Q is one of those odd letters in the alphabet that we seem to use rarely. While Q is a relatively underused letter, many members of the animal kingdom have names that start with Q. If you want to learn about animals that start with Q, you are in the right place.
Let’s dive right in!
Key Facts:
- The animals that start with the letter Q are a diverse group, including quail to quahog clams, and everything in between.
- A few of the animals on this list that start with the letter Q include queen angelfish, Qinling pandas, and quetzals.
23 Animals That Start With Q: A List
Looking for a list of animals starting with Q? You are in the right place! Here’s a list:
- Quail
- Quagga
- Quokka
- Quetzal
- Quoll
- Qinling Panda
- Queen Angelfish
- Quahog Clam
- Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
- Queen Snake
- Quagga Catshark
- Queensland Grouper
- Queen Snapper
- Queen Triggerfish
- Queensland Tube-Nosed Bat
- Queensland Lungfish
- Quelea
- Quechuan Hocicudo
- Quacking Frog
- Quebrada Valverde Salamander
- Quaker Parrot
- Quarterhorse
- Quetzalcoatlus (extinct pterosaur)
- Quince monitor
23 Animals That Start With Q: A Closer Look
Want to learn more about the animals that start with the letter Q? You’ll find more information about each animal on this list below.
Quail
Quail is a small, plump bird with mottled brown plumage. They prefer a diverse range of habitats, from grasslands and farmlands to woodlands and scrublands. Known for their strong flight and ground-dwelling habits, quails are adept at foraging for seeds, insects, and vegetation.
Quagga
Note: The image above is of a modern zebra, not a quagga.
The quagga, scientifically known as Equus quagga quagga, was a striking subspecies of the plains zebra that once roamed the grasslands of South Africa. This unique equine creature was renowned for its extraordinary appearance, featuring a sandy-brown coat with distinct dark stripes only on its front half. The rear half displayed a faded hue, resembling a captivating blend of zebra and horse traits.
Tragically, the quagga fell victim to overhunting and habitat loss, leading to its extinction in the late 19th century.
Quokka
The quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is a small marsupial native to Australia, particularly found in the southwestern region, including Rottnest Island and parts of Western Australia. Known for its adorable appearance, the quokka has a compact and rounded body, with a short tail and round ears. It sports a cheerful expression, often referred to as the “world’s happiest animal” due to its seemingly ever-present smile.
Quokkas are primarily nocturnal creatures, preferring a habitat of dense vegetation, shrublands, and coastal dunes, where they can find ample food and shelter. They are herbivores with a diet that consists mainly of grasses, leaves, and other plant matter.
Quetzal
The quetzal, scientifically known as Pharomachrus mocinno, is a breathtakingly beautiful bird found in the lush rainforests of Central America. Revered by ancient civilizations like the Maya and Aztecs, the quetzal boasts iridescent green plumage that shimmers like a living gem, complemented by a striking red belly and long, flowing tail feathers. They were considered sacred and revered as a symbol of freedom, beauty, and wealth in Mesoamerican cultures.
Quetzals are predominantly found in cloud forests, montane rainforests, and wooded areas with dense canopies, where they can gracefully soar through the treetops and find an abundance of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates to sustain their diet. These elusive birds prefer to live in high-altitude regions, often inhabiting mountainous areas.
Quoll
The quoll, of the scientific genus Dasyurus, encompasses several species of carnivorous marsupials native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. These fascinating creatures are often likened to a mix between a cat and a mongoose, with their distinctive spotted coats and sharp, pointed snouts.
Like other marsupials, female quolls give birth to underdeveloped young. After birth, they continue to grow and develop within their mother’s pouch. As pouch-raised marsupials, quolls display an intriguing maternal care system.
Qinling Panda
The Qinling panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis) is a distinctive and rare subspecies of the beloved giant panda. Native to the Qinling Mountains of China, members of this subspecies typically have a smaller and more slender body compared to their counterparts found in other regions. Their fur is characterized by lighter coloring, with a reddish-brown tone dominating their coat instead of the usual black. This adaptation allows them to blend better with their forested habitat.
Queen Angelfish
The queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is a mesmerizing marine creature found in the warm waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean. This species boasts a dazzling color palette, with a vibrant blue or green body adorned by bold yellow and blue markings on its fins.
