Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! There are so many popular animals that start with C, just like the cuddly cat! From camels to curly haired tarantulas, we’ve got it all!
My little crocodile expert especially loves this list of animals that begin with C because it includes crocodiles AND caimans, a less common crocodilian. He loves sharing facts about the whole crocodile family, especially the largest one: the saltwater crocodile. Check this list out and see if there are any of your favorite animals on it! You may discover some really cool facts that you did not know before!
Love learning about different animals? Be sure to stop by and check out our Animals that Start with S and our Animals that Begin with K.
Commonly Known Animals that Start with the Letter C
This list is perfect for the budding zoologist! When your kids ask questions about animals that start with C, these facts are sure to get them excited about learning more! You might be surprised with some of these awesome facts about animals that begin with C.
Camel
Even though Sally the Camel had many humps, most camels only have one or two. They’re filled with fat, which the camel can use as an energy source in the desert. Since they never know where their next meal will come from in the hot climate, the humps are how camels prepare for times when food is scarce.
Carp
You might be familiar with carp if you’ve ever gone fishing on Animal Crossing! Carps love to leap out of the water and tease fishers. Carp fish are found all over the world. In fact, the common goldfish is a type of carp! In the winter, carp stop eating so they don’t have to use much energy. That way, they can just sleep until the weather warms up again!
Caribou
Did you know that a reindeer is also called a caribou? While these large mammals won’t be seen pulling Santa’s sleigh anytime soon, they love living in cold climates, like the tundra. Most types of deer only grow antlers if they’re boys. Not caribou! Both male and female caribou grow large sets of antlers!
Cat
Many families have a pet cat. I bet you didn’t know that common housecats are 95.6% tiger! Their tiger genes make them excellent hunters with keen eyesight. While tigers hunt much larger prey, housecats are great at catching unwanted bugs and small animals in your house. In fact, many farms have a barn cat for that reason!
Caterpillar
Have you read the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle? It’s a beautiful story about how a caterpillar eats and eats and eats until he is tired. When he awakens, he transforms into a beautiful butterfly! Like the book, real caterpillars are constantly eating to have enough energy to undergo metamorphosis and transform into butterflies. The next time you go outside, take a look under some leaves and tree branches. If you’re lucky, you will see a chrysalis! That’s the house that the caterpillar builds to keep it safe while it changes into a butterfly!
Centipede
Even though “centipede” means 100 legs, they can actually have between 15-177 pairs of legs! All of these legs move extra quick to help the centipede scurry from place to place. In China, you can find centipedes for sale as a snack! They are put on a stick and deep-fried until crispy. Some people say they taste like chips!
Chameleon
Colorful chameleons are fun to watch because they change color to blend in with their surroundings! This defense mechanism has kept chameleons alive for a very long time. Some scientists believe that they were around during the crucatious period and walked among dinosaurs!
Cheetah
If you were to race a cheetah in a car, you would have to drive up to 80 miles per hour to win! Cheetahs are the fastest mammal on land. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs choose to hunt during the day. They don’t want to have any competition for the best food!
Chicken
Chicken isn’t only what we eat for dinner! They’re amazing birds! Did you know that when a chicken sleeps, it has dreams? I wonder what it dreams about! Scientists believe that chickens are descended from dinosaurs. They’re the closest living relative to the mighty T-Rex!
Chimpanzee
Chickens might be closely related to dinosaurs, but chimpanzees share 95% of the same DNA as humans! They’re basically our brothers from other mothers! Scientologists have even taught chimps sign language, which gives us new opportunities to learn more about them. Chimps are emotional and loving, much like people.
Chinchilla
These little rodents from South America have a very dense coat. It’s so dense that they can’t let it get wet! If they do, it will grow bacteria and make them very sick. This means that chinchillas never have to take baths when their dirty! Instead, they roll around in dust to get clean! My kids would love to be able to use that excuse to not have to take a bath at night!
