Hey you, curious about the animals that start with K? We got your back! We have a list of amazing animals that start with the letter K!
Even though we did our best to bring you a fun list of animals beginning with K, this blog post is by far not exhaustive as the animal kingdom is massive—there are far more species out there.
Still, you’re bound to learn many exciting things about these animals that begin with K, so if you’re looking this up to help you with a school project, you’re in the right place.
Do you know the names of animals that start with the letter K? Drop us a comment and let us know below.
Animals That Start With K
Here’s a list of animals starting with the letter K.
Kori Bustard
As one of the largest flying birds in the world, the Kori bustard is among the heaviest bird with the ability to fly in general.
They don’t bother flying unless they’re in danger, though. Kori bustards also enjoy sucking water rather than scooping it to drink.
Kirk’s Dik-Dik
Kirk’s dik-diks are antelopes found in East Africa. They are relatively lightweight, with about 15 pounds on the biggest ones.
They are about 16 inches close to their shoulders. Their small size has led them to become prey for all kinds of animals, including big cats and wild dogs.
Kodkod
Kodkoks or güiñas are the smallest wild cat species native to America.
These are expert tree climbers and rely on their sharp sense of smell to search for food and avoid predators. They have flat faces and stocky legs.
They fall under the category of vulnerable species due to persecution and loss of habitat and prey base.
King Cobra
The longest venomous snake in the world, they can lift 3/4th part of their body to stand and move forward, poised to strike in that position. They can look a person right in the eye while standing.
On top of that, king cobras are among the fastest snakes in the world. It’s a blessing that king cobras are naturally shy and usually do not wish to associate with humans.
Komodo Dragon
The Komodo dragon also goes by the name of the Komodo monitor. This lizard species get its name from Komodo island, one of the Indonesian islands where its lives.
They have sharp teeth and a long venomous tongue resembling that of a snake. A person can die within an hour from their bite.
King Penguin
King penguins have the longest breeding cycle, reaching 16 months at times, and they do not have nests.
They are also slow walkers. It’s easy to mistake them for emperor penguins, though king penguins are smaller, albeit the second largest of the species of penguin.
Either way, king penguins are among the biggest birds on the planet.
King Vulture
The largest new world vulture, the species with vibrant orange and red beaks and necks, does not have eyelashes and is a pretty weird bird.
They can weigh about 8 pounds, and the tallest of them are about 2.5 feet. There’s a bulging area on the beak of king vultures scientists haven’t been able to narrow down the cause of.
King vultures live in savannas and grasslands in South America up to southern Mexico.
Kakapo
The only flightless parrot in the world, kakapos hike and climb to travel. They use their wings to retain balance, so they tend to be softer since they aren’t of use for flying.
Their primary tactic while dealing with a predator is to freeze on the spot, hoping they will blend into the background.
Keel-Billed Toucan
Belize’s national bird, the colorful keel-billed toucan’s beak looks heavy at first glance but happens to weigh barely anything. It’s made of keratin, which explains the lightness.
Their sleeping pose is odd, too, with their head turned, so their bill touches their back, and the tail is in contact with the head.
They live in a wide range from the tropical jungles of southern Mexico to Colombia.
Killer Whale
Killer whales or orcas are among the largest animals in the world, considering they are the largest dolphin species. They can be anywhere from 19 to 26 feet long and have a speed of 34 mph.
There isn’t an ocean out there where orcas don’t inhabit, and the apex predators literally sleep with an eye open. Oh, they’re expert whale hunters, too.
Koala
Mistakenly referred to as koala bears, they’re actually marsupials and a species we can’t leave out on a list of animals that start with K.
These popular animals spend their time sleeping while hugging a tree and consuming eucalyptus, though the leaves aren’t actually good for them.
They’re also the only animal species other than primates with fingerprints.
Kinkajou
Mistaken for monkeys, kinkajous belong to the same family as raccoons and even have the nickname of honey bear. This is because they search beehives for food from time to time.
Belize refers to kinkajous as night walkers, but they can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
Additionally, their hearing is so sharp that they can hear snakes approaching.
Killdeer
No, these aren’t deers or species that are excellent deer hunters. Killdeers are relatively large plover birds, though they’re small for the bird species.
Their name is in reference to the “kill-dee” call from male killdeers when they do their courtship flights.
Kea Parrot
The only alpine parrot to exist in the world, they’re native to New Zealand. They barely weigh 2 pounds and are about 1.6 inches tall.
They’re the mischievous parrots known as “clowns of the mountains.” The Maori people gave the bird species their name, referring to their call.
Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat
Mainly found in Myanmar and Thailand, in the limestone caves along the river banks, Kitti’s hog-nosed bats also have the name of bumblebee bats.
The near-threatened species do indeed have a nose resembling pigs. They are also the tiniest mammal species on earth, barely 1.3 inches.
Kit Fox
The smallest fox species to run around North America, kit foxes are about 5 pounds with huge ears.
Their big dark eyes and small face makes them look adorable and harmless. The ears are vital in detecting faraway noises and even heat distribution in their body.
Key Deer
Since Key deers only stay in the Florida Keys, in addition to being endangered, their natural name became Key deers.
Originally, they were a variation of the white-tailed deer. They don’t have assigned predators, though they do become victims of human greed.
Oddly, the deer species don’t fear humans at all.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
The smallest and the most endangered sea turtle species belongs to Kemp’s Ridleys.
The jaws of the sea turtles are strong, allowing them to feed on crabs. They are about 24 to 27 inches in length and have a pretty, mostly brown and somewhat white shell.
Klipspringer
From animals that start with K, this Antelope species is found from South Africa up to Eritrea.
Klipspringers make loud whistling noises through their nose when they want to alarm their friends. In times of distress, they let out roaring noises.
When the species stands in a spot, they bring their hind and front legs to the same area.
Knight Anole
These Cuban native lizard species are actually even kept as pets all around North America.
Knight anole has a scaly, green body and a pinkish inflated area directly under their throat.
One does not have to worry about poisons with this species, and they are safe to keep around with proper hygiene.
Kiang
The most common species and the largest of the wild asses in the world, they are native to Asia.
One can find them in almost all habitats, though their preference lies in open, dry areas. This includes deserts and semi-deserts.
They have white color on the legs, inside the ears, at the end of their face, and on their belly.
King Eider
King eiders are duck species of the sea. A common bird species in the world, they can reside in almost all water bodies, even around the poles.
Male eiders make cooing noises. Female eiders sound rough, with grunts and growls as their main form of communication.
Kereru
The native pigeon species to New Zealand, kererus, is huge. They are among the largest pigeon species in the world.
They have black and green feathers but appear purple when reflecting sunlight.
The wings make heavy whooshing noises, making it impossible for this species to move around without alerting anyone.
King Quail
The king quail has many names, thanks to the blue chest area of the species. The name ranges from Asian blue quail to Chinese painted quail and Chung-Chi.
The Old World quails are hard to spot with their 4 inches length and the ability to stay close to the ground. Their feet are bright orange.
Kalij Pheasant
The kalij pheasants are pheasants found in South Asia, specifically in the forests of the Himalayas and Pakistan.
Their preference for relatively cold weather can be sussed from their choice of habitat. These beauties with night blue plumage have red surrounding their eyes.
Kob
Antelopes appear quite often among the animals that start with K.
These African animals have a reddish-brown bodies. The undersides of their legs are white and so are the inner part of their ears.
They are herbivorous animals native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Kihansi Spray Toad
Kihansi spray toads aren’t even 1 inch in length. Their flight or fight instinct involves peeing or acting dead when they’re cornered.
The species do not go through the tadpole stage. Instead, they tend to be born as proper toads.
Kagu
Kagus are flightless birds only spotted in New Caledonia, the French territory east of Australia.
They have a 2.5 feet wingspan, but the muscles aren’t capable of flight. Instead, the wings help them do displays and, in case of danger, help them glide at best.
Kri-kri
Kri-kris is a species of forest goat inhabiting Crete, Greek, and three other small islands.
The names of the species include Agrimi, Cretan Ibex, and Cretan goat. The species is good at jumping and climbing cliffs. They aren’t fond of humans at all.
Kirtland’s Warbler
Endangered, the people of Michigan refer to the species as jack pine bird.
They were on the verge of extinction about 50 years ago and have been brought back to some degree. They are large berry eaters, with lantana berries making up a majority of their diet.
Kentish Plover
Kentish plovers are shorebirds with their breeding ground ranging from tundra and deserts to marshes and dunes.
These are small bird species, with nothing particularly remarkable about the color of their feathers or bills.
However, male Kentish plovers can be significantly rounder and bigger than female ones, with a tint of orange at the top of their head.
King Rail
The largest rail in America, these waterbirds are among animals that start with K. During nesting season, they truly shed their feathers.
The species has to wait for a month before their feathers grow big enough for them to fly again.
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky warblers prefer waddling around on the ground and switch from singing to perching on a tree branch quite frequently.
They are a sluggish species, walking around at their own pace. Their bright greenish-yellow body almost always tends to remind one of a bright tennis ball.
King Bird-of-Paradise
The king bird-of-paradise is a passerine bird species with a plumage one can never forget.
Referred to as the living gem, they have a deep red head and back, dark blue legs, a white-bluish underbelly, and small wings with gray and greenish-blue at the tip. Their bill is also a sober yellow.
They are among the most beautiful birds-of-paradise species.
Knobbed Hornbill
The last of the animals that start with K, knobbed hornbills are native Indonesian hornbills.
Their colorful plumage, especially their yellow bill and blue on the underside of the bill, can lead to them being mistaken for toucans.
Animal Alphabet List
Animals With K
We hope you enjoyed this fun animal list! Feel free to share it with your friends on social media.
Are we missing any animals beginning with K? Then let us know in the comments, and we will update this list! 😉
Gm
Thursday 25th of August 2022
Kangaroo didn’t make the list because…
Wildlife Explained
Thursday 25th of August 2022
Great question! Kangaroo is a species group, like dolphins (a general term for a group of species). In this article, we only mention individual species that start with K. We couldn't find any kangaroo species beginning with K, only species like the western gray kangaroo, Huon tree kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, and so on.