Examples of animals that are solitary and live solitary lifestyles include anteaters, frogs, pandas, badgers and koalas.
Animals that are solitary or solitary by nature and have a different lifestyle than animals that live in groups.
Some animals live alone, but only because they choose to do so.
There are some loners who prefer to work alone.
We all know that lions live in prides and other social animals like dolphins swim together.
Examples of animals that are loners
Examples of animals that are loners
1. Anteaters
1. Anteaters
Scientific name Vermilingua Animal species Mammal Distribution Central and South America except Guatemala Diet Omnivore
Anteaters – like anteaters – are solitary animals that enjoy their privacy and are not seen in groups at all.
They eat ants and termites all day, but they do it alone.
Anteaters open anthills with their sharp claws before eating as many insects as possible with their very sensitive tongues.
The anteater may look bulky, but it can actually run quite fast.
Scientific name Dasypodidae Animal species Mammal Range Central and South America Diet Omnivore
They are not social creatures and usually only interact with each other during the mating season.
They often live in burrows that they dig themselves.
When an armadillo is threatened, it will curl up into a ball for protection.
Scientific name Diceros bicornis Species of animal Mammal Range Kenya to South Africa Herbivore
The black rhinoceros is a loner and lives a solitary lifestyle.
They are naturally shy animals, especially when it comes to other rhinos.
They prefer their own company and come together with others of the same species only for the purpose of mating.
Scientific nameFelis catusType of animalMammalRangeWorldfoodAnimal
A cat is a good example of an animal that is a loner.
They don’t need humans to survive.
A person may have one or more cats as pets, but they usually come into contact with each other only when they are fed or played with.
Scientific name Sauromalus Animal species Reptile Distribution southeastern California Diet Herbivore
Their diet consists of small animals such as insects and lizards.
They live in deserts which makes it difficult to find food, so living alone they don’t have to compete for resources with other Chuckwalla lizards.
6. Common frogs
6. Common frogs
Scientific nameRana temporaria Species of animal Reptile Range Europe Nutrition Omnivore
The common frog is a loner.
There is an exception to this rule for female frogs who lay eggs in large groups during the breeding season, but other than that they prefer to be alone.
Scientific name Gopherus agassizii Type of animal Reptile Range Mojave and Sonoran deserts north and west of the Colorado River Diet Omnivore
Solitaries are animals that live alone or in very small groups.
A loner will not have many, if any, social interactions with other members of the same species.
The desert tortoise is one such animal that prefers to be alone
Scientific name Vulpes vulpes Species of animal Mammal Range World diet Omnivore
Another solitary animal is the fox, which lives alone in burrows.
They are also solitary creatures and gather only during the mating season, while otherwise living alone to avoid contact with other animals.
However, this can be beneficial to humans as these animals do not need humans to survive, thus minimizing contact with humans.
9. The big panda
9. The big panda
Scientific nameAiluropoda melanoleuca Species of animal Mammal Distribution of southwestern China Diet Herbivore
These animals are one of the few bear species that do not live in the community.
Giant pandas also rarely communicate with each other, except when it’s mating time.
Scientific nameMonachus schauinslandi Species of animal Mammal Distribution Northwest Hawaiian Islands Diet Omnivore
They do not like to be in a group and can travel long distances alone.
They can live alone, but have the ability to mate with other Hawaiian fur seals when conditions are good.
It is common for them to stay together only until the cub is weaned, and then both males and females leave it (they do not form pair bonds).
Scientific nameMellivora capensisType of animalMammalRange Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran and western AsiaFoodOmnivores
Honey badgers are known for their aggressiveness and live a free life, generally preferring to hunt and hunt alone when not sitting in their burrows
Scientific name Phascolarctos cinereus Animal species Mammal Distribution Australia Diet Herbivore
Koalas live alone and prefer it that way.
It is a very solitary animal with a unique tree-climbing technique used while feeding, climbing, sitting or resting.
Koalas live an average of 13 years, but some are known to live up to 18 years.
Scientific namePanthera pardusType of animalReptile Distribution of sub-Saharan AfricaFoodCarnivore
Leopards are solitary animals.
They live alone and mark their territory with urine or feces to keep other leopards away from them.
If they are in the same area as another leopard, they will avoid contact by hiding out of sight until it is gone.
