-legged amphibious alien from out of space. Instead, it’s a forlorn member of the frog fraternity that is flirting with a nomadic future.
This animal that starts with U is sadly on the brink of total extinction.
Usambara blue-bellied frog
Like so many others who depend on marshland and swamps, the Usambara blue-bellied frog (or ‘banana frog’) has had a front-row seat to the rapid recession of its home. Endemic to Tanzania, social and environmental change has repurposed and ravaged its natural environment.
Upemba mud turtle
You can find these bite-sized representatives of the solid-shelled turtle team in the freshwater regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They’re virtually the only animal starting with U in the entire Congo Basin.
Uromastyx (Spiny-tailed lizard)
Yet another African animal with cannibalistic tendencies, the uromastyx eats insects and other small animals, especially young lizards.
These members of the lizard family possess a curious configuration of hard rings at the bottom of a scaly tail.
Marine Animals That Start With a U
The earth is mainly made-up of the oceans. Therefore, we cannot forget the animals that start with U that live in Africa’s many tides.
Uganda nothobranch
At first glance, it may appear to be an everyday goldfish. However, upon closer inspection the intriguing luminous purple pattern makes the Uganda nothobranch appear slightly magical and mysterious.
Upper Zambezi squeaker
Its tell-tale whiskers and sharp frontal fangs reveal how the Upper Zambezi squeaker is a bonafide member of the catfish collection. More of a skulker than an outward swimmer, you can find it hovering just above the seabed and squeezing itself into small spaces.
Urchin
Sitting seemingly still and dormant on the seabed, urchins are not the most active members of the underwater community. Coming in all sizes but generally only one circular and spherical shape, urchins have spear-tipped spikes that can cause more than a minor inconvenience to an attacker.
Rodent Animals That Start With U
The last category on this list is for our furry little friends, the rodents of Africa. Let’s take a peek at the rodents that start with U.
Unstriped ground squirrel
Often enjoying an unjustified tag as cute and cuddly, unstriped ground squirrels are a subsection of the rodent ranks. Found to be neither territorial nor colonial, these bushy-tailed tricksters prefer semi-arid bushland but are quite apathetic about the scale or range of their burrows.
Is ‘U’ An Unlucky Animal Letter?
So many of the African animals starting with U are victims of the same challenge. Many of these remarkable animals are on the brink of extinction.
With habitats severely damaged and disappearing, populations of whole species disintegrating year by year, and with no immediate measures to resist or reverse these trends, the future looks quite bleak for many of Africa’s smaller ‘U’-named beings.
Let’s hope that all these animals starting with U are still around for future generations. However, while they are still here you can see them with these African safari deals!
