Mammals That Start With B

Our post today takes a deep dive into the world of mammals that start with B.

As a class of animals, Mammals are unique and fascinating. They are vertebrates, meaning that they have a backbone, and are characterized by a wide array of adaptations that allow them to thrive in diverse environments. Among the defining traits that separate mammals from other animals are their warm-bloodedness, hair or fur coverings, and the presence of specialized glands that secrete milk to nurture their young. From primates and rodents to whales and dolphins, mammals come in all shapes and sizes, making them one of the most diverse and successful groups of animals on the planet.

As a devoted naturalist, my passion for all things mammalian drove me to undertake the daunting task of creating a list of every mammal species on earth. I consulted with experts, pored over scientific papers, and scoured the depths of online resources, all with the goal of producing the most comprehensive and accurate list possible. The result is a masterpiece of research and detail, and I’m excited to share it with the world.

So, let’s begin exploring this list of mammals starting with B!

108 Mammals That Start With B

And here’s the list of mammals that begin with B letter.

Babirusa

The babirusa is a unique-looking mammal, with long curving tusks that grow through the top of its snout. Found only on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, this pig-like animal can weigh up to 220 pounds and live up to 24 years in the wild. Its name comes from the Malay word “babi rusa,” which means “pig deer.”

Back-striped Weasel

The back-striped weasel is a small carnivorous mammal found throughout much of southeast Asia. It has a long, thin body and distinctive black stripes running down its back, and is often mistaken for a small wildcat. Weighing only a few ounces, this stealthy hunter can take down prey much larger than itself.

Bactrian Camel

The Bactrian camel is a two-humped camel native to the deserts of Central Asia. Famous for its ability to survive in extreme environments, it can go without water for up to 10 days and withstand temperatures ranging from -20F to 100F. With its thick fur and broad, padded feet, the Bactrian camel is perfectly adapted for life in the harsh desert.

Badlands Bighorn

The badlands bighorn, also known as the desert bighorn, is a subspecies of bighorn sheep found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Sporting a distinctive set of curved horns, the badlands bighorn is a powerful climber and can scale steep slopes with ease. Despite its rugged appearance, this animal is actually quite sensitive to human disturbance and is considered a threatened species.

Bahia Porcupine

The Bahia porcupine, also known as the Brazilian porcupine, is a large, slow-moving rodent found in the forests of South America. Covered in sharp quills that can be raised to deter predators, this mammal is a skilled climber and spends most of its time in the trees. Despite its prickly exterior, the Bahia porcupine is known for its calm demeanor and has even been kept as a pet in some parts of the world.

Baiji

The Baiji, also known as the Yangtze river dolphin, was once the most common freshwater dolphin in China’s Yangtze River. Sadly, due to pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction, this mammal is now considered critically endangered and may already be extinct. With its distinctive long snout and playful nature, the Baiji was once a beloved symbol of China’s cultural heritage.

Bald Uakari

The bald uakari is a bright-red monkey found in the Amazon rainforest. Known for its unusual bald head and shaggy fur, this primate has a powerful jaw and razor-sharp teeth that allow it to crack tough nut shells. Despite its distinctive appearance, the bald uakari is often overshadowed by other, more well-known primates like chimpanzees and orangutans.

Bale Shrew

The Bale shrew is a small, insectivorous mammal native to the highlands of Ethiopia. With its long, pointed snout and tiny eyes, this shrew is perfectly adapted for a life of burrowing and hunting in the soil. Despite its small size, the Bale shrew has a fierce temperament and will readily defend its territory against other shrews.

Bali Cattle

The Bali cattle, also known as the Balinese cattle, is a domesticated breed of cow found in Indonesia. Known for its distinctive hump and sweeping horns, this cattle is well adapted to the hot, humid climate of the Indonesian archipelago. With its ability to thrive on poor-quality forage and resist disease, the Bali cattle is an important source of meat and milk for rural communities.