Leopards gather only when the mating season begins.
Scientific name Pterois Animal species Fish Range South Pacific and Indian Ocean Diet Carnivore
Even in the ocean there are animals that live alone.
Lionfish lives a solitary life and has no friends or partners to spend time with.
In fact, it is rare to see groups of two lionfish together as these whales prefer to be alone.
Scientific name Talpidae Animal species Mammal Range World Diet Animal
Moles are solitary creatures that are quite intolerant of intruders.
Scientific nameAlces alces Species of animal Mammal Range North America, Europe and Russia Diet Herbivore
Moose are solitary animals that live in the northern regions of Canada and Alaska.
They need a lot of food, so they will often wander off alone or with another moose to find enough food for themselves.
Scientific name PongoType of animal Mammal Range Southeast Asian islands Borneo and Sumatra Diet Omnivore
Orangutans are solitary animals and adults do not often interact with each other.
They live in dense jungles and forests, spending a lot of time high in the trees where they rest.
The only time they will interact with others is when it is time to mate.
Scientific nameOrnithorhynchus anatinus Species of animal Mammal Distribution Eastern Australia Nutrition Animal
Platypus, as solitary creatures, spend almost their entire lives at a distance from everyone else, although their territories occasionally overlap.
Instead of spending time with each other, they spend their entire lives alone searching for food and swimming in rivers all day long.
Platypus are so dedicated to their solitude that even when mating season arrives (June to October), they still go about their business alone.
Polar bears
Polar bears
Scientific nameUrsus maritimus Species of animal Mammal Range of arctic diet Carnivore
Polar bears are solitary animals.
This means that they do not like to be around other polar bears.
The only time a polar bear spends with another is when it has cubs or if the female is protecting her cubs from predators.
Red pandas
Red pandas
Scientific nameAilurus fulgens Animal species Mammal Distribution Eastern Himalayas Diet Herbivore
Red pandas are notoriously shy, choosing a life of solitude over company, except, of course, when it’s mating season.
During the mating season, the male red panda is extremely active, but after mating with several females and impregnating them all, he loses interest.
Scientific nameScolopacidaeType of animalRange of birdsEurope and AsiaFoodAnimal
Most species of sandpipers travel in flocks, but loners take a slightly different approach.
They content themselves with solitude when looking for an area to lay their eggs by borrowing nests from other birds.
Scientific nameChelonioideaType of animalReptile RangeCoral triangleHerbivore
They are sometimes called “sea hermits” because they spend so much time alone.
Although sea turtles can live in groups, most prefer solitude and avoid contact with other turtles unless it is mating season.
These animals gather in groups during the mating and nesting season, but are mostly alone.
Scientific nameMephitidaeType of animalMammalRangeUnited States, Canada, South America and MexicoDietOmnivores
Ferrets are solitary animals.
They usually come together only for mating.
Ferrets often create their own dens and holes in the ground to hibernate or give birth during the winter months.
Scientific name Folivora Animal type Mammal Range Central and South America Diet Herbivore
They spend most of their time alone, especially during the breeding season.
When they are not sleeping or eating, sloths move so slowly that it is almost difficult to see them.
As a result, there is little need for them to interact with others on a regular basis.
Scientific name Sarcophilus harrisii Animal species Mammal Range Tasmania Diet Carnivore
Tasmanian devils are solitary animals.
They spend most of their time alone to avoid conflicts with other Tasmanian devils.
Although they start out as cute little fur balls, when they grow up it can be very stressful if too many live in one area together.
This can cause fights that result in death and injury due to the sharp teeth these creatures have.
Scientific namePanthera tigrisType of animalMammalDistributionSouthwest Asia to the Indonesian island of SumatraDietAnimal
They are loners.
But, if they get together, it is for an important reason such as hunting, mating or protecting their territory from other tigers.
Scientific nameCanis lupusType of animalMammalRangeNorth America, Europe, Asia and North AfricaDietAnimal
While most wolves live in packs, there are also many lone wolves.
Lone wolves are wolves that have been ostracized from their packs.
They spend their lives hunting alone.
But even wolves that live in packs are not as social as you might think.
They live in packs of about six members, but spend most of the day alone or with their partner and offspring.
Living in South Africa I had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.