Animals that Start with K

Updated: October 11, 2022
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Read below for information on 75 different animals that start with the letter K, from kakapos to kudu. The most popular animal that starts with the letter k is the koala, an animal with fingerprints indistinguishable from humans. The least popular K animal is the keel billed toucan. Some fun facts about letter K name animals are:

  • Kiwis are a flightless bird only found in the forests of New Zealand
  • With their powerful hind legs kangaroos can jump up to 6 feet high and as far as 25 feet forward.
  • Komodo dragons are the largest lizard in the world and only found on 5 Indonesian islands.

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Alphabetical List of Animals That Start with K

Animals that Start with K

A Kagu
Kagu

The endangered kagu is the only bird in the world with nasal corns!

A Kai Ken
Kai Ken

Kai Ken are a very rare breed of dog from Japan, though pure breeds are even harder to come by.

A Kakapo
Kakapo

The heaviest species of parrot in the world!

A Kaluga Sturgeon
Kaluga Sturgeon

One of the world's largest freshwater fish

A Kamehameha Butterfly
Kamehameha Butterfly

State insect of Hawaii

A Kangal Shepherd Dog
Kangal Shepherd Dog

Can run up to 35 miles per hour (56km).

A Kangaroo
Kangaroo

Females have a deep pouch on their front!

A Kangaroo Mouse
Kangaroo Mouse

The Kangaroo Mouse is a tiny mouse that stands and hops around on its hind legs, much like a kangaroo.

A Kangaroo Rat
Kangaroo Rat

Merriam’s kangaroo rats literally never have to drink water

A Kaua’i ‘Ō‘ō
Kaua’i ‘Ō‘ō

Calls could be heard up to a quarter mile away

A Keagle
Keagle

These adorable dogs are known for their love of children, strangers, and other animals because of their docile demeanor.

A Keel-Billed Toucan
Keel-Billed Toucan

It's beak can reach nearly 20 cm long!

A Keelback
Keelback

The checkered keelback of the east Indies can detach its tail and grow it back, much like a lizard.

A Keeshond
Keeshond

Friendly, alert dogs that are loyal to their owners

A Kelp Greenling
Kelp Greenling

Male Kelp Greenlings participate in an unusual mating ritual by fertilizing eggs in the nests of other males.

A Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler

The Kentucky Warbler appears to wear bright yellow cat-eye glasses!

A Kenyan Sand Boa
Kenyan Sand Boa

A popular pet snake that comes in dozens of morphs!

A Kermode Bear (Spirit Bear)
Kermode Bear (Spirit Bear)

The cubs are usually weaned after 6 to 8 months; however, they will remain with their mothers through their second winter until they reach 17 months old.

A Kerry Blue Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier

They are born black, and turn gray-blue as they age.

A Kestrel
Kestrel

Can hang suspended on wind currents

A Keta Salmon
Keta Salmon

During spawning the look of the male changes. Among other things, he grows a beak called a kype that bears fangs.

A Key Deer
Key Deer

Bucks grow new antlers every year.

A Keyhole Cichlid
Keyhole Cichlid

When these fish feel stressed, their skin color will change from yellow-cream to brown.

A Khao Manee
Khao Manee

The Khao Manee is one of the rarest cat breeds in the world.

A Khapra Beetle
Khapra Beetle

Khapra beetles are among the most invasive insect species in the world.

A Kiang
Kiang

The kiang, native to the Tibetan Plateau, is the largest of the wild asses!

A Kiko Goat
Kiko Goat

Kiko goats breed year-round, and they are not good at defending themselves.

A Killdeer
Killdeer

The killdeer feigns injury to draw a predator away from its nest.

A Killer Clown Ball Python
Killer Clown Ball Python

Killer clown ball pythons can cost several thousand dollars.

A Killer Whale
Killer Whale

Typically consumes over 200 kg of food a day!

A Killifish
Killifish

Killifish are highly sought after for their peaceful nature and ability to adapt to most aquarium communities.