Balikun Jerboa

The Balikun jerboa is a small jumping rodent found in the deserts of Central Asia. With its long, powerful legs and large, tufted ears, this mammal is perfectly adapted for life in the arid landscape. Despite its cute appearance, the Balikun jerboa is a skilled hunter and can take down prey many times its size using its sharp teeth and powerful jaws.

Balochistan Gerbil

The Balochistan gerbil is a small, desert-dwelling rodent found in Iran and Pakistan. With its soft, fluffy fur and long tail, this gerbil is a skilled burrower and can create complex underground networks to escape from predators. Despite its desert habitat, the Balochistan gerbil is highly adapted to conserve water and rarely needs to drink.

Banded Linsang

The banded linsang is a small, tree-dwelling carnivore found throughout much of southeast Asia. With its distinctive striped coat and long, slender body, this mammal is often mistaken for a large ferret. Despite its small frame, the banded linsang is an agile hunter and can take down prey much larger than itself using its sharp teeth and powerful claws.

Banded Pig

The banded pig, also known as the Visayan warty pig, is a small, wild pig found only in the Philippines. With its distinctive, wart-covered face and striped coat, this mammal is one of the most unusual-looking pigs in the world. Despite habitat loss and overhunting, the banded pig has managed to survive in a few scattered populations throughout the Philippines.

Bandicoot

The bandicoot is a small marsupial found throughout much of Australia and Papua New Guinea. With its long, pointed snout and sharp teeth, this mammal is perfectly adapted to digging for insects and other small prey. Despite competition from invasive species and habitat loss, many species of bandicoot remain common throughout its range.

Banggai Cuscus

The Banggai cuscus is a small, tree-dwelling marsupial found only on the Banggai Islands of Indonesia. With its fluffy fur and long, prehensile tail, this mammal is perfectly adapted for a life of leaping and climbing through the island’s dense forests. Despite being hunted for its meat and fur, the Banggai cuscus remains relatively common on the islands.

Bangweulu Tsessebe

The Bangweulu tsessebe, also known as the black lechwe, is a large, antelope-like mammal found in the wetlands of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With its distinctive, curved horns and shiny black coat, this mammal is a powerful runner and can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Despite habitat loss and overhunting, this species remains relatively common in its wetland habitat.

Bank Vole

The bank vole is a small, woodland-dwelling rodent found throughout much of Europe and Asia. With its big, beady eyes and furry tail, this mammal is often seen scurrying along the forest floor in search of food. Despite its small size, the bank vole is a player in the ecosystem, a food source, and a prey for many predators.

Banker Horse

The Banker horse, also known as the Colonial Spanish horse, is a breed of feral horse found on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Distinctive for its hardy constitution and compact frame, this horse has lived in the coastal region for centuries, surviving hurricanes, droughts, and rampant development. Protected by law, the Banker horse remains an important symbol of North Carolina’s history and a beloved part of the state’s natural heritage.

Banteng

The banteng, also known as the Javanese banteng, is a rare species of wild cattle found only in Southeast Asia. With its long, powerful horns and muscular frame, this mammal is a formidable force in the forest. Despite habitat loss and poaching, some small populations of banteng still roam the forests of Southeast Asia, and conservation efforts are underway to protect this iconic animal.

Barasingha

A stunning deer species with distinctive antlers, often found roaming the wetlands of India.

Bare-backed Rousette

This fruit bat, indigenous to the forests of Thailand and neighboring countries, is known for its striking ochre fur.

Bare-bellied Hedgehog

These small, spiny creatures are a common sight across India, where they scuttle through gardens and parks in search of food.

Barking Deer

Named after the distinctive barking sound it makes when alarmed, this deer species is widespread across Asia.

Barren-ground Caribou

These majestic animals are built for survival in the harsh Arctic tundra, where they are known to undertake long migrations.

Basuto Pony

Developed in southern Africa, Basuto Ponies are sturdy and surefooted mounts that are well suited to work and riding.

