Animals That Start with M: Details with Fun Facts

Animals That Start with M

There is much to know about the animal kingdom. The best approach to learning about animals is going alphabetically. This article is a complete guide on animals that start with M. Along with names; this article discusses their habitat, average lifespan, diet, and some interesting facts. 

So, let’s make learning fun and start with animals that start with M.

List of Animals That Start with M by Classes

There are a lot of cool animals whose names start with the letter M. We have mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates on our list of animals whose names start with “M.”

Mammals That Start with Letter M

Birds That Start with Letter M

Reptiles That Start with Letter M

Amphibians That Start with Letter M

Fish that Start with M

Insects and Invertebrates Beginning with M

List of Animals That Start With M: Classification, Behavior, and Facts

Now we’ll talk in-depth about animals whose names start with M. 

1. Macaw

Macaw

Scientific name: Arini

Type of animal: Bird

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: 50-60 years

Habitat: The native range of macaws extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Their natural habitat is a tropical rainforest, but they have been spotted in different types of forests, woodlands, and even savannahs.

Diet: Macaws eat fruits, insects, and flower nectar of flowers. They are omnivorous. 

Fun Fact:  Macaws can talk like humans. They are very colorful birds.

Macaw has large wings. These help them fly over 50 km/hour. Macaws are very clever and sociable birds congregating in groups of 10-30. Their cries, shrieks, and yells reverberate through treetops. Macaws use their voices for group communication, marking territory, and individual recognition.

2. Macaque

Macaque

Scientific name: Macaca

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: More than 40 years.

Habitat: The macaque has one of the most extensive ecological and geographic ranges. Tropical forests of Asia’s southeast, Sri Lanka, and India, and the desert highlands of Pakistan are among their natural environments.

Diet: Macaques are carnivorous. They eat everything from fruit to insects, seeds, leaves, and flowers. 

Fun Fact: A macaque troop may consist of 100 of them. 

Macaque can store as much food in their cheek pouches as in their stomachs. Some species (mainly those in the tropics) breed continuously throughout the year, while those in temperate and colder regions have distinct breeding seasons. The gestation period is around six months, and the young are born alone. Adult macaques might be known for their harsh temper despite their reputed intelligence.

3. Magpie

Magpie

Scientific name: Pica Pica

Type of animal: Bird

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: 20-30 years

Habitat: Magpies can be found in various environments, from open fields to wooded areas, farms to hedgerows to the periphery of deep forests. 

Diet: The magpie’s diet is omnivorous. They feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, etc. 

Fun Fact: The magpie is a bird known for bravery and wit. 

Magpies have a mellifluous voice. Their melodies and calls are well-known. The most popular is a black-and-white (or pied) bird measuring 45 centimeters (18 inches) in length. It constructs a massive, spherical nest out of sticks and dirt.

4. Macaroni Penguin

Macaroni Penguin

Scientific name: Eudyptes chrysolophus

Type of animal: Bird

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: 15-20 years

Habitat: Macaroni penguins inhabit cliffs and rocky outcrops high above the water.

Diet: Macaroni penguins are omnivorous. They eat fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, etc. 

Fun Fact: Macaroni penguins can do more than walk. In addition to waddling, macaroni can also hop.

Macaroni penguins have a breath hold of at least three minutes and can dive depths of 15 to 70 meters. Its upper body is black, clearly differentiated from its white underbelly, and sports a bright yellow crest. Adults are typically 70 centimeters in height and weigh 5.5 kilograms. Both sexes look identical. However, the male is bigger and stronger than the female and has a bigger bill.

5. Magellanic Penguin

Magellanic Penguin

Scientific name: Spheniscus magellanicus

Type of animal: Bird

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: 15-20 years

Habitat: Magellanic penguins nest on beaches, sand dunes, clay hills, cliff sides, grassy slopes, forests, and among small plants along the coast.

Diet: Magellanic Penguins are carnivorous. They feed on Squid, octopuses, sardines, etc. 

Fun Fact: The Magellanic penguins are fast swimmers. They can swim at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

Magellanic penguins are black and white in shade, making it easier to camouflage. The adult Magellanic penguin is between 61 and 76 centimeters tall and weighs 2.7 to 6.5 kilograms. Both males and females lose weight when caring for young. The head is black with a white border that starts at the back of the neck and wraps around the black ear-coverts, jawline, and chin.

6. Malayan Tiger

Malayan Tiger

Scientific name: Panthera tigris jacksoni

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: around 18-25 years.

