Lions, Lungfish, & Living Fossils: 101 Animals Starting with L (Photos & Fun Facts)

The animal world is bursting with amazing creatures, and some of the most fascinating ones have names that begin with the letter “L”. Let’s discover the diversity of these animals, from iconic predators to gentle giants and beyond!

Big Cats and their Kin Starting with L

Lynx: Medium-sized wildcat (2-3 ft tall, 20-45 lbs) of boreal forests, known for its tufted ears and exceptional hunting skills on snow.

Liger: Hybrid of lion and tiger (over 10 ft long, 900+ lbs), exists mainly in captivity, holds the record for largest cat in the world.

Long-eared Jerboa: Tiny desert rodent (body 3-4 in, tail 6-7 in), has enormous ears for heat release and powerful legs for long-distance jumps.

Lowland Anoa: Small wild buffalo (3 ft tall, 300-600 lbs) from Indonesian forests, has backward-curving horns and a shy nature.

Little Brown Bat: Common North American bat (3-4 in wingspan, 0.25 oz), crucial insect controller, capable of eating half its body weight in a night.

Leopard Seal: Powerful Antarctic predator (up to 10 ft long, 600+ lbs), named for its spotted coat, known for its fierce hunting tactics.

Lesser Egyptian Jerboa: Tiny hopping desert rodent (body 2-3 in, tail 5-7 in), uses its super-long legs and ears for survival in harsh conditions.

Long-nosed Bandicoot: Small Australian marsupial (1 ft long, 2-4 lbs), has a pointed snout for foraging and digs burrows for shelter.

Large Flying Fox: Enormous bat with fox-like face (up to 5 ft wingspan, 2-3 lbs), found in tropical forests, vital for seed dispersal and pollination.

Animal starts with the letter L in Africa

Animals Starting with L .
Lechwe

Lion: Up to 4 ft tall at the shoulder, 330-550 lbs, African savanna, only cats with manes and living in social prides.

Leopard: Up to 2.5 ft at the shoulder, 60-175 lbs, African and Asian forests/savannas, excellent climbers with spotted coats.

Lemur: Varies greatly by species, 0.1 – 20 lbs, Madagascar forests, diverse group with long tails and some having striking markings.

Leopard Tortoise: Shell length up to 2 ft, 50-130 lbs, African grasslands, long-lived land tortoises exceeding 100 years.

Lilac-breasted Roller: Up to 15 inches long, 5 oz, Sub-Saharan African woodlands, known for acrobatic aerial displays and vibrant colors.

Lappet-Faced Vulture: Up to 3.5 ft tall, 14-18 lbs, African savannas, large scavengers with distinctive pink facial wattles.

Lechwe: Up to 3.5 ft at the shoulder, 200-260 lbs, Central African wetlands, semi-aquatic antelope with webbed hooves for marshy terrain.

L’Hoest’s Monkey: Up to 2 ft tall, 13-22 lbs, Central African forests, has a distinctive white beard and ruff of fur.

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Linsang: Up to 15 inches long (plus tail), 2-5 lbs, Southeast Asian forests, slender nocturnal hunters with striped or spotted coats.

Lungfish: Up to 6.5 ft long, 40 lbs, freshwater African habitats, can breathe air and survive in dried mud during droughts.

Meet the Farm Animal Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Llama

Llama: Up to 4ft at the shoulder, up to 400lbs, Andes Mountains of South America, domesticated pack animal for centuries.

Lamb: Less than 3ft tall, less than 150lbs, grasslands worldwide, young sheep prized for their playful nature and soft wool.

LaMancha Goat: Medium-sized, up to 30 inches tall, under 150lbs, grasslands and scrublands, known for exceptionally small ears.

Leicester Longwool Sheep: Large breed, 30-36 inches tall, up to 300lbs, meadows and pastures, prized for exceptionally long and lustrous fleece.

Lincoln Red Cattle: Large breed, cows stand around 5ft tall, up to 2000lbs, grasslands and pastures, docile breed recognized for deep red color.

