Kids love learning about animals. From the very beginning, they start learning about them and the sounds that they make. The next question that they ask is, “Mom what is an animal that begins with (insert random letter). Well, we have good news! We have a huge list of animals that begin with J to help you find the perfect animal to tell your kids all about.
Animals the Begin With J
There are so many well known animals that begin with J. Check out this list with some fun facts about each animal.
Jack Rabbit
Even though the Jackrabbit looks like a rabbit, it’s not really a rabbit! It’s actually a hare, which means that it has longer legs and ears and likes to live alone. Jackrabbits are also born with their eyes open and covered in fur. This means that they’re ready to go out into the world and explore right away! Jackrabbits are very fast. They use their speed to sprint away from predators. They can even run as fast as a car moves! Jackrabbits eat grass, clover, and other fresh plants. They’re usually found in the desert, so they also like to eat cacti too!
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers are fun and energetic family dogs. They live to be about 14 years old, but they stay small throughout their life. They weigh less than 15 pounds fully grown. The Jack Russell Terrier was initially bred to help people hunt foxes. Their good sense of smell helps them find the track of whatever they’re hunting. Jack Russell Terriers are also very smart and can be trained to do all sorts of tricks, like how to shake your hand or roll over. They are happiest when they have a task to do and are kept busy.
Jaguar
The large orange and brown spotted cat is known as a Jaguar. It’s one of the biggest cats in the world! Jaguars can weigh over 300 pounds when they’re fully grown. Jaguars are strictly meat eaters. They need the extra protein to fuel their big bodies! Unlike other cats, Jaguars LOVE water. They are excellent swimmers! Because of their love of water, they can travel farther distances. Jaguars often have large territories to call home. In the wild, you can find jaguars in most of South America up through Mexico. One cool thing about Jaguars is that they are often part of ancient indigenous stories. In Mexico, for example, they believed that Jaguars could travel from one world to another!
Jaybird
The Jaybird is easily recognizable thanks to its brightly colored feathers. One member of the Jaybird family is the Blue Jay. It has beautiful blue feathers with a white belly. Jaybirds live together in groups called “bands.” Have you read The Hunger Games? The Mockingjay was based on how real-life jaybirds imitate sounds! Jaybirds are little jokesters who love to mimic the sounds they hear for all to listen to! If they feel threatened, their sound ability comes in handy. They sound a high-pitched alarm to warn the enemy away. Jaybirds are omnivorous. They eat everything from mice to seeds and fruit. They even sometimes eat salamanders and frogs they find!
Jellyfish
Did you know that a group of Jellyfish is called a “smack?” Maybe that’s because their tentacles sting whatever they touch! While people need to be careful to stay away from Jellyfish when swimming in the ocean, the stinging touch comes in handy when Jellyfish are hungry! They use it to stun their food source to keep them from getting away. The Jellyfish’s mouth isn’t on its face, like other animals. It’s deep in the middle of the jellyfish’s body! A Jellyfish’s mouth is also used to squirt out water to help move the jellyfish around. It’s like a rocket blast that moves the jellyfish forward!
Jersey Cow
Jersey Cows are best known for being excellent milkers! One of the reasons why they have such good milk is because it has more butterfat in it than other milk. This makes the milk better for yummy treats like ice cream and cheese. They produce up to six gallons of milk per day! Like other cattle, their large bodies can weigh over a thousand pounds! Jersey cows are very sweet and great farm animals. Most Jersey cows have light brown hair without spots. Jersey Cows stay pregnant for about nine months, which is the same amount of time as a human mother!
Zoo Animals That Start With J
Did you know that there were so many zoo animals that start with J? How many of these animals have you seen on your most recent trip to the zoo?
- Jackal
- Jackson’s Chameleon
- Jacob Sheep
- Jamaican Boa
- Jamaican Iguana
- Japanese Crane
- Japanese giant salamander
- Japanese Macaque (aka Snow Monkey)
- Japanese spider crab
- Jaulan Goat
- Javan Gibbon
- Javanese Cownose Ray
- Javanese Duck
- Javelina
- Jewel Beetle
- Jungle Shrew
- Juvenile Monitor Lizard
Other Animals That Start With J
There are so many animals that start with J that are not known by that many. See how many of these animals have you heard of or seen?
