Animal Charades Generator

180 animals, each with one real thing it does, so the actor has a move to perform. Round timer and team scores included.

Acting and Drawing
180 animal charades cards
Updated Sep 2026
Free · no sign-up

Card 1 · In the ocean · Medium

Sea lion walking on its flippers

1:00

Sound

Scores

Name of team 1 0
Name of team 2 0

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Next step The full deck of charades ideas

Animal Charades Generator: how it works

This animal charades generator deals 180 cards, and every one pairs an animal with something it really does: Flamingo standing on one leg, Hamster stuffing food into its cheeks, Orca poking its head straight up to look around. Each behavior was checked against the animal's Wikipedia article. Pick a habitat, press Start round and hand the phone to the actor.

Why every animal comes with a move

A bare name leaves the actor stuck: there is only so much a person can do with Moose. So each card adds a move: the moose wades into a lake to eat water plants, and the dung beetle rolls its ball in a dead straight line. In the full animal charades list under the tool, the line below each card is an acting hint. For Flamingo standing on one leg it reads: Tuck one foot up behind your knee and fold your neck into an S.

Pick a habitat and a level

Choose one of the 12 habitats, then a level: the deck holds 36 Easy, 89 Medium and 55 Hard cards. Easy is a dog, a cow or a penguin. Hard is a jerboa, an okapi or an archerfish.

Tips

With small children, set Easy and the 90 s round. In this charades generator, animals they know best sit under Pets at home and On the farm.
These animal charades ideas suit a day out: play In the ocean on the way to the aquarium.
Use height as well as arms. Drop to the floor for the snail and go up on tiptoe for the giraffe.

Questions and answers

Does the guesser have to name the move as well as the animal?

Charades has no official rulebook and its rules vary widely, so the host decides before the first card. The house rule that suits this deck: the animal alone wins the point. With older players, ask for the move too, so that Ferret is not enough without the war dance.

Are the animal behaviors on the cards real?

Yes. Each one was checked against the animal's Wikipedia article in September 2026, and cards the article did not back were changed. Only a small number of shark species must swim without rest, so that card's hint says so. Guinea pigs really do hop in the air when happily excited, a move known as popcorning.

Can players make the animal's sound?

Not in the classic game. Charades is acted in silence, and mouthing words and pointing are generally banned too. That is why the hint for Wolf howling with the pack asks for a rounded mouth and no sound. With children under six, a fair house rule allows sounds in round one only.

All 180 animal charades cards

Pets at home 12

Betta fish flaring its fins at a rival Spread your arms and fingers wide, puff up and drift toward a mirror.
Cat licking its coat clean Lick the back of your hand and smooth it over your shoulder, slowly and with dignity.
Dog wagging its tail at the front door Wiggle from the hips and pant. One hand behind your back makes the tail.
Ferret doing a sideways war dance Arch your back and bounce sideways in every direction, bumping into things.
Gecko walking up a wall and across the ceiling Press flat palms on the wall one at a time and peel each one off slowly.
Guinea pig jumping straight up when it is happy Tiny hops on the spot with a twist in the air. Owners call it popcorning.
Hamster stuffing food into its cheeks Puff your cheeks out and keep pushing more in with both hands.
Hermit crab moving into a bigger shell Back out of one invisible shell, measure the next with your claws, then reverse into it.
Mouse standing up on its back legs to sniff the air Crouch small, rise on your toes with hands tucked at your chest, and twitch your nose.
Parrot climbing its cage with beak and feet Reach up with your mouth first, then bring each foot up after it.
Rabbit thumping a back foot as a warning Sit up tall, freeze, then stamp one foot hard on the floor.
Tortoise pulling its head into its shell Walk very slowly on all fours, then tuck your chin and shrug your shoulders over your ears.

On the farm 16

Border collie staring down a sheep Get in front of the sheep, crouch low, creep forward and never blink.
Chick pecking its way out of an egg Curl up small and tap the shell with your nose until a crack opens.
Cow chewing its cud Chew in slow sideways circles and stare at nothing. Swish a tail now and then.
Donkey refusing to take another step Dig your heels in and lean back against an invisible rope.
Duck tipping tail up to feed under the water Bend forward from the waist until your tail points at the ceiling, then pop back up.
Goat climbing a tree to reach the leaves Test a branch with one hoof, scramble up, balance on a thin limb and nibble.
Hen scratching the ground for seeds Scrape one foot backward, step back and peck at the spot.
Horse galloping across a field Lead with one leg in a fast skip and toss your mane.
Llama spitting at a rival Ears back, chin up, then one sharp silent puff. Aim at the floor, not a guest.
Newborn foal getting to its feet for the first time Get up one leg at a time, wobble, collapse and try again. Then run.
Ox pulling a plow across a field Lean far forward under a heavy yoke and take slow, even steps.
Pig rolling in mud to cool off Flop down, roll from side to side and look delighted.
Ram charging and butting heads with a rival Back up, lower your head, run in and stop just short of the other ram.
Rooster crowing to tell other roosters this is his yard Strut, stretch your neck to the sky, flap your elbows and open your mouth wide. No sound.
Sheep following the rest of the flock Pick one guesser and copy every turn they make, close behind.
Turkey strutting with its tail fanned out Spread both hands behind you as the fan, puff your chest and walk slowly.