A Kinabalu Giant Red Leech
Kinabalu Giant Red Leech

Comes out only during a rainstorm or just afterward

A Kinder Goat
Kinder Goat

Best jumper of all goats

A King Cobra
King Cobra

They are the longest venomous snake in the world.

A King Crab
King Crab

Can have a leg span of nearly 2 meters!

A King Eider
King Eider

The species name, spectabilis, is Latin for “showy” or “remarkable,” referencing the attractiveness of the adult male’s plumage.

A King Penguin
King Penguin

More than 2 million breeding pairs!

A King Rat Snake
King Rat Snake

When threatened or frightened, the king rat snake has the ability to produce a foul-smelling substance out of self defense.

A King Salmon
King Salmon

Largest of the Pacific salmon

A King Shepherd
King Shepherd

This hybrid breed is the largest among the shepherd class.

A King Snake
King Snake

King Snakes eat other types of snakes.

A King Vulture
King Vulture

The king vulture is the second largest New World vulture species

A Kingfisher
Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

A Kingklip
Kingklip

A delicacy in South Africa

A Kinkajou
Kinkajou

The kinkajou is a nimble forest-dwelling mammal of Central and South America.

A Kirtland’s Snake
Kirtland’s Snake

It is considered to be the least aquatic of water snakes.

A Kishu
Kishu

Once raised to hunt dangerous game like boar, today's kishu ken are more likely to be used as guard dogs.

A Kissing Bugs
Kissing Bugs

Kissing bugs derive their name from the location they prefer to bite, which is usually close to the lips of the host

A Kissing Gourami
Kissing Gourami

The kissing gesture that the kissing gourami displays is not a mating gesture

A Kit Fox
Kit Fox

The kit fox is the smallest canid in North America.

A Kiwi
Kiwi

Only found in the forests of New Zealand!

A Klipspringer
Klipspringer

Klipspringers can jump as high as 10-12ft!

A Knifefish
Knifefish

Produce weak electric fields

A Knight Anole
Knight Anole

When threatened, the promiscuous knight anole rises on all fours and turns bright green, and gives a menacing look.

A Koala
Koala

Spends up to 80% of the time sleeping or resting!

A Kodiak Bear
Kodiak Bear

Kodiak bears are the second largest bear in the world after the polar bear.

A Kodkod
Kodkod

The kodkod is among the smallest species of cats in the entire world

A Koi Fish
Koi Fish

In Japanese, the word koi sounds like the word for love. So the fish is a symbol of love among other good things.

A Kokanee Salmon
Kokanee Salmon

A non-anadromous type of sockeye salmon

A Komodo Dragon
Komodo Dragon

Only found on five Indonesian islands

A Kooikerhondje
Kooikerhondje

If Kooikerhondjes look familiar, it’s because old Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Jan Steen liked to paint them.

A Koolie
Koolie

The name "koolie" comes from the German mispronunciation of "collie."

A Korean Jindo
Korean Jindo

At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Jindos marched in the opening ceremonies.

A Kori Bustard
Kori Bustard

It's easily identified by its crest, large size, and wingspan

A Kouprey
Kouprey

The kouprey is one of the rarest mammals in the world

A Kowari
Kowari

Kowaris do not drink or take water; all they get is the water content in their diet.

A Krait
Krait

A painless bite that can result in death.

A Krill
Krill

The krill is perhaps the most important animal in the marine ecosystem!

A Kudu
Kudu

Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!

A Kudzu Bug
Kudzu Bug

Kudzu bugs don't bite humans, but they secrete a substance that can irritate people's skin. That irritation is often confused for a bite.

A Kuvasz
Kuvasz

Ownership of this dog was once restricted to the Hungarian nobility


A Komodo Dragon
Komodo Dragon

Only found on five Indonesian islands

A King Cobra
King Cobra

They are the longest venomous snake in the world.

Newest Animals that Start with the Letter K

The most recently added Animals that start with the letter K.

A Kamehameha Butterfly
Kamehameha Butterfly

State insect of Hawaii

A Kiang
Kiang

The kiang, native to the Tibetan Plateau, is the largest of the wild asses!

A Kingklip
Kingklip

A delicacy in South Africa

Animals that Start with K
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