Quick Answer: From birds to mammals, and from insects to fish, there are over 25 amazing animals that start with the letter X! Meet creatures like Xerus, Xoloitzcuintli, X-ray Tetra, Xenodon, Xenurine, Xiphactinus, Xeme, Xestia, and more. They live across Africa, the Americas, and beyond.
Download the full list to explore all X animals, learn fun facts, and discover what makes each one special!
Quick Table of X Animals
| Animal | Type | Region | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xerus | Mammal | Africa | Uses tail as a sun umbrella |
| Xoloitzcuintli | Dog | Mexico | Ancient Aztec sacred dog |
| X-ray Tetra | Fish | South America | Transparent body shows internal organs |
| Xantus’s Hummingbird | Bird | Baja California, Mexico | Beats wings up to 80 times/sec |
| Xenopus laevis | Frog | Sub-Saharan Africa | Has no tongue – uses hands to eat |
| Xenopus tropicalis | Frog | West Africa | Key species in genetic research |
| Xenops | Bird | Central & South America | Uses wedge-shaped bill to find insects under bark |
| Xenomystus nigri | Fish | Africa | Can sense weak electric fields and swim backwards |
| Xenochrophis | Snake | Asia | Semi-aquatic, feeds on fish and frogs |
| Xenodon | Snake | South America | Plays dead when threatened |
| Xenarthra | Mammal Group | Americas | Includes armadillos, sloths, and anteaters |
| Xenurine | Mammal | Argentina | Pink Fairy Armadillo, tiny and burrows underground |
| Xenagama | Lizard | East Africa | Turnip-shaped tail and waves it to show off |
| Xenopeltis | Snake | Southeast Asia | Iridescent, rainbow-like scales |
| Xiphias gladius | Fish | Oceans worldwide | Swordfish, fast predator with a long nose |
| Xenentodon cancila | Fish | South & Southeast Asia | Freshwater needlefish with long jaws |
| Xiphophorus | Fish | Central America | Colorful aquarium fish: swordtails & platies |
| Xanthichthys | Fish | Tropical oceans | Triggerfish that locks its dorsal fin for safety |
| Xestia | Insect | Northern regions | Nocturnal moths with camouflage wings |
| Xylocopa | Insect | Worldwide | Carpenter bees that bore into wood |
| Xantus’s Murrelet | Bird | California & Baja | Tiny seabird that dives for fish |
| Xeme | Bird | Arctic regions | Migratory gull, travels thousands of miles |
| Xenoceratops | Dinosaur | Canada | Horned dinosaur, discovered in 2012 |
| Xenocyon | Extinct Canid | Eurasia & Africa | Prehistoric wolf-like species |
| Xiphactinus | Prehistoric Fish | Ancient oceans | Giant predator, over 6 meters long |
Most Common Animals That Start With the Letter X
1. Xerus (African Ground Squirrel)
Scientific Name: Xerus erythropus | Habitat: African savannas and grasslands
The Xerus is a social ground squirrel known for using its big, bushy tail as shade in the hot African sun. Colonies can have up to 30 members, and their warning calls change depending on the predator. They can survive without drinking water, getting moisture from food.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
2. Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog)
Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris | Origin: Mexico
Pronounced “show-low-eets-QUEENT-lee,” the Xolo is an ancient dog breed revered by the Aztecs. It comes in toy, miniature, and standard sizes, with hairless or coated varieties. Their naturally warm skin once made them “living heaters” in cold nights. Loyal, calm, and intelligent, they live 13–18 years.
3. X-ray Tetra
Scientific Name: Pristella maxillaris | Habitat: South American rivers
A tiny, schooling fish with a transparent body that reveals its internal organs. This see-through look acts as camouflage. Popular in aquariums, X-ray Tetras prefer soft, slightly acidic water and live 4–5 years.
4. Xantus’s Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Basilinna xantusii | Habitat: Baja California, Mexico
This small bird hovers like a helicopter while sipping nectar. Males have white eye stripes and rusty backs; females are duller in color. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, and they can fly backwards and even upside down briefly.
5. Xenopus (African Clawed Frog)
Scientific Name: Xenopus laevis | Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa
A fully aquatic frog with claw-like tips on its toes, used to tear food. They have no tongue and push food into their mouths with their hands. Widely used in scientific research, they feed on insects, small fish, and plants.
6. Xenopus tropicalis – The Little Clawed Frog
This is a smaller cousin of the African Clawed Frog. Scientists love studying it because it helps them learn about how animals grow. Like its bigger cousin, it eats insects and tiny creatures in the water.
Fun Fact: This little frog is a research superstar in genetics!
7. Xenops – The Bark-Prying Bird
Xenops is a tiny brown bird from the rainforests of Central and South America. It loves to climb tree branches and use its wedge-shaped beak to find tasty insects hiding under bark.
Fun Fact: It’s like a forest detective, looking for bugs in all the tricky spots!
8. Xenomystus nigri – The Electric Fish
This long fish swims in African rivers at night. It can feel tiny electric fields in the water to help it find food and avoid danger.
Fun Fact: Xenomystus can even swim backwards just as easily as forwards!
9. Xenochrophis – The Fish-Loving Snake
These semi-aquatic snakes live in Asia and love to eat fish and frogs. Don’t worry—they are harmless to people!
Fun Fact: When hunting, they slip quietly into the water to catch their meal.
10. Xenodon – The “Play-Dead” Snake
This South American snake is a clever trickster. When scared, it rolls over and opens its mouth, pretending to be dead to fool predators.
Fun Fact: Its “playing dead” act is a survival superpower!
11. Xenarthra – The Animal Supergroup
Xenarthra isn’t one animal—it’s a group that includes armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. These animals have special extra joints in their backs to help them move in unique ways.
Fun Fact: Some Xenarthra, like sloths, move so slowly that algae can grow on their fur!
12. Xenurine – The Pink Fairy Armadillo
This tiny armadillo from Argentina is only 3–5 inches long. It spends most of its life underground, burrowing in the soft sand.
Fun Fact: Its pink shell makes it look like a tiny magical creature from a fairy tale!
13. Xenagama – The Turnip-Tailed Lizard
Xenagama lizards live in East Africa. They are called turnip-tailed because of their funny, bulb-shaped tails.
Fun Fact: Male Xenagama wave their tails like a flag to show off to other lizards!
14. Xenopeltis – The Rainbow Snake
This snake from Southeast Asia has beautiful, shiny scales that glimmer in the sunlight like a rainbow.
Fun Fact: It’s non-venomous but looks like a slithery jewel!
15. Xiphias gladius – The Swordfish
The Swordfish is a fast, strong fish that swims in oceans worldwide. Its long, sword-like nose helps it hunt smaller fish.
Fun Fact: Swordfish can swim at speeds over 60 km/h!
16. Xenentodon cancila – The Needlefish
This freshwater fish has a long, pointed jaw that helps it catch tiny fish in rivers of South and Southeast Asia.
Fun Fact: Needlefish are like underwater sharpshooters with their pointed mouths!
17. Xiphophorus – Swordtails & Platies
These colorful aquarium fish are popular pets. They come in lots of bright colors and love swimming in schools.
Fun Fact: Some male swordtails have long, sword-like tails to impress females!
18. Xanthichthys – The Reef Triggerfish
Xanthichthys live in tropical oceans and are brightly colored reef fish. They use their strong fins to stay steady in strong currents.
Fun Fact: Triggerfish can lock their dorsal fin to wedge themselves into reef cracks for safety.
19. Xestia – The Night Moth
Xestia is a type of moth that comes out at night in northern regions. Its wings are usually brown or gray, which helps it hide from predators.
Fun Fact: Xestia moths are silent night fliers, sneaking around without being seen!
20. Xylocopa – The Carpenter Bee
These big bees bore holes in wood to make their homes. Unlike honeybees, they don’t make honey, but they are important pollinators.
Fun Fact: Xylocopa can be super strong, drilling wood with their jaws!
21. Xantus’s Murrelet – The Tiny Seabird
This small seabird lives off the coasts of California and Baja. It dives into the water to catch small fish.
Fun Fact: Xantus’s Murrelets are excellent underwater hunters despite being tiny birds!
22. Xeme – The Arctic Seagull
Also called Sabine’s Gull, Xeme lives in Arctic regions. It migrates thousands of miles every year.
Fun Fact: These birds are world travelers, flying across oceans during migration!
23. Xenoceratops – The Horned Dinosaur
Xenoceratops was a dinosaur with big horns above its eyes, discovered in Canada.
Fun Fact: Its name means “alien horned face”—how cool is that?
24. Xenocyon – The Prehistoric Wolf
Xenocyon was a wolf-like animal that lived long ago across Eurasia and Africa.
Fun Fact: It hunted in packs, just like modern wolves!
25. Xiphactinus – The Giant Prehistoric Fish
Xiphactinus was a huge predator in the oceans during the Late Cretaceous. Some grew over 6 meters long!
Fun Fact: Fossils show some Xiphactinus swallowed prey whole, even fish half their size!
Other Notable X Animals
Xerus rutilus (Unstriped Ground Squirrel)
East African cousin of the common Xerus, lacking stripes and known for digging large burrow networks.
Xenops (Plain Xenops)
A small brown rainforest bird from Central and South America. Uses its wedge-shaped bill to pry bark and find insects.
Xenomystus nigri (African Knifefish)
A long, nocturnal freshwater fish that generates weak electrical fields to navigate and hunt. Can swim backwards as easily as forwards.
Xenochrophis (Keelback Snakes)
Semi-aquatic, non-venomous snakes from Asia that feed mainly on fish and frogs.
Xenodon (South American Hog-nosed Snakes)
Harmless snakes that “play dead” when threatened, rolling over with mouths open.
Xenarthra (Superorder)
Includes armadillos, anteaters, and sloths. They have extra vertebral joints for flexibility and specialized claws.
Xenurine (Pink Fairy Armadillo)
Tiny armadillo from Argentina, only 3–5 inches long. Spends most of its life underground.
Some Fun Facts About X Animals
- Tail Shade: Xerus squirrels use their tails as umbrellas.
- No Tongue: African Clawed Frogs eat with their hands.
- Ancient Breed: Xolos date back over 3,000 years.
- Super Speed: Xantus’s Hummingbirds beat wings 80 times/sec.
- See-Through: X-ray Tetras reveal their internal organs.
- Electric Sense: Knifefish can sense weak electric fields.
List of Animals with Other Letters (A-Z)
FAQ
Q: What animals start with X?
A: Common examples include Xerus, Xoloitzcuintli, X-ray Tetra, Xantus’s Hummingbird, and Xenopus.
Q: Are any X animals mammals?
A: Yes. The Xerus, Xoloitzcuintli, Xenarthra group, and Pink Fairy Armadillo are all mammals.
Q: Where do most X animals live?
A: Many are found in Africa (Xerus, Xenopus) and the Americas (Xoloitzcuintli, Xantus’s Hummingbird, