A list of semi-aquatic animals includes anoa, arctic fox, beavers, water deer, and hippopotamus.
Animals that spend part of their time in the water are called semi-aquatic animals.
Semi-aquatic animals have many adaptations to help them live both on land and underwater. For example, they have a layer of fat under their skin for insulation when they are in cold water.
They also have webbed feet which allow them to swim more easily than other mammals with paws or claws.
Examples of Semi-aquatic Animals
1. Aquatic Genet
Scientific Name | Genetta piscivora |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Diet | Carnivore |
The aquatic genet is a small, cat-like animal that lives in the rivers and lakes of Africa. It has webbed feet which help it swim quickly through the water, and its fur is waterproof so that it does not get wet. The aquatic genet also has a long tail which helps it steer when swimming.
2. Arctic Fox
Scientific Name | Vulpes lagopus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Arctic |
Diet | Carnivore |
The arctic fox is a small, white fox that lives in the Arctic region of the world. It has very thick fur which helps keep it warm when it is outside in cold weather. The arctic fox also has furry paws and a furry tail which help protect it from the cold air and wind.
3. Beavers
Scientific Name | Castor |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America |
Diet | Herbivore |
Beavers live in the northern hemisphere. They spend most of their time in the water, building dams and lodges out of wood to protect themselves from predators. However, they can swim underwater for up to 15 minutes at a time using their bushy tails as rudders.
4. British Columbia Wolf
Scientific Name | Canis lupus columbianus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | British Columbia |
Diet | Carnivore |
The British Columbia wolf is a type of wild dog that lives in western Canada. It spends most of its time on land, but it can swim when needed and dive underwater for up to 1 minute at a time.
5. Buffalo
Scientific Name | Anoa |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Indonesian islands of Sulawesi and Buton |
Diet | Herbivore |
The anoa is a type of wild cattle that live in the rainforest of Southeast Asia. It spends most of its time on land, but it can also swim and dive underwater to eat plants and fruits from the river bottom. The anoa’s fur is very thick, which helps keep it warm when it is swimming or diving.
6. Bush Dog
Scientific Name | Speothos venaticus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Northern and central South America |
Diet | Carnivore |
The Bush Dog is a carnivorous mammal that lives in the tropical forests of South America. It can swim, but it spends most of its time on land where it hunts small animals and insects for food. The bush dog’s tail acts as a rudder underwater.
7. Chinese Water Deer
Scientific Name | Hydropotes inermis |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Korea |
Diet | Herbivore |
Chinese water deer live in Asia. They have a coat of long, blonde hair that helps them blend into their habitat when they are on land. However, the fur gets wet very easily and it is therefore hard for these animals to stay warm underwater.
8. Coypu
Scientific Name | Myocastor coypus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | South America |
Diet | Herbivore |
The coypu is a rodent that lives in South America. It can grow to be up to three feet long, and it spends most of its time on land eating plants or scavenging for food.
The coypu cannot swim very well but it does have webbed paws which help propel it forward underwater when swimming across rivers or lakes.
9. Crab-Eating Mongoose
Scientific Name | Herpestes urva |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | northeastern India, northern Myanmar, Thailand |
Diet | Omnivore |
The crab-eating mongoose lives in Africa and other parts of the world. It is very active both on land and underwater, eating crabs, insects, and reptiles to survive. The top half of its body has a layer of thick fur that keeps it warm when it goes swimming or diving for food.
10. Crab-Eating Raccoon
Scientific Name | Procyon cancrivorus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Central and South America |
Diet | Omnivore |
The crab-eating raccoon is a species of raccoon that lives in Central and South America. It is the only semi-aquatic member of the raccoon family.
It spends most of its time in trees, but it can also swim and dive underwater to catch crabs, fish, and other aquatic creatures.
11. Crab-Eating Rats
Scientific Name | Ichthyomys |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela |
Diet | Carnivore |
The crab-eating rat is a small rodent that lives in the rainforest of South America. It spends most of its time on land, but it can also swim and dive underwater to eat crabs and other seafood. The rat’s fur is very dense, which helps keep it warm when it is swimming or diving.
12. Cranes
Scientific Name | Gruidae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | North America |
Diet | Omnivore |
Cranes spend most of their time on land. They hunt for insects and small mammals in fields, as well as scavenge for dead animals that were killed by other predators. However, they can also swim underwater to catch fish.
13. Desmans
Scientific Name | Desmanini |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | southwestern Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan |
Diet | Herbivore |
Desmans are small mammals that live in Europe and Asia. They have thick fur with a layer of fat under their skin, which helps keep them warm when they are swimming or diving underwater.
14. Dhole
Scientific Name | Cuon alpinus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | eastern and southern Asia |
Diet | Carnivore |
The dhole is a type of wild dog that lives in Southeast Asia and India. They are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to three minutes. They use their swimming abilities to hunt prey like deer, boars, and even monkeys.
15. Ducks
Scientific Name | Anseriformes |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Omnivore |
Ducks are a type of bird that lives in freshwater habitats all over the world. They spend most of their time on the water, where they use their webbed feet to paddle and dive for food. Ducks also have feathers that help them stay dry when they are swimming.
16. European Water Vole
Scientific Name | Arvicola amphibius |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Europe, Russia, West Asia, and Kazakhstan |
Diet | Herbivore |
The European water vole is a small rodent that lives in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. It spends most of its time on land, but it can also swim underwater to eat plants and fruits from the river bottom.
