Animals that Start with J

Updated: October 11, 2022
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Read below for information on 36 different animals that start with the letter J, rom jackals to jellyfish. The most popular animal that starts with the letter J is the jaguar, the largest wild cat on the American continent. The least popular J animal is the Japanese Macaque, also known as The Snow Monkey. Some fun facts about letter J name animals include:

  • There are only 72 individual Javan Rhinoceros in the wild today. All are located in a single national park.
  • Jaguars are believed to be named from the Native American work yaguar, meaning ‘he who kills with one leap’
  • The immortal Jellyfish (turritopsis dohrnii) has the biological ability to live forever

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36 Animals That Start with J

Animals that Start with J

Jabiru

Jabiru Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Ciconiiformes
Family
Ciconiidae
Genus
Jabiru
Scientific Name
Jabiru mycteria

Fun Fact: They form lifelong pair bonds and live in groups near water sources.

“Look for them in large groups, wading in shallow water.” Summary The jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) is a large stork native to Central and South America. It inhabits wetlands and riparian habitats, where it spends its days wading in shallow water, waiting for fish and other creatures to swim in its open mouth. This species was […] Read More


Jacana

Jacana Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Jacanidae
Genus
Jacana Brisson
Scientific Name
Jacanidae

Fun Fact: The jacana has the ability to swim underwater

“The great swimmer and diver.” The jacana is a family of colorful and long-legged water birds hailing from the tropical wetlands around the world. There are eight documented species, plus four more extinct species known from the fossil record. Collectively, they are part of an order that includes waders, gulls, and auks. This article will […] Read More


Jack Crevalle

Jack Crevalle Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Carangiformes
Family
Carangidae
Genus
Caranx
Scientific Name
Caranx hippos

Fun Fact: One of the biggest species in the Caranx genus

Jack Crevalle Summary The jack crevalle is a highly predatory species of marine fish belonging to the genus Caranx. It roams freely throughout the Atlantic Ocean, appearing along the coasts of many adjacent countries. It primarily preys on smaller fish and various invertebrates like crustaceans. Although sport fishers value it as a tough game fish, […] Read More


Jack Russells

Jack Russells Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact: Intelligent, athletic and fearless!

Jack Russells, also called Jack Russell Terriers are very active, intelligent, and inquisitive dogs. They were bred to assist with fox hunting and are very happy when they are given a job to help their owners. They can make a great family dog for families with older children but will need regular exercise and mental […] Read More


Jack-Chi

Jack-Chi Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis familiaris

Fun Fact: The Jack-Chi dog is known as the yapping dog because of its insistent bark.

The Jack-Chi dog is a mixture of two purebred dogs, the Chihuahua and Jack Russel. These dogs originated in the southern region of China around the year 1892. Jack-Chi dogs were designed for hunting, as their small, muscular body could dig underground and gather foxes and rats. The Different Types of Mixed Breeds of the […] Read More


Jackabee

Jackabee Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact: A good choice for owners who want an exercise companion!

Even for a dog, the Jackabee has an incredible sense of smell that it inherited from its fox-hunting parents. The Jackabee is a spunky, hard-working, and upbeat little mix with almost endless reserves of energy. It is produced from a cross between a Jack Russell or Russell Terrier and a Beagle. As with any crossbreed, […] Read More


Jackal

Jackal Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis Aureus

Fun Fact: Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Jackals communicate with members of their pack using howls, growls, yipping, and even hooting sounds. Jackals are animals that make their home in different parts of Africa as well as in European countries such as Greece, Romania, Italy, and Bulgaria along with others. They are omnivores eating both plants and meat. A male and female […] Read More


Jackdaw

Jackdaw Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Corvidae

Fun Fact: The jackdaw tends to mate for life with a single partner

The jackdaw is a clever and mischievous bird, a capable scavenger, and a devoted partner. There are two recognized species of jackdaw: the western or Eurasian jackdaw, which can be found almost anywhere between Western Europe and Central Asia, and the Daurian jackdaw, which calls eastern Asia home. As members of the Corvid (crow) family, […] Read More


Jackrabbit

Jackrabbit Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Lagomorpha
Family
Leporidae
Genus
Lepus
Scientific Name
Lepus californicus

Fun Fact: They can run as fast as 45 mph.

“A black-tailed jackrabbit can cover ten feet of distance in just one leap” A black-tailed jackrabbit is a hare found in the south and western parts of the United States as well as in Mexico. Along with having a black tail, this hare has fur colors of grayish-brown on most of its body with white […] Read More


Jackson’s Chameleon

Jackson’s Chameleon Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Chamaeleonidae
Genus
Trioceros
Scientific Name
Trioceros jacksonii

Fun Fact: Have jousting battles with their horns.

Despite the small size of the dwarf Jackson’s chameleon, it still has the three horns that the species is known for. Also known as the Kikuyu three-horned chameleon, the Jackson’s chameleon is most commonly known for the three horns that adorn its face. Though it isn’t known for being the largest or smallest of any […] Read More


Jagdterrier

Jagdterrier Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact:

The jagdterrier, also known as the Deutscher (meaning German) jagdterrier, is a German hunting dog that loves its job. A high-energy, courageous, and highly trainable pup, this dog’s name literally translates to hunting terrier.  After World War I, a group of hunters separated from the Fox-Terrier Club to create a breed focused purely on hunting […] Read More


Jaguar

Jaguar Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Panthera
Scientific Name
Panthera onca

Fun Fact: The largest feline on the American continent!

Classification The Jaguar is the largest feline on the American continent, and is the only one of the world’s ‘big’ cats to be found in the New World. Jaguars are close relatives to Leopards and have a number of similar characteristics including the distinctive spotted pattern on their fur. The Jaguar is the third largest […] Read More


Jaguarundi Cat

Jaguarundi Cat Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Herpailurus
Scientific Name
Herpailurus yagouaroundi

Fun Fact: These cats are expert swimmers.

“The jaguarundi has 13 unique sounds it uses to communicate with other cats.” The Jaguarundi has a nickname: the Otter Cat. This is because its head is similar in shape to an otter’s head. This cat’s tail also bears a resemblance to an otter’s tail. On top of that, a jaguarundi cat is an expert […] Read More


Jamaican Boa

Jamaican Boa Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Boidae
Genus
Chilabothrus
Scientific Name
Chilabothrus subflavus

Fun Fact: When a Jamaican boa is coiled up, it almost looks like two snakes together because of color pattern.

The largest native predator on the island of Jamaica is a snake – the Jamaican Boa. This snake often reaches seven and a half feet long. It’s nonvenomous, and a member of the boa family. It used to be widespread across Jamaica, but now only lives in isolated pockets scattered about the island. Amazing Facts […] Read More


Jamaican Iguana

Jamaican Iguana Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Iguanidae
Genus
Cyclura
Scientific Name
Cyclura collei

Fun Fact: Almost went extinct for 40 years

“The Jamaican iguana has almost been eaten to extinction.“ Summary The Jamaican iguana belongs to the rock iguana genus Cyclura in the iguana family Iguanidae. While it used to live throughout Jamaica, the Jamaican iguana almost went extinct in the mid-20th-century. No one saw a live iguana on the island from 1948 to 1990, when […] Read More


Japanese Bantam Chicken

Japanese Bantam Chicken Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Gallus
Scientific Name
Gallus gallus domesticus

Fun Fact: Japanese bantam chickens are the best flying chicken species

Summary The Japanese bantam chicken is a breed of ornamental chicken or Gallus gallus. Commonly known as Chabo, this chicken breed was only found in Japan and a few other South and East Asian countries until 1868, when the government reopened to foreign trade, and the bird was imported to Europe and the USA. They […] Read More


Japanese Beetle

Japanese Beetle Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Scarabaeidae
Genus
Popillia
Scientific Name
Popillia japonica

Fun Fact: Can clear an entire fruit tree in 15 minutes in a swarm

Japanese beetles can be found in many places around the world, but they are only actually native to parts of Japan. Acting as foragers, these insects eat a broad diet of plant life (including fruits), so it is quite easy to make them feel at home. However, since they are an invasive species to the […] Read More


Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact: Alert, intelligent and independent!

A Japanese Chin is an affectionate, intelligent dog with a playful nature. A Japanese Chin belongs to the Toy group of dogs and was bred to be the perfect companion for its owner. Its soft coat and delicate steps make it more cat-like than dog-like. The origin of this breed is unknown. Some believe it […] Read More


Japanese Macaque

Japanese Macaque Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Primates
Family
Cercopithecidae
Genus
Macaca
Scientific Name
Macaca fuscata

Fun Fact: Has cheek pouches for storing food!

The Japanese macaque is a medium-sized Monkey found in a variety of different habitats throughout Japan. The Japanese macaque is also known as the “snow monkey” as they are often found living in colder regions of the country where heavy snowfall is common during the winter. They are the world’s most northern living monkey species […] Read More


Japanese rat snake

Japanese rat snake Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Colubridae
Genus
Elaphe
Scientific Name
Elaphe climacophora

Fun Fact: The albino Japanese rat snake is a symbol of good luck.

“The albino Japanese rat snake is a symbol of good luck” The Japanese rat snake is sometimes called the blue general because some of them have bright blue scales. It is non-venomous and lives in shrubland, forest, or mountain habitat. This snake can grow to a size of 6.5 feet. It lives in Japan and […] Read More


Japanese Spitz

Japanese Spitz Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact: The Japanese Spitz is sometimes referred to as a cloud dog.

Long-haired, all-white dogs, like the Japanese Spitz, are sometimes called “cloud dogs.” The Japanese Spitz is a playful, spirited breed, clothed in luxurious all-white fur. Although records of its origin were destroyed in World War II, these dogs were first bred in early 20th century Japan, a cross between several other spitz-like dogs. The spitz […] Read More


Japanese Squirrel

Japanese Squirrel Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae
Genus
Sciurus
Scientific Name
Sciurus lis

Fun Fact: The Japanese squirrel hoards its food for the winter

The Japanese squirrel is a prodigious hoarder. It buries food in the ground to survive the harsh winter. These small old-world rodents are the only species of non-flying or gliding squirrels entirely native to the Japanese mainland. They are not to be confused with the cute dwarf flying squirrel, which occupies a separate genus. The […] Read More


Japanese Terrier

Japanese Terrier Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Fun Fact: Japanese Terriers are also called Nippon Terriers

Japanese Terriers are also known as Nippon Terriers. They are very lovable and affectionate, making them excellent additions to any family. Japanese Terrier dogs are small-sized dogs with short coats. These dogs are clean-cut and have a smart appearance and a compact outline. Japanese terriers are cheerful dogs and are very intelligent in nature. They […] Read More


Javan Leopard

Javan Leopard Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Panthera
Scientific Name
Panthera pardus melas

Fun Fact: Deathly afraid of water

“Javan leopards are deathly afraid of water.” Summary The Javan leopard is a subspecies of leopard native to the island of Java in Indonesia. Javan leopards measure around two-thirds the size of normal leopards, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous or powerful. While they can carry prey twice their size into trees so […] Read More


Javan Rhinoceros

Javan Rhinoceros Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Perissodactyla
Family
Rhinocerotidae
Genus
Rhinoceros
Scientific Name
Rhinoceros Sondaicus

Fun Fact: Only has a 25cm long horn!

Limited to just a single national park, the Javan rhino today numbers just 72 individuals in the wild The Javan rhinoceros (also known as the lesser one-horned rhinoceros and the Sunda rhinoceros) is a species of rhinoceros native to of Southeast Asia. The Javan rhinoceros is thought to be most closely related to the Indian […] Read More


Javanese

Javanese Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
Scientific Name
Felis catus

Fun Fact: Features that closely resemble a Siamese cat!

The intelligent and loving Javanese cat will want to be by your side. This breed loves to talk to you, and they will use different voices to indicate their needs. This breed was created in the late 1970s and early 1980s by crossing a Siamese with a Balinese cat. Breed History The Javanese is an […] Read More


Jellyfish

Jellyfish Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Scyphozoa
Order
Semaeostomeae
Family
Cyaneidae

Fun Fact: Have tentacles around their mouths!

Jellyfish are prehistoric marine creatures and have been known to exist in oceans for the past millions of years. Though they are not usually aggressive, these fish are famous for their ability to sting, allowing them to defend themselves against any sort of danger. These fish use their tentacles for hunting. However, they do not […] Read More


Jerboa

Jerboa Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Dipodidae

Fun Fact: Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!

A jerboa’s tail is usually longer than its head and body combined. The jerboa is a small, hopping rodent that lives in the deserts of Northern Africa and Asia. Jerboas are very cute and have exceptionally long ears, tails, and hind feet that cause them to look like a caricature instead of a real animal. […] Read More


Jewel Beetle 

Jewel Beetle  Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Buprestoidea

Fun Fact: They are named Jewel Beetles due to their iridescent wings.

These iridescent beetles are named for the jewels that they resemble. The Jewel beetle family is a large grouping of beetles that live all over the world. Some are large and used in decorative jewelry. Others can cause problems with trees and plants. All Jewel beetles have some of the most interesting and unique markings […] Read More


John Dory

John Dory Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Zeiformes
Family
Zeidae
Genus
Zeus
Scientific Name
Zeus faber

Fun Fact: The John Dory is often labeled one of the ugliest fish in the world and has no known relatives.

The John Dory is often labeled one of the ugliest fish in the world and has no known relatives. John Dories are unique-looking fish that prefer the warmer temperatures of tropical oceans around the world, excluding the Americans (eastern Pacific and western Atlantic Oceans). A few theories exist about the origin of the name “John […] Read More


Jonah Crab

Jonah Crab Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Malacostraca
Order
Decapoda
Family
Cancridae
Genus
Cancer
Scientific Name
Cancer borealis

Fun Fact: It has delicious meat with an affordable price

The Jonah crab is a marine crab species that lives in the waters off the eastern coast of North America. It is valued for its sweet and flavorful meat and its claws and legs, which have a more affordable price than other types of crabs. It has a rough-edged carapace with yellow or light spots […] Read More


Joro Spider

Joro Spider Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae
Family
Araneidae
Genus
Trichonephila
Scientific Name
Trichonephila clavata

Fun Fact: Shares its name with a Japanese "spider demon"!

Joro spiders use the wind current to “balloon” on, trailing their silk threads from their body to catch themselves in the air. The Joro spider shares its name with a folkloric “spider demon” in Japanese culture. Though it was once exclusive to regions like Japan and Korea, it was likely brought to the United States […] Read More


Josephoartigasia monesi

Josephoartigasia monesi Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Dinomyidae
Genus
Josephoartigasia
Scientific Name
Josephoartigasia monesi

Fun Fact: Josephoartigasia monesi the largest known rodent

Josephoartigasia monesi is an extinct rodent species that lived during the Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene Epoch (about 4 million years ago). This massive caviomorph rodent is related to the pacarana (a rare, slow-moving rodent found in South America). However, it is significantly larger. Josephoartigasia monesi is the largest rodent on record. It lived in […] Read More


Jumping Spider

Jumping Spider Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae
Family
Salticidae

Fun Fact: Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

“The jumping spider is known as the ‘cute spider’.” Members of the largest spider family, jumping spiders, are diurnal and love to hunt in the sunshine. Unusually pretty for arachnids, they come in a rainbow of colors, though even the biggest one, Hyllus giganteus, is small. More than just a pretty face, the spider hunts […] Read More


Jungle Carpet Python

Jungle Carpet Python Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Pythonidae
Genus
Morelia
Scientific Name
Morelia spilota cheynei

Fun Fact: Their stunning coloration is sometimes muddy yellow or even tan and black in the wild.

Jungle carpet pythons are a subspecies of nonvenomous carpet pythons found in Australia. These snakes are arboreal; they don’t come to the ground often and only live in a small rainforest region. They eat various rodents, birds, marsupials, and other small, warm-blooded animals. Due to their natural beauty, they have become popular pets among reptile […] Read More


Junglefowl

Junglefowl Picture
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Galliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Gallus

Fun Fact: The term "pecking order" comes from junglefowls' hierarchies among both sexes

The junglefowl is the original chicken. The ancestor of the domesticated chicken is the red junglefowl, which is from South Asia and Southeast Asia. However, it has influence from the grey, green, and Sri Lankan species as well. The chicken was domesticated about 8,000 years ago. The junglefowl is used for meat, eggs, and feathers […] Read More



A Jaguar
Jaguar

The largest feline on the American continent!

A Japanese Chin
Japanese Chin

Alert, intelligent and independent!

Newest Animals that Start with the Letter J

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

A Jack Crevalle
Jack Crevalle

One of the biggest species in the Caranx genus

A Jamaican Iguana
Jamaican Iguana

Almost went extinct for 40 years

A Javan Leopard
Javan Leopard

Deathly afraid of water

Animals that start with the letter , including the Jellyfish & Jaguar

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