Habitat: Malayan tigers live in dense and heavy jungles. 

Diet: Malayan tigers are omnivorous. They pray and feed on the meat of their prays. They go for cattle, deer, wild bore, etc. 

Fun Fact: The Malayan tiger appears on the Coat of Arms of Malaysia as the country’s official mascot. They are renowned for their swimming abilities. 

During the breeding season (November–March), female Malayan tigers can be observed in large numbers. Women typically leave olfactory cues during this time to signal their availability to suitors. The males, on the other hand, employ odors to demarcate their territories. They can use vocalizations to talk to one another, including chuffs, moans, growls, and roars.

7. Mallard

Mallard Duck

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos

Type of animal: Bird

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 5-10 years.

Habitat: The mallard duck is a resident of wetlands, woodland swamps, wheat fields, lakes, waterways, bays, and urban parks. 

Diet: Mallards are carnivorous. They feed on plants, bugs, worms, and slugs. 

Fun Fact: When swimming, a mallard will lift its tail out of the water.

Mallards are massive ducks with spherical heads and broad, flat bills. Like other “dabbling ducks,” this one has a tall, stubby body and a tail that rises high over the water. Large, backward-set wings characterize their flight characteristics. They can launch themselves from the water into the air when startled. 

8. Manatee

Manatee

Scientific name: Trichechus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 50-70 years.

Habitat: Manatees can be found in a wide variety of water environments, including fresh, salty, and brackish ones. 

Diet: Manatees are herbivorous. They live on seagrass, flowers, algae, etc. 

Fun Fact: It is believed that manatees were the source of the mermaid myth! Many sailors had mistaken them thinking they were half human and half fish creatures!  

Manatees have similarities with elephants in terms of physical features. Each of their two flippers (forelimbs) has three to four nails. Their brow and face are furrowed, with whiskers on their snout. The manatee is thought to have descended from a plantivorous wading mammal. The mature manatee is between 8 and 12 feet in length and 800 to 1200 pounds.

9. Mandrill

Mandrill

Scientific name: Mandrillus sphinx

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 20-28 years.

Habitat: Mandrills are most commonly seen in tropical and subtropical rainforests. They live in Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, and Africa, with most of the population concentrated in Gabon.

Diet: Mandrills are omnivorous. They like fruits, roots, leaves, and insects. 

Fun Fact: Maybe more than any other mammal, Mandrills display many vivid colors. 

It has blue skin on its posterior and red skin on its face, making it one of the most colorful mammals in the world. Males of this species are more robust, have longer canine teeth, and display more vivid coloring than females. 

Mandrills are primarily terrestrial and so can be seen only during daylight hours.  Mandrills tend to congregate in big, permanent groups. The majority of these communities are made up of females.

10. Maned Wolf

Maned Wolf

Scientific name: Chyrsocyon brachyurus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 12-15 years. 

Habitat: Maned wolves can be found in northern Argentina and Brazil, especially in the Southeastern and Central regions. It is found in South America’s most extensive ecosystem, including grasslands, savannas, marshes, wetlands, and wet and dry woods.

Diet: Maned wolves are carnivorous. They consume rodents, fish, birds, rabbits, tubers, fruit, and sugarcane, among other plants and tiny to medium-sized animals.

Fun Fact: Maned wolves are the largest canid in the world. 

The pungent scent of maned wolf urine is sometimes compared to that of a skunk. Its distinctive look is due to its long, slender legs and rich reddish coat. The maned wolf lives solely on its own. Besides leaving scent markings, this animal also makes a loud “roar-barking” cry.

11. Manta Ray

Manta Ray

Scientific name: Manta

Type of animal: Fish

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 50 years. 

Habitat: Offshore, oceanic seas, and productive coastal areas are typical places to find manta rays, but they can be found in all types of water, from the tropics to the subtropics to the temperate zones.

Diet: Manta rays are carnivorous.

Fun Fact: Each manta ray has its distinct pattern of spots and coloring, though they are often black, grey, and white. Like fingerprints, no two manta rays are alike. 

The triangular fins of a Manta Ray are also called wings. The manta ray’s head is large and horn-shaped. Their bodies are horizontally flattened, their eyes are located below their cephalic fins, and their gill slits are located on their undersides. Their disc-shaped bodies have no skeleton, and their short tails show it. Manta rays can weigh up to 2,980 pounds (1,350 kg).