- Jabiru
- Jabuti
- Jacamar
- Jacana Spinosa
- Jack Crevalle
- Jack Mackerel
- Jack Snipe
- Jack-Chi
- Jackabee
- Jackdaw
- Jackrabbit
- Jacopever
- Jaeger
- Jagdterrier
- Jaguar Cichlid
- Jaguar guapote
- Jaguarundi
- Jamaica Hope
- Jamaican Tody
- Jameson’s Mamba
- Jamnapari Goat
- Jämthund
- Janthina Snail
- Japalura
- Japanese Bantam Chicken
- Japanese Beetle
- Japanese Chin
- Japanese Cormorant
- Japanese flying squid
- Japanese forest turtle
- Japanese Hare
- Japanese Mole
- Japanese Quail
- Japanese rat snake
- Japanese saw shark
- Japanese Serow
- Japanese Spitz
- Japanese Squirrel
- Japanese Terrier
- Japanese Thrush
- Japanese weasel
- Japanese White-eye
- Jaraqui
- Java Chicken
- Java mouse-deer
- Java Sparrow
- Javan Langur
- Javan Leopard
- Javan Pig
- Javan Pipistrelle
- Javan Rhinoceros
- Javan Slit-faced Bat
- Javan Tree Shrew
- Javanese Cat
- Javelin Fish
- Javelin Lizard
- Javelin sand boa
- Jawfish
- Jellynose fish
- Jenday Conure
- Jentink’s duiker
- Jerboa
- Jerdon’s Baza
- Jerdon’s Courser
- Jerdon’s kangaroo rat
- Jerdon’s Mouse
- Jet Squirrel
- Jewel Squid
- Jeweled Anole
- Jeweled Gecko
- Jeweled Lacerta
- Jico Deer Mouse
- Jiddu Goat
- Jijel Dog
- Jindo Dog
- Joculator Angelfish
- Jinhua Pig
- Jird
- John Dory
- John’s Beaked Gecko
- John’s Snapper
- Johnson’s Cottontail
- Jollytail
- Jonah Crab
- Jonai
- Jonica Goat
- Joro Spider
- Josephoartigasia monesi
- Juchitan worm snake
- Jumbo squid
- Jumping Spider
- Jumping Swordfish
- Junco
- Jungle Carpet Python
- Jungle Cat
- Jungle Crow
- Jungle Owlet
- Jungle Palm Squirrel
- Junglefowl
- Junin Grass Mouse
- Junin Red Squirrel
- Juniper Vole
- Jura Laufhund
- Jutland Horse
There you have it! A huge list of animals that begin with J to learn and to have fun exploring with the kids. Did we forget an animal? Be sure to add any other animals that begin with J to the list!
Do you want to learn about other interesting animals? Be sure to check out our other lists of animals!
- Awesome Animals that Start with A
- 230 Curious Animals That Start With C
- 115 Exciting Animals That Start With E
- 184 Intriguing Animals that Start with G
- 128 Fascinating Animals That Begin with J
- 187 Amazing Animals that Begin with K
- 249 Interesting Animals That Begin with L
- 163 Marvelous Animals that Start with M
- 373 Spectacular Animals that Start with S
- 155 Terrific Animals that Start with T
- 98 Wonderful Animals that Start with W
- 24 X-cellent Animals That Start With X
- 32 Fantastic Animals That Start With Y
Michele Tripple is a renowned author and expert in the fields of parenting, relationships, and personal development. With her degree in marriage and family studies, her experience as a Family Life Educator, and over a decade of experience as a professional writer, Michele has authored books that provide practical advice and insights into improving family dynamics and personal growth. Her work is celebrated for its blend of research-driven information and relatable, real-world applications. Michele has been a keynote speaker at conferences and has contributed to numerous publications and media outlets, solidifying her reputation as an authoritative voice in her field and helping families build relationships.