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Infant animalsâ the scientific term for baby animals â have fascinated biologists and animal lovers for centuries. Whether you're looking for infant animal names for research, education, or curiosity, this guide provides the complete scientific terminology for 100+ species.
An infant animalis the scientific/medical term for a baby animal. While "baby" is used in everyday language, "infant" is preferred in scientific research papers, veterinary medicine, zoological studies, and academic contexts. The specific name (puppy, kitten, cub) remains the same whether you use "baby" or "infant" terminology.
| Term | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | Scientific / medical | "The infant elephant weighed 200 pounds" |
| Baby | Common / everyday | "Look at the baby elephant!" |
| Newborn | First days / weeks | "The newborn calf cannot stand yet" |
| Young | Not yet mature | "Young elephants stay with mothers for years" |
Infant Cow â Calf
Farms, grasslands worldwide
Infant Horse â Foal
Farms, grasslands worldwide
Infant Pig â Piglet
Farms worldwide
Infant Sheep â Lamb
Farms, hillsides worldwide
Infant Goat â Kid
Farms, mountains worldwide
Infant Chicken â Chick
Farms worldwide
Infant Duck â Duckling
Ponds, lakes, farms worldwide
Infant Goose â Gosling
Ponds, lakes, farms worldwide
Infant Turkey â Poult
Farms, woodlands
Infant Donkey â Foal
Farms, arid regions worldwide
Infant Dog â Puppy
Worldwide (domestic)
Infant Cat â Kitten
Worldwide (domestic)
Infant Rabbit â Bunny (Kitten)
Worldwide (domestic & wild)
Infant Mouse â Pup
Worldwide (domestic & wild)
Infant Guinea Pig â Pup
Worldwide (domestic)
Infant Hamster â Pup
Worldwide (domestic)
Infant Rat â Pup (Kitten)
Worldwide (domestic & wild)
Infant Ferret â Kit
Worldwide (domestic)
Infant Chinchilla â Kit
Worldwide (domestic), Andes Mountains (wild)
Infant Camel â Calf
Deserts of Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
Infant Llama â Cria
South American highlands, farms worldwide
Infant Alpaca â Cria
South American Andes, farms worldwide
Infant Lion â Cub
African savannas and grasslands
Infant Tiger â Cub
Asian forests, mangroves, taiga
Infant Bear â Cub
Forests, mountains, tundra worldwide
Infant Elephant â Calf
African savannas, Asian forests
Infant Giraffe â Calf
African savannas
Infant Zebra â Foal
African savannas and grasslands
Infant Kangaroo â Joey
Australian grasslands and forests
Infant Koala â Joey
Australian eucalyptus forests
Infant Deer â Fawn
Forests, grasslands worldwide
Infant Fox â Kit
Forests, urban areas worldwide
Infant Wolf â Pup
Forests, tundra, grasslands worldwide
Infant Monkey â Infant
Tropical forests worldwide
Infant Gorilla â Infant
Central African forests
Infant Panda â Cub
Chinese bamboo forests
Infant Leopard â Cub
African and Asian forests, savannas
Infant Cheetah â Cub
African savannas
Infant Hippopotamus â Calf
African rivers and lakes
Infant Rhinoceros â Calf
African and Asian grasslands and forests
Infant Otter â Pup
Rivers, oceans worldwide
Infant Beaver â Kit
Rivers, ponds, forests
Infant Moose â Calf
Northern forests, wetlands
Infant Raccoon â Kit
Forests, urban areas, North/South America
Infant Skunk â Kit
Forests, grasslands, urban areas
Infant Squirrel â Pup (Kitten)
Forests, parks, urban areas worldwide
Infant Hedgehog â Hoglet
Gardens, hedgerows, forests (Europe, Asia, Africa)
Infant Bat â Pup
