35 Animal Riddles That Are Serious Mind Benders

Learning becomes so much more enjoyable for kids when you make it fun. Taking something like riddles for kids and using them as a teaching tool can expand little brains and help them work on critical thinking. Plus, with something like these animal riddles for kids, they’ll learn so many fun facts about the animal kingdom!

Just like “What am I?” riddles, these animal riddles will really make young ones think about what animal might be the answer. And like quizzing them with short riddles, they’re more likely to jump in and not feel like it’s work. To make this even more of an interactive experience, you could have your kids draw the animal they think is the answer!

Ahead, find easy riddles about animals for kids and let the fun begin.

What am I?

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1. The height of my legs—usually around 6 feet—is taller than most humans. What animal am I?

Answer: A giraffe

2. I’m an animal you might love, but I’m too big to be your pet. I have an extremely long trunk, and it’s said I never forget. What am I?

Answer: An elephant

3. You might be called this animal if someone thinks that you’re afraid. This is something that you might eat, as well as its eggs that it laid. What animal am I?

Answer: A chicken

4. I hide my treasure in the ground, my tail is big and fluffy. If you spot me in a tree, please don’t call me scruffy. What am I?

Answer: A squirrel

5. It takes me two weeks to digest food, but then again, I’m not known for being fast. What am I?

Answer: A sloth

6. I have two long ears, and I don’t walk, I hop. What am I?

Answer: A rabbit

7. I have wings but I am not a bird. I am small, colorful and beautiful. I live in gardens and fields and forests. I used to be a caterpillar. What am I?

Answer: A butterfly

8. My name sounds like something you might use on your hair or eat for dessert. What am I?

Answer: A moose

9. The alphabet goes from A to Z but I go Z to A. What am I?

Answer: A zebra

10. I’m spotty and speedy, but not at all greedy. I look like a leopard but don’t try to play me at cards. What am I?

Answer: A cheetah

Easy animal riddles for kids

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11. I’ve got lumps on my back and I live on the sand. I’m strong and I carry you over the land. What am I?

Answer: A camel

12. I live upside down. I see with my ears and don’t use my eyes, and on Halloween, I’ll give you a big surprise. What am I?

Answer: A bat

13. Play me with a ball and bat or hear me chirp in a top hat. What am I?

Answer: A cricket

14. I have a mane, but I’m not a lion and I wear my shoes to bed. What am I?

Answer: A horse

15. I wear a tuxedo in the snow and skate on my tummy across the ice. What am I?

Answer: A penguin

16. I live in the woods. I am very big and furry. I like to eat fish and berries. I love honey as much as you do. What am I?

Answer: A bear

17. When I’m born, I have white spots that disappear as I get older. The spots help me blend into my surroundings. My coat is usually light brown. What am I?

Answer: A deer

18. I never leave the water, but I breathe air. I live in a school all my life. What am I?

Answer: A dolphin

Rhyming riddles

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19. I am a type of animal. Some say that I have a long face. I’m very good at running fast, so people ride me in a race.

Answer: A horse

20. I am known as a king, and the jungle’s where I reign. It is hard to tame me, and I have a large mane. What am I?

Answer: A lion

21. I like to hop around, and I’m a tadpole when I’m young. I am green and I croak and catch flies with my tongue. What am I?

Answer: A frog

22. I am a strange creature, hovering in the air, moving from here to there, with a brilliant flare. Some say I sing, but others say I have no voice, so I just hum as a matter of choice. What am I?

Answer: A hummingbird

23. I have horns but I can’t beep. I like to bleat but I’m not a sheep. What am I?

Answer: A goat

24. I have a crown on my head like a king, but I sound a disgrace when I sing. I’ve fewer eyes on my face than my tail, especially when I’m a male. What am I?

Answer: A peacock

25. I plough fields but never sow; I have a corkscrew tail and snuffly nose. What am I?

Answer: A pig

Hard animal riddles

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26. I’m born pink in color but then change to black and white. I’m easy to feed, as my favorite food is bamboo. What animal am I?

Answer: A panda bear

27. I’m able to turn my head around 270 degrees and I’m noted for being quiet in flight. What bird am I?

Answer: An owl

28. I’m the only mammal that can’t jump. What animal am I?

Answer: An elephant

29. I move without wings, between silken strings, I leave as you find, my substance behind. What am I?

Answer: A spider

30. What peels like an onion but still remains whole?

Answer: A lizard

31. I jump when I walk and sit when I stand. What am I?

Answer: A kangaroo

32. I live in the ocean and move slowly. I eat clams and have five arms. What am I?

Answer: A starfish

33. I have a hole in my back and legs I lack. I live where I can’t breathe, and I eat without teeth. What am I?

Answer: A whale

34. Cupid without a bow, Donner with no kebab, one who dances, one who prances, all dragging a present-giving dad. What am I?

Answer: A reindeer

35. I row with four paddles but never leave home. What am I?

Answer: A turtle

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