Large Black Pig: Large breed, sows at 27 inches, up to 700lbs, pastures and woodlands, known for hardiness and black coloring.

Lipizzaner Horse: Average 15-16 hands high (5-5.3 ft), 1000-1300lbs, originally from Europe, renowned for elegant dressage moves.

Landrace Pig: Medium to large size, around 35 inches tall, up to 700lbs, farms worldwide, known for prolific litters and excellent maternal traits.

Leghorn Chicken: Small breed, hens about 25 inches tall, lightweight at 6lbs, farms and backyards worldwide, prolific white egg layers.

Lavender Orpington Chicken: Medium-sized, up to 26 inches, 8-10lbs, farms, dual-purpose breed known for calm demeanor and lavender-gray feathers.

Creatures of the Deep Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Lionfish

Lobster: Up to 20 inches long, 20 lbs, rocky ocean bottoms, largest living arthropod.

Leafy Sea Dragon: Up to 20 inches long, shallow reefs, camouflaged for protection with leaf-like appendages.

Lionfish: Up to 18 inches long, 2 lbs, coral reefs, possesses venomous spines for defense.

Loach: Varies by species, 0.5 -12 inches long, freshwater streams and ponds, bottom-dwelling fish with sensitive barbels.

Lanternfish: Up to 6 inches long, deep ocean, bioluminescent light organs used for communication and camouflage.

Leaping Blenny: Up to 8 inches long, tide pools and rocky shores, capable of jumping out of water to escape predators.

Lumpfish: Up to 3 feet long, 40 lbs, cold Atlantic waters, uses modified fins as suction cups to cling to rocks.

Long-nosed Gar: Up to 5 feet long, 10 lbs, freshwater lakes and rivers, long, slender snout with sharp teeth.

Lake Sturgeon: Up to 10 feet long, 300 lbs, large lakes and rivers, considered an ancient fish species.

Longfin Batfish: Up to 6 inches long, sandy ocean bottoms, uses unique fin structure for “walking” along the seafloor.

Wonderful World of Insects Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Luna Moth

Ladybug (Ladybird): Tiny (under ¼ inch), found worldwide, beneficial predator that consumes garden pests like aphids.

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Locust: Medium-sized grasshopper (1-3 inches), various habitats, known for forming massive swarms that can cause crop damage.

Leaf-cutter Ant: Up to ½ inch, tropical forests, cut leaves to cultivate fungus gardens within their colonies.

Lobster: Large marine crustacean (up to 40 lbs), ocean floor dweller, powerful pincers and a prized delicacy.

Lacewing: Delicate insects, under an inch in size, found worldwide, larvae are voracious predators of garden pests.

Land Snail: Varied sizes (tiny to several inches), moist habitats worldwide, shell-carrying mollusks that leave slime trails.

Luna Moth: Large, striking moth (4-inch wingspan), North America, beautiful lime-green wings with long tails.

Leafcutter Bee: Solitary bee under ½ inch, found worldwide, cuts neat circular sections from leaves to line their nests.

Lanternfly: Varied sizes, some under an inch, some over 3 inches, various habitats, distinctive head shape with colorful wings.

Long-horned Beetle: Varied sizes, many over an inch, found worldwide, possess impressively long antennae, sometimes exceeding body length.

Remarkable Reptiles & Amphibians Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Leopard Gecko

Lizard: Varies greatly, 0.5 inches – 10 feet, worldwide habitats, many species can detach and regrow their tails.

Leatherback Sea Turtle: Up to 6.5 feet long, 2,000 pounds, found in all oceans, the deepest diving reptile on Earth.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle: Up to 3.5 feet long, 400 pounds, ocean habitats worldwide, powerful jaws designed to crush shellfish.

Leopard Gecko: 8-12 inches long, 50-100 grams, arid habitats, nocturnal and known for their patterned skin.

Leaping Frog: Size varies by species, 1-6 inches long, moist habitats, powerful legs adapted for long jumps.

Legless Lizard: Vary by species, 6-28 inches long, warm dry climates, often mistaken for snakes but are a type of lizard.

Lancehead Viper: Up to 3.5 feet long, 2-6 pounds, rainforests of Central and South America, highly venomous with a distinctive triangular head.

Long-necked Turtle: Up to 18 inches long, 40-80 pounds, freshwater habitats, extremely long neck for reaching hidden prey.

Leafcutter Frog: 1-2 inches long, rainforests, camouflaged to perfectly resemble a dead leaf for protection.

Lesser-Known Wonders Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec

Long-nosed Butterflyfish: Small fish (up to 7 inches), coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, uses elongated snout to feed in tiny crevices.

Lappet-browed Antpitta: Recently discovered small bird (around 7 inches), dense forests of the Bolivian Andes, sports a distinctive fluffy crest.

Labrador Duck: Extinct North American sea duck (around 20 inches), coastal areas, unique bill shape suggests specialized feeding habits.

Leaf-tailed Gecko: Medium-sized gecko (up to 10 inches), forests of Madagascar, master of camouflage resembling dead leaves.

Lowland Paca: Large rodent (up to 3ft long, 25lbs), Central and South American rainforests, has cheek pouches to store food.

Long-tailed Pangolin: Medium-sized mammal (body length up to 3ft +), forests and savannas of Africa, covered in protective scales and world’s most trafficked animal.

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Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec: Small, spiky mammal (up to 6 inches), forests of Madagascar, less prickly than hedgehogs and can roll into a ball.

Lowland Streaked Tenrec: Small, spiny mammal (up to 6 inches), Madagascar forests, uses quills to vibrate and communicate.

Common, Familiar, Large. Colorful & Unusual Birds Starting with L

Animals Starting with L .
Lesser Goldfinch

Loon: Large diving bird (up to 3ft long, 18lbs), found on lakes and coastal waters across North America, known for haunting, evocative calls.

Lesser Goldfinch: Small songbird (under 5 inches, 0.4oz), found in open areas across North America, males have bright yellow plumage with black markings.

Lark Sparrow: Medium-sized sparrow (approx. 6 inches, 1.3oz), grasslands and open areas of the western US and Mexico, known for its bold facial pattern.

Louisiana Waterthrush: Brownish warbler (approx. 6 inches, 0.7oz), near streams and rivers of eastern North America, bobs its tail constantly while foraging.

Limpkin: Large wading bird (up to 28 inches, 3lbs), found in swamps and marshes of the Southeast US, has a loud, wailing cry.

Long-billed Thrasher: Brown thrasher (approx. 11 inches, 3oz), dense brush and thickets of the southeastern US, known for its incredibly varied and melodic song.

Louisiana Heron: Medium-sized heron (approx. 26 inches, 14oz), marshes and coastal areas of the Southeast US, bluish-gray plumage with a shaggy white neck.

Long-tailed Duck: Striking sea duck (up to 2ft long, 2lbs), coastal and inland waters during winter, males have distinctive long tail feathers.

Lazuli Bunting: Small, vibrant blue songbird (approx. 5 inches, 0.5oz), brushy areas in the western US, males known for their beautiful blue plumage.

Lesser Nighthawk: Medium-sized nightjar (approx. 9 inches, 2.5oz), open areas across North America, camouflaged plumage and nasal calls at dusk and dawn.

Conclusion

From the familiar to the exotic, the animal kingdom never ceases to amaze us. Exploring the diverse creatures with names beginning with “L” has shown us the incredible variety of life on our planet.

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Frequently Asked Question

What is the largest animal that starts with the letter “L”?
The largest land animal starting with “L” is the llama. However, marine life holds even larger creatures like the leatherback sea turtle.

Are there any extinct animals whose names begin with “L”?
Yes, one example is the Leakey’s giant tortoise ( Geochelone megalova), which went extinct millions of years ago.

What are some cute animal names beginning with “L”?
Some adorable options include lamb, ladybug, lemur, lorikeet, and lionfish (despite its venomous spines).

What animal beginning with “L” has the longest name?
The Leopard Tortoise takes the cake! It’s a close contest with the Leafcutter Bee, depending on whether you count spaces.