Nearly 9 million animal species are believed to inhabit planet Earth, but humans have only identified about 1.2 million of them. While knowing them all is impossible, one fun way to explore the animal kingdom is through the alphabet.

Each letter offers a glimpse into Earth’s astonishing biodiversity. The letter “E” alone introduces us to giants like elephants, elusive eels, exotic birds, and electric fish.

In this list of 15 animals that start with “E,” you’ll meet a few familiar favorites and some truly surprising species. Every one of them plays a unique and essential role in the ecosystem we all share.

Elephant

Elephants are among the first animals to come to mind when thinking of the letter “E.” But these gentle giants are far from ordinary.

Elephants are the largest land mammals,

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