Quick answer (TLDR): GTA 6 has more than 170 animal species, according to Rockstar's Game Informer cover story (September 29, 2026). That's 60+ birds, 30+ land mammals, plus fish, reptiles and other sea life. Rockstar itself has named flamingos, manatees, pelicans, alligators, green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats and rhesus macaque monkeys, plus sharks, jellyfish, whales, turtles and rays in the sea. You can study animals for a collection, like in Red Dead Redemption 2. Some animals are trackable and grouped as Rare, Discoverable or Legendary, but Rockstar is keeping those species secret. Hunting is not confirmed. GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
How many animals are in GTA 6, and which ones can you actually find? The headline number is 170+, but nobody outside Rockstar has seen the full list. What's out there mixes three different things: species Rockstar named itself, species fans and press spotted in official trailers and screenshots, and species pulled from the 2022 leak that Rockstar never confirmed. With 29 days to launch and preload opening November 12, here's the list sorted into those buckets so you know what's real.
How many animals are in GTA 6?
More than 170 species. Rockstar gave Game Informer the number for its exclusive cover story, which went live on September 29, 2026. The split it shared:
| Group | Count Rockstar gave | Examples named by Rockstar |
|---|---|---|
| Birds | 60+ | flamingos, pelicans |
| Land mammals | 30+ | rhesus macaque monkeys, feral cats |
| Reptiles & amphibians | not given | alligators, green iguanas, cane toads |
| Sea life | not given | manatees, sharks, jellyfish, whales, turtles, rays |
| Total | 170+ |
For scale: Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar's most wildlife-heavy game, lists 178 animals in its compendium, counting its 16 legendary animals, with fish tracked separately (per the Red Dead Wiki's compendium count). So GTA 6's animal roster is roughly RDR2-sized, built into a modern-day crime game.
Rockstar's vice president of dynamic art, Michael Kane, explained where the number comes from:
"Florida has a diverse animal ecosystem that we wanted to faithfully include across the different biomes in Leonida – urban and rural environs, aquatic life both inland and ocean, and the wetland habitats like the swamps and Everglades." — Michael Kane, Rockstar Games, to Game Informer (as quoted by IGN)
Kane added that the animal art and population teams want every species "accurately researched" and "visually correct in every respect," with movement and animation to match. Game Informer says several of the species have never appeared in a Rockstar game before.
Which animals has Rockstar officially confirmed?
These are the species Rockstar or its official coverage named directly. If you only trust one list, use this one.
Named in Game Informer's exclusive (source):
- Native Florida species: flamingos, manatees, pelicans, alligators
- Invasive species: green iguanas, cane toads, feral cats, rhesus macaque monkeys ("Yes, Florida has monkeys," Game Informer adds)
Sea life confirmed in the cover story (per IGN's summary): several shark species, jellyfish, whales, turtles and rays. Rockstar says they have "distinct movement behavior" and that you'll meet them while scuba diving.
Shown interacting with the player in official gameplay: a dog. In Rockstar's Extended Look (August 27, 2026), Jason walks up to a dog and gets three prompts: Scold, Pet and Study.
The invasive-species detail is the most GTA thing about this list. Rockstar isn't just painting a nature postcard. It's copying real Florida, where escaped iguanas, toads and monkeys are a genuine problem, which fits a series that has always parodied the state it's set in.
Every animal spotted in GTA 6 trailers and screenshots
This list is wider but less official. It's what IGN, which went through the trailers, the Extended Look, every official screenshot and hands-on previews of a near-final build, says it has personally spotted (IGN, updated Sep 30, 2026). IGN's list is about 50 animals, under a third of the final total.
Land animals seen in GTA 6
| Animal | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alligator | Swamps, pools, even a supermarket in the trailers |
| Armadillo (nine-banded) | Also named in Polygon's cover-story coverage |
| Beaver | |
| Boar | |
| Bobcat | |
| Cane toad | Named by Rockstar as invasive |
| Cats (domestic and feral) | Feral cats named by Rockstar |
| Cougar / Florida panther | Seen stalking deer in Mount Kalaga |
| Deer | Shown grazing in Game Informer's screenshots |
| Dogs | Chihuahua, Doberman, German Shepherd, Rottweiler |
| Iguana | Green iguana named by Rockstar |
| Monkeys | Rhesus macaque named by Rockstar |
| Otter | |
| Raccoon | |
| Snakes | Species not identified |
| Squirrel |
Birds seen in GTA 6
Ducks, eagles, flamingos, cranes, pigeons, pelicans, seagulls, roseate spoonbills, storks and woodpeckers. Other outlets also list herons and cormorants (Red Bull). With 60+ bird species confirmed, this is the category with the most still to find.
Sea and swamp animals seen in GTA 6
Alligators, dolphins, eels, fish, jellyfish, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and whales, plus rays named in Rockstar's cover-story details.
Manatees are the fan favourite. Earlier footage hinted at them through manatee-themed jerseys for Leonida's local football team, and the cover story confirmed you can now meet them in the wild.
What are Rare, Discoverable and Legendary animals in GTA 6?
They're the trackable animal tiers, and Rockstar won't say which species are in them. Game Informer's exact wording: "You can also track certain animals categorized as Rare, Discoverable, and Legendary, though the identities of these harder-to-find creatures are being kept secret."
What that tells us:
- Tracking is back. IGN's write-up says you'll track animals "as they did in Red Dead Redemption 2."