A unique fact about the queen angelfish is their ability to change color during their lifetime. As juveniles, they exhibit a different color pattern, often featuring a more somber dark blue or black with bright blue and white rings. As they mature into adults, their appearance undergoes a spectacular transformation, revealing the brilliant hues that earn them their majestic name.
Quahog Clam
The quahog clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) is a bivalve species native to the Atlantic coast of North America. Recognized for its culinary importance and significant cultural value, the quahog clam holds a prominent place in the region’s seafood industry and history.
Quahog clams typically have thick, oval-shaped shells, exhibiting various colors ranging from purplish-black to gray and brown. Their shells boast distinct growth rings, providing insights into their age and environmental conditions in which they lived.
These sturdy bivalves are predominantly found in sandy or muddy substrates along the Atlantic coastline, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. They prefer brackish waters, thriving in estuaries and shallow coastal areas where nutrient-rich currents support their filter-feeding lifestyle. Some individuals have been known to live for well over a century, making them one of the longest-lived species on Earth.
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
The Queen Alexandra’s birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera alexandrae) is a rare species native to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. Renowned as the largest butterfly on Earth, this impressive insect boasts a wingspan of up to 30 centimeters.
This stunning butterfly exhibits a striking appearance. Females display beautiful wings of creamy white, edged with vivid black markings. Males sport iridescent greenish-blue wings adorned with black veins and borders. Their impressive size and captivating colors make them a true sight to behold.
Queen Snake
The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is an elegant non-venomous snake species found in various regions of North America. This snake species exhibits a subtle yet distinctive pattern on its dorsal side, featuring seven yellow stripes running along its dark-colored body.
Queen snakes primarily inhabit aquatic environments, favoring slow-moving or still waters such as streams, rivers, and marshes. As semi-aquatic creatures, they are adept at foraging for their preferred prey, consisting mainly of small fish, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates.
Quagga Catshark
The Quagga Catshark (Halaelurus quagga) is a mysterious and lesser-known species of catshark found in the deep ocean waters. Named after the extinct quagga, a zebra-like mammal, this shark displays a unique pattern on its body, featuring dark stripes and spots against a pale background, resembling the quagga’s coat.
Its habitat extends to various regions of the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean, where it navigates the dark abyss in search of prey. It possesses highly sensitive eyes that aid in detecting bioluminescent organisms and prey movements in the deep, dark waters, allowing it to thrive in its mysterious environment.
Queensland Grouper
The Queensland Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is a marine giant found along the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This massive fish species is one of the largest reef-dwelling groupers on the planet, capable of reaching lengths of up to 3 meters and weighing over 400 kilograms.
The fish boasts an impressive lifespan, with some individuals recorded to live up to 50 years or more. Notably, they exhibit protogynous hermaphroditism, where they start their lives as females and later transition to males as they grow and mature.
Queen Snapper
The Queen Snapper (Etelis oculatus) is a dazzling fish species that inhabits the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. With its sleek, elongated body and a prominent red coloration, the Queen Snapper stands out as a true jewel of the coral reefs. Its scales exhibit an iridescent quality, shimmering with hues of pink and purple, further adding to its allure.
Queen Triggerfish
The Queen Triggerfish (Balistes vetula) is a charismatic species of triggerfish found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Resplendent in its royal attire, this fish species exhibits a bold and striking color pattern of a vibrant blue-green body adorned with vivid yellow and blue lines and spots.
In their coral reef habitat, the fish display a unique nesting behavior. Females create impressive, circular nests in the sand, often larger than their own bodies, where they lay eggs. Males are actively involved in guarding and aerating the eggs until they hatch, displaying dedicated parenting efforts.
Queensland Tube-Nosed Bat
The Queensland Tube-Nosed Bat (Nyctimene robinsoni) is a lesser-known species of microbat. You can find it in the rainforests and coastal regions of northeastern Australia, including Queensland and New South Wales. This tiny bat species boasts a distinctive feature – a tubular nostril extension that sets it apart from other microbat species.
With a small body size ranging from 4 to 5 centimeters in length, the Queensland Tube-Nosed Bat showcases a reddish-brown fur coloration, complemented by striking white patches on its face. Its wing span extends up to 25 centimeters, enabling it to execute agile and precise flights through dense forest canopies.
Queensland Lungfish
The Queensland Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) is an ancient fish species that holds a unique place in Australia’s freshwater ecosystems. As one of the oldest surviving fish species, the Queensland Lungfish represents a living relic dating back to prehistoric times.
