How Well Do You Know Names of Baby Animals?

The young of many different kinds of animals often have specific names. We all know about puppies, kittens, and bear cubs, but there are many more unusual names for baby animals than those common ones. How many of these baby animal names do you know?

What's In A Name?

You might be thinking to yourself, "Why do we even need to memorize these animal names?" We're here to tell you why!

First, you'll have a closer understanding of nature if you get to know baby animal names properly. A certain connection is created when you correctly identify them, and you get to appreciate how complex and wonderful our world is.

Besides that, there's also a rewarding feeling when you can identify an animal you may see online or in real life. If you're an animal rights activist, it's also easier to give a voice to creatures who need help when you understand what they're called.

As for the field of research, remembering the accurate names of animals, whether in their adult or youngling forms, can help researchers understand wildlife. Each animal is different, and they all go through different processes that can be distinguished better through accurate names and details.

List Of Common Baby Animal Names

Let's start our list with the most common animal youngling names. We're quite sure you've already heard most of these, but let's go and have a refresher!

Gosling

Goslings are young geese and are extremely fuzzy and fluffy. We dare you to resist the charm of their soft feathers and cute beaks!

Pup / Puppy

Pups or puppies (also known as one of the cutest and most irresistible fluffballs in the world) are offsprings of dogs. Wolf babies are also named pups, and so are baby seals!

Kitten

Who doesn't love kittens? These furbabies are offsprings of cats, and a bunch of them are recognized as a litter. 

Piglet

A piglet is a young pig. This adorable creature is even sometimes kept as a household pet!

Calf

Calves are the usual term for cattle offspring. These include farm animals we're familiar with, such as cows and bulls.

Tadpole

Have you ever come across a cluster of frog eggs in a pond? These jelly-like eggs eventually hatch into baby frogs recognized as tadpoles!

Chick

Much like goslings, chicks are also very adorable, especially since they're a bit smaller in size. It's even cuter when you see them poking their heads from under their momma hen's feathers.

Cub

Cubs are commonly seen not just in zoos or pictures online but also in cartoons, all of which will always look adorable.

Duckling

Duck babies, or ducklings, aren't "ugly," as far as we can see. They're as adorable as chicks or goslings, and their small, webbed feet look so precious!

Hatchling

Baby alligators are called hatchlings. They break out of their eggs using their little teeth, which they lose after hatching. They're also menacingly cute!

Unique Animal Offspring Names

Now let's get to the more unique or unusual baby names for animals!

Joey

We're guessing you're likely familiar with this already, but are you aware of the reason why kangaroo babies are called joeys? It's actually based on an indigenous word and means "small animal." A joey stays within the safety of its mother's pouches, only leaving permanently when it's old enough.

Cygnet

Swans are majestic creatures (and also very scary when threatened, speaking from experience). They're called cygnets when they're still young and are often found dutifully swimming behind their mother swan or riding behind their back.

Fawn

A fawn is a juvenile antelope or deer (a good example is Bambi!). Fun fact, does (female adult deers) don't stay with their fawn during the day. They do this to avoid attracting predators to their younglings!

Cria

Have you ever wondered what a baby alpaca is called? They're crias! Named by the Spanish based on its crying "mwa" sounds, crias are alpaca younglings that look so pure for this world.

Have you ever seen a baby fox wander on your yard? Well, these adorable critters are commonly called kits. They're super furry, energetic, and a joy to see!

Leveret

Baby hares are called leverets. Much like fawns, they're also left on their own during the day to avoid attracting predators.

FAQs

How would you introduce kids to the names of baby animals?

Showing animal babies to kids can be a really nice learning experience for both you and them. You can introduce them to easier names first, like the common ones like kittens or puppies. Use colorful pictures as well to keep them interested for longer!

What are the benefits of learning the names of baby animals?

Learning names of animal offsprings can let you have a better understanding of the life cycle of animals. This is especially crucial if you want to pursue a career involving wildlife or if you plan on volunteering for animal welfare organizations. Even if you don't plan any of these, it's still extremely fulfilling to learn which animals are which whenever you see them online or in real life. Knowledge is power, after all!

Where can I find quizzes about names of baby animals?

There's a lot of animal quizzes available online. You can look for some of them on Google or try out this one from the National Wildlife Federation!

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