12. Mantis Shrimp

Mantis Shrimp

Scientific name: Stomatopoda

Type of animal: Insect 

Phylum: Arthropoda 

Average lifespan: Around 20 years in captivity. 2-3 years in wildling. 

Habitat: Some mantis shrimp species have been spotted in sub-Antarctic waters. However, these shrimp are more common in warmer climates. They make their homes in abandoned caves near the sea and sneak out to ambush unsuspecting animals.

Diet: Mantis shrimps are omnivorous. They eat plankton, insect larvae, little insects, etc. 

Fun Fact: Some types of mantis shrimp have arms that look like spears and can pierce their prey instead of arms that look like clubs and can hit them.

Mantis shrimps can see a wide range of light, including ultraviolet. Mantis shrimp have a high life expectancy and display sophisticated behaviors like ritualized combat. They have a strong capacity for learning and memory and quickly form familiar relationships with those with whom they share much space. 

13. Margay

Margay

Scientific name: Leopardus wiedii

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 20 years

Habitat: Margays are nearly always found in forest environments, whether they are humid tropical evergreen or deciduous woods or even more specialized environments like montane or cloud forests.

Diet: The margay is omnivorous. Small mammals, including rats, rabbits, squirrels, agoutis, and monkeys, are among their favorite foods.

Fun Fact: The Margay is the cat best suited to a life in the trees. 

It is the only cat that can turn its back legs 180 degrees, which lets it run head-first down trees like a squirrel. In most of their range, margays are extremely rare or even extinct; only in a handful of locations can they be considered common. The average density of a human population is between one and five people per square kilometer. 

14. Markhor

Markhor

Scientific name: Capra falconeri

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 10-13 years 

Habitat: Markhors are indigenous to the high Himalayan regions, typically at or above the forest canopy.

Diet: The diet of Markhors includes herbs, leaves, and grasses. They are herbivorous. 

Fun Fact: Markhors are the biggest species of wild goats. They have broad hooves and spectacular spiral spikes reaching 5 feet long. 

Most markhors are children or female adults; female adults comprise 32% of the population, while children comprise 31%. The males stay in the forest throughout the summer, but the females migrate to higher ground on the rocky hills. For the sake of their young, females tend to congregate near cliffs and other regions with dense rock formations throughout the spring. 

15. Marmoset

Marmoset

Scientific name: Callihrix jacchus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata

Average lifespan: Around 12-16 years. They can live some more years in captivity. 

Habitat: Markhors are indigenous to the high Himalayan regions, typically at or above the forest canopy.

Diet: Marmosets are omnivorous. They eat snails, frogs, spiders, insects, etc. 

Fun Fact: The word “marmoset” originates from the French word “marmouset,” which can be translated as “shrimp” or “dwarf.”

These monkeys get a good grip on tree trunks with the help of their specialized claws. One or two adult females, one or two males, and their young comprise a typical marmoset family group. Babies are carried by adults, non-biological mothers, and elder siblings. Marmoset fathers are a model of parental care in the animal realm. 

16. Marmot

Marmot

Scientific name: Marmota 

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 12-15 years. 

Habitat: Marmots like open areas like meadows, prairies, tundra, and the outskirts of forests, and can be found all across the highlands and plains.

Diet: Marmots are herbivorous. They eat seeds, roots, leaves, and nuts.

Fun Fact: In times of danger, marmots can stand upright and whistle.  

Depending on the species, these rodents can weigh anywhere from 3 kilograms to 7 kilograms. Marmots have adapted effectively to survive in cold climates thanks to their thick coats, short, stocky bodies, and sharp claws for digging. They have short, bushy tails, sharp claws, and fur ranging from yellow to brown.

17. Martial Eagle

Martial Eagle

Scientific name: Polemaetus bellicosus

Type of animal: Bird 

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 12-14 years

Habitat: Martial eagle prefers grassy areas with scattered trees. Its natural habitats range from wooded savannas and riparian forests to desert scrublands.

Diet: Martial eagles are omnivorous. They feed on birds, reptiles, and mammals of a moderate size.

Fun Fact: Their eyesight is about four times as good as that of a human, making them formidable predators.

The wingspan of the Martial Eagle is approximately 6 feet 4 inches, and it weighs in as close to 14 pounds (6.5 Kg). A whole 32 inches in length! The martial eagle devotes a disproportionate amount of time in the air. When a breeding pair of eagles is not actively raising young, either adult may be spotted roosting alone in a prominent tree anywhere from a few hundred yards to several miles away. 