Bat-eared Fox

With huge ears that serve as sensitive listening devices, these small foxes are found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Batak Shrew

Endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, the Batak Shrew is a tiny insectivore with a long, pointed snout.

Bathyergus

These burrowing rodents are native to parts of southern Africa, where they spend their time digging deep tunnels beneath the ground.

Bawean Deer

A rare and elusive deer species, the Bawean Deer is found only on a single island near the coast of Java.

Bay Cat

One of the world’s least studied cat species, the Bay Cat is confined to a small range in Borneo and may number fewer than 250 individuals.

Beady-eyed Mouse

As its name suggests, this small rodent is characterized by its large, expressive eyes and is found across much of the northern hemisphere.

Beech Marten

A member of the mustelid family, the Beech Marten is a forest-dwelling predator that ranges from Western Europe to Central Asia.

Beijing Barbastelle

This bat species, native to China, is known for its distinctive horseshoe-shaped nose and its ability to capture insects on the fly.

Beluga Whale

One of the most recognizable whale species, the Beluga is known for its white skin and vocalizations that have been likened to birdsong.

Bengal Fox

With a reddish coat and black-tipped tail, the Bengal Fox is one of the most common fox species in India and surrounding countries.

Bengal Tiger

A symbol of strength and grace, the Bengal Tiger is a majestic predator that roams the forests of India and neighboring countries.

Beringian Lemming

This small rodent is found in the high latitudes of North America and Eurasia and is known for its cyclical population explosions.

Bezoar Ibex

Often found scaling steep cliffs and rocky outcroppings, the Bezoar Ibex is a nimble and surefooted mountain goat species.

Bharal

Sometimes called the “blue sheep,” the Bharal is a Himalayan species known for its distinctive coat pattern and impressive horns.

Bhutan Takin

A large and sturdy mammal, the Bhutan Takin is a goat-antelope species found in parts of China and the Himalayas.

Biak Glider

This small tree-dwelling marsupial, endemic to the Indonesian island of Biak, has a distinctive gliding membrane that allows it to move effortlessly from tree to tree.

Bicolored-spined Porcupine

Widespread across much of Asia, the Bicolored-spined Porcupine is a nocturnal creature that feeds on a variety of plant material.

Big-eared Opossum

A South American species known for its large, flexible ears and its remarkable ability to “play dead” when threatened.

Bighorn Sheep

A symbol of the American West, the Bighorn Sheep is a rugged and majestic mammal that is well adapted to life in mountainous terrain.

Bili Ape

Recently discovered in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Bili Ape is a large and enigmatic primate that is still not well understood.

Binturong

Also known as the “bearcat,” this Southeast Asian species is a tree-dwelling predator that is known for its musky odor.

Birdlike Noctule

With its short ears and bright yellow fur, the Birdlike Noctule is a striking bat species found in parts of South America.

Black Agouti

A common sight in parts of South and Central America, the Black Agouti is a large rodent known for its sleek black coat.

Black Capuchin

A highly intelligent primate species found in parts of Central and South America, the Black Capuchin is one of the most studied New World monkeys.

Black Colobus

A strikingly beautiful primate known for its long, black, and feathery tail that makes it stand out from the rest.

Black Dorcopsis

A rare marsupial that is native to the island of New Guinea and has a distinct black and white color pattern that helps it blend in with the dense forests it lives in.

Black Howler

A large, black-furred monkey that is known for its deep howling calls that can be heard for miles around.

Black Mongoose

A sleek and agile predator that is often found in the forests and grasslands of Africa, where it preys on small rodents and reptiles.

Black Myotis

A small bat with a jet black fur coat that helps it camouflage itself against dark cave walls and tree trunks.

Black Rat

A common household pest that is known for its disease-carrying abilities and tendency to infest homes and buildings.

Black Shrew

A tiny mammal with a voracious appetite and a high metabolism that requires it to eat several times its own body weight each day.

Black Squirrel

A variation of the common Eastern Gray Squirrel that has a distinctive black fur coat and can be found in wooded areas across North America.

Black Tamarin

A small, agile monkey with a jet black coat and a distinctive crest of hair on its head.

Black Wildebeest

A large, herbivorous mammal that is native to the grasslands of southern Africa and is known for its distinctive, curved horns.

Black-backed Jackal

A small carnivorous mammal that is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and is known for its distinctive black fur coat and long, bushy tail.

Black-capped Marmot

A ground-dwelling mammal that is native to the mountainous regions of North America and is known for its distinctive black fur cap.

Black-eared Mouse

A small rodent that is found in many different habitats across the world and is characterized by its distinctive black ears.

Black-eared Squirrel

A tree-dwelling mammal that is found in many different forests across Asia and is known for its distinctive black ear tufts.

Black-footed Cat

A small wild cat that is native to southern Africa and is known for its jet black fur coat and fierce hunting skills.

Black-footed Ferret

A carnivorous mammal that is native to North America and is known for its distinctive black mask and threatened status.

Black-footed Mongoose

A sleek and agile predator that is found in many different regions throughout Africa and is characterized by its distinctive jet black feet.

Black-footed Shrew

A tiny mammal with a high metabolism and a voracious appetite that requires it to eat many times its own body weight each day.

Black-headed Marmoset

A small monkey that is known for its distinctive black fur cap and the bright orange fur on its back.

Black-mantled Tamarin

A small monkey with a distinctive black fur coat and a bright orange patch of fur on its chest.

Black-shanked Douc

A colorful monkey that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia and is known for its distinctive black legs and vibrant fur coat.

Black-shouldered Opossum

A small marsupial that is found in the tropical forests of South America and is known for its distinctive black shoulder stripes.

Black-spotted Cuscus

A tree-dwelling marsupial that is found in the rainforests of New Guinea and is characterized by its distinctive black spots.

Black-striped Capuchin

A tree-dwelling monkey that is found in the forests of Central and South America and is known for its distinctive black stripes.

Black-tailed Deer

A herbivorous mammal that is found throughout North America and is characterized by its distinctive black tail.

Black-tailed Hutia

A small rodent that is found in the Caribbean and known for its distinctive black tail.

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

A hare found throughout much of the western United States that is known for its distinctive black tail and long ears.

Black-tailed Marmoset

A small monkey that is native to Brazil and known for its distinctive black tail.

Black-tufted Marmoset

A small monkey found in the forests of Brazil that is known for the distinctive black tuft of fur on its head.

Blackbuck

A species of antelope that is native to the Indian subcontinent and is known for its distinctively twisted and spiraled horns.

Blesbok

Blesbok are medium-sized antelopes that live in South Africa’s grasslands and savannas, and they are often hunted for their meat.

Blond Capuchin

Blond capuchin monkeys are lively and intelligent Central and South American primates who benefit from complex social interactions.

Blue Duiker

Blue duikers are little antelopes that inhabit the tropical forests of Central and West Africa, where they are threatened by deforestation, hunting, and habitat loss.

Blue Monkey

Blue monkeys are charming East African primates with gorgeous coats, expressive faces, and communicative vocalizations that play a critical part in their social hierarchy.

Blue-eyed Cuscus

Blue-eyed cuscuses are arboreal marsupials that live in the rainforests of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, and they are known for their bright blue eyes and slow movements.

Bluebuck

Bluebucks were an extinct South African antelope species, with a bluish-gray coat and spiraled horns.

Blunt-eared Bat

Blunt-eared bats, found in South America, have a unique slow flight style compared to other bat species allowing them to bathe, drink, and hunt from water surfaces.

Bobcat

Bobcats are widespread North American wild cats that adapt to almost any habitat and have the most extensive range of all felids in the Americas.

Bocharic Myotis

Bocharic Myotis are small insectivorous bats with gray fur and are widespread from central and eastern Europe to central and eastern Asia.

Bohor Reedbuck

Bohor reedbucks are elegant medium-sized antelopes native to eastern and southern Africa, known for their symmetrical horns.