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are experts at gathering acorns, their favorite food. A single chipmunk can gather over 150 acorns in one day! They must be very hard working to keep that pace going! Like hamsters, chipmunks have pouches in their cheeks where they can store food until they can hide it away for safe keeping.
Clown Fish
The funniest fish in the sea are the clownfish! They live in reefs, in sea plants called anemone. While most people think fish are quiet, clownfish communicate with each other by making popping and clicking sounds! Clownfish are also not very good swimmers. Like Nemo, from Finding Nemo, they have a hard time when they swim far from home.
Cobra
Cobras are mostly found in Africa and Asia. These venomous snakes pack a powerful punch in every bite! They have enough venom to kill 20 people at one time, or an elephant! Since elephants are commonly found in the same areas, it makes sense that the cobra has evolved to defend itself from the massive mammals!
Cockatoo
The cockatoo has a flashy plume of feathers on top of its head! When kept as a pet, they can become best friends with their owners. Because they can live up to 60 years, these bonds will truly last a lifetime! They do need quite a bit of exercise, however. A bored cockatoo can be loud and naughty!
Cockroach
Las cucarachas are amazing little beetles that are survivors in the craziest circumstances! They can go a whole month without eating, as long as they have water. They can hold their breath for 40 minutes, which is about 30 times longer than the average person! The craziest fact about cockroaches though is that they can live for days without their head! Eventually it will die from dehydration, but it can live happily without its head until then!
Cow
While everyone knows that we use cows for beef and dairy, not many people realize how cool cows are! They can see in almost 360 degrees! This keeps them safe from predators. Did you know that all cows are girls? Boy cattle are called bulls or steers.
Coyote
Coyotes aren’t just a funny cartoon character that chases after a bird! These mysterious canines are closely related to wolves and dogs. They live all over the United States, even in major cities! Most of the time, however, they stay away from people. You probably won’t even realize they’re in your neighborhood! Coyotes mate for life and raise their pups in families, just like humans do.
Crab
Under the sea there are over 4,500 different species of crabs! Crabs have a thick outer shell, called an exoskeleton. Several times a year, the crab will shed their exoskeleton to grow a new one. This is to make sure that their armor is in tip top shape to protect them. When they’re molting, however, they are very vulnerable to predators. They hide to keep themselves safe while regrowing their new shells.
Crocodile
Do you know how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? If you look at a crocodile when its mouth is closed, you will still see all of its teeth! Crocodiles like to show their teeth when they smile because their upper and lower jaws are exactly the same size!
Cardinal
Cardinals are beautiful birds that are easily recognizable by their bright red feathers! Cardinals love to sing. A male cardinal can sing up to 200 songs in 60 minutes! What’s really cool is that male and female cardinals will sometimes sing together to make a beautiful song.
Cricket
In many cultures, crickets are a symbol of good luck! It is thought that the cricket carries wisdom with it, like a conscious! Did you know that crickets don’t have lungs? Their mouths are only for eating, not for breathing! Crickets breath through tiny holes in the side of their bodies.
Zoo Animals that Start with the Letter C
This list of zoo animals that start with C is perfect to check out to get your kids excited for your next trip to the zoo! Print the list and see how many animals you see on your next zoo adventure on the list.
- Cassowary
- Capybara
- Caiman
- Catfish
- Cougar
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Coati
- Crane
- Canada Lynx
- Caiman Lizard
- California Condor
- California Kingsnake
- Cantil
- Capuchin
- Chinese Alligator
- Chinese Cobra
- Comb Jellyfish
- Conger Eel
- Congo Snake
- Conure
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Copperhead Snake
- Coral Snake
- Cotton-top Tamarin
- Crested Penguin
- Cottonmouth Snake
Uncommon Animals that Start with the Letter C
Here are even more awesome animals that start with the letter C that you may not have heard of before! See how many animals you know that are uncommon to most people!