Caves, forests, buildings worldwide
Infant Coyote â Pup
North America (forests, deserts, urban)
Infant Badger â Cub
Forests, grasslands, farmland
Infant Platypus â Puggle
Eastern Australian rivers
Infant Meerkat â Pup
Southern African deserts
Infant Bison â Calf
North American prairies and forests
Infant Reindeer â Calf
Arctic tundra, subarctic forests
Infant Elk â Calf
North American forests and meadows
Infant Polar Bear â Cub
Arctic sea ice and coasts
Infant Wolverine â Kit (Cub)
Northern forests, tundra (North America, Europe, Asia)
Infant Narwhal â Calf
Arctic waters (Canada, Greenland)
Infant Red Panda â Cub
Himalayan and Chinese bamboo forests
Infant Porcupine â Porcupette
Forests of North America, South America, Africa, Asia
Infant Whale â Calf
Oceans worldwide
Infant Dolphin â Calf
Oceans worldwide
Infant Seal â Pup
Coastal waters worldwide
Infant Shark â Pup
Oceans worldwide
Infant Octopus â Hatchling
Oceans worldwide
Infant Jellyfish â Ephyra
Oceans worldwide
Infant Seahorse â Fry
Tropical and temperate coastal waters
Infant Sea Turtle â Hatchling
Tropical and subtropical oceans
Infant Walrus â Calf
Arctic seas and ice floes
Infant Manatee â Calf
Warm coastal waters, rivers
Infant Eagle â Eaglet
Mountains, forests, near water worldwide
Infant Owl â Owlet
Forests, deserts, cities worldwide
Infant Swan â Cygnet
Lakes, rivers worldwide
Infant Penguin â Chick
Southern hemisphere, Antarctica
Infant Flamingo â Chick
Tropical and subtropical lagoons
Infant Peacock â Peachick
South Asian forests
Infant Crow â Chick
Worldwide, urban and rural
Infant Parrot â Chick
Tropical and subtropical forests
Infant Hawk â Eyas
Open country, forests worldwide
Infant Pigeon â Squab
Cities, cliffs worldwide
Infant Snake â Snakelet
Worldwide except Antarctica
Infant Alligator â Hatchling
Southeastern US swamps and rivers
Infant Crocodile â Hatchling
Tropical rivers and coasts worldwide
Infant Turtle â Hatchling
Worldwide (varies by species)
Infant Frog â Tadpole
Ponds, lakes, forests worldwide
Infant Lizard â Hatchling
Worldwide except Antarctica
Infant Salamander â Larva
Wet forests, ponds worldwide
Infant Chameleon â Hatchling
African and Asian forests
Infant Toad â Tadpole
Gardens, forests, ponds worldwide
Infant Iguana â Hatchling
Central and South American forests
Infant Butterfly â Caterpillar
Worldwide
Infant Bee â Larva
Worldwide
Infant Ant â Larva
Worldwide except Antarctica
Infant Spider â Spiderling
Worldwide
Infant Dragonfly â Nymph
Ponds, lakes worldwide
Infant Ladybug â Larva
Gardens, fields worldwide
Infant Mosquito â Wriggler
Worldwide near standing water
Infant Grasshopper â Nymph
Grasslands, fields worldwide
Infant Moth â Caterpillar
Worldwide
Infant Beetle â Grub
Worldwide
An infant animal is the scientific term for a baby animal. "Infant" is used in scientific research, veterinary medicine, and academic contexts, while "baby" is the common everyday term.
Infant animal names are the specific terms for baby animals: puppy (infant dog), kitten (infant cat), calf (infant whale, infant elephant, infant cow), cub (infant lion, infant bear), foal (infant horse), and 95+ more.
An infant whale is called a calf. Blue whale calves are born weighing 2,000-3,000 kg and gain up to 45 kg per day nursing!
Yes, "infant" and "baby" refer to the same young animal. The species-specific name (puppy, kitten, cub, calf) stays the same. "Infant" is simply the more formal/scientific term.