12 Nocturnal Animals: List of Creatures That Thrive at Night

Also known as owl monkeys, these are the only truly nocturnal monkeys in the world. Native to Central and South America, night monkeys have evolved large eyes to see in the dark and are active primarily at night. They use vocalizations and scent marking to navigate their environment and communicate.

These flying mammals are champions of the night. Using echolocation to hunt insects and avoid obstacles, bats are among the most successful nocturnal animals.

Found nearly worldwide, they also play a vital role in ecosystems by pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. As they flit through darkness, they're one of the few mammals that can truly fly (rather than glide).

These birds of prey are equipped with binocular vision and an incredible sense of hearing. Owls can hunt small mammals, insects and even fish in almost total darkness.

Their feathers are specially adapted to allow silent flight, making them stealthy nighttime predators. They often nest in trees and are active at night when prey is easier to surprise.

This peculiar lemur from Madagascar has a long middle finger it uses to extract insects from tree bark. Aye-ayes are nocturnal and often misunderstood, but they are fascinating examples of evolutionary specialization for nighttime living.

They reflect light from their large eyes and use percussive foraging — tapping on wood with their elongated middle finger and listening for insect larvae inside — to locate prey.

These small mammals glide from tree to tree using a membrane called a patagium stretched between their front and back legs.

Flying squirrels are active at night and feed on fruits, nuts, insects and bird eggs. Their big eyes help them navigate forests in the dark, and their long tails help stabilize their flight. Light pollution can disrupt their normal activity.

Though not exclusively nocturnal, leopards are most active at night, especially in areas where they coexist with humans.

Their excellent night vision and stealth make them skilled hunters of prey that range from small animals to large ungulates. They often rest during the day and emerge under cover of darkness.

Common in North America, raccoons are opportunistic feeders with highly developed senses of touch and smell. They often explore urban areas at night in search of food, showing how adaptable nocturnal behavior can be.

Artificial light doesn't deter them much, and they often take advantage of human environments.

These small, spiny mammals forage for insects and worms after dark. Hedgehogs are solitary and shy, using their excellent sense of smell to locate food while avoiding predators. They are part of the list of nocturnal animals that benefit from being active at night to avoid competition.

Though active during both day and night, honey badgers often hunt under cover of darkness to avoid predation and increase their odds of success.

These fierce small mammals use their powerful noses to sniff out prey underground or in dense brush. They are an example of animals that are active in multiple light conditions.

Frogs are amphibians that typically emerge at night to hunt insects. Their croaks are often used to attract mates after dark. Nocturnal species of frogs rely on sound more than sight to communicate and avoid predators in damp, dark habitats.

Big cats like lions, tigers and jaguars are also known for their nocturnal or crepuscular habits. These apex predators often use the cover of night to stalk prey silently. Their eyes reflect light, helping them see in the dark — a trait common among many night animals.

Not all nocturnal creatures are mammals or birds. Some fish and reptiles also exhibit nocturnal behavior. Many reef fish hide during the day and feed at night, while geckos and certain snakes become more active after dark to avoid predators and hunt in peace.

Your pet cat? It's not quite nocturnal, but it is crepuscular, meaning it's most active during dawn and dusk. Its sharp senses and hunting instincts shine brightest when the world goes dark, and many small animals become prey.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.