- Caracal
- Cicada
- Civet
- Common Loon
- Coral
- Cuttlefish
- Carmel Spider
- Cactus Moth
- Cairn Terrier
- Cape Lion
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Viper
- Christmas Island Red Crab
- Cross River Gorilla
- Chickadee
- Chinese Paddlefish
- Chinstrap Penguin
- Colossal Squid
- Cabbage Moth
- Cactus Mouse
- Cactus Wren
- Caecilian
- California Tarantula
- Camel Cricket
- Camel Spider
- Canaan Dog
- Canada Warbler
- Canadian Eskimo Dog
- Canadian Horse
- Cane Corso
- Cane Rat
- Cane Spider
- Canvasback
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Carolina Dog
- Carolina Parakeet
- Carpet Beetle
- Carpet Python
- Carrion Beetle
- Cascabel
- Cashmere Goat
- Cat Snake
- Cat-Eyed Snake
- Cat-Faced Spider
- Catahoula Bulldog
- Catahoula Leopard
- Catalan Sheepdog
- Caucasian Mountain Dog (Shepherd)
- Caucasian Shepherd
- Cava Tzu
- Cavador
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Cavapoo
- Cave Bear
- Cave Lion
- Cecropia Moth
- Cedar Waxwing
- Central Ranges Taipan
- Cephalaspis
- Ceratopsian
- Ceratosaurus
- Cervalces latifrons (Broad-Fronted Moose)
- Cesky Fousek
- Cesky Terrier
- Chain Pickerel
- Chamois
- Chartreux
- Cheagle
- Checkered Garter Snake
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Chestnut-Sided Warbler
- Chi Chi
- Chicken Snake
- Chigger
- Chihuahua
- Chihuahua Mix
- Children’s python
- Chilean Rose Tarantula
- Chilesaurus
- Chimaera
- Chinese Crested Dog
- Chinese Geese
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Chinese Water Deer
- Chinook
- Chinook Salmon
- Chipit
- Chipoo
- Chipping Sparrow
- Chiton
- Chiweenie
- Chorkie
- Chow Chow
- Chow Pom
- Chow Shepherd
- Christmas Beetle
- Chromodoris Willani
- Chusky
- Cichlid
- Cigarette Beetle
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cinnamon Ball Python
- Cinnamon Bear
- Cinnamon Ferret
- Clark’s Grebe
- Clearnose Skate
- Click Beetle
- Clock Spider
- Clothes Moth
- Clouded Leopard
- Clumber Spaniel
- Coachwhip Snake
- Coastal Carpet Python
- Coastal Taipan
- Cobia Fish
- Cochin Chicken
- Cockalier
- Cockapoo
- Cockatiel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Cockle
- Coconut Crab
- Codfish
- Codling Moth
- Coelacanth
- Collared Peccary
- Collett’s Snake
- Collie
- Collie Mix
- Comb-crested Jacana
- Comet Moth
- Comfort Retriever
- Common Buzzard
- Common European Adder
- Common Frog
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Grackle
- Common Green Magpie
- Common House Spider
- Common Raven
- Common Spotted Cuscus
- Common Toad
- Common Yellowthroat
- Compsognathus
- Cone Snail
- Cookiecutter Shark
- Corella
- Corgidor
- Corgipoo
- Corkie
- Corman Shepherd
- Cormorant
- Corn Earworm
- Corn Rex Cat (Cornish Rex)
- Corn Snake
- Cory Catfish
- Coryphodon
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Coton de Tulear
- Coues Deer
- Crab Spider
- Crab-Eating Fox
- Crab-Eating Macaque
- Crabeater Seal
- Crappie Fish
- Crayfish
- Crested Gecko
- Croatian Sheepdog
- Crocodile Monitor
- Crocodile Shark
- Crocodylomorph
- Cross Fox
- Crucian Carp
- Cryolophosaurus
- Cuban Boa
- Cuban Cockroach
- Cubera Snapper
- Cucumber Beetle
- Curly Coated Retriever
- Curly Hair Tarantula
There you have it! A huge list of animals that begin with C 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 C 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.