8 Animals With Long Arms (Pictures)

The world is full of animals with unique features and aspects. One important feature many types of animals have adapted is long arms, useful for helping them move around or even find prey.

8 Animals With Long Arms

Long arms are a unique feature in the animal kingdom. These eight animals are some of the most well-recognized long-armed animals around the world.

1. Sloth

• Scientific name: Folivora
• Range: Central and South America

Sloths are tree-dwelling animals known for having long arms. These arms allow them to hang from branches and travel from tree to tree. These long limbs don’t help them move any faster though, and sloths are one of the slowest animals in the world. Sloths can be found in South and Central America.

Sloths fall into two different types, two and three-toed sloths, and six different species. In addition to being able to move through trees with ease, sloths are also great swimmers.

2. Orangutan

• Scientific name: Pongo
• Range: Indonesia, Malaysia

One mammal species known for having long arms are orangutans. These animals are also easily recognizable by their bright red fur. Males of this species can reach up to 200 pounds as adults, and their long powerful arms help them move through their habitat on the ground and in trees.

There are three types of orangutans; Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli. Each of these are some level of endangered, and the Tapanuli orangutans were not announced until 2017.

3. Frog

• Scientific name: Anura
• Range: worldwide

Frogs can be found all around the world, with thousands of known species in various countries. These amphibians have long front and back legs that help them leap long distances. Most types of frogs can jump over 20 times the length of their own bodies.

There are frog species that can thrive in every kind of environment, from deserts to tropical rainforests. While many frogs are harmless to humans and other animals, others are poisonous when eaten or even just handled. They start as tadpoles in ponds and other bodies of water and will spend most of their life close to water.

4. Lemur

• Scientific name: Lemuroidea
• Range: Madagascar

Lemurs are primates with long arms and unique markings. There are more than 100 species and they are only found in Madagascar, as well as the Comoro Islands. Some lemurs are only active at night, with others being active during the day.

A few types of lemurs have active times during the day and night. Sifakas are one commonly recognized type of lemur known for the way it leaps sideways. Aye-aye lemurs are known for their coarse hair and bushy tails. The long arms of these primates make it easy for them to swing through trees or walk on all fours on the ground.

5. Gorilla

• Scientific name: Gorilla beringei
• Range: Africa

Gorillas are large animals, with front arms longer than their back legs. They mainly walk around on all fours, and adults can reach between four and six feet tall. These animals are found in Africa, and are especially common in the Republic of the Congo.

Two different species inhabit the region. These massive animals can be found living in family groups, led by one dominant male gorilla. They are incredibly social and form right bonds in their family groups.

6. Squid

• Scientific name: Teuthida
• Range: various oceans

Squid species can be found throughout the oceans of the world. These cephalopods have ten arms, two of which are long tentacles. There are hundreds of species of squid, ranging in size from a few inches to several feet long.

Giant and colossal squids are the largest species, and the smallest is the southern Pygmy squid. Similar animals are octopuses, also found in various ocean water. The giant squid is a favorite food of the blue whale.

7. Octopus

• Scientific name: Octopoda
• Range: various oceans

The octopus is similar to the squid, another animal known for having long arms. They can be found in various oceans around the world, and are known for having eight arms instead of the ten that squids have. These ocean dwelling animals can also vary greatly in size, with recorded lengths between two inches and eighteen feet.

Each of the arms of an octopus has two rows of powerful suckers. They also have a strong beak that can help them hunt prey and fight off predators. The main defense mechanism of these animals is their ability to release an inky substance. The most commonly spotted octopus around the world, especially in tropical regions, is the common octopus.

8. Jellyfish

• Scientific name: Scyphozoa
• Range: various oceans

The oceans of the world are full of thousands of species of jellyfish. These ocean dwellers are known for long leg-like tentacles that help them float through the vast waters. Many types of jellyfish have painful stings for both people and other animals. Some jellyfish are painful but pose little threat while others can be deadly.

Common species of jellyfish include the pink comb jellyfish, box jellyfish, lion’s mane jellyfish, and mushroom cap jellyfish. Each species is unique and serves an important function in their ocean environments.

Conclusion

All around the world, there are animals with long arms, which serve an important role in helping them survive in their habitats. Having long arms not only helps certain animals move through trees, water, and the ground, but they are also useful in finding prey and other food sources.