Woods and backyard 18

Armadillo jumping straight up when it is startled Shuffle along sniffing the ground, get a fright and spring into the air.
Badger dragging fresh bedding into its burrow Gather an armful of grass under your chin and shuffle backward into a hole.
Bat hanging upside down to sleep Fold your arms across your chest as wings and hang your head as low as it goes.
Brown bear catching a salmon in a river Stand in the rapids, watch the water, then snap a fish out of the air.
Deer bounding away with its white tail up Freeze with ears wide, then leap off with one hand flipped up behind you as the flag.
Flying squirrel gliding from tree to tree Climb, leap with arms and legs spread into a square, and land on the next trunk.
Fox pouncing nose first into the snow Listen with your head cocked, leap high and dive straight down on your front paws.
Hedgehog rolling into a spiky ball Tuck your head and knees in tight and hold still.
Mole digging a tunnel with its big front paws Eyes nearly shut, push the soil out to each side with a breaststroke.
Moose wading into a lake to eat water plants Walk in deep, dunk your whole head under, come up chewing.
Porcupine raising its quills Turn your back on the danger and spread your fingers up behind your head.
Raccoon dunking its food in water Rub an invisible snack between both hands in a stream before you eat it.
Robin pulling a worm out of the ground Hop, stop, stare hard at one spot, pounce, then tug something long out of the soil.
Skunk spraying a smell strong enough to scare off a bear Turn your back on a huge attacker, take aim, then watch it run away holding its nose.
Squirrel burying a nut for winter Dig fast with both hands, drop the nut, pat the soil flat and check who is watching.
Wild boar rooting in the soil with its snout Push your nose along the floor like a shovel and flip things over.
Wolf howling with the pack Sit back, point your nose at the ceiling and round your mouth. No sound.
Woodpecker drumming on a tree trunk Grip the trunk with both hands and hammer your nose at it in fast bursts.

Savanna and prairie 16

Aardvark digging a burrow at high speed Long nose to the ground, then dig so fast the soil flies out between your back legs.
Baboon picking through a friend's fur Part the hair of an invisible friend, pick something out and inspect it.
Bison rolling in a dust bath Drop to the ground, roll on your back and kick up clouds of dust.
Cheetah sprinting after a gazelle Stalk low, explode into a short sprint, then stop and pant.
Elephant squirting water over its body with its trunk One arm is the trunk: suck up water, curl it over your shoulder and squirt.
Giraffe spreading its front legs to reach a drink Stretch your neck up first, then splay your feet wide and lower your head.
Hippo opening its jaws in a giant yawn Sink until only your eyes show, then rise and open your arms as the jaws.
Lion resting for most of the day Yawn hugely, flop down, flick a tail at the flies and go back to sleep.
Ostrich sprinting on two long legs Tuck your arms in as small wings and take long, fast strides with a high head.
Prairie dog greeting a friend with a kiss Pop out of a burrow, stand tall, then touch noses with a neighbor.
Rhino charging with its horn down One fist on your nose for the horn. Paw the ground, lower your head and go.
Springbok bouncing stiff-legged into the air Keep all four legs straight and spring up and down on the spot with an arched back.
Vulture circling high overhead Arms out flat, tilt in slow circles and peer down at the ground.
Warthog shuffling along on its wrists to eat Bend your front feet back, drop onto your wrists, keep your back end high and graze.
Wildebeest crossing a river on migration Trot with the herd, stop at the bank, then plunge and swim for it.
Zebra kicking out with its back legs Graze, spot danger, then kick both heels out behind you.