This remarkable fish species exhibits an elongated and cylindrical body, reaching lengths of up to 1.5 meters. It possesses distinct, lobed fins and a single lung-like organ that allows it to breathe atmospheric air. It’s one of the few fish capable of surviving in low-oxygen environments. When water levels drop, and oxygen becomes limited, they burrow into the mud and enter a state of dormancy, relying on their lung-like organ to breathe air until conditions improve.
Quelea
Quelea (Quelea quelea) is a small bird species that graces the landscapes of Africa. As one of the most abundant bird species on the continent, the Quelea plays a significant ecological role. However, the birds present challenges to agricultural communities due to its massive flocks.
Males typically sport a vibrant breeding plumage of red and black, while females and non-breeding individuals display a more subdued brown and white coloration. Their slender, pointed beaks are well-adapted for efficiently feeding on grass seeds, making them true specialists in grain consumption.
During breeding season, they congregate in enormous swarms, sometimes consisting of millions of birds. This spectacle, while awe-inspiring, can be a significant concern for local farmers, as these massive flocks can cause substantial crop damage.
Quacking Frog
The Quacking Frog (Crinia georgiana) is an amphibian species endemic to the wetlands and waterways of southeastern Australia. As a petite frog measuring around 2-3 centimeters in length, it is known for its unique call that resembles the sound of a quacking duck.
During the breeding season, males produce their signature quacking calls to attract females. These calls not only serve as courtship songs but also act as territorial signals, allowing males to establish and defend their breeding territories.
Quebrada Valverde Salamander
The Quebrada Valverde Salamander (Bolitoglossa valverdei) is an amphibian species native to the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. With a slender body measuring up to 10 centimeters in length, the Quebrada Valverde Salamander exhibits a sleek and glossy appearance, featuring various colorations ranging from dark brown to reddish-brown. Its limbs are well-developed for both terrestrial movement and aquatic life, as this salamander leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Quaker Parrot
The Quaker Parrot, scientifically known as Myiopsitta monachus, is a social parrot species originating from South America. Also known as the Monk Parakeet, this charismatic bird has become a popular pet choice due to its intelligence and charming personality.
Quaker Parrots are small to medium-sized parrots, typically measuring about 30 centimeters in length. They have bright green plumage, with a grayish face, blue flight feathers on their wings, and a long, pointed tail. Their playful and curious nature, combined with their remarkable ability to mimic sounds and words, make them endearing companions.
Quarterhorse
The Quarter Horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a legendary and versatile horse breed renowned for its agility, speed, and remarkable versatility. With a well-muscled and compact body, these horses exhibit a height ranging from 14 to 16 hands, making them a popular choice for various equestrian disciplines.
Originally bred in the United States during the 17th century, Quarter Horses have become an iconic part of American culture, renowned for their proficiency in rodeo events, cutting competitions, barrel racing, and western riding disciplines.
Quince monitor
The Quince Monitor (Varanus melinus) is a lizard species native to the island of Madagascar. This agile reptile has striking coloration and impressive climbing abilities.
With a moderate size, the Quince Monitor typically measures between 60 to 80 centimeters in length, with its tail accounting for a significant portion of its body. It boasts a distinct color pattern, featuring a dark brown to black background adorned with vibrant yellow or gold spots and bands, creating an eye-catching display.
Quetzalcoatlus (extinct pterosaur)
Note: This is an artist’s rendering of what this dinosaur might have looked like.
Quetzalcoatlus, scientifically known as Quetzalcoatlus northropi, was a pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago. As one of the largest flying creatures to have ever graced our planet, this magnificent reptile held a prominent position in the prehistoric skies.
With a wingspan of up to 10 to 11 meters, Quetzalcoatlus had a colossal and graceful appearance, making it one of the largest known flying animals in Earth’s history. Its long, slender neck, sharp beak, and immense wings allowed it to soar effortlessly through the skies in search of prey.
Animals That Start With Q: Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions about animals that start with Q. I have answers.
What happy animal starts with Q?
The quokka is well-known for its adorable smiling face. In general, it’s unafraid of humans and interacts with tourists looking for a selfie.
Final Take on Animals That Start With Q
The animals that start with Q are a fun bunch. Which is your favorite animal on this list?