18. Mealybug

Mealybug

Scientific name: Pseudococcidae

Type of animal: Insect

Phylum: Arthropoda 

Average lifespan: Around 7-10 weeks

Habitat: Potatoes, fruit crops, decorative plants, citrus trees, and tropical plants are all susceptible to attack from mealybugs. 

Diet: They are herbivorous. They feed on the sap, nectar, and juice of plants. 

Fun Fact: Mealybugs live in a mutually beneficial relationship with ants. The ants protect them from threats while they eat the honeydew they produce.A plant may die if mealybugs invade in large numbers.

Common in greenhouses, mealybugs often congregate in groups in hard-to-reach places like the axils and sheaths of leaves, as well as between entangled stems and beneath flaking bark. Some kinds of mealybugs feed only on plant roots. Mealybugs feed on plant juices and secrete honeydew as a byproduct of their sugar overload.

When this settles on the stems and leaves, sooty molds quickly colonize it, giving the plant a dark, dingy appearance.

19. Meerkat

Meerkat

Scientific name: Suricata suricatta

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-14 years. 

Habitat: The southern African countries of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are home to meerkats. They inhabit arid grasslands, savannas, and plains.

Diet: Meerkats are carnivorous. They feed on insects, lizards, rodents, etc. 

Fun Fact: The dark spots around a meerkat’s eyes shield its eyes from the light. The fur of the meerkat is a grizzled grey and brown. 

In their extensive foraging territory, meerkats create hiding spots called bolt-holes. A meerkat will lie on its back with its jaws and claws exposed if a predator corners it. When threatened, a group of meerkats will stand stock still, arches its back, stands its hair on end, and hisses. As a result, an attacker may mistake them for a single, larger, more dangerous animal. 

20. Millipede

Millipede

Scientific name: Diplopoda

Type of animal: Insect

Phylum: Arthropoda  

Average lifespan: Around 7-10 years. 

Habitat: The ideal environment for a millipede is the moist soil found beneath decomposing leaf litter or mulch. 

Diet: Millipede are omnivorous. They eat decaying plants and small insects. 

Fun Fact: Each time a millipede molts, the number of its body parts and legs grows. Most of the millipede has six body parts and three pairs of legs at birth. 

The group is known for its double trunk segments, which are made when two segments join together. They can have up to 200 sets of legs. Each diplosomite has two sets of legs, except for the initial head section, which doesn’t have any, and the following three parts, each with one set. 

Also, each diplosomite has two sets of cells on the inside. There are antennas, simple vision, and only one maxilla in the head. 

21. Mink

Mink

Scientific name: Mustela lutreola or Neovison vison

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10 years

Habitat: The aquatic habitat of minks. They populate areas around water, including inland waterways, coastal areas, wetlands, and swamps.

Diet: Minks are carnivorous. They eat mice, rabbits, frogs, fish, snakes, etc. 

Fun Fact: The feet of minks are webbed, which helps them swim. Minks can swim underwater up to a hundred feet (30 m). Apart from mating, minks like to stay alone.   

The mink usually only makes noise when it is close to another mink or an attacker. When it feels attacked, it makes loud shrieks and hisses; when it’s mating, it sounds like muffled laughter. 

When minks are angry, they show who is boss by arching their bodies. Fights could lead to head and neck injuries if this doesn’t work.

22. Minke Whale

Minke Whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 30-50 years. 

Habitat: The minke whale is more at home in warmer ocean temperatures than in colder, more boreal ones. They are widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics.

Diet: Minke whales are carnivorous. They eat krill, sardines, sand eels, sprats, capelin, silverfish, and lanternfish.

Fun Fact: The vocalizations of minke whales can reach 152 decibels.  

One of the smallest rorquals, the minke whale, belongs to the family of baleen or “great” whales. Populations of minke whales in the western part of the North Pacific and North Atlantic may have declined due to commercial whaling practices. 

However, the overexploitation of larger whale species for commercial purposes may have benefited minke whales by reducing competition for food and increasing prey availability.

23. Monkey

Monkey

Scientific name: Macaca fascicularis

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-30 years.

Habitat: The majority of the world’s monkey population can be found in the savannas and tropical rainforests of Africa, Asia, and South and Central America.

Diet: Monkeys are carnivorous. They eat fruits, insects, seeds, leaves, etc. 

Fun Fact: Monkeys are extremely intelligent, just like human toddlers. Another fun fact is owl monkeys are called “night monkeys.”

