General terms:
* Fauna: This refers to all animal life in a specific region or time period.
* Creature: This is a more general term for any living thing, including animals and plants.
* Beast: This term is often used for larger, wild animals, especially mammals.
* Wildlife: This refers to animals living in a natural, undomesticated state.
* Living things: This is a very general term that includes all organisms.
Specific terms:
* Vertebrate: This refers to animals with a backbone.
* Invertebrate: This refers to animals without a backbone.
* Mammal: This refers to animals that have fur or hair, give birth to live young, and nurse their offspring.
* Bird: This refers to animals that have feathers and wings.
* Reptile: This refers to animals that have scales and lay eggs.
* Amphibian: This refers to animals that live both in water and on land.
* Fish: This refers to animals that live in water and breathe through gills.
The best alternative depends on the specific context of your usage.