The animal kingdom is a fascinating place, full of magnificent and awe-inspiring life forms. So, here’s a challenge for you – how many animals can you name that start with the letter Q? If you got stuck after naming just a few, here are 20 animals that start with Q!
In this article, we will look at these unique creatures, know about their phylum, average lifespan, habitat, and diet, and learn some fun facts about them. Without further ado, let’s become familiar with these amazing animals!
List of Animals That Start with Q by Types
Below we have outlined animals that start with Q as per their types. We have categorized them into Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, and Invertebrates.
Mammals That Start With Letter Q
Quokka
Quagga
Qinling Panda
Queen Charlotte Islands Caribou
Quechuan Mouse Opossum
Qazvin Vole
Birds That Start With Letter Q
Quail
Quebracho Crested Tinamou
Quailfinch
Quailfinch Indigobird
Reptiles That Start With Letter Q
Queen Snake
Qattara Gecko
Quedenfeldtia Moerens
Amphibians That Start With Letter Q
Quasipaa Exilispinosa
Quilticohyla Acrochorda
Quasipaa Fasciculispina
Fish that Start with Q
Queenfish
Insects and Invertebrates Beginning with Q
Quagga Mussel
Queen Scallop
Quadrula Quadrula
Quadrula Rumphiana
Quasimitra Leforti
Quasimitra Brettinghami
Quasimitra Marmorea
Quasimitra Propinqua
Quasimitra Raphaeli
List of Animals That Start With Q: Classification, Behavior, and Facts
Regarding the animal kingdom, numerous fascinating creatures captivate our attention. Now we will explore a variety of common animals that start with the Q:
1. Quokka
Scientific name: Setonix brachyurus
Type of animal: Marsupial
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 10 years
Habitat: Quokkas are native to Australia and are found on Rottnest Island and Bald Island.
Diet: Quokkas feed on grass, leaves, bark, and roots. They also consume seeds and fruits when available.
Fun Fact: Quokkas have been called “the world’s happiest animal” because of their natural smile-like facial expressions.
Quokkas are small nocturnal marsupials with brown fur and a compact tail. These cheerful creatures are known for their photogenic, human-friendly behavior. They live in forests and are considered essential to Western Australian tourism.
2. Quail
Scientific name: Ortyx virginianus
Type of animal: Bird
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 3-5 years
Habitat: Quails prefer areas with low vegetation and short trees or shrubs.
Diet: Their diet mainly consists of plants, fruits, insects, and seeds.
Fun Fact: Quails have impressively fast flight capabilities. They can fly up to 40 mph!
Quails belong to the family Phasianidae and are ground-dwelling birds. They have a plump body, short tail, and feathered head. These social birds are typically found in flocks and are renowned for their beauty and exotic calls.
3. Queen Bee
Scientific name: Apis mellifera
Type of animal: Insect
Phylum: Arthropoda
Average lifespan: 2-3 years
Habitat: Queen bees are typically found in beehives or trees.
Diet: Queen bees feed on royal jelly, a secretion of young worker bees.
Fun Fact: One queen bee can lay up to 2000 eggs daily!
Queen bees have a unique physical appearance, with a longer and heavier abdomen than the rest of the colony. They also secrete pheromones that control the colony’s behavior and communicate with individuals.
4. Quetzal
Scientific name: Pharomachrus mocinno
Type of animal: Bird
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 15-20 years
Habitat: They prefer living in humid, mountainous regions and forests.
Diet: Quetzals feed on insects, fruit, and small reptiles.
Fun Fact: Their long tail feathers, which can be up to three feet long, were used by Mayan and Aztec priests for ceremonial headdresses.
Quetzals are medium-sized birds with a unique appearance. Their feathers can display various colors, including metallic blue, yellow, and green. They have a distinctive plume of feathers on their heads and a silky white breast. These elusive birds are rare to spot and are considered a rainforest symbol.
5. Quaker Parrot
Scientific name: Myiopsitta monachus
Type of animal: Bird
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 15-20 years
Habitat: Quaker parrots are native to the temperate to subtropical regions of South America.
Diet: Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Fun Fact: Quaker parrots can mimic human speech and other sounds. They are also known for their playful and affectionate personalities.
Quaker parrots have bright green feathers and a blueish-flight feather on their wings. They are intelligent birds and have a playful and curious disposition. They are known to be social and enjoy the company of other birds and their human caretakers.
6. Quahog
Scientific name: Mercenaria mercenaria
Type of animal: Mollusk
Phylum: Mollusca
Average lifespan: 30-35 years
Habitat: Quahogs commonly live in sandy or mud-bottomed areas.