Jungle and rainforest 16

Basilisk lizard running across the water Sprint upright on your back legs, knees high and feet slapping, arms pinned back.
Chameleon shooting out its tongue to catch a fly Roll each eye a different way, hold still, then fire one arm out from your chin.
Chimpanzee fishing for termites with a stick Strip a twig, poke it into a mound, pull it out and nibble along it.
Cobra rising up and spreading its hood Kneel, rise slowly, open both hands beside your neck and sway.
Giant anteater flicking its tongue into an ant nest Walk on your knuckles, rip the nest open, then flick one finger in and out at speed.
Gibbon swinging arm over arm through the branches Reach, swing, let go, reach again, with long arms and no feet.
Gorilla beating its chest Stand up tall and drum your chest with cupped hands, not fists.
Okapi cleaning its own ears with its tongue Stretch an arm out from your mouth as the tongue and wipe it over an eyelid and an ear.
Orangutan building a nest of branches to sleep in Bend branches in under you, pat them down and lie back.
Pangolin curling into an armored ball Walk with your front claws curled under, then roll up and wrap your tail round.
Ring-tailed lemur sunbathing with its arms out Sit upright facing the sun with your belly out and your palms turned up.
Sloth climbing along a branch in slow motion Hang under the branch and move one limb at a time, as slowly as you can bear.
Spider monkey hanging by its tail Let one arm be the tail: hook it over a branch and dangle while you eat with both hands.
Tiger swimming across a river Pad to the bank, slide in and paddle with your head held high.
Tree frog clinging to a leaf with sticky toes Spread your fingers wide, stick each hand down with a pop and hold on.
Two toucans fencing with their big bills Both arms make the bill. Find a partner and cross bills like swords, then wrestle.

Australia and New Zealand 11

Cockatoo raising the crest on its head Hand flat on your head, then fan the fingers up when something surprises you.
Echidna digging fast with its short, strong claws Spines up, nose down, and dig until you are half hidden.
Emu father sitting on the eggs for weeks Settle onto a nest, refuse every snack and drink, and do not move.
Frilled lizard opening its neck frill and running on two legs Snap both hands open beside your face, mouth wide, then sprint off upright.
Kangaroo hopping with a joey in her pouch Both feet together, hands up at your chest. Stop to look down into the pouch.
Kiwi poking its long beak into the ground at night Shuffle in the dark, tap the soil with a finger-beak and sniff at the tip.
Koala hugging a tree and chewing eucalyptus leaves Wrap both arms around the trunk, chew slowly and fall asleep mid-bite.
Kookaburra waiting on a branch, then pouncing on its prey Perch very still, spot something on the ground, fly down and pounce. Finish with a silent laugh.
Platypus feeling for food with its bill under water Eyes shut tight, feel along the river bed with a flat hand on your nose.
Tasmanian devil opening its jaws in a huge yawn Open as wide as you can at a rival, then go back to sniffing around.
Wombat blocking its burrow with its backside Dive into a tunnel head first and leave only your rear end filling the entrance.

Ice, snow and mountains 11

Arctic fox curling up with its tail over its nose Turn a circle, lie down tight and wrap one arm across your face.
Giant panda holding a bamboo stalk to eat it Wrap one paw and its thumb around a stalk and munch your way along it.
Husky pulling a sled through the snow Lean into the harness, tongue out, and trot in a straight line.
Mountain goat climbing a steep cliff Test each tiny ledge with one hoof before you trust it.
Penguin sliding on its belly across the ice Waddle a few steps, flop forward and push yourself along with your feet.
Polar bear waiting by a hole in the ice for a seal Lie still beside the hole for a very long time, then lunge.
Reindeer digging through snow to find food Scrape the snow away with a front hoof, then put your nose in the hole.
Seal popping up through a hole in the ice to breathe Swim under the ice, find the hole, push your head up, breathe, sink again.
Snow leopard leaping between rocks with its long tail out Crouch, leap far and swing one arm behind you for balance as you land.
Two narwhals rubbing their long tusks together One arm straight out from your forehead. Find a partner and cross tusks gently.
Walrus hauling itself onto the ice with its tusks Two fingers down from your mouth as tusks: hook them over the edge and heave.

