Examples of animals that are solitary and lead solitary lifestyles are anteaters, frogs, pandas, grizzlies 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.
There are some loners out there who prefer to go it alone.
We all know that lions live in prides and other social animals like dolphins swim together.
Examples of animals that are solitary
Examples of animals that are solitary
1. Anteaters
1. Anteaters
Scientific name Vermilingua Animal species Mammal range Central and South America except Guatemala Diet Omnivore
Anteaters – like the aardvark – 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 use their sharp claws to rip open ant colonies before using their very sensitive tongues to squish as many insects as possible.
The anteater may look bulky, but it can actually run pretty fast.
Scientific nameDasypodidae 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 down to South Africa Diet Herbivore
Black Rhinos are loners and lead a solitary lifestyle.
They are naturally shy animals, especially when it comes to other rhinos.
They prefer their own company and only come together with others of the same species for mating purposes.
Scientific name Felis catus Animal species Range Mammals Worldwide Diet Carnivores
A cat is a good example of a solitary animal.
They do not need humans to survive.
A person may have one or more cats as pets, but they usually only come into contact with each other when feeding or playing with them.
Scientific Name Saurumalus Species Animal Reptile Range 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 by living alone they don’t have to compete for resources with other Chuckwalla lizards.
6. Common frogs
6. Common frogs
Scientific name Rana temporaria Species of animal Reptile range Europe Diet Omnivore
The common frog is a loner.
An exception to this rule is female frogs who lay eggs in large groups during the mating season, but otherwise prefer to be alone.
Scientific NameGopherus agassizii Species of Animal Reptile Range Mojave and Sonoran Desert North and West of the Colorado River DietAlnivore
Solitaries are animals that live alone or in very small groups.
A loner will not have many social interactions with other members of the same species, if any.
The desert tortoise is one such animal that prefers to be alone
Scientific name Vulpes vulpes Species of animal Mammal Range Worldwide Diet Omnivore
Another solitary animal is the fox that lives alone in burrows.
They are also solitary creatures and only come together during mating season, while otherwise living alone to avoid contact with other animals.
However, this can be beneficial to humans because these animals do not need people to survive, which minimizes human contact.
9. Giant panda
9. Giant panda
Scientific name Ailuropoda melanoleuca Species of animal Mammal Range Southwest China Diet Herbivore
These animals are one of the few bear species that do not live in society.
Giant pandas also rarely interact with each other, except when it’s time to mate.
Scientific name Monachus schauinslandi Fauna Mammalia Northwest Hawaiian Islands Diet Omnivore
They do not like to be in groups and can travel long distances by themselves.
They may live alone, but they have the potential to mate with other Hawaiian harbor seals when the conditions are right.
It is common for them to stay together only until the young are weaned, at which point both males and females leave (they do not form a pair bond).
Scientific name Mellivora capensis Species Mammal Range Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Western Asia Diet Omnivore
Known for their aggressive nature, honey beavers live a life of freedom, usually preferring to hunt and roam on their own when not in their burrows.
Scientific name Phascolarctos cinereus Animal species Mammal range Australia Diet Herbivore
Koalas live alone and prefer it that way.
It is a very solitary animal with a unique arboreal grasping technique used in feeding, climbing, sitting or resting positions.
Koalas live an average of 13 years, but some are known to live up to 18 years.
Scientific name Panthera pardus Species of animal Range Reptile Africa south of the Sahara Diet Carnivore
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 only come together when the breeding season begins.
Scientific name Pterois Animal type Fish Area South Pacific and Indian Ocean Diet Carnivore
There are also animals in the sea that live alone.
The lionfish lives a lonely life and has no friends or partner to spend time with.
In fact, it is rarely seen in groups with two lionfish together because these cetaceans prefer to be alone.
Scientific name Talpidae Species of animal Mammal range Worldwide Diet Carnivore
Moles are solitary creatures that are rather intolerant of intruders.
Scientific name Alces alces Animal species 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 to eat, so they often wander alone or with one other elk to find enough food for themselves.
Scientific name Pongo Animal species 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 and spend a lot of time high up in the trees where they rest.
The only time they interact with others is when it’s time to mate.
Scientific name Ornithorhynchus anatinus Species of animal Mammal Distance East Australia Diet Carnivore
As solitary creatures, platypuses spend most of their lives keeping their distance from everyone else, although their territories sometimes overlap.
Instead of spending time with each other, they spend their entire lives alone hunting for food and swimming in rivers all day.
Platypus are so devoted to their solitude that even when mating season arrives (June to October) they still go about their business alone.
Polar bears
Polar bears
Scientific name Ursus maritimus Species of animal Mammals Arctic Diet Carnivore
Polar bears are solitary animals.
This means they don’t like being around other polar bears.
The only time a polar bear spends with others is when there are cubs or if the female is protecting her cubs from predators.
Red Pandas
Red Pandas
Scientific name Ailurus fulgens Animal species Mammal range Eastern Himalayas Diet Herbivore
Red pandas are notoriously shy and choose a life of solitude over companionship, except of course during mating season.
During mating season, the male red panda is extremely active, but once he has mated with several females and impregnated them all, he loses interest.
Scientific nameScolopacidae Species of animals BirdsRangeEurope and Asia Diet Carnivores
Most species of sandpipers travel in groups, but individual puffins behave somewhat differently.
They are content to be alone when looking for an area to nest by borrowing nests from other birds.
Scientific Name Chelonioidea Type of Animal Reptilian Range Coral Triangle Diet Herbivore
They are sometimes referred to as “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 come together in groups during mating and breeding season, but they are usually solitary.
Scientific Name Mephitidae Animal Type Mammal Range USA, Canada, South America and Mexico Diet Omnivore
Skunks are solitary animals.
They usually only come together to mate.
Skunks often make their own burrows and burrows in the ground so they can sleep or give birth during the winter months.
Scientific name Nodyr type Mammalian Central and South America Diet Herbivore
They spend most of their time alone, especially during the mating season.
When they are not sleeping or eating, sloths are moving so slowly that it is almost difficult to see.
As a result, there is not much need for them to interact with others on a regular basis.
Scientific nameSarcophilus harrisii Animal Type Mammal Range Tasmania Diet Carnivore
Tasmanian devils are solitary animals.
They spend most of their time alone to avoid conflict with other Tasmanian devils.
Although they start out as cute little balls of fur, it can be very stressful when they become adults if too many live in one area together.
This can cause fights that lead to death and injury due to the sharp teeth these creatures have.
Scientific name Panthera tigris Animal species Mammal range Southwest Asia to the Indonesian island of Sumatra Diet Carnivore
They are loners.
But if they come together, it is for an important reason such as hunting, mating or protecting their territory from other tigers.
Scientific name Canis lupus Animal species Mammal range North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa Diet Carnivore
Although most wolves live in packs, there are also many lone wolves.
Lone wolves are wolves that are ostracized from their pack.
They spend their lives hunting alone.
But even pack-dwelling wolves aren’t as social as you’d think.
They live in groups of about six members, but the majority of the day is spent alone or with mates and offspring.
While living in South Africa I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.