Monkeys are well-known for their intelligence, curiosity, and big brains. They have a wide range of motion because of their expanded brains, liberated hands, and enhanced eyesight. Most can solve difficult tasks and learn from expertise, but they lack the intelligence of large apes. They steal food from humans and other animals. 

24. Mole

Mole

Scientific name: Talpidae

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 3-6 years

Habitat: Moles are found in open fields, grasslands, forests, wetlands, and riparian zones.

Diet: Moles are omnivorous. They eat insects, mice, earthworms, etc. 

Fun Fact: The mole is a beneficial mammal because it aerates the soil, provides food for bigger animals, and prevents the spread of plant-eating insects.

Moles can live underground for an indefinite period. The time of year, when moles breed varies on the species, but it is usually between February and May. Males look for females by making high-pitched noises and digging tunnels through strange places. Puppies leave their homes 33 days after birth to find their areas. They leave their mother’s territory after 5–6 weeks and are sexually ready in the spring after birth.

25. Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly

Scientific name: Danaus plexippus

Type of animal: Insect

Phylum: Arthropoda 

Average lifespan: Around 8-9 months

Habitat: Monarch butterflies can be found everywhere like a field, a roadside, an open area, a wet area, or an urban garden.

Condition is there must be a milkweed or flower plants. 

Diet: The monarch butterfly is a herbivore. They feed on milkweed, the nectar of flowers. 

Fun Fact: Male Monarch butterflies have a black smell mark on a vein on each of their rear wings for mating purposes, while females do not.

Monarch butterflies are orange in color. The monarch butterfly only lays its eggs on milkweed, and the caterpillars developed from those eggs only eat milkweed. However, due to urban development and agricultural expansion, thousands of acres of milkweed have been paved over or plowed under due to urban development and agricultural expansion. 

26. Mongoose

Mongoose

Scientific name: Helogale parvula

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-15 years

Habitat: Open areas such as meadows, brushlands, forests, and rocky regions are typical homes for mongooses.

Diet: Mongooses are omnivorous. They eat rats, insects, eggs, etc. 

Fun Fact: Mongooses can kill snakes with poison. Their fur protects them from snake venom. 

Mongooses have pointed heads, small ears, and long, furry tails. They have short legs. Most species have five toes on every foot, and the claws don’t come back in. The fur is usually grizzled or speckled with lighter grey. It is grey to brown. Mongooses really “stink”! You can smell mongoose from a distance. 

27. Monkfish

Monkfish

Scientific name: Lophius spp.

Type of animal: Fish

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 1-2 years

Habitat: The ocean floor is home to monkfish, who choose sand, mud, and shells as their dwellings. 

Diet: Monkfish are carnivorous. Monkfish will eat nearly anything that comes their way.

Fun Fact: Monkfish is evidence that what you see is not what you get. They are ugly but are low in fat and calories. 

Monkfish is among the best-tasting and healthy fish. In many ways, monkfish resemble lobster in both appearance and taste. The fish is typically employed in high-end restaurants and French cuisine due to its meaty texture and mild, sweet flavor. Many people find that fresh monkfish lacks that “fishy” flavor they expect from eating seafood. 

28. Moose

Moose

Scientific name: Alces alces

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-16 years

Habitat: Moose live in many different places, such as mixed pine and hardwood woods, brush, beaver flows, and other swampy areas. 

Diet: Moose are herbivorous. They feed on grass, leaves, etc. 

Fun Fact: Moose are sometimes called swamp donkeys with rubber noses.

A moose’s bell is the fold of skin that hangs below its chin. In the spring, male moose grow antlers to prepare for mating season in the fall. Most of the time, large, grown bulls with strong antlers get to breed with cows, which are female moose. When mating season is over, bulls lose their antlers. In the spring, they grow back. 

29. Moray Eel

Moray Eel

Scientific name: Muraenidae

Type of animal: Fish

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-30 years. 

Habitat: In the Northeast Caribbean, where the water is cooler, you can often find green moray eels near sea walls and rocky pilings.

Diet: Moray eels are carnivorous. They eat squids, fish and, crustaceans.

Fun Fact: Moray eel’s dorsal fin extends from behind its head down its entire length and connects to its tail and anal (side) fins at the end of the body.

Since eels are slimy, they are hard to catch for predators. Their thick, scaleless skin allows them to grasp and retain their prey while their broad mouths and strong, sharp teeth allow them to inflict devastating damage on their opponents, including humans. They attack a human only when provoked, although their bite is deadly.

