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35 Animals That Start With C

Wondering what are the animals that start with C? You’re in luck–we compiled an incredible list of all sorts of animals that start with the letter C!

In today’s post, we will talk about cute, fast, massive, and even creepy animals beginning with C. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive, but you can get an idea of how rich our planet is by the animals below.

Whether you’re working on a school project, homeschooling your children, or simply curious, we’re sure you will learn fun facts about these animals that begin with C.

Hey, did we miss your favorite animal that starts with the letter C? Let us know in the comments session below, and we will add it to this blog post.

Animals That Start With C

Here are the most interesting creatures beginning with C in the animal kingdom!

Cougar

Cougar is an animal that begins with the letter C

Also known as mountain lions, cougars are powerful animals found commonly all over South and North America. Cougars are the largest felines in North America. 

They are nocturnal hunters who stalk their prey before launching an attack from behind. These large mammals can live up to 10 years in the wild.

Cheetah

Cheetah is an animal that starts with C

Next on our list of animals that start with C is the beautiful cheetah. These big cats are the fastest land animals found on earth. 

They are well known for the distinctive black tear stripes that run down from their eyes to the mouth.

Capybara

Capybara in the Pantanal, Brazil

The largest rodents on earth, capybaras are native to South America. They have pig-shaped bodies and webbed toes that make them well-suited for swimming. 

In fact, these rodents love water and usually reside in moist habitats. Male capybaras are generally slightly smaller than females.

Caracal

Caracal portrait

The caracal is a medium-sized African wild cat. These are solitary animals that like to prey on smaller animals like antelopes, hares, and other rodents.

Caracals can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Chameleon Forest Dragon

Chameleon forest dragon on rock

Chameleon forest dragons are a species of lizard native to Indonesia and Malaysia. 

Although they can change color to blend into their surroundings, they aren’t true chameleons. Their diet usually consists of a variety of insects and other small invertebrates.

Chicken Snake

Chicken snake putting tongue out

Chicken snakes are large non-venomous snakes found in the warmer regions of America. These beautiful snakes are black in color with yellow spots all over the head and body. 

They feed on a wide variety of small mammals and birds, and have a well-known preference for chicken eggs.

Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee scratching back with branch

How can we forget the chimpanzee while talking about animals that start with C? Did you know that these intelligent mammals share almost 95 to 98% of their DNA with humans? 

Beyond that, these large apes are found in parts of Africa and their conservation status is Endangered, according to the IUCN.

Chinstrap Penguin

Chinstrap penguin portrait

Chinstrap penguins inhabit several islands along the Pacific and Antarctic oceans. 

These adorable flightless birds can be identified by the presence of a narrow strap or band under their heads, which led to their name. 

These medium-sized penguins feed primarily on large krill.

Colorado Chipmunk

Colorado chipmunk sitting on rock

Colorado chipmunks are medium-sized rodents that dwell in parts of America. These agile creatures spend most of their time foraging on the ground as well as on trees. 

These animals hibernate in their nests built on trees or underground burrows during the cold winter months.

Clouded Leopard

Clouded leopard stalking prey

Clouded leopards are the largest predators on the Borneo and Sumatra islands and one of the most gracious wild cats in Asia. They are found in the dense forests in certain parts of the continent, including the foothills of the Himalayas. 

These are solitary animals who prefer to hunt at night while spending most of the day resting high up on branches of trees.

Clownfish

Clownfish swimming in anemone

Clownfish inhabit the coral reefs found near the coasts of South Asia and Australia. 

These small fishes can be identified by their bright orange bodies adorned with three white stripes or bands. The bands as well as the tip of their tails are outlined in black.

Citron Crested Cockatoo

Citron-crested cockatoo tilting head to the side

The citron-crested cockatoo is a medium-sized species of bird with a predominantly white body and an orange crest. 

While both female and male birds have similar appearances, they can be distinguished by their eye color. The females have copper-colored eyes, while the eyes of males are black. 

Collared Peccary

Collared peccary mother and baby

The collared peccary is next on our list of animals that start with C. The smallest member of the peccary family, these mammals are usually less than 3 three feet in length. 

They are found in parts of North, Central, and South America.

Collared Pratincole

Collared pratincole portrait

The collared pratincole is a small bird that inhabits a wide geographical area including parts of Central Asia, the Mediterranean region, and Africa. 

These migratory birds have brownish-colored bodies and a white belly. Their diet mainly consists of large insects.

Colossal Squid

Drawing of a colossal squid

Native to the Antarctic seas, the colossal squid holds the record for being the largest invertebrate on earth. 

These massive creatures live deep under the sea where they prey on smaller fishes and squids. They are also known to have the largest eyes among all animals on earth.

Cauca Poison Frog

Cauca poison frog on rock

The Cauca poison frog is an endangered amphibian species found in Colombia. 

They are part of the poison dart frog family which is characterized by their brightly colored bodies and a high level of toxicity, even for humans.

Common Loon

Common loon mother and baby on water

Common loons are a well-known bird species found all over North America. 

These are excellent swimmers who prefer to spend most of their time in the water, coming on land only for nesting. They are also known for their eerie calls.

Cooper’s Hawk

Young cooper's hawk perched on tree

The next on our list of animals that start with C is the beautiful cooper’s hawk. 

These medium-sized birds are skillful fliers who are often found swooping through thick vegetation in pursuit of their unfortunate prey. 

Although both female and male birds are similar in appearance, the former is slightly larger in size.

Common Toad

Common toad resting on the ground

Common toads are found extensively in the UK and other parts of Europe. They are characterized by their rough, dry, and warty skin. 

These frogs produce a toxin to make themselves unappealing to predators.

Cotton-Headed Tamarin

Cotton-headed tamarin perched on tree

The cotton-headed tamarin, also known as the cotton-top tamarin, is a primate species native to some forested areas in Northwestern Colombia. 

These animals have a crest of long white hairs surrounding their heads, hence their name. They have an average lifespan ranging from 13 to 23 years in the wild.

Coyote

Coyote howling from top mountain

Coyotes are wolf-like canines native to North America. 

These animals are smart and vocal and possess highly developed eyesight and a sense of smell. They can run at a speed of 40 miles per hour.

Coconut Crab

Coconut crab on tree

Coconut crabs are the largest land-dwelling crabs found on the earth. 

These enormous crustaceans are found in some islands on the Indian and Pacific oceans and have either red or blue-colored shells. They love to feed on coconuts, hence earning them their name.

Crabeater Seal

Crabeater seal laying on ice

Crabeater seals are native to the pack ice of Antarctica and constitute one of the most abundant species of mammals in the world. 

They have slender bodies covered with fur ranging from white to silver-gray in color. Unlike what their name suggests, these seals actually don’t feed on crabs, instead, their diet consists mainly of krill.

Common Long-Tailed Macaque

Common long-tailed macaque sitting on rock

The list of animals that start with C is sure to be incomplete without the common long-tailed macaque. 

They get their names from their extremely long tails that surpass the length of their bodies. These animals can live for 15 to 30 years in the wild.

Common Crane

Common crane about to fly

Common cranes are medium-sized social birds that migrate in large flocks consisting of hundreds of individuals. 

They have remarkably long necks and bills and are very powerful fliers.

Cuban Crocodile

Cuban crocodile walking out of the water

The Cuban crocodile is an endangered species found in some specific regions of Cuba. 

They are freshwater crocodiles who often hunt in groups. These reptiles have a long lifespan and can survive for around 50 to 75 years in the wild.

Crocodile Newt

Crocodile newt on rock

Crocodile newts are native to several Asian countries like China, Nepal, India, Thailand, etc. 

They prefer to inhabit moist areas preferably near a water source. These are carnivorous animals that feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Common Hippopotamus

Common hippopotamus portrait

Common hippopotamuses are large animals native to the continent of Africa. 

Their bodies are perfectly designed to suit their aquatic lifestyle, allowing them to even sleep underwater. They are highly-aggressive creatures.

Copperhead Trinket Snake

Copper-headed Trinket Snake ready to attack

How can we miss the copperhead trinket snake when talking about animals that begin with the letter C! 

These are non-venomous snakes that remain active during the day. Their diet consists of smaller mammals, rodents, lizards, and so on.

Coypu

Coypu eating carrot by the water

The coypu, also known as the nutria, is a large semi-aquatic rodent that mostly feeds on plants. 

Native to South America, they are mostly found near freshwater lowlands. They can survive for up to 6 to 10 years in the wild.

Canada Goose

Canada goose on water

Canada geese are the most common species of wild geese found in North America. They migrate in large flocks, flying in a characteristic ‘V’ formation. 

The males can have a wingspan of up to 5 feet.

Chamois

Charmois walking on mountain

The Chamois is a small, goat-like animal found in some mountainous regions of Europe. 

These mammals have a brown-colored coat that changes into a light-gray shade during the winter months. They can run at a speed of around 31 miles per hour.

Common Blackbird

Common blackbird on grass

Common blackbirds are found in parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa and are well known for their melodious voices. 

Male birds are usually a rich shade of black, while the females are brownish and often have a lighter throat patch. Their diet consists of fruits, berries, worms, and other invertebrates.

California Condor

California condor flying

California condors are the largest among all flying bird species in North America. They have a rather poor sense of smell, although their highly developed eyesight makes up for it. 

These birds are critically endangered and may soon reach extinction unless proper conservation efforts are made.

Common Octopus

Common octopus swimming

The last on our list of animals that start with C is the common octopus. These marine animals have eight long arms that they use to walk underwater. 

They are solitary animals that usually hunt at night. These animals have the ability to blend in with their surroundings, just like chameleons.

Animal Alphabet List

Animals that start with A

Animals that start with B

Animals that start with D

Animals that start with E

Animals that start with F

Animals that start with G

Animals that start with H

Animals that start with I

Animals that start with J

Animals that start with K

Animals that start with L

Animals that start with M

Animals that start with N

Animals that start with O

Animals that start with P

Animals that start with Q

Animals that start with R

Animals that start with S

Animals that start with T

Animals that start with U

Animals that start with V

Animals that start with W

Animals that start with X

Animals that start with Y

Animals that start with Z

Animals With C

That’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed reading this incredible animal list! Did we miss your favorite animal that begins with C? Let us know in the comments below!

Oh, be sure to share this list of animals beginning with C with your friends!

Candy

Tuesday 30th of August 2022

Fascinating thanks for sharing such interesting information.