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30 Animals That Start With X

Believe it or not but there are many animals that start with X. In today’s article, you’ll hear all about these curious animals that start with the letter X!

While the complete list of animals beginning with X is exhaustive, we decided to create this blog post with many fascinating, cute, weird, and fast creatures.

You will learn many exciting things about these animals that begin with X, so if you’re looking this up to help you with a school project, you’re in the right place.

Hey, dear reader! Did we miss any animal that starts with the letter X? Then let us know below.

Animals That Start With X

Here are some incredible animals that begin with the letter X.

Xantus’s Hummingbird

Xantus's hummingbird (Basilinna xantusii) perched on a branch

Native to Mexico, this small bird inhabits arid woodlands of scrub, oak, and pine-oak. They feed on nectar and are territorial in feeding areas.

Though it has a relatively limited range, Xantu’s hummingbird (Basilinna xantusii) population is estimated at 20,000 and 50,000 adult individuals, making them a stable species.

X-Ray Tetra Fish

X-ray Tetra fish in aquarium

Also known as X-ray fish, these interesting fish have translucent bodies, giving meaning to their peculiar name. X-ray fish reach no more than 2 inches long.

X-ray tetra fish are primarily found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America and feed on planktonic animals and tiny insects. 

Xalda Sheep

The xalda sheep is a breed of sheep native to Spain

As one of the oldest Spanish sheep breeds, this animal that starts with X was first recorded in 27 BCE.

These sheep native to North Spain have black or white wool and might have a reddish undertone as adults. Males have twisted horns going sideways.

Unfortunately, Xalda sheep are currently an endangered species.

Xingu Corydoras

Xingu Corydoras (Corydoras albolineatus) in water

Xingu corydoras is a fish native to the Xingu River basin in Brazil, South America. 

These small fish has a pinkish tinge with brown speckles. They feed on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

Adults won’t guard the eggs laid, so they look for dense vegetation to lay them in.

Xantus Swimming Crab

Xantus' Swimming Crab on the sea floor

These crabs prefer sandy bottoms and eelgrass beds deep in the southern United States and Mexico sea. These warm-water species feed on sand crabs, species abundant on sandy bottoms.

Their body is gray with white markings and red to purple claws. 

Xenopeltis Unicolor

Xenopeltis unicolor (snake) is creeping on the ground

These non-venomous snakes are native to southeast Asia and live in forest clearings, parks, and gardens.

They have highly iridescent scales that are dark. Xenopeltis unicolor can lay up to 10 eggs at a time. They are constrictor snakes and feed on frogs, reptiles, and small mammals.

Xingu River Ray

Xingu River ray

Also known as the polka-dot stingray, these freshwater fish are native to the Xingu River basin in the Brazilian Amazon.

These animals that start with X prefer rocky bottoms and consume hard-shelled invertebrates.

They are venomous rays, but their toxicity decreases as they age.

Xuthus Swallowtail

Xuthus swallowtail butterfly

Also known as the Asian swallowtail, this butterfly is found in northeast Asia. Xuthus swallowtails are black and yellow with orange and blue-iridescent scales on the hindwings.

Curiously, these insects can detect a wide range of wavelengths, helping them identify individuals of their own species.

Xinjiang Goat

Xinjiang goat on grass field

Native to the Xinjiang Mountains, these Chinese animals are locally used to produce cashmere, milk, and meat.

Their coloration is black, white, and brown, and they have backward horns on the top of their heads.

Xantis Yak

Xantis yaks are domesticated cattle found in the Himalayan Mountains. These animals that start with X can only withstand such high altitudes thanks to their massive heart and lungs.

Beyond that, their thick, long coats and extra fat layer keep them warm in the mountains.

Xantus Murrelet

Xantus's Murrelet bird
Photo by Julio Mulero (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

These small seabirds found along California’s coast are also known as Guadalupe murrelets.

They are small black and white birds that breed on San Benito and Guadalupe Islands in Mexico. Little is known about the time at sea due to difficulties in studying them.

Xantus’s Becard

Xantus’s Becard

Commonly known as rose-throated becard, Xantus’s becards are medium-sized bird species from the southwestern United States, more precisely from Arizona and Texas.

Males have rose-colored neck bibs and are primarily gray but may also show a black crown. Females are mostly brown.

Xantic Sargo

Found in the coastal waters of California and Mexico, Xantic sargos are small fish that stay mainly near the bottom, hidden in rocky structures and reefs.

They are part of the grunt fish family and can produce loud sounds by grinding their teeth together.

Xingu Scale-Backed Antbird

Xingu scale backed antbird
Photo by Hector Bottai (CC BY-SA 4.0)

These small passerines are found in the Xingu River basin in eastern Amazon, Brazil.

Males are gray, lined with rows of white scales, while females are brownish.

These tiny animals that begin with X are usually found in pairs and live in the understory of humid forests.

Xucaneb Robber Frog

Native to the central highlands of Guatemala, these small frogs are found in premontane and montane forests at elevations of 2,000–4,300 ft above sea level.

They typically live in bushes and shrubs. Due to human settlement and wood extraction, Xucaneb robber frogs are threatened with extinction.

Xantus Leaf-Toed Gecko

Xantus Leaf-Toed Gecko
Photo by Chris Brown, USGS Public domain

Found in southern California and the Baja California peninsula in North West Mexico, this reptile has a small range in North America and lives in arid regions and deserts. They can reach up to 2.5 inches long.

Something curious about this animal that starts with X is that they lose their vulnerable tail to avoid predation.

Xinjiang Ground Jay

Watercolor illustration of Xinjiang ground jay

Native to China, the Xinjiang ground jay is a small brown and white bird.

There isn’t much info on this species yet, but scientists list this jay as Near Threatened due to habitat fragmentation and degradation.

Xolocalca Bromeliad Salamander

These tiny salamanders are native to Mexico and live at high elevations, about 6,600 feet.

They measure no more than 2.2 inches and are brownish-purple with a black marking on the head. Some individuals have pinkish-cream coloration or light lateral stripes.

Xeme

Adult summer plumaged Xeme or Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) in Alaska

Also known as Sabine’s gulls, xemes are small gulls that lay olive-brown eggs.

Although they spend the breeding season in the Arctic, these birds are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and the coastal region in the Atlantic Ocean.

These animals that start with X feed on insects and insect larvae.

Xuhai Goat

Xuhai is a Chinese goat breed native to Jiangsu, a province on the country’s eastern coast.

The breed is kept primarily for meat production.

Xenocrates Leafwing

Xenocrates leafwing butterfly
Photo by Collection of invertebrates INPA, Manaus (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Native to the Amazon Rainforest, these butterfly species are distributed throughout Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and French Guiana forests.

These animals that begin with X are primarily black and blue with orange spots.

Xinjiang Even-Fingered Gecko

Xinjiang Even-Fingered Gecko
Photo by seasav (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Xinjiang even-fingered geckos, also known as Przewalski’s pygmy geckos, are a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

They prefer to live in deserts at altitudes of 1,600–4,600 feet.

Xavier’s Greenbul

Xavier’s greenbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. 

It is found in sub-Saharan Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Xanthippe’s Shrew

Perhaps one of the smallest animals that start with X, the Xanthippe’s shrew is a tiny mammal from eastern Africa.

It lives in dry savanna and subtropical shrubland.

Xeniades Swallowtail Butterfly

Xeniades swallowtail butterfly
Photo by Notafly (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Xeniades swallowtails are butterfly species in the family Papilionidae. They are found in southern Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.

These beautiful animals that start with X are primarily black, with one white spot on each wing and a couple of red spots on the lower wings.

Xestus Sabretooth Blenny

Xestus sabretooth blenny
Illustration by Alvin Seale Public domain

Xestus sabretooth blennies are a combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

This small species reaches a length of almost 3 inches long.

Xingu Scythebill

Xingu Scythebill bird
Photo by Hector Bottai (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Xingu scythebills are a species of bird in the ovenbird family.

These interesting passerines are found in southeastern Amazonia, and their natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Xami Hairstreak

Xami hairstreak butterfly
Photo by Alan Schmierer Public domain

Xami hairstreak is a small butterfly found in southern Arizona and Texas in North America down to Guatemala in Central America.

This rare butterfly is only one inch big. Curiously, this species’ males are very territorial.

Xilingol Horse

A horse of central Inner Mongolia, the Xilingol is a light horse used for riding and draft purposes. 

The Xilingol stands at 5 feet tall and is found in solid colors.

Xinjiang Toad

Xinjiang toad
Photo by Dr. Mikhail F. Bagaturov (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Xinjiang toads are found in dry plains and foothills of Central Asia and the mountains and deserts of western China and Mongolia.

Adult individuals reach up to 3.4 inches, and females tend to be bigger.

Animal Alphabet List

Animals that start with A

Animals that start with B

Animals that start with C

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 Y

Animals that start with Z

Animals With X

We hope you appreciated this fun list of animals starting with X! Feel free to share it with your friends on social media.

Did we miss any animals beginning with X? Let us know in the comments below!