30. Mosquito

Mosquito

Scientific name: Culicidae

Type of animal: Insect

Phylum: Arthropoda 

Average lifespan: A few weeks or months 

Habitat: Mosquitos are found everywhere near the human habitat. Some species live near marshes, tall grasses, and forests. 

Diet: Mosquitos are omnivorous. They drink nectar, sap, and blood. 

Fun Fact: Biting mosquitoes are always female. If a mosquito bites you, know that it’s a girl!

They can reproduce with as little as a teaspoon of water. It’s common for female mosquitoes to outlive their male counterparts. Mosquitoes pick up pathogens like viruses and parasites from the blood of diseased humans and animals. A few infected mosquitoes can spread disease throughout a neighborhood, putting you and your loved ones in danger.

31. Moth

Moth

Scientific name: Gynnidomorpha alisman

Type of animal: Insect

Phylum: Arthropoda 

Average lifespan: Nearly a month 

Habitat: From the coast to the most desolate mountaintops, moths are everywhere.

Diet: Moths are herbivorous. They drink nectar, fruit juice, and sap from trees. 

Fun Fact: While most moths are active at night, some are active during the day. Not all moths have mouths. Such as Luna moth. 

Although most moths have underwhelming wing colors, numerous species feature vivid hues and intricate patterns. There is a wide variety of enormous, stunning moths with brightly colored wings and even longer tails on their rear wings. Moths are nocturnal insects that fly to flowers in search of food. Day-flying moths are common and frequently show off their vivid hues. 

32. Mouse

Mouse

Scientific name: Mus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 2-5 years

Habitat: Mice are common in human settlements. They live inside hollow walls, cardboard boxes, ceilings, barns, sheds, lofts, cellars, crawl spaces, cabinets, warehouses, etc.

Diet: Mice are herbivorous. They eat fruits, grass, and seeds.

Fun Fact: The teeth of a mouse grow at 0.03% per day. It never stops growing. Mice have a high degree of adaptability. A little 6 mm hole is needed to let them through. 

Female mice can reproduce as early as two months of age and have as many as 12 offspring every three weeks. That’s up to 150 potential babies per year from just one pregnancy! If you see one mouse in your house, it’s probably not the only one there or the last. Contacting a pest control expert before the problem gets out of hand is best.

33. Mullet Fish

Mullet Fish

Scientific name: Mugil cephalus

Type of animal: Fish

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 7-8 years

Habitat: Mullets love coastal environments with shallow water and salt or brackish water.

Diet: Mullet consume microscopic creatures and marine debris such as algae and bacteria. They are carnivorous. 

Fun Fact: Mullet fishes have a very rapid growth rate. 

White and firm, mullet can be cooked in a variety of ways.  Potassium, selenium, phosphorus, and vitamin B6 can all be found in them in healthy amounts. Mullet has a strong, almost nutty flavor. White in color when raw, the cooked flesh is firm and delicious. Dark, fatty tissue flows laterally through the meat, making the flavor more intense.

34. Muntjac

Muntjac

Scientific name: Muntiacus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 10-20 years 

Habitat: Rain forests, dense foliage, hilly land, and monsoon forests are all suitable habitats for the muntjac.

Diet: Muntjac is carnivorous, feeding on grass, seeds, meat, eggs, etc. 

Fun Fact: “Barking deer” is another name for a muntjac. Because when they are attentive, they emit noises that sound like barking. 

Muntjac is a tiny, stocky dear roughly the size of a medium dog. It has a reddish brown upper body and a white lower part. There are dark facial stripes on the face of the muntjac. Male muntjac has long and sharp teeth. Females usually have one offspring at a time, but they can reproduce at any time of the year. 

35. Muskox

Muskox

Scientific name: Ovibos moschatus

Type of animal: Mammal

Phylum: Chordata 

Average lifespan: Around 20 years 

Habitat: Musk oxen roam the tundra of the icy Arctic.

Diet: Muskox is herbivorous. They eat grass, shrubs, etc. 

Fun Fact: The long, dark, shaggy coats of muskoxen are one of their distinguishing features.

If required, musk oxen can turn off their internal thermostats. One way to keep their body warm is to cut off the heat supply in their leg and feet. That way, the heat can keep the vital organs running. Haemoglobin in the blood of Muskox is less responsive than in the human body.

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Conclusion

Learning about the animal kingdom enriches our knowledge. After knowing about animals that start with M, you can contribute more to the next board game or your children’s homework.

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