Collection · Animals & Wildlife
60 Animal Word Searches for Kids and Wildlife Fans
From the family dog to the great white shark: animal word searches sorted into six groups, with a dozen grids shaped like the animals themselves. Play online or print the PDF with its answer key.
Animal Word Search Categories
60 puzzles in this collection
Animal Kingdom Basics
Classification, diets, animal sounds and extinct species.
Explore collection →Mammals & Wildlife
Big cats, bears, wolves, pandas, giraffes and hippos.
Explore collection →Sea & Marine Animals
Fish, sharks, whales and other marine mammals.
Explore collection →Birds, Reptiles & Bugs
Birds of prey, penguins, snakes, turtles, dinosaurs and insects.
Explore collection →Pets & Farm Animals
Dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep and goats.
Explore collection →Animals by Habitat
Animals of Africa, Australia, the jungle, the desert and the Arctic.
Explore collection →Animal Word Searches From Pets to Predators
Animals are the theme children ask for most, and this collection follows the way they discover them: first the pets at home and the animals on the farm, then the wild mammals, the sea creatures and the birds, reptiles and insects, and finally the habitats where they all live, from the savanna to the Arctic ice.
Each puzzle explains its own words, so a search for "giraffe" or "amphibian" also teaches what the word means. For older students, the Animals & Zoology collection goes on to taxonomy, adaptations, food webs and animal physiology.
What Each Animal Collection Covers
Animal Kingdom Basics Word Searches
The science behind the animals: how they are classified, what carnivores and herbivores eat, the sounds they make and the species we have lost. Extinct Animals is a favorite with dinosaur fans.
Mammals & Wildlife Word Searches
One puzzle per famous mammal, each with its habitat, diet and behavior: the bear, the wolf, the tiger, the leopard, the panda, the giraffe and more.
Sea & Marine Animals Word Searches
Life in the ocean, from tropical fish and sharks to whales, dolphins and seals, with two grids shaped like a fish and a whale.
Birds, Reptiles & Bugs Word Searches
Everything with feathers, scales or six legs: birds of prey and penguins, snakes, turtles and amphibians, dinosaurs, insects and other invertebrates.
Pets & Farm Animals Word Searches
The animals people live with: pet care, dog breeds, cats, horses and the cows, sheep and goats of the farm, plus cat, rabbit and paw-print shapes.
Animals by Habitat Word Searches
Animals grouped by where they live: the African savanna, the Australian outback, forests, jungles, deserts and the Arctic.
Best Animal Word Searches by Age
Preschool and kindergarten
Short words in small grids: Domestic Animals, Arctic Animals and the cat-shaped puzzle, which doubles as a coloring page.
Ages 8 to 11
Medium grids with diagonals: African Animals, Dinosaurs and Sharks.
Teens and adults
Hard 15x15 grids with long names: Leopards, Tropical Fish and Snakes.
How Many Animal Species Are There?
Scientists have described about 1.5 million animal species, most of them insects. A widely cited 2011 study estimated that Earth holds around 7.8 million animal species in total, which would mean most have never been named.
Frequently asked questions
Which animal word search is best for preschoolers?
Start with Domestic Animals or Arctic Animals: short, familiar words in small grids. The cat, rabbit and paw-print shaped puzzles also work well because children can color them afterwards.
Are there animal word searches shaped like animals?
Yes, twelve: a snail, a fish, a whale, a butterfly, a turtle, an owl, a beehive hexagon, a cat, a paw print, a rabbit, a penguin and a cactus for the desert.
Is there an animal word search for middle or high school biology?
The hard puzzles here, such as Leopards or Snakes, use long scientific words. For classification, adaptations and animal physiology, try the Animals & Zoology collection in Science.
Do the puzzles explain what the words mean?
Yes. Every puzzle page lists its words with a short definition, so children learn about each animal while they search.