#mammals

• Agoutis — A plural form or taxonomic variant adapted in old Romanian literature for agoutis (genus Dasyprocta), medium-sized rodent mammals native to the rainforests of Central and South America. These animals feature long limbs adapted for running, a robust body, and are recognized for their essential ecological role in dispersing the seeds of large tropical trees.
• Alcathoe — The scientific name of a rare, small-sized bat species (Myotis alcathoe), distributed across Europe and characterized by its preference for mature and humid forest habitats. In ancient Greek mythology, Alcathoe (or Alcaithoe) was one of the daughters of King Minyas of Orchomenos, who was transformed by the god Dionysus into a bat as a punishment for refusing to participate in bacchic rituals, preferring to stay at home spinning wool.
• Elks — A rare regional name utilized historically in certain northern dialects as the plural form of 'alcer' (elk/moose); very large-sized herbivorous mammals of the cervid family (Alces alces) adapted to cold forested areas, characterized by the massive palmate antlers borne by the males.
• Alcithoe — A spelling variant for the mythological and zoological name 'alcathoe'; a rare species of forest bat (Myotis alcathoe). In Hellenic legends, it represents one of the daughters of King Minyas (Alcaithoe or Alcithoe), metamorphosed into a bat by the god Dionysus as punishment for disobedience and refusing to celebrate his sacred mysteries.
• Anthracotherium — An extinct genus of hippopotamus-like artiodactyl ungulates within the family Anthracotheriidae, that lived during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs across Eurasia and Africa, adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
• Antelope — A generic name given to several species of ruminant herbivorous mammals of the Bovidae family, widespread mainly in African and Asian savannas, structurally characterized by a slender body, long legs adapted for fast running, and persistent, hollow horns. They represent an essential element in the food chain of tropical regions.
• Arvicolous — Living or developing in cultivated fields, plowed lands, or pastures; specifically, the term is used in zoology and ecology to describe animals, especially small rodent species (such as field voles from the Arvicolinae subfamily), whose feeding, nesting, and habitat habits are closely linked to open agricultural ecosystems.