Bolivian Squirrel

Bolivian squirrels, native to tropical and subtropical forests of South America, are known to adapt their feeding habits to coincide with the seasonal cycles of fruit and nut availability.

Bonnet Macaque

Bonnet macaques are a common species of macaque, found throughout southern India and are known to play an important part in sacred rituals in Hindu mythology.

Bonobo

Bonobos are intelligent apes and share more than 98% of their DNA with humans, often being referred to as “pygmy chimpanzees”, and species endemic to only one country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bontebok

Bonteboks are rare antelope, with beautiful white faces, found in southwestern South Africa and protected in specialty reserves and national parks.

Bornean Orangutan

Bornean Orangutans, the largest arboreal primate, native to the island of Borneo, have a distinctive reddish-brown color and are known for their tool-making abilities.

Bornean Rhinoceros

Bornean Rhinoceroses are critically endangered species endemic to Southeast Asia and are only found in the wild in Borneo and Sumatra.

Bornean Tiger

Bornean tigers are the last remaining population of the subspecies of Panthera tigris, and they are native to the island of Borneo, where they are critically endangered.

Borneo Elephant

Borneo elephants are a subspecies of Asian elephants; smaller and gentle-natured than their African cousins, and they are native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Borneo.

Boselaphini

Boselaphini are a tribe of antelopes found in Asia and are known for their spiraled and curved horns.

Boto

Botos are sexually dimorphic freshwater dolphins, also known as Pink River dolphins, that inhabit the Amazon and Orinoco river systems in South America.

Brazilian Porcupine

Brazilian Porcupines are nocturnal and arboreal rodents found in most of South America, known for their quills that they use as a protective mechanism.

Brazilian Squirrel

Brazilian squirrels, also known as Guianan squirrels, are arboreal rodents native to the Amazon Basin and are known for their distinct yellow-orange belly.

Bristle-spined Rat

Bristle-spined rats, found in Central and South America, have coarse fur and tails covered in spines they use for defense against predators.

Broad-eared Bat

Broad-eared bats, native to North America, have a unique echolocation system that allows them to hunt and navigate through forests even in the absence of light.

Broad-striped Dasyure

Broad-striped dasyures are carnivorous marsupials endemic to Australia, known for their black fur and distinct broad, light yellowish-grey stripes across their back.

Bronze Quoll

Bronze quolls are common in the northern regions of their range in Australia, they have a shiny bronze to brown coloration, and they are solitary nocturnal predators.

Bronze Sprite

Bronze Sprites (Chrysopelea ornata) are commonly known as “flying snakes” that are found throughout Southeast Asia, known for their unique flying behavior.

Brown Howler

Brown howlers live in South American rainforests and are one of the loudest land animals, making sounds that can be heard three miles away.

Brown-mantled Tamarin

Brown-mantled Tamarins are arboreal primates, native to the Amazon Basin with distinctive chestnut-brown patches on their heads and backs.

Wrapping Up

And that’s our list of B mammals.

Crafting a list of all the world’s mammals was no easy feat, but I was up to the challenge. Armed with my trusty computer and an insatiable desire for knowledge, I sifted through countless sources, from books to websites to old-fashioned encyclopedias, to compile the most exhaustive list possible. The result is a thrilling inventory of the planet’s magnificent mammals, and I’m eager to share it with those who share my love of wildlife.

In summary, mammals are a remarkable class of vertebrates that possess a wide range of unique attributes and characteristics. Whether it is their intricate circulatory systems, their complex nervous systems, or their ability to regulate body temperature, mammals are truly impressive animals. Aside from their physical characteristics, mammals also boast a fascinating array of cognitive abilities and social behaviors. From the fiercely independent solitary predators to the highly social pack hunters, mammals exhibit a wide range of social patterns that reflect their diverse lifestyles. In short, mammalian diversity and complexity is truly awe-inspiring, and we are fortunate to share our planet with these incredible creatures.

Hope this post on mammals beginning with B alphabet has been useful to you!