Planet Zoo 2 animals: every confirmed launch species

How many animals are in Planet Zoo 2?

The current total is 136 distinct Zoopedia entries. The habitat filters show 57 terrestrial animals, 12 flying animals, 37 aquarium animals and 46 exhibit animals. Adding those category counts gives you 152, because 16 fish are listed for both aquariums and exhibits. They remain 16 species, not 32.

The tables below separate those shared fish into their own group, so every animal appears once in the main roster. “Base” means the base game. “Deluxe” means you need the Deluxe Upgrade Pack. Biomes and regions reproduce Frontier’s current Zoopedia labels; they are useful starting points for a themed zoo, not a tested mixed-species compatibility chart.

All confirmed Planet Zoo 2 animals

Start with the enclosure you want to build, then look through the corresponding group. Each row includes the exact animal and scientific name, followed by its listed biomes, region and edition. Scientific names help distinguish close relatives such as the two giraffes and the two wildebeest species.

Terrestrial habitat animals

This is the largest group, covering mammals, flightless and water-associated birds, and large reptiles. The common ostrich and African penguin belong here, while the greater flamingo and secretarybird are in the flying group. The two elephants, two giraffes and two wildebeest entries are separate animals in Frontier’s database.

Flying birds and aviary animals

Flying birds use custom aviaries built with barriers, support poles and mesh covers. You can plan these spaces around toucans, hornbills, parrots, owls, eagles and other birds. The golden eagle is the Deluxe entry in this group; the white-tailed sea-eagle is a base-game animal. The secretarybird is also classified as flying, so a bird’s appearance alone is a poor substitute for checking the Zoopedia category.

Aquarium animals

Fully aquatic animals use freshwater or saltwater aquariums. These entries are listed for aquariums without a second Exhibit label. The group includes sharks, rays, a manatee, a marine turtle and fish. Open-sea species and reef species give you different themes to work with. The great hammerhead and longfin batfish require Deluxe; the blacktip reef shark and West Indian manatee are in the base game.

Fish available in aquariums and exhibits

These fish have both Aquarium and Exhibit in the official data. They are shown here once to avoid inflating the roster. The blue and gold fusilier is the Deluxe species; the other entries are in the base game. Use the biome column to separate freshwater ideas from reef displays before deciding which enclosure format you want.

Exhibit animals

This group contains animals listed only for exhibits: frogs, snakes, insects, spiders, a scorpion, a snail, lizards, a newt and the axolotl. The axolotl needs Deluxe. European peacock is a butterfly here, not a peafowl; the scientific name Aglais io removes that ambiguity. Aquatic life is not confined to the Aquarium category: the axolotl, Danube crested newt and moon jelly are Exhibit entries.

Which animals are exclusive to Deluxe?

The Deluxe Upgrade Pack adds axolotl, blue and gold fusilier, golden eagle, golden lion tamarin, great hammerhead and longfin batfish. The official Steam listing describes six additional animal species; these are the six marked Deluxe in the Zoopedia.

The practical choice is whether one of those animals anchors a zoo you want to build. If your aquarium plan depends on a great hammerhead, that is a real edition difference. If you want blacktip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles or a West Indian manatee, those particular animals already appear as base-game entries. You do not need Deluxe merely to have an aquarium or an aviary.

The pre-purchase Bonus Content Pack was a separate offer for decorative items. Do not read its animal-themed shops, donation bins or photo wall as additional species in the roster.

Choose a zoo theme from the animal list

A grassland section

African savannah elephant, plains zebra, reticulated giraffe, springbok and blue wildebeest share the Grassland biome label. That makes them useful candidates for an African-themed section. You still need to check the in-game requirements before sharing an enclosure; matching a biome does not establish compatibility.

A tropical primate section

Western chimpanzee, western lowland gorilla, Sumatran orangutan and siamang give you base-game options. Golden lion tamarin adds a Deluxe option. Separate species-specific requirements from the broader rainforest theme rather than assuming the same climbing layout suits every primate.

A reef aquarium section

Blacktip reef shark, hawksbill turtle, clown anemonefish and palette surgeonfish all have Reef in their listed biomes. These are thematic candidates, not a recommendation to house a predator and small fish together. A good-looking species list is only the beginning of an aquarium plan.

A smaller exhibit section

Golden poison frog, Mexican redknee and giant Malaysian leaf insect offer base-game options without relying on a large terrestrial habitat or a flying enclosure. If the axolotl is your main reason to build this section, remember its Deluxe status before choosing an edition.

You can also use the conservation status in the in-game Zoopedia to choose a conservation theme. This roster guide does not convert a real-world threat category into a claim about game difficulty, income or breeding efficiency.

What the launch roster tells you

The strongest reason to look beyond the headline animal count is the mix of enclosures. The terrestrial roster supports familiar zoo themes, while flying birds and fully aquatic animals let you plan spaces the original game’s land-habitat list could not represent in the same way. The base game already supplies options across those categories.

Choose your must-have species first, check whether they need Deluxe, and build a shortlist by habitat and biome. The final six reveals are in the tables above. Use the roster to choose a theme, then check each species’ in-game requirements before building or mixing animals.

Planet Zoo 2 animals FAQ

Sources

• Frontier’s official Planet Zoo 2 Zoopedia — animal names, scientific names, habitat categories, biomes, regions, edition labels and reveal metadata; checked October 15, 2026.
• Planet Zoo 2 on Steam — edition description, fully aquatic animals and aviaries; checked October 15, 2026.
• Frontier’s official Steam announcements — final reveal campaign and October 6 Zoopedia update.