15 Captivating Animals That Start With C

By Kevin Myers | 2023 Update

There are numerous animals on this planet with all sorts of exotic names. The list is endless which is why we’ve decided to compile for you a list of all the interesting animals we’ve found whose names start with the letter C. We’ve even included a unique fun fact for each animal on this list. Let’s dive in…

Animals That Start With C

1. Camel

The camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large hoofed mammal native to the hot deserts of Northern Africa and the Middle East. It is also found in India, China, and Australia. 

Camels are large, brown-colored herd animals with short, thick fur, and a hump on the back. Due to the animal’s resilience to some of the harshest environments in the world, man domesticated it thousands of years ago to be used for transportation. Besides that, they have historically been sought-after for their meat, milk, and wool. 

Fun fact: Camels can survive without water for up to 10 months and can travel as much as 40 km in a single day while carrying 300 kg of load on their backs. They can drink up to 20 gallons of water at a time. 

2. Crocodile 

Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a carnivorous reptile that is easily recognizable by its scaly streamlined form, fanged snout, and powerful tail. There are 13 different species of crocodile that are found inhabiting both fresh and saltwater throughout North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Crocodiles are archosaurs, an ancient group of reptiles that also includes dinosaurs.

Fun fact: The modern-day crocodile is a pre-historic and ancient animal whose evolution has barely changed it in roughly 200 million years. 

3. Cape Lion

The Cape Lion is a now-extinct subspecies of lion that once inhabited South Africa. The Cape Lion had all the physical attributes of a lion. Their biggest distinguishing feature was the darker color of the mane, which extended along the shoulders and below the stomach. This subspecies appeared to have been particularly large for a lion, with some specimens weighing nearly 600 lbs. 

Fun fact: Despite being a large muscular mammal, this animal rests for more than 18 hours a day. 

4. Chameleon 

The Chameleon (Chamaeleonidae) is a species of lizard known for their ability to change colors and degrees of brightness. There are over 160 subspecies of chameleon that inhabit the tropical forests and deserts of Africa, Asia, Southern Europe, and some parts of North America. 

They are small lizards with large eyes and curled tails. Some subspecies can change the color of their skin to camouflage themselves from predators. These lizards can change their skin color to pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown, light blue, yellow, and even turquoise. 

Fun fact: Chameleons have large, protruding eyes which give them a panoramic view of their environment—about 180 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.

5. Capybara

The Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), also known as the water hog, is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to Central and South America. 

It is a heavy, stocky-looking animal with a short head and muzzle compared to its body. It has hoof-like claws, which help the animal navigate through slippery banks and swim. They also prevent the Capybara from sinking too deep into the mud.

Fun fact: It is the largest living rodent in the world, weighing up to 72 kg!

6. Cactus Mouse

The Cactus Mouse (Peromyscus erimicus) is a small rodent with large eyes, a pointy snout, large ears, and hair over most of its body, along with a lengthy tail. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

These rodents are nocturnal feeders with a shrill squeal. They can run at an average speed of 13.1 km/h. The cactus mouse mostly forages for seeds and vegetation but will eat insects too. 

Fun facts: In hot temperatures, they lower their metabolism and become inactive to reduce the amount of water they need for survival. 

7. California Tarantula 

The California Tarantula (Aphonopelma californicum) is a medium-sized brown tarantula native to California, Arizona, and Texas. Their bodies and legs are covered in brown hair that gives them a furry look. They have eight long, segmented legs with two additional arm-like pedipalps at the front of their bodies. They are terrestrial and live in burrows abandoned by other animals or dig one of their own.

Fun fact: Each year, they molt their exoskeleton to make room for their growing body.

8. Camel Spiders

Camel spiders belong to the Solifugae family and the class Arachnida. Although this animal also goes by the name Wind Scorpion, it’s neither a scorpion nor a true spider. 

More than 1000 species of this spider live in the Middle East, southwestern United States, and Mexico. They live in hot, dry deserts and scrublands. They’re nocturnal animals and hunt at night when the temperatures are cooler. 

Fun fact: Camel spiders have been known to follow people to enjoy their shadow’s coolness in the hot environments where they live.

9. Canaan Dog

The Canaan is one of the oldest breeds of dog (Canis lupus) recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). It is one of the few breeds of dogs that are native to the Arabian Peninsula. This breed is characterized by erect ears, a wedge-shaped head, long legs, and a bushy tail that curves over the back. They are medium-sized dogs and can weigh up to 40-50 lbs. 

Fun fact: The Canaan dog is the national dog of Israel – the country that claims the dog’s ancestry.

10. Canadian Lynx

The Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a wild cat native to Canada and Northern United States. It stands about 24 inches tall and is almost twice as big as the average house cat. This cat weighs about 33 lbs. They are carnivorous animals that prey on snow hares. 

Fun fact: They have natural snowshoes: the animal’s big toe is set at an angle different than its other toes, which helps distribute its weight to walk through the snow easily.

11. Canadian Warbler 

The Canadian Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) is a small bird native to Canada. It has bright yellow feathers that make it stand out in the world of birds. It’s an omnivore that preys on moths and caterpillars and eats fruits and seeds. The lifespan of this bird is about 8 years, and it migrates to and from South and North America and Canada. 

Fun fact: This bird can travel up to 3000 miles during its migratory season!

12. Cane Corso

Cane Corso is a large breed of dog (Canis lupus) that was first bred in Italy for guarding purposes. These dogs can weigh up to 110 lbs and live up to 12 years of age. They’re one of the largest breeds of dogs and are related to the breed Mastiff. 

Fun fact: These dogs nearly went extinct in the mid-1900s but were revived by a group of Italian breeders who admired the breed. 

13. Cane Spider

The Cane Spider (Heteropoda venatoria) is a species of spider native to Hawaii and other tropical regions of the world. It is one of the largest spiders, with a length of 1-2 inches and a width of 2-3 inches. The Cane spider is frequently found in sugarcane fields, hence the name Cane Spider. It is an insectivorous arachnid that mainly feeds on butterflies, moths, and other insects.

Fun fact: Unlike other spiders, cane spiders don’t spin webs to catch prey but rather catch it directly. 

14. Capuchin

The Capuchin is a small, new-world monkey in the sub-family Cepinae. It inhabits South and Central America and has over 23 species in the genus Cebus and Sajapus. It is a small, omnivorous primate that weighs about 6-9 lbs. Its most distinctive feature is the white or light hair around the creature’s face and neck. 

Fun fact: They are extremely intelligent animals that are easy to train. They are somewhat self-aware and can even use simple tools!

15. Caracal

Caracal (Felis caracal) is a wild cat found in Africa, the Middle East, and India. It is a fairly large wild cat (compared to housecats) that can weigh up to 11-18 kg. They can reach speeds of up to 50 m/h, and they mainly prey on hares, mice, and antelopes.

Fun fact: This cat has extremely sensitive hearing, with up to 20 different muscles in its ears that help track down prey.

Here’s a list of All Animals that start with C:

  • Cabbage Moth
  • Cactus Moth
  • Cactus Mouse
  • Cactus Wren
  • Caecilian
  • Caiman
  • Caiman Lizard
  • Cairn Terrier
  • California Condor
  • California Kingsnake
  • California Tarantula
  • Camel
  • Camel Cricket
  • Camel Spider
  • Canaan Dog
  • Canada Lynx
  • Canada Warbler
  • Canadian Eskimo Dog
  • Canadian Horse
  • Cane Corso
  • Cane Rat
  • Cane Spider
  • Cantil
  • Canvasback
  • Cape Lion
  • Capuchin
  • Capybara
  • Caracal
  • Cardinal
  • Caribbean Reef Shark
  • Caribou
  • Carolina Dog
  • Carolina Parakeet
  • Carp
  • Carpenter Ant
  • Carpet Beetle
  • Carpet Python
  • Carpet Viper
  • Carrion Beetle
  • Cascabel
  • Cashmere Goat
  • Cassowary
  • Cat
  • Cat Snake
  • Cat-Eyed Snake
  • Cat-Faced Spider
  • Catahoula Bulldog
  • Catahoula Leopard
  • Catalan Sheepdog
  • Caterpillar
  • Catfish
  • Caucasian Mountain Dog (Shepherd)
  • Caucasian Shepherd
  • Cava Tzu
  • Cavador
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Cavapoo
  • Cave Bear
  • Cave Lion
  • Cecropia Moth
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Centipede
  • Central Ranges Taipan
  • Cephalaspis
  • Ceratopsian
  • Ceratosaurus
  • Cervalces latifrons (Broad-Fronted Moose)
  • Cesky Fousek
  • Cesky Terrier
  • Chain Pickerel
  • Chameleon
  • Chamois
  • Chartreux
  • Cheagle
  • Checkered Garter Snake
  • Cheetah
  • Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  • Chestnut-Sided Warbler
  • Chi Chi
  • Chickadee
  • Chicken
  • Chicken Snake
  • Chigger
  • Chihuahua
  • Chihuahua Mix
  • Children’s python
  • Chilean Rose Tarantula
  • Chilesaurus
  • Chimaera
  • Chimpanzee
  • Chinchilla
  • Chinese Alligator
  • Chinese Cobra
  • Chinese Crested Dog
  • Chinese Geese
  • Chinese Paddlefish
  • Chinese Shar-Pei
  • Chinese Water Deer
  • Chinook
  • Chinook Salmon
  • Chinstrap Penguin
  • Chipit
  • Chipmunk
  • Chipoo
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Chiton
  • Chiweenie
  • Chorkie
  • Chow Chow
  • Chow Pom
  • Chow Shepherd
  • Christmas Beetle
  • Christmas Island Red Crab
  • Chromodoris Willani
  • Chusky
  • Cicada
  • Cichlid
  • Cigarette Beetle
  • Cinereous Vulture
  • Cinnamon Ball Python
  • Cinnamon Bear
  • Cinnamon Ferret
  • Clark’s Grebe
  • Clearnose Skate
  • Click Beetle
  • Clock Spider
  • Clothes Moth
  • Clouded Leopard
  • Clownfish
  • Clumber Spaniel
  • Coachwhip Snake
  • Coastal Carpet Python
  • Coastal Taipan
  • Coati
  • Cobia Fish
  • Cobras
  • Cochin Chicken
  • Cockalier
  • Cockapoo
  • Cockatiel
  • Cockatoo
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Cockle
  • Cockroach
  • Coconut Crab 
  • Codfish
  • Codling Moth
  • Coelacanth
  • Collared Peccary
  • Collett’s Snake
  • Collie
  • Collie Mix
  • Colossal Squid
  • Comb Jellyfish
  • Comb-crested Jacana
  • Comet Moth
  • Comfort Retriever
  • Common Buzzard
  • Common Carp
  • Common European Adder
  • Common Frog
  • Common Furniture Beetle
  • Common Goldeneye
  • Common Grackle
  • Common Green Magpie
  • Common House Spider
  • Common Loon
  • Common Raven
  • Common Spotted Cuscus
  • Common Toad
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Compsognathus
  • Cone Snail
  • Conger Eel
  • Congo Snake
  • Conure
  • Cookiecutter Shark
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Copperhead
  • Coral
  • Coral Snake
  • Corella
  • Corgidor
  • Corgipoo
  • Corkie
  • Corman Shepherd
  • Cormorant
  • Corn Earworm
  • Corn Rex Cat (Cornish Rex)
  • Corn Snake
  • Cory Catfish
  • Coryphodon
  • Costa’s Hummingbird
  • Coton de Tulear
  • Cotton-top Tamarin
  • Cottonmouth
  • Coues Deer
  • Cougar
  • Cow
  • Coyote
  • Crab
  • Crab Spider
  • Crab-Eating Fox
  • Crab-Eating Macaque
  • Crabeater Seal
  • Crane
  • Crappie Fish
  • Crayfish
  • Crested Gecko
  • Crested Penguin
  • Cricket
  • Croatian Sheepdog
  • Crocodile
  • Crocodile Monitor
  • Crocodile Shark
  • Crocodylomorph
  • Cross Fox
  • Cross River Gorilla
  • Crow
  • Crucian Carp
  • Cryolophosaurus
  • Cuban Boa
  • Cuban Cockroach
  • Cubera Snapper
  • Cuckoo
  • Cucumber Beetle
  • Curly Coated Retriever
  • Curly Hair Tarantula
  • Cuttlefish
  • Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

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