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Mammals That Start With M

By Joanne Spencer · Updated 27 April 2026

M is one of the most heavily populated letters for mammal names, including the Maine Coon (the world’s largest domestic cat), Mastiffs, Maltese dogs, the manatee, and the muskrat. Here’s every mammal name starting with M, organised by category.

Quick facts about mammals starting with M

  • Total entries: 30 mammals whose names start with M.
  • Wild mammal species: 4.
  • Dog breeds: 20.
  • Cat breeds: 3.
  • Rabbit breeds: 3.

Wild mammals starting with M

A-to-Z list of wild mammal species whose common names begin with this letter.

Manatee

Manatee wild mammal

Slow-moving aquatic herbivore; the closest living relative to the elephant.

Mouse Deer

Mouse Deer wild mammal

Smallest hoofed mammal; tropical chevrotain, no bigger than a rabbit.

Musk Ox

Musk Ox wild mammal

Arctic relative of sheep and goats; insulating qiviut coat is finer than cashmere.

Muskrat

Muskrat wild mammal

Semi-aquatic North American rodent; ecosystem engineer of wetlands.

Dog breeds starting with M

Domestic dog breeds whose names begin with this letter.

Maltese

Maltese dog breed

Ancient Mediterranean toy breed with a flowing white silk coat.

Maltese Shih Tzu

Maltese Shih Tzu dog breed

Maltese and Shih Tzu mix; small, low-shedding lap dog.

Maltipoo

Maltipoo dog breed

Maltese and Poodle mix; popular hypoallergenic small companion.

Manchester Terrier

Manchester Terrier dog breed

Sleek black-and-tan English terrier originally bred to control rats.

Maremma Sheepdog

Maremma Sheepdog dog breed

Italian livestock-guardian breed with a thick white double coat.

Mastador

Mastador dog breed

Mastiff and Labrador Retriever mix; large, gentle family dog.

Mastiff

Mastiff dog breed

One of the most ancient guardian breeds; among the heaviest dogs in the world.

Mini Australian Shepherd Dog

Mini Australian Shepherd Dog dog breed

Smaller version of the Australian Shepherd; just as energetic.

Mini Goldendoodle

Mini Goldendoodle dog breed

Smaller Golden Retriever and Poodle mix; medium hypoallergenic family dog.

Mini Labradoodle

Mini Labradoodle dog breed

Small-stature Labradoodle bred from a smaller Poodle parent.

Miniature Bulldog

Miniature Bulldog dog breed

Smaller variant of the English Bulldog; same characteristic build.

Miniature German Shepherd

Miniature German Shepherd dog breed

Smaller GSD-look-alike, usually a Shepherd-Collie or Shepherd-Poodle mix.

Miniature Husky

Miniature Husky dog breed

Smaller bred-down Siberian Husky; not a separate AKC breed.

Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Pinscher dog breed

‘King of toys’; high-energy German breed unrelated to the Doberman.

Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer dog breed

Smallest of the three Schnauzer sizes; popular family terrier.

Mop Dog

Mop Dog dog breed

Hungarian Komondor and Puli; both have signature dreadlocked coats.

Morkie Dog

Morkie Dog dog breed

Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier mix; small, devoted lap dog.

Moscow Watchdog

Moscow Watchdog dog breed

Large Russian guardian breed bred from St Bernard and Caucasian Shepherd.

Mountain Cur Working Dog

Mountain Cur Working Dog dog breed

American working hound bred for hunting and treeing game.

Mudi

Mudi dog breed

Hungarian herding breed with a curly black coat; rare outside Hungary.

Cat breeds starting with M

Domestic cat breeds whose names begin with this letter.

Maine Coon Cat

Maine Coon Cat cat breed

Largest domesticated cat breed; long-haired, gentle ‘Gentle Giant’ of cats.

Manx

Manx cat breed

Tailless cat breed from the Isle of Man with a rounded body.

Munchkin

Munchkin cat breed

Short-legged domestic cat caused by a natural achondroplasia mutation.

Rabbit breeds starting with M

Domestic rabbit breeds whose names begin with this letter.

Mini Lop Rabbit

Mini Lop Rabbit rabbit breed

Small lop-eared rabbit breed; one of the most popular as pets.

Mini Rex Rabbit

Mini Rex Rabbit rabbit breed

Velvety-furred small rabbit breed with the Rex coat texture.

Mini Satin Rabbit

Mini Satin Rabbit rabbit breed

Compact rabbit breed with the silky ‘satin’ coat texture.

Frequently asked questions

How many mammals start with the letter M?

Animal Corner covers 30 mammals whose names begin with the letter M, including 4 wild mammal species, 20 dog breeds, 3 cat breeds and 3 rabbit breeds. Use the lists above to browse each category.

What is the most famous mammal that starts with M?

The standout wild mammal name starting with M is the manatee. Among domestic breeds, popular M-starting names include the Mastiff and Maltese.

Are dogs, cats and rabbits considered mammals?

Yes. All dogs, cats and rabbits are mammals, alongside wild species like deer, elephants and whales. Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates that nurse their young; this includes both wild species and the domesticated breeds derived from them.

What’s the smallest mammal whose name starts with M?

That depends on the letter, but on this page some of the smaller M-starting mammals include rabbit breeds and toy dog breeds. For wild species, see the species guides linked above.

How can I find more mammals on Animal Corner?

Browse the Animal Corner mammals hub at /mammal/ for the complete A-to-Z list, or use our individual breed pages: /dog-breeds/, /cat-breeds/ and /rabbit-breeds/.


Browse more: mammals hub, dog breeds, cat breeds, rabbit breeds.

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