37 Animals with Four Legs (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of animals with four legs include antelope, deer, camel, cats, and dogs. These animals are called tetrapods.

Just as human beings have two arms and two legs, animals in the kingdom Animalia also have four limbs. While there are some creatures that boast more or fewer appendages, the majority of animals have exactly four limbs.

Many mammals are tetrapods (e.g. bears and moose), although there are tetrapod amphibians as well, such as frogs and lizards.

Examples of Animals with Four Legs

1. Antelope

Antelopes are a group of even-toed ungulate mammals. The term “antelope” includes many different species within many different genera, including gazelles, springboks, impalas, and elands. Most antelopes are found in Africa, but a few can be found in other parts of the world.

Related Article: Do Antelope Have Cloven Hooves?

2. Bears

Bears are some of the most common of all four-legged animals. They usually walk on all fours, but are also known to walk on two legs at times. These mammals have claws that help them catch food, as well as a thick coat of fur to keep themselves warm in colder environments. Bears tend to be very solitary, and they eat mostly plants.

3. Buffalo

The buffalo is a large, bovine animal that is found in many parts of the world including Africa and North America. With its strong and sturdy limbs, it is well-suited for life in harsh environments. This animal can be found grazing on grasslands and feeding on vegetation in the wild.

Related Article: Is Buffalo Hard-Working Animal?

4. Camels

The next animal on our list is the camel. Camels are four-legged animals that are well-known for their hump. These humps store fat and water, which is why camels can go for long periods of time without food or water. Camels are mostly found in deserts, and are beasts of burden who we ride or get to carry our goods a long distance.

Read Also: Are Camels Friendly?

5. Cats

Cats are some of the most common pets. These animals have been domesticated for thousands of years, and are known for their ability to hunt mice, crawl inside tight spaces, and stalk their prey stealthily. In addition to these skills, cats also have remarkable agility, strength, and speed. Their four agile legs are central to their agility.

Related Article: Do Cats Eat Scorpions?

6. Cattle

Cattle are large, hoofed mammals that are commonly raised for their meat and milk. These animals are characterized by their long legs and four-chambered stomachs, which allow them to graze on a wide variety of grasses. Because they are domesticated, cattle don’t have large muscular legs and don’t run very fast.

7. Cheetah

The cheetah is a large feline that can run at speeds up to 80 mph. The cheetah is the fastest land animal on earth and has been known to cover distances up to 460 meters in a single dash! The cheetah is built for speed with long and agile legs, a long tail, and a flexible spine.

8. Deer

The deer is a hoofed mammal that typically has antlers. These elegant creatures are often associated with grace and beauty, and they can be found in forests all over the world. Deer are herbivores, which means that they primarily eat plants. While they’re wild animals, their legs are quite weak, so they’re not particularly fast runners.

9. Donkeys

Donkeys are docile, hard-working, and intelligent creatures that were once widely used for transportation in both ancient and modern times. Their four legs make them sturdy steeds that can carry humans and goods alike.

Read Also: Can Donkeys Sleep While Standing?

10. Elk

The elk, or wapiti, is a species of deer that is characterized by its massive size. Elk can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and stand six feet tall at the shoulder. These animals have four legs that are each tipped with a hoof. They’re related to moose but are smaller and more agile. You’ll commonly find them all over remote and rural parts of Canada.

11. Fox

Foxes are small carnivorous mammals with bushy tails and pointy ears. These animals also have four legs, each of which is tipped with a paw or a claw. Their legs are relatively strong, enabling them to dart very quickly from tree to tree, keeping in the shadows to avoid human eyes. Foxes can be found around the world in a wide variety of habitats.

12. Frogs

Frogs are amphibians that typically have four legs. Their back legs are very strong, allowing them to spring and leap long distances off their back legs. Frogs also use their four legs to swim quickly through water. Frogs use their four legs to hop or leap through their environment.

Related Article: Do Frogs Have Ears?

13. Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. These long-necked creatures are characterized by their very long legs, which allow them to reach high into trees and bushes when searching for food. Giraffes’ legs are so long that they can’t even reach the ground with their necks, meaning they have to spread their legs to drink water from streams.

Related Article: Do Giraffe Have Horns?

14. Goats

Goats are a type of livestock animal that is often used for their milk, meat, and fur. They are said to be one of the oldest domesticated animals in the world and are widely distributed across the globe. Goats typically have brown or black fur and can be found in mountains, forests, and grasslands.

Goats use their four legs to climb very steep cliffs, stand on very small peaks (even fence posts!), and get around in highland areas where they can live wild and free from predators.

15. Hippos

The hippopotamus is a large, four-legged mammal that is native to sub-Saharan Africa. These animals are most commonly found near rivers and lakes, as they need to be submerged in water for up to 16 hours per day in order to keep their skin wet and avoid overheating. Hippos are some of the largest land mammals on Earth, and they can weigh up to 8,000 pounds.

Related Article: Do Hippopotamus Have Tusks?