Diet: Quahogs are filter feeders and consume phytoplankton and
zooplankton.
Fun Fact: The oldest living quahog on record is 500 years old!
Quahogs have rugged, hard, brownish-gray colored shells. Their shells vary in size, depending on their age. They are classified according to size, with littlenecks being the smallest and cherrystones being the medium-sized.
7. Queen Ant
Scientific name: Various
Type of animal: Insect
Phylum: Arthropoda
Average lifespan: 20-30 years
Habitat: Ants are generally found in soil, near decayed wood, or under rocks.
Diet: Ants feed on various food types, depending on the species.
Fun Fact: Queen ants are winged during their mating flights, after which they shed their wings.
Queen ants vary in size, depending on the species. They have broad bodies and are usually more significant than the worker ants. They display distinctive markings, making it easier for the other ants to identify them.
8. Quagga
Scientific name: Equus quagga quagga
Type of animal: Mammal
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Unknown
Habitat: Quaggas were once found in South Africa but were hunted to extinction in the 19th century.
Diet: Quaggas were herbivores and fed on different types of grasses.
Fun Fact: The quagga was the first extinct animal to have its DNA analyzed.
The quagga has a distinctive appearance that quickly sets it apart from other members of the zebra family. They were a social species and traveled in large herds. They were once considered a prime target for hunting because of their exceptional hides.
9. Quoll
Scientific name: Dasyurus maculatus
Type of animal: Marsupial
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 2-3 years
Habitat: Quolls live in forests, scrublands, and woodlands throughout Australia.
Diet: They feed on insects, reptiles, small mammals, and birds.
Fun Fact: Female quolls have six nipples and can mate multiple times during their breeding season.
Quolls are medium-sized marsupials with yellowish-brown fur that has white spots. They have a lengthy snout, short legs, and sharp teeth adapted to catch prey. Quolls are solitary creatures and tend to be nocturnal.
10. Queen Snake
Scientific name: Regina septemvittata
Type of animal: Reptile
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 8-10 years
Habitat: Queen snakes live near clear, flowing streams and rivers and prefer water with rocky bottoms.
Diet: They feed on freshly molted crayfish and eat other small aquatic animals and insects.
Fun Fact: The queen snake gets her name from a row of seven dark back marks that resemble a queen’s crown.
Queen snakes have slender bodies and scales with a brownish-black background and light tan or cream-colored splotches. They have big eyes, adapted to help them hunt in dimly lit areas such as tunnels.
11. Queen Angelfish
Scientific name: Holacanthus ciliaris
Type of animal: Fish
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 15-20 years
Habitat: The Queen Angelfish is native to the Caribbean and found in the coral reefs and rocky outcroppings of Florida to South America.
Diet: Queen Angelfish have a primarily herbivorous diet consisting of seagrasses and algae but occasionally eat sponges and tunicates.
Fun Fact: The Queen Angelfish is often confused with its close relative, the Blue Angelfish.
Queen Angelfish are easily recognizable by their vibrant blue and yellow coloring and sharp spur on the edge of their gill covers for protection. They are known to be aggressive towards other angelfish and have a curious, inquisitive nature.
12. Queen Conch
Scientific name: Strombus gigas
Type of animal: Mollusk
Phylum: Mollusca
Average lifespan: Up to 40 years
Habitat: Queen Conch is found in the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Diet: The Queen Conch is a herbivore, feeding on algae and seagrass.
Fun Fact: The Queen Conch’s beautiful pink shell is a valuable amenity for Caribbean locals.
Queen Conch is a beautiful, iconic mollusk that is being tragically overfished in many areas. They are known to be slow-moving and can hide on the ocean floor using sand. They are a vital part of many coral reef ecosystems.
13. Queen Butterfly
Scientific name: Danaus gilippus
Type of animal: Insect
Phylum: Arthropoda
Average lifespan: Up to 6 months
Habitat: Queen Butterflies are found across the Americas, from North to South America.
Diet: Queen Butterflies feed on nectar from flowers but rely on milkweed to lay their eggs.
Fun Fact: The Queen Butterfly is also called the “Tropical Milkweed Butterfly.”
Queen Butterflies have beautiful orange and black wings and are known to be good at flying fast. They can migrate long distances to take advantage of the conditions they need to survive. They also taste harmful to predators, thanks to the toxins in the milkweed they feed on.
