If you were wondering what animal names start with K, this article is just for you. Here is a list of 23 animals that start with the letter K.
We’ve included the most important details about these animals with a fun fact.
Enjoy reading!
1. Kangaroos
We all, as kids, know them as the animals with ‘a pouch‘. The most distinctive feature of Kangaroos is the females with front pouches that hold their babies.
Kangaroos are native to Australia. They’ve long hind legs with huge tails that can even hold a kangaroo’s entire weight.
Fun Fact: Female Kangaroos can pause their pregnancies.
2. Keel-billed Toucan
The Keel-billed Toucan is a large bird known for its colorful beak. The beak might look too heavy compared to the bird’s body, but it isn’t.
Surprisingly, the beak is one-third of the bird’s size. This bird is a poor flier that mostly hops while moving from tree to tree.
Fun Fact: Keel-billed Toucan is a loud species that can be heard from half a mile away.
3. Key Deer
Have you ever underestimated someone because of their size? Well, a key deer has been through that.
They’re called toy deer because they’re the smallest deer species of white-tailed deer. Yes, their tail is white from underneath, and their belly as well.
Key deers don’t fear humans and approach them for food at times.
Fun Fact: Key Deer were about to get extinct in the 1950s and are still endangered animals.
4. Kiko Goat
The Kiko goat was created as a crossbreed between dairy and feral goats. The primary reason for doing so was for meat and milk; hence the meaning of their name is ‘meat’ in Maori.
This goat is resistant to parasites but doesn’t have the natural skills to defend itself from predators.
Fun Fact: A pedigreed male Kiko goat can be sold for as high as $1500!
5. Killer Whale
Killer whales are the largest in the dolphin family. They can be easily recognized by their black back, white front, and white eyespot.
But as the name suggests, even if you recognize them, don’t approach them, as they’re brilliant in their hunting tactics.
Fun Fact: Killer whales have a distinct way of communication and accent unique to their family group or pod.
6. Kinder Goat
This crossbreed of an American Pygmy and a Nubian goat is becoming popular amongst farmers nowadays.
It’s resistant to many diseases and has a high productivity level, producing up to half a gallon of milk daily.
Fun Fact: Kinder goats give birth to multiples- twins on average. Even triplets and quads are common.
7. King Cobra
This snake is most commonly found in India, southern China, and Southeast Asia. It is crowned the longest venomous snake that can literally look you in the eye when it ‘stands’.
Apart from this deadly snake’s venom, the green, black, and dark brown scales on its body help camouflage.
When King Cobra feels threatened by anyone, it expands its hood, pulls a third of its body above the ground, and can still move forward to attack.
Fun Fact: A single bite by the King Cobra is enough to kill 20 humans.
8. King Crab
Like most crabs, King Crab, too, has a shell for protection. Additionally, it also has spines all over its body for extra safety.
If you’ve ever had this crab, you might think it’s red, but its color is orange.
An interesting development phase of King Crabs includes the process of molting. This is when King Crabs grow in size by growing larger shells and shedding the small ones.
Fun Fact: When threatened, King Crabs will make stacks or pods. These can even include 100 crabs stacked on top of each other.
9. King Penguin
King Penguins are the second largest penguin in the world, with a height close to a toddler’s.
Their physical features are distinct, with an orange hue at their ear and throat.
They are expert divers; however, they’re not the best at walking fast or hopping.
Fun Fact: A King penguin’s pupil is circular, obviously. However, when constricted, their pupils become square.
10. Kingfisher
Kingfisher is a common bird across the world, except for extreme desert and polar climates.
This brightly colored bird has a small and bright structure with its unique beak. Kingfisher’s beak is designed so effectively that it allows the bird to dive at maximum speed with a minimum splash.
They also dive into the water blindly to catch prey.
Fun Fact: Japanese bullet trains took inspiration from Kingfisher’s beak.
11. Kinkajou
The kinkajou is also called honey bears because they slurp honey from bee hives. Their long and skinny tongue makes it easier to do this.
They also have a long tail that acts as their third limb, helping them grab things.
Fun Fact: The spine of a kinkajou is very flexible, helping them curl into small spaces.
12. Kit Fox
The Kit Fox is adapted to the hot weather conditions it inhabits, with several physical adaptations that help it regulate its body temperature.
Its large ears help radiate heat, and the fur on its paw pads helps protect its feet from rough surfaces.
They are the smallest fox in North America.
Fun Fact: Most Kit Foxes live with the same partner for their entire life. However, occasional polygyny has been seen.
13. Kiwi
The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand. It is known for its distinctive appearance, including its long beak and whisker-like feathers.
They are flightless birds and are nocturnal, spending most of their time in burrows they dig in the ground.
Its wings have a cat-like claw on the tip, but it is non-functional.
Fun Fact: The kiwi has a sense of smell that is unique among birds.
14. Koala
The koala resembles a small bear. Koalas spend most of their time sleeping in eucalyptus trees, feeding on the leaves. They have a specialized digestive system to process the tough, fibrous eucalyptus leaves.
Fun Fact: Koalas can sleep more hours than a newborn baby, i.e. 18 hours!
15. Kodkod
Ever wondered how small a cat can be? Well, Kodkod is the smallest species of cat.
This secretive feline found in the southern hemisphere is near the size of a small house cat.
The Kodkod has a distinctive short, bushy tail with narrow, black bands. Its relatively large feet suggest that it is a skilled climber.
Fun Fact: Kodkod can live for up to 11 years in the wild.
16. Koi Fish
Japanese rice farmers began breeding Koi fish for their beautiful colors in the 19th century. The Koi have plump but not obese bodies, and their mouths are located at the end of their head.
Koi fish’s strength and ability to swim vigorously even in cold water contribute to their large and sturdy appearance.
Fun Fact: These fish have a long lifespan, with some living up to 226 years!
17. Komodo Dragon
This is probably your worst nightmare if you’re not a big fan of lizards. Komodo Dragon is not only the largest of all lizards but also the most ferocious one.
They grow up to three meters long and weigh up to 150 kg. These lizards can even use their tails in a fight.
Fun Fact: The venomous bite of a Komodo dragon can kill a person within hours.
18. Kookaburra
Kookaburra works as an alarm clock of the forest, letting its call out early in the morning. What’s even more amusing is that the call sounds like laughter, giving them the name ‘laughing jackass’.
They have an off-white head with a brown stripe across the face, making them unique.
Fun Fact: Kookaburras sneak food in from snakes.
19. Krill
Many believe that krills are the fuel to the Earth’s marine ecosystems. This is because Krills are the diet of most oceanic animals.
Krills have a hard shell, and their transparent body has bioluminescent photophores that make them glow. They’re teeny tiny, like a paper clip.
Fun Fact: Krill is a delicacy in Japan, the Philippines, Russia, and Spain.
20. Kudu
The Kudu is from the antelope family in East and South Africa. Their bodies have 6-8 white stripes and spots with a patch of white hair between their eyes.
Their distinctive feature is the spiral horns on the male Kudu that can grow as long as 6 feet.
Fun Fact: Kudu makes the loudest sound of all antelopes in the form of a gruff bark.
21. King Rat snake
While naming this snake, scientists took ‘you are what you eat’ quite seriously. They are named after their diet, consisting primarily of other snakes, including venomous species, and are highly immune to their venom.
Although they can be kept as pets, their aggressive nature can make them challenging to handle.
Fun Fact: The King Rat Snake is known for its ability to produce a foul-smelling substance as a defensive mechanism when threatened or frightened.
22. Kermode Bear
The Kermode bear, or “spirit bear,” is a subspecies of the American black bear that’s common in coastal regions of British Columbia in Canada.
These bears are known for their unique white or cream-coloured fur, resulting from a genetic mutation in a small percentage of the population.
Fun Fact: The population of Kermode or spirit bears is estimated to be 100 to 500 individuals in the wild. Hunting these bears is illegal and can result in a fine of $100,000.
23. Kentucky Warbler
The Kentucky Warbler is a small olive-coloured bird with a black cap and yellow breast. It is known for its bright yellow “spectacles”.
The Kentucky Warbler is known for its territorial behavior and persistent two-note song, making it more likely to be heard than seen.
Fun Fact: The Kentucky Warbler has been observed following army ants to feed on insects disturbed by the ants.
If you reached the end of this article, then we know you’re a real animal lover. Comment down below which fact interested you the most.
Our website lists animals that start with other letters as well. If you are interested in those, feel free to read up on them.
Here’s a full list of Animals that Start with K
- Kagu
- Kai Ken
- Kakapo
- Kaluga Sturgeon
- Kamehameha Butterfly
- Kangal Shepherd Dog
- Kangaroo
- Kangaroo Mouse
- Kangaroo Rat
- Katydid
- Kaua’i ‘Ō‘ō
- Kea
- Keagle
- Keel-Billed Toucan
- Keelback
- Keeshond
- Kelp Greenling
- Kentucky Warbler
- Kenyan Sand Boa
- Kermode Bear (Spirit Bear)
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Kestrel
- Keta Salmon
- Key Deer
- Keyhole Cichlid
- Khao Manee
- Khapra Beetle
- Kiang
- Kiko Goat
- Killdeer
- Killer Clown Ball Python
- Killer Whale
- Killifish
- Kinabalu Giant Red Leech
- Kinder Goat
- King Cobra
- King Crab
- King Eider
- King Mackerel
- King Penguin
- King Quail
- King Rat Snake
- King Salmon
- King Shepherd
- King Snake
- King Vulture
- Kingfisher
- Kingklip
- Kinkajou
- Kirtland’s snake
- Kishu
- Kissing Bugs
- Kissing Gourami
- Kit Fox
- Kitefin Shark
- Kiwi
- Klipspringer
- Knifefish
- Knight Anole
- Koala
- Kodiak Bear
- Kodkod
- Koi Fish
- Kokanee Salmon
- Komodo Dragon
- Komondor
- Kooikerhondje
- Koolie
- Korean Jindo
- Kori Bustard
- Kouprey
- Kowari
- Krait
- Krill
- Kudu
- Kudzu Bug
- Kuvasz
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