16. Horses

These beautiful creatures are some of the most popular animals with four legs. From wild mustangs to gentle ponies, there are all sorts of different horses out there. And, of course, let’s not forget about those magnificent Clydesdales. The four powerful legs of horses have made them mankind’s favored beasts of burden. They can ride fast and carry humans long distances.

Related Article: Do Horses Eat Apples?

17. Kangaroo

This might be a controversial topic, because the kangaroo has two, four, or even five legs, depending on who you talk to. These marsupials walk around on two legs, but they have two tiny limbs on their shoulders that are either small legs or arms, depending on who you ask.

Then, there’s also research that shows that the kangaroo’s tail acts as a de facto fifth leg, that’s placed on the ground to achieve balance and also propel the kangaroo forward as it hops.

18. Lions

Lions are some of the most iconic animals with four legs. They are known for their distinctive manes and powerful, agile bodies that allow them to hunt prey effectively. With sharp claws and razor-sharp teeth, lions can easily overpower much larger animals such as zebras or wildebeests.

Related Article: 11 Lion Adaptation

19. Lizards

These common reptiles typically have four legs, although some species may have just two or even zero legs. Some lizards, like the popular pet gecko, can even lose their tails during escape attempts and then regenerate them over time.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature that separates lizards from snakes is the fact that lizards do have four clear, easy-to-identify legs, whereas snakes have evolved to slither rather than run around on legs (although, technically, snakes are also tetrapods!)

20. Llamas

These shaggy-haired animals are often used as pack animals in the mountains of South America. Llamas are able to carry burdens of up to 30% of their body weight, and they can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour). Like goats, wild llamas used their legs to climb high into the mountains to avoid predators.

21. Meerkat

The meerkat is a small mammal that can be found in the deserts of Southern Africa. While they do have four legs, you’ll usually see them standing on two feet only. These creatures are well-known for their upright stance and their habit of standing on their hind legs to keep watch for predators. Meerkats typically grow to be about a foot long and they weigh around two pounds.

22. Monkeys

Most monkeys have four limbs, with two arms and two legs. Their upper limbs are typically longer than their lower limbs, which helps them to swing through trees with ease. Monkeys are found in tropical climates all over the world, and they come in a variety of sizes and colors.

Related Article: What Eats Monkeys?

23. Moose

The moose is one of the most iconic animals with four legs, prized for their sheer size and majestic appearance. These large herbivores are found in many parts of the world, from North America to Eurasia. Though they can be quite elusive at times, moose are known for their impressive antlers and beautiful coats that come in a variety of colors.

24. Mouse

One of the most common rodents in the world, the mouse has four legs. These legs are relatively short, and they are equipped with sharp claws that help the mouse to climb and scamper about. The hind legs of a mouse are longer than the front legs, and this helps to give the animal its characteristic hunched-over posture.

25. Pandas

The giant panda is a bear that is native to China. These animals are easily recognizable thanks to their black and white fur, which helps them to camouflage in the snow and bamboo forests where they live. Pandas are also one of the few animals that are proficient in using all four of their limbs for locomotion; they can walk on two legs like a human, or they can move around on all fours like most other animals.

26. Pigs

Pigs are one of the animals that have four legs – and in fact, we humans eat those legs of theirs! Pigs are omnivorous creatures, meaning that they eat both plants and other animals. As domesticated creatures, they are found in many different parts of the world on farms. There are also wild boar in various parts of the world.

Related Article: Do Pigs Burp?

27. Raccoons

Raccoons are native to North America and are one of the most well-known animals with four legs. These beautiful creatures have long, thick fur that can be black, gray, brown, or white in color, depending on their habitat. Raccoons use their four legs to climb trees as well as man-made structures, especially if there is food nearby.

They have short snouts and round ears on the top of their heads, which help them to be excellent climbers. Raccoons are also very intelligent and have been known to use tools to help them in their search for food.

Related Article: Do Raccoon Eat Oranges?

28. Rats

Rats are small mammals that can be found all over the world. They have long, thin tails, large ears, and of course four legs with two front and two back paws. These adorable creatures are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Rats prefer to live in groups of other rats, but they can also thrive alone if necessary.

29. Rhinos

Rhinoceros are large, herbivorous mammals that are native to Africa and Asia. They are best known for their thick skin and large horns. All rhino species have four legs, and they use them to move around in their natural habitats.

Related Article: What Eats Rhinos?

30. Sheep

The humble sheep is a quadruped mammal that is typically found in rural areas. It’s a fully domesticated creature, meaning is hasn’t had to develop large strong legs. Instead, it has weak little legs that simply help it move around the paddock to eat grass. Sheep are gentle creatures that are known for their fluffy white wool. In many cultures, sheep are seen as a symbol of innocence and purity.

More Examples of Animals with Four Legs

• Skunk
• Sloths
• Tigers
• Turtles
• Weasels
• Wildebeest
• Wolves

Conclusion

This list provides some of the many animals that have four legs. While there are certainly more than this, these examples should give you an idea of the diversity and range of creatures that walk on all fours. Whether you’re looking at domesticated animals like cows and horses or wild animals like elk and cheetahs, you’ll find that four-legged animals come in all shapes and sizes.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.