- Not every species is trackable. The tiers cover "certain animals," not all 170+.
- Legendary is an official word in GTA 6. In RDR2, legendary animals were unique, named creatures in fixed regions. Whether GTA 6 copies that is not confirmed.
If you're planning a 100% run, this is the part to watch after launch. Our guess at where the hardest finds will live is the wild regions: Grassrivers (the Everglades stand-in), Mount Kalaga National Park and the reefs around the Leonida Keys. That's our reading of the region descriptions, not a Rockstar statement.
Can you study, pet or hunt animals in GTA 6?
Study: yes. Pet: yes, at least dogs. Hunt: not confirmed. Here's the split:
| Interaction | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Study animals (collection) | ✅ Confirmed | Rob Nelson to IGN |
| Pet a dog | ✅ Shown in gameplay | Extended Look, Aug 27, 2026 |
| Track Rare/Discoverable/Legendary animals | ✅ Confirmed | Game Informer |
| Visit a zoo | ✅ Confirmed | Game Informer side-activity list; Rob Nelson |
| Scuba dive with sea life | ✅ Confirmed | Game Informer |
| Hunting | 🟡 Hinted only | A screenshot shows Jason with a rifle near grazing deer |
| Fishing | 🟡 Reported, not on Rockstar's list | Not in Game Informer's side-activity list |
| Petting raises your Criminal Profile | ❓ Unconfirmed | Outlet claim only |
| Own or keep a pet | ❓ Unconfirmed | Not mentioned by Rockstar |
On studying, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson answered IGN directly when it spotted the prompt:
"Yeah, you can study animals as a collection sort of thing. And just as a way to get more information about them. It's something we've brought over from Red Dead Redemption 2." — Rob Nelson, Rockstar North, in IGN's full interview (Oct 7, 2026)
Nelson also listed "going to a zoo, studying animals, going scuba diving" as quality time for Jason and Lucia, so wildlife activities count toward their relationship. More from that interview is in our GTA 6 open world breakdown.
On hunting, be careful with what you read. The only evidence is Game Informer's screenshot of Jason with a rifle near deer, plus Rockstar's work on simulated fur and pelts. That points to something, but Rockstar hasn't said hunting is in the game, how it pays, or whether pelts sell. Treat any "GTA 6 hunting guide" posted before November 19 as speculation.
On petting, some outlets say it boosts your standing. Rockstar hasn't confirmed that, and our Criminal Profile guide explains what that system actually tracks.
How realistic are GTA 6's animals?
More detailed than any GTA so far, and in places beyond RDR2. Per Game Informer, Rockstar is building on its Red Dead work with:
- Iridescence and bioluminescence on some sea creatures, and translucency on others like jellyfish
- Different feather types across the 60+ bird species
- New hair and fur systems for coats and pelts. Kane told Game Informer fur is fully simulated for "human-to-animal interaction with dirt matting and clumping in environmental contexts, including getting wet, as well as color and coat variations" (via Polygon)
- Distinct movement behaviour per species, so a heron doesn't move like a raccoon
There's also a gameplay side. Alligators show up in places they shouldn't (a backyard pool, a store aisle) in the trailers, and you share the water with them on airboats and kayaks. Expect them to be a hazard, not just scenery.
What do players want from GTA 6's wildlife?
On r/GTA6, the animal-list thread posted this week split into two camps. Some players want to find every species themselves and are hoping for an RDR2-style compendium, which Nelson's "collection" answer suggests they'll get. Others are less wholesome and want to know how the zoo reacts to chaos. One commenter pointed back to the Extended Look's Study prompt as proof the compendium is real, and another asked for a fan-made illustrated field guide like the ones people built for RDR2.
We'll take that last one on. After launch on November 19, we'll update this page with the full in-game list and the Legendary animals as players find them.
What we still don't know
- The full 170+ list. Public lists stop at roughly 50 species.
- Which animals are Rare, Discoverable or Legendary, and where they spawn.
- Hunting, pelts and selling. Hinted, not confirmed.
- Fishing. Reported by previews, but not in Rockstar's confirmed activity list.
- Bears, possums, rats and pythons. All appear on some fan lists. IGN left possums and rats out because it couldn't verify them, and some entries come from the 2022 leak, which Rockstar never confirmed.
- What's in the zoo.
Want the regions these animals live in? Start with our GTA 6 map and confirmed locations guide and the Game Informer cover story recap.
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FAQ
How many animals are in GTA 6? More than 170 species, per Rockstar's Game Informer cover story (September 29, 2026). That includes 60+ birds, 30+ land mammals, and a range of fish, reptiles and sea creatures.
Are there legendary animals in GTA 6? Yes, as a category. Game Informer confirmed trackable animals are grouped as Rare, Discoverable and Legendary, but Rockstar hasn't revealed which species are in each tier.
Can you hunt in GTA 6? Not confirmed. A Game Informer screenshot shows Jason with a rifle near grazing deer, which hints at hunting, but Rockstar hasn't announced it as a feature.
Can you pet dogs in GTA 6? Yes. The August 27 Extended Look shows Jason getting Scold, Pet and Study prompts next to a dog.
Is there an animal compendium in GTA 6? Yes, in effect. Rob Nelson told IGN you can study animals "as a collection sort of thing," a feature brought over from Red Dead Redemption 2.
Are there sharks in GTA 6? Yes. Rockstar confirmed several shark species, along with jellyfish, whales, turtles and rays, which you can meet while scuba diving.