17. Fish-Eating Rats
Scientific Name | Neusticomys monticolus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | northern Ecuador and western Colombia |
Diet | Omnivore |
Fish-eating rats live on the coast of West Africa. They are semi-aquatic and spend much of their time in the water, especially during the rainy season when food is hard to find. Fish-eating rats can be seen swimming between islands at low tide or foraging along beaches.
18. Fishing Cat
Scientific Name | Prionailurus viverrinus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | South and Southeast Asia |
Diet | Carnivore |
The fishing cat is a wildcat that lives in Southeast Asia. It is the only known species of cat that hunts and eats fish. The fishing cat can swim very well and often catches its prey by swimming underwater and then leaping out to grab it.
19. Flamingos
Scientific Name | Phoenicopterus |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Florida |
Diet | Omnivore |
Flamingos live in the warm, shallow waters of Africa and South America. They are well-adapted to living around water because they can float easily due to special bones that act as ballast. Their webbed feet also help them swim better than other birds.
20. Flat-Headed Cat
Scientific Name | Prionailurus planiceps |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. |
Diet | Omnivore |
The flat-headed cat is an animal with semi-aquatic habits that lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. It often drinks water, but it can also dive underwater to catch fish and frogs. The flat-headed cat has webbed feet which help it swim faster than cats without webbing on their paws.
21. Greater Mouse-Deer
Scientific Name | Tragulus napu |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Sumatra, Borneo and smaller Malaysian |
Diet | Herbivore |
The greater mouse-deer is the smallest deer in the world. It lives in Southeast Asia and spends most of its time in the dense jungle vegetation, where it eats leaves, fruits, and flowers. However, it can also swim short distances to cross rivers.
22. Hippopotamus
Scientific Name | Hippopotamus amphibius |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Africa |
Diet | Omnivore |
The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic mammal that lives in the rivers and lakes of Africa. Its long, tapered body allows it to swim very quickly through the water.
It has webbed feet to help it propel itself faster.
23. Indian Rhinoceros
Scientific Name | Rhinoceros unicornis |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | northern India and Nepal |
Diet | Herbivore |
The Indian rhinoceros is a large mammal that lives in the rainforest of India and Nepal. It spends most of its time on land, but it can also swim underwater to eat plants and fruits from the river bottom.
24. Jaguar
Scientific Name | Panthera onca |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | the Amazon Basin |
Diet | Carnivore |
The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. It lives in rainforests and other dense forests, but it can also swim across rivers to hunt prey. Jaguars have a thick coat of fur that helps keep them warm when they are swimming or diving.
25. Javan Rhinoceros
Scientific Name | Rhinoceros sondaicus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Indonesia |
Diet | Herbivore |
70The Javan rhinoceros is one of the rarest mammals in Asia. It lives on the island of Java and can be found in wet forests, grasslands, swamps, and mangroves. The Javan rhino spends most of its time on land. However, it does go into the water to bathe or cool down occasionally.
26. Kodiak Bear
Scientific Name | Ursus arctos middendorffi |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Kodiak Archipelago |
Diet | Omnivore |
The Kodiak bear is the largest species of bear in the world. It lives in Alaska and spends most of its time on land, eating berries, roots, and other plants. However, it can also swim underwater for short distances to catch fish.
27. Link Rat
Scientific Name | Deomys ferrugineus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Worldwide |
Diet | Omnivore |
Link Rats are semi-aquatic animals that live in the rivers and lakes of New Zealand. They spend most of their time underwater, swimming by pushing themselves along with their powerful tails. Link Rats have special glands on their necks which they use to store air when they go underwater.
28. Marsh Deer
Scientific Name | Blastocerus dichotomus |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay |
Diet | Herbivore |
The marsh deer is a small animal that lives in the rainforest of Southeast Asia. It has many adaptations to help it live both on land and water. Its fur is thick and dark, which helps keep it warm when swimming for food at night.
29. Marsh Rabbit
Scientific Name | Sylvilagus palustris |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Florida |
Diet | Herbivore |
The marsh rabbit is a type of hare that lives in the wetlands and grasslands of Africa. It can swim underwater with quick, powerful strokes using its hind legs.
30. Marsh Rats
Scientific Name | Oryzomys palustris |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | eastern and southern United States |
Diet | Omnivore |
Marsh rats are small rodents that live in the wetlands of North America. They spend most of their time on land, but they can also swim and dive underwater to find food.
Marsh rats have webbed feet which help them move easily through the water, and their fur is waterproof so they don’t get wet when they swim.
31. Minks
Scientific Name | Neovison vison |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | North America |
Diet | Carnivore |
Minks are nocturnal hunters. They spend most of their time on land, but they can also dive underwater to catch fish and other prey.
32. Mooses
Scientific Name | Alces alces |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | northern regions of the United States |
Diet | Herbivore |
A moose is a type of deer that lives in the northern hemisphere. It has big feet and long legs, which help it to swim when moving from land into water or vice versa.
33. Mouse-Eared Bats
Scientific Name | Myotis myotis |
Type of Animal | Mammal |
Range | Europe |
Diet | Carnivore |
Mouse-eared bats live in Europe and Asia. They spend the day hidden in trees but come out at night to hunt for insects. They can fly up to 28 kilometers per hour, and they’re also great swimmers.
Mor examples of Semi-aquatic Animals
- Muskrat
- Otter Civet
- Otters
- Paca
- Penguins
- Pere David’s Deer
- Short-Eared Dog
- Sitatunga
- Star-Nosed Mole
- Sumatran Rhinoceros
- Swamp Rabbit
- Swamp Rats
- Tiger
- Water Chevrotain
- Water Mice
- Water Rats
- Water Shrews
- Waterbuck
- Wild Water Buffalo
- Yellow-Striped Chevrotain
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.