What kinds of animals start with “mi”? It can be hard to think of them on the spot, but if you look beyond mammals to birds and insects, you’ll find there are surprisingly many! In this article, we’ve picked out animals that start with “mi.” We’ve gathered a wide range—from creatures you often see in daily life to rarer ones—so it’s a great way to learn new animal names.
They’re introduced by character count, so feel free to use this for word games like shiritori, too!
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3 characters (1–10)
earthworm
The worm-like animal with no limbs, the earthworm, also has no eyes, but it does have light-sensitive cells and crawls toward the dark.
There is a strong theory that the word mimizu (earthworm) evolved from memizu, meaning an animal that cannot see with eyes.
mink
“Mink” are mammals of the weasel family known for their high-quality fur.
Their glossy pelts offer excellent warmth and durability, making them popular as luxury fur in the form of “mink coats.”
Osprey
The osprey is a large bird classified among the hawk family.
Because it dives from the sky to catch fish, it is also called the ‘fish hawk.’ Its English name is ‘osprey,’ which is the origin of the nickname for the well-known American vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
4 letters (1–10)
honeybee
The activity of honeybees collecting nectar and pollen from flowers also serves to mediate plant pollination.
They play an important role in the Earth’s ecosystems, and it’s said that over 70% of 100 crop species grow thanks to pollination by honeybees.
eared owl (Horned owl)
“Mimizuku” refers to a type of owl.
Its distinguishing feature is the presence of feather tufts on its head, called ear tufts, which look like ears.
bagworm
“Minomushi” are moth larvae.
The name is said to come from the resemblance between the shelter the larvae build and a traditional raincoat called a “mino,” which is woven from straw and other plant materials.
Mikelis
The “variegated squirrel,” a relative of squirrels that lives mainly in Southeast Asia, is characterized, as its name suggests, by fur in three colors: black, brown, and white.