Animals That Start With C: A Complete “C Animals” Guide (With Fun Facts)

In English, a huge number of animal names start with the letter C.
From the speedy cheetah on African plains, to colorful clownfish on coral reefs, to everyday animals like the cat, “C animals” live in almost every habitat on Earth.

On this page, you’ll find a detailed guide to animals that start with C, including:

• A quick reference list of C-animals

• An overview table with classification, habitat, diet, and fun facts

• Detailed profiles of representative C animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, invertebrates)

• FAQs that match common search queries (pets, wild animals, dangerous animals, etc.)

This structure makes it easy for students, teachers, parents, and animal lovers to quickly scan, learn, and explore.

Quick List of Animals That Start With C

Here is a fast alphabetical list of animals that begin with C. Some are famous, some are more unusual.

Mammals

• Camel

• Capybara

• Caracal

• Caribou

• Cat (domestic cat)

• Cheetah

• Chimpanzee

• Chipmunk

• Coyote

• Cougar (also called puma or mountain lion)

• Cow

• Cottontail rabbit

Birds

• Canary

• Cassowary

• Chickadee

• Chicken

• Crane

• Crow

• Cuckoo

• Cockatoo

• Cormorant

Reptiles

• Caiman

• Chameleon

• Cobra (such as king cobra)

• Corn snake

• Crocodile

• Chuckwalla (a desert lizard)

Amphibians

• Caecilian (worm-like amphibian)

• Chinese giant salamander

• Common toad

Fish

• Carp

• Catfish

• Clownfish

• Cod

• Coelacanth

• Coral trout

Invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, others)

• Caterpillar

• Centipede

• Cicada

• Crab

• Crayfish (also called crawfish)

• Cricket

• Coral (a colony-forming invertebrate)

Next, let’s zoom in on some of the most representative C animals and see how they live.

C-Animals Overview Table

The table below summarizes 15 representative animals that start with C, including their class, main habitat, diet, and a fun fact.

Detailed Profiles of Key “C Animals”

Below are more detailed profiles of some of the most interesting animals that start with C, organised by class.

1. Camel

• Class: Mammal

• Habitat: Deserts and semi-desert regions in Africa and Asia

• Diet: Herbivore – mainly dry grasses, shrubs, and thorny plants

Key Features:

• Camels are perfectly adapted to hot, dry environments.

• Their humps store fat, not water, but this fat can be converted into energy and water when food is scarce.

• They have thick lips that allow them to eat thorny plants and long eyelashes to protect their eyes from sand.

Fun fact:
Camels can close their nostrils during sandstorms and can drink large amounts of water at once when they find an oasis.

2. Capybara

• Class: Mammal

• Habitat: Wetlands, riverbanks, marshes in Central and South America

• Diet: Herbivore – grasses, aquatic plants, fruits, and bark

Key Features:

• Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, often weighing as much as a medium dog.

• They are semi-aquatic and excellent swimmers, with slightly webbed feet.

• They are social animals, often living in groups near water.

Fun fact:
Capybaras are so tolerant and calm that in many photos you’ll see birds or other animals sitting on their backs while they rest.

3. Cheetah

• Class: Mammal

• Habitat: African savannas and open grasslands; a few populations in Iran

• Diet: Carnivore – mainly small antelopes and other medium-sized mammals

Key Features:

• Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of quick sprints that can exceed 100 km/h (about 60+ mph).

• Their bodies are built for speed: long legs, flexible spine, large lungs, and non-retractable claws that provide extra grip.

• Unlike many big cats, cheetahs hunt mostly during the day to avoid competition from lions and hyenas.

Fun fact:
Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h (60 mph) in just a few seconds, but they can only maintain top speed for short distances because it uses so much energy.

4. Chimpanzee

• Class: Mammal (great ape)

• Habitat: Tropical forests, woodlands, and savannas of central and western Africa

• Diet: Omnivore – mostly fruit, leaves, seeds, insects, and sometimes meat

Key Features:

• Chimpanzees share a high percentage of DNA with humans and show complex social behavior.

• They use tools in the wild: for example, using sticks to “fish” for termites or leaves as sponges to soak up water.

• They live in social groups with dominance hierarchies and long-term relationships.

Fun fact:
Young chimpanzees learn important skills by watching and copying adults, a bit like human children.

5. Coyote

• Class: Mammal

• Habitat: Grasslands, deserts, forests, farmlands, and even suburbs across North and Central America

• Diet: Omnivore – rodents, rabbits, insects, fruits, and sometimes garbage or pet food

Key Features:

• Coyotes are highly adaptable and take advantage of many types of food sources.

• They are famous for their yipping, howling calls, often heard at dusk or night.

• Coyotes may hunt alone or in small family groups.

Fun fact:
As wolves were pushed out of many areas, coyotes expanded their range and now live in many big cities, including metropolitan parks.

6. Cougar (Puma / Mountain Lion)

• Class: Mammal

• Habitat: Mountains, forests, deserts, and grasslands in North and South America

• Diet: Carnivore – primarily deer, but also smaller mammals

Key Features:

• Cougars have many common names: puma, mountain lion, catamount, and more.

• They are solitary and secretive, usually active at dawn and dusk.

• With powerful hind legs, they can leap great distances to catch prey.

Fun fact:
Cougars have one of the broadest ranges of any wild land mammal in the Americas, from Canada all the way to Patagonia.

7. Crow

• Class: Bird

• Habitat: Forests, farmlands, grasslands, and urban areas around the world

• Diet: Omnivore – insects, grains, fruits, small animals, and carrion

Key Features:

• Crows are incredibly intelligent; they can recognize faces, plan ahead, and use simple tools.

• They often live in family groups and maintain complex social relationships.

• Crows are opportunistic and adapt easily to human environments.

Fun fact:
Experiments show that crows can solve multi-step puzzles and remember which humans treated them kindly or badly.

8. Crane

• Class: Bird

• Habitat: Wetlands, marshes, grasslands across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

• Diet: Omnivore – seeds, small animals, insects, aquatic plants

Key Features:

• Cranes are tall, long-legged birds with long necks and powerful wings.

• Many species migrate long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.

• They are known for elaborate courtship dances that involve jumping, bowing, and tossing sticks.

Fun fact:
In several cultures, cranes are symbols of good fortune, peace, and long life.

9. Cockatoo

• Class: Bird (parrot family)

• Habitat: Forests, woodlands, and savannas in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands

• Diet: Herbivore – seeds, nuts, fruits, flower buds, and roots

Key Features:

• Cockatoos have a distinctive crest of feathers on top of their head, which they raise or lower to show mood.

• They are social and often found in flocks, making loud, screeching calls.

• Some species can live for many decades and can learn to mimic human speech.

Fun fact:
Because of their intelligence and energy, cockatoos need a lot of mental stimulation; otherwise they can become noisy or destructive in captivity.

10. Crocodile

• Class: Reptile

• Habitat: Rivers, lakes, swamps, and estuaries in tropical and subtropical regions

• Diet: Carnivore – fish, birds, mammals, and sometimes carrion

Key Features:

• Crocodiles are ancient reptiles with heavily armored bodies and powerful tails.

• They are ambush predators: they wait quietly in the water and lunge when prey comes close.

• Their eyes and nostrils are positioned on top of the head so they can see and breathe while mostly submerged.

Fun fact:
Crocodiles have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom, but their jaw muscles that open the mouth are relatively weak.

11. Chameleon

• Class: Reptile

• Habitat: Forests, savannas, shrublands in Africa, Madagascar, southern Europe, and parts of Asia

• Diet: Carnivore – mainly insects, sometimes small vertebrates

Key Features:

• Chameleons can change color, but not always for camouflage—often it’s for communication, temperature regulation, or mood.

• They have very long, sticky tongues that shoot out rapidly to catch insects.

• Their eyes can move independently, allowing them to look in two different directions at once.

Fun fact:
Some small chameleon species are among the tiniest reptiles in the world, small enough to sit on a fingertip.

12. Cobra

• Class: Reptile

• Habitat: Tropical forests, grasslands, farmland, and scrublands in Africa and Asia

• Diet: Carnivore – rodents, birds, eggs, and other reptiles

Key Features:

• Cobras are venomous snakes, famous for their defensive display: raising the front of the body and expanding a hood.

• Some cobras can even spit venom towards the eyes of a threat, causing pain and temporary blindness.

• They usually avoid humans but can be dangerous if provoked or cornered.

Fun fact:
In traditional stories and myths, cobras often appear as symbols of power, protection, or danger.

13. Clownfish

• Class: Fish

• Habitat: Warm tropical seas, especially coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region

• Diet: Omnivore – algae, plankton, small invertebrates, and leftovers from their host anemone’s meals

Key Features:

• Clownfish live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. A special mucus on their skin protects them from being stung.

• They have bright orange bodies with white bands (in the most famous species).

• Clownfish live in small groups with a strict social structure. The largest fish is the breeding female, followed by the breeding male.

Fun fact:
If the breeding female dies, the dominant male can change sex and become the new female.

14. Catfish

• Class: Fish

• Habitat: Freshwater rivers, lakes, ponds, and some coastal waters worldwide

• Diet: Omnivore – insects, algae, small fish, detritus, and sometimes carrion

Key Features:

• Catfish are named for their “whiskers,” called barbels, which help them sense food in murky water.

• There are hundreds of species, ranging from very small to extremely large.

• Many catfish are bottom-dwellers and active at night.

Fun fact:
Some electric catfish species can produce strong electric shocks, used for defense and hunting.

15. Crab

• Class: Crustacean (invertebrate)

• Habitat: Oceans, rocky shores, sandy beaches, estuaries; some live in freshwater or on land near water

• Diet: Omnivore or scavenger – algae, mollusks, worms, and dead animals

Key Features:

• Crabs have a hard exoskeleton that they must shed (molt) as they grow.

• They walk sideways with their jointed legs and use their claws for defense and feeding.

• There are many types of crabs, from tiny sand crabs to large species like the Japanese spider crab.

Fun fact:
Hermit crabs aren’t “true” crabs; they borrow empty snail shells to protect their soft abdomens and change shells as they grow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Animals That Start With C

How many animals start with the letter C?

There is no exact number, because:

• New species are still being discovered;

• Common names vary by region and language.

However, in English there are hundreds of animal names starting with C, covering all major groups:

• Mammals: camel, capybara, cheetah, chimpanzee, coyote, cougar, cow, cat

• Birds: crow, crane, cockatoo, cassowary, canary, chicken

• Reptiles: crocodile, chameleon, cobra, caiman, corn snake

• Fish: clownfish, carp, catfish, cod, coral trout

• Amphibians: common toad, caecilian, Chinese giant salamander

• Invertebrates: crab, crayfish, cicada, centipede, caterpillar, coral

What are some common pets that start with C?

Some pet animals that start with C include:

• Cat – one of the most popular companion animals worldwide

• Canary – a small songbird often kept for its beautiful singing

• Cockatoo – an intelligent, long-lived parrot (requires experienced owners)

• Corn snake – a commonly kept, generally docile pet snake

• Crested gecko – sometimes called “crestie,” a popular pet lizard

• Clownfish – kept in marine aquariums by experienced hobbyists

Before choosing any pet, always research its care requirements, space needs, and lifespan.

What are some dangerous wild animals that start with C?

A few dangerous C animals (especially if threatened or provoked) are:

• Crocodile – powerful predator with strong bite and stealthy behavior

• Cobra – venomous snake; some species have potentially lethal bites

• Cassowary – a large, flightless bird with strong legs and sharp claws, capable of serious injury

• Cheetah and Cougar – wild big cats; attacks are rare but they are still powerful predators

Most wild animals prefer to avoid humans. Respecting their space and following safety guidelines reduces risk.

Which C animals are especially important for ecosystems?

Several C animals play key roles in their ecosystems:

• Crabs – help clean up dead material and recycle nutrients in coastal habitats.

• Coral – not an animal you can “see” individually, but coral colonies build coral reefs, which support huge biodiversity.

• Crows – scavengers and seed dispersers that help clean up carrion and spread plant seeds.

• Catfish – recycle organic matter on the bottom of lakes and rivers.

• Coyotes and Cougars – act as mid- to top-level predators, helping control populations of herbivores and smaller predators.

Protecting these species helps maintain the health and balance of entire ecosystems.

By exploring this guide to animals that start with C, you’ve seen how one letter can connect an amazing variety of life—from desert camels and rainforest chimpanzees to reef-dwelling clownfish and tiny crabs on the shore.

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We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a Animals Top editor.