Animals that start with P

Prairie dogs are ground-dwelling rodents. They often live in large groups, and they make complex burrow homes on the grasslands of North America. Prairie dogs spend a lot of time grazing and digging, and they stand up to watch for danger and warn the group with sharp calls.

Praying mantises can be found all over the world. They can be anything from a centimetre to a few inches long and are generally the same colour as their surroundings, so they can hide. They get their name because they hold their front legs as if they are praying. Praying mantises use their front legs to catch other insects, which they eat.

The ptarmigan is a small bird with feathered feet that help keep it warm in the snow. It lives in cold, rocky areas like mountains and tundra, where it often changes color from brown in summer to white in winter to blend in. Ptarmigan are mostly ground dwelling. They eat plants and buds, and in winter they may also pick at twigs and seeds.

Pugs are a small breed of dog originally from China. They are solidly built, with a short, wrinkly face and a curled tail. Most pugs are fawn, but can be found in apricot, silver and black too.

Pythons are non-venomous snakes that usually kill their prey by wrapping around them and suffocating them. There are seven species of python, found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Some pythons can grow to be extremely large.