14. Quagga Mussel
Scientific name: Dreissena bugensis
Type of animal: Bivalve
Phylum: Mollusca
Average lifespan: Up to 5 years
Habitat: Quagga Mussels are freshwater mussels that have invaded many waterways in North America.
Diet: Quagga Mussels are filter feeders clumping together in massive colonies, sucking up water to extract nutrients and removing vast algae.
Fun Fact: Quagga Mussels are an invasive species that have caused billions of dollars in damage to power plants and water systems.
Quagga Mussels were introduced to the Great Lakes accidentally in the 1980s. They are known for their ability to reproduce quickly, bind to surfaces, and filter large amounts of water. They are causing significant ecosystem changes and are often regarded as pests by local governments.
15. Queen Triggerfish
Scientific name: Balistes vetula
Type of animal: Fish
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Up to 11 years
Habitat: Queen Triggerfish are found in the Western Atlantic, from Florida to Brazil.
Diet: Queen Triggerfish are omnivores, eating a variety of crustaceans, mollusks, and fish.
Fun Fact: Queen Triggerfish are known for their sharp and powerful teeth that can crush hard-shelled prey.
Queen Triggerfish are colorful, with blue, green, and yellow hues. They can change their color and pattern to camouflage themselves or act as a warning or threatening display. They are known for their powerful jaws and a willingness to attack divers who venture near their nests during the breeding season.
16. Qinling Panda
Scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis
Type of animal: Mammal
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Up to 20 years
Habitat: In the Qinling Mountains of central China.
Diet: Qinling Pandas are herbivores, primarily feeding on bamboo.
Fun Fact: Qiling Pandas have a special diet of bamboo leaves that is unpalatable to most other animals.
Qinling Pandas are a subspecies of Giant Pandas with distinct physical characteristics. They are smaller, with shorter legs, thicker fur, and darker hair on their faces and ears. They are critically endangered, with only about 350 individuals remaining in the wild.
17. Quelea
Scientific name: Quelea quelea
Type of animal: Bird
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: 2-4 years
Habitat: Queleas are found in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, preferring areas with abundant grass and water.
Diet: Queleas are primarily seed-eaters, feeding on grass and grains.
Fun Fact: Quelea is often regarded as among the most destructive birds on earth, causing significant agricultural damage in many areas.
Quelea are in the weaver family of birds and are often found in large flocks. They have a reddish-brown complexion and are known for their destructive tendencies, often causing significant problems in agricultural areas.
18. Queen Parrotfish
Scientific name: Scarus vetula
Type of animal: Fish
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Up to 11 years
Habitat: Queen Parrotfish can be found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, primarily in coral reefs.
Diet: Queen Parrotfish predominantly eat algae and other similar microorganisms.
Fun Fact: Queen Parrotfish are known for their ability to change sex in response to environmental conditions.
Queen Parrotfish have a unique, vibrant coloring, with blue and green hues on their bodies and yellow on their lower jaw. They have a complex beak-like structure in place of teeth that can crush and grind coral and rocky coral substrates as they feed.
19. Queen Snapper
Scientific name: Etelis oculatus
Type of animal: Fish
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Up to 33 years
Habitat: Queen Snapper can be found in the Pacific Ocean, primarily around the Hawaiian islands.
Diet: Queen snappers are carnivorous predators, eating various small fish and shrimp.
Fun Fact: Queen Snapper can grow up to three feet long, earning them the nickname “Monarchs of the Sea.”
The Queen Snapper is a stunning and powerful predator with bright red scales, golden eyes, and powerful jaws. They are often found near reefs and rocky structures and are a prized catch among recreational fishermen.
20. Queensland Lungfish
Scientific name: Neoceratodus forsteri
Type of animal: Fish
Phylum: Chordata
Average lifespan: Over 100 years
Habitat: The Queensland Lungfish is native to Queensland, Australia’s Mary and Burnett River systems.
Diet: While they are primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae and the leaves of submerged plants, they are also known to eat small fish and insects.
Fun Fact: The Queensland Lungfish is one of the few fish species known to have the ability to breathe air.
The Queensland Lungfish is a prehistoric-looking fish that has remained virtually unchanged for over 100 million years. They are an ancient species with a unique breathing mechanism and can even aestivate (go into a state of decreased metabolism) when conditions are too harsh.
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Ending Thoughts
So there you have it, our list of animals that start with Q! These unique creatures are fascinating, from the Queen Parrotfish’s colors to the Queensland Lungfish’s longevity. Keep your eyes open for these unusual animals on your next trip to the aquarium or while exploring the great outdoors.