In the ocean 20

Anglerfish dangling a glowing lure in the dark Hang one finger in front of your face, wiggle it, and wait with your mouth open.
Clownfish hiding among the arms of a sea anemone Dart out, dart back, and wriggle down into waving tentacles.
Crab walking sideways and snapping its claws Squat with elbows out and scuttle to the side, pinching as you go.
Dolphin leaping out of the water Swim with a wave motion, then jump in an arc and dive back in.
Flying fish gliding over the waves Swim fast, burst out of the water and hold your arms stiff as wings.
Humpback whale leaping out of the sea and crashing back Rise from a crouch with a twist, arms wide, and fall sideways.
Jellyfish pulsing its bell to swim Arms overhead in a dome: open slowly, close quickly, drift upward.
Lobster shooting backward with a flick of its tail Walk forward slowly with big claws, take fright, then curl and jet backward.
Manatee grazing slowly on sea grass Float heavy and calm, pull plants in with your lips and chew for a long time.
Octopus squeezing through a tiny gap Pour yourself through a small hole one arm at a time, head last.
Orca poking its head straight up to look around Rise slowly out of the water like a periscope, turn, and sink back down.
Pufferfish puffing up into a spiky ball Swim along small, take a scare, gulp and swell with your arms held round.
Sea lion walking on its flippers Prop yourself up on straight arms, turn your feet forward under you and waddle.
Sea otter floating on its back and cracking a shell on a rock Lie back, put a rock on your chest and bang a shell on it.
Sea turtle crawling up the beach to lay her eggs Drag yourself over the sand with both flippers, dig a pit with the back ones, then cover it.
Seahorse holding on to seaweed with its tail Stand upright, hook one leg around a stem and sway with the current.
Shark that has to keep swimming to breathe Glide in circles with a hand fin on your back and never, ever stop. Only a few kinds of shark do this.
Squid squirting ink and jetting away Hover with arms trailing, puff a cloud at the danger and shoot off backward.
Starfish growing back a lost arm Five limbs out, lose one, look at the gap, then push a new one out slowly.
Stingray burying itself in the sand Glide with rippling arms, settle on the bottom and flick sand over your back.

Rivers, ponds and swamps 13

Archerfish spitting water to knock a bug off a leaf Aim upward from below the surface, squirt, and gulp what falls.
Axolotl with its gills on the outside of its head Fingers spread behind your head as three pairs of gills, a fixed smile, and hardly any movement.
Beaver gnawing down a tree to build a dam Chew around a trunk with big front teeth, watch it fall, drag it to the water.
Capybara holding its breath under the water Swim low with eyes, ears and nostrils on top, sink out of sight, and stay down a long time.
Crocodile sleeping with its mouth wide open Lie flat, hold your arm-jaws open and do not move a muscle.
Frog catching a fly with its sticky tongue Squat, follow the fly with your eyes, then snap your tongue arm out and gulp.
Heron standing perfectly still, then spearing a fish Stand on one leg in the shallows, wait far too long, then stab downward.
Mudskipper crawling over the mud on its front fins Lie on your front and pull yourself along on your elbows with popping eyes.
Otter sliding down a bank into the water Run, flop onto your belly, slide in, climb out and do it again for fun.
Pond turtle basking on a log in the sun Climb out, stretch your neck and all four legs toward the sun and hold it.
Salmon leaping up a waterfall Swim hard against the current, jump, fall back and jump again.
Tadpole growing legs and turning into a frog Wiggle as all tail, push out back legs, then front legs, then hop.
Water strider skating across a pond Arms and legs spread wide, glide on tiptoe and never break the surface.

Birds 18

Albatross gliding for hours without a flap Arms locked out straight, bank slowly from side to side and never beat them.
Bald eagle swooping down to grab a fish Soar, tip into a dive, swing your talons forward and snatch.
Blue-footed booby showing off its feet in a dance Lift one foot high, then the other, and present each one proudly.
Bowerbird decorating its bower with blue things Build an arch of sticks, then arrange small blue objects in front of it, very fussily.
Crow bending a twig into a tool Snap off a twig, trim it, poke it into a hole and pull out a grub.
Cuckoo laying an egg in another bird's nest Look both ways, sneak to the nest, swap an egg and leave in a hurry.
Flamingo standing on one leg Tuck one foot up behind your knee and fold your neck into an S.
Goose flying in a V with the flock Flap steadily and keep checking your place in the line.
Gull dropping a shell onto rocks to crack it open Carry it up, let go, watch it fall, land and check. Repeat higher.
Hummingbird hovering at a flower Beat your hands in a blur at your sides and hold your head perfectly still.
Kingfisher swooping down from its perch to snatch a fish Perch, watch the water, swoop, snatch, and fly straight back to the same perch.
Owl turning its head to look behind it Keep your shoulders dead still and turn only your head, as far as it goes, with wide eyes.
Peacock fanning out its tail feathers Raise both arms slowly behind you into a wide fan, then shiver it.
Pelican scooping fish into its throat pouch Arms out as a long bill: plunge, scoop, tip the water out, swallow.
Puffin carrying a row of fish in its beak Dive, catch one, hold it with your tongue, catch another, and fly home with a full beak.
Secretary bird stamping on a snake Stride on long legs, spot a snake, and stamp on it with fast hard kicks.
Swan carrying its chicks on its back Glide smoothly with arched wings and glance back over your shoulder at your passengers.
Weaver bird weaving a nest from thin strands Thread one long strand in and out with your beak, pull it tight and fetch another.

