Red Animals

The reasons why certain animals have a red color vary. Predators use their red coloration to attract potential prey toward them. At the same time, bright red colors might signify that the animal is poisonous, discouraging unwanted attention.

While all mammals and even humans possess pheomelanin, i.e., the pigment that gives off a red coloration, it is generally present at low levels. Mammals with a higher red pigmentation have red fur like the red fox and the saola. However, the pigment is more common in fish, insects, and amphibians. Some well-known animals with red skin are the strawberry poison dart frog, the western red scorpionfish, and the Asian lady beetle.

List of Animals that have a Red Coloration

Mammals

Purús Red Howler
Red Fox
Red Panda
Red Squirrel
Saola

Birds

Hawaiian Honeycreeper
Northern Cardinal
Pompadour Cotinga
Red Lory
Red-crested Cardinal
Scarlet Ibis
Scarlet Macaw
Scarlet Tanager
Summer Tanager
Vermilion Flycatcher

Amphibians

Axolotl Calisto
Granular Poison Frog
Phantasmal Poison Frog
Red Salamander
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
Tomato Frog

Reptiles

Arizona Coral Snake
Bamboo Rat Snake
Common Forest Lizard
Eastern Newt
Fire Skink
Geyr’s Spiny-tailed Lizard
Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama
Oriental Garden Lizard
Peninsular Rock Agama
Rainbow Boa
Red Milk Snake
Spider-man Agama
Tschudi’s False Coral Snake

Insects

American Rubyspot Damselfly
Asian Lady Beetle
Baronet Butterfly
Blood-red Glider
Cardinal Beetle
European Firebug
Fulvous Forest Skimmer
Long-horned Orb-weaver
Question Mark Butterfly
Red Flat Bark Beetle
Red Lacewing Butterfly
Red Milkweed Beetle
Red Net-winged Beetle
Red Velvet Ant
Red Velvet Mite
Red-headed Cardinal Beetle
Red-veined Darter
Scarlet Lily Beetle
Scarlet Peacock Butterfly
Seven-spot Ladybug

Invertebrates

Cardinal Jumping Spider
Cherry Shrimp
Christmas Island Red Crab
Coconut Octopus
Humboldt Squid
Indian Sea Star
Louisiana Crawfish
Mediterranean Red Sea Star
Red Lobster
Red Swamp Crayfish
Spanish Dancer

Fish

Chili Rasbora
Discus Fish
Dwarf Lionfish
Eastern Red Scorpion Fish
Glass Eye Squirrel Fish
Guppy
Kisaki Nothobranch
Siamese Fighting Fish
Western Red Scorpionfish

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