Bugs and crawlies 20

Ants marching in a line along a scent trail Tap the ground with your feelers, follow the invisible line and greet every ant you meet.
Bumblebee collecting pollen from flower to flower Bumble from bloom to bloom and pack the pollen onto your back legs.
Caterpillar turning into a butterfly Munch a leaf, hang upside down, go still as a chrysalis, then unfold your wings.
Cicada climbing out of its old skin Cling to a trunk, split down the back and pull yourself out, soft and slow.
Cricket rubbing its wings together to chirp Raise both elbows behind your back and scrape one over the other.
Dragonfly hovering, then darting after a bug Four wings out, hang in one spot, shoot off in a straight line and stop dead.
Dung beetle rolling its ball in a dead straight line Push a ball bigger than you are and let nothing turn you: go over every obstacle, never around.
Earthworm burrowing through the soil Arms pinned to your sides, stretch long and thin, then pull up short and fat.
Firefly flashing its light in the dark Drift around and open and close your hands behind you in a steady rhythm.
Flea jumping many times its own height Crouch tiny, then jump, and jump again from wherever you land.
Grasshopper leaping with its long back legs Fold your legs deep under you, then spring as far as you can.
Honeybee doing a waggle dance to show where the flowers are Walk a straight line shaking your tail, loop back to the start, and repeat.
Housefly rubbing its front legs together Land, look around in jerks, and rub your hands as if hatching a plan.
Inchworm looping along a twig Hands down, walk your feet up to them into an arch, then reach forward again.
Ladybug opening its spotted wing cases to fly Elbows snap open like two hard shells, then small wings whir underneath.
Millipede curling into a tight coil Walk with rippling fingers for legs, get a fright and wind yourself into a spiral.
Praying mantis holding still with its front legs folded Fold both arms up under your chin, hold dead still, then strike in a blink.
Snail sliding along on a trail of slime Eye stalks up with two fingers, and move so slowly that the guessers get restless.
Spider spinning a web Pull silk from behind you with your back feet and walk it round in a spiral.
Stick insect swaying like a twig in the wind Go stiff and thin, arms straight out in front, and rock gently from side to side.

Desert and dry country 9

Camel walking for days without a drink Plod past every water hole, then drink for a very long time.
Fennec fox cooling off with its giant ears Hands up beside your head as huge ears, and turn them toward every tiny sound.
Jerboa hopping on long back legs like a tiny kangaroo Tiny arms tucked away, long tail out, zigzag in quick hops.
Komodo dragon flicking out its forked tongue Swing your body from side to side as you walk, and flick two fingers out from your mouth.
Lizard doing push-ups on a warm rock Find a sunny rock and pump out push-ups while you stare down a rival.
Meerkat standing guard on its back legs Stand very upright, paws on your belly, and scan the sky.
Rattlesnake shaking its rattle as a warning Coil up, lift one hand behind you and shake it fast.
Roadrunner sprinting after a lizard Head low, tail flat out behind, and run in straight fast bursts.
Scorpion raising its stinger over its back Pincers out in front, one leg or arm curved up and over your head.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site by the editors; nothing was copied from another list. Every card is an animal doing one thing that the animal really does, so the actor has a movement to perform and not only a name. Each behavior was checked on 2026-09-19 against the English Wikipedia article for that animal, read through the Wikipedia API at https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php, and the article is linked in the card's src field: 178 articles in all, for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_wagging_by_dogs, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig (popcorning), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springbok (pronking), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggle_dance, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca (spyhopping), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narwhal (tusking), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_warthog (feeding on its wrists), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_beetle (rolling in a straight line) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_puffin (a row of fish held in the beak). Cards whose behavior the article did not support were reworded to what it does say or left out: the deck does not claim that a skunk stamps before it sprays, that a toucan tosses fruit, that an elephant sprays its back, that a rooster crows at sunrise, that a dung beetle pushes backward or that every shark must keep swimming (the Shark article says a small number of species must). The line under each card is the editors' acting hint, not a fact about the animal and not a rule. Difficulty is an editor's judgment: easy is an animal and an action a young child knows, medium needs two or three beats, hard is a less familiar animal or a behavior most guessers have not seen. The deck was checked against the site's family-safe rule: no hunting by people, no gore, and nothing a child could copy and get hurt. Card texts were compared on 2026-09-19 with every other dataset in data/, including data/charades-generator.json, data/charades-generator-for-kids.json, data/funny-charades-ideas.json and data/animal-bingo.json: 1 shared with data/halloween-charades-words.json (Spider spinning a web), none with any other. The common rules of charades given on the page follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, checked 2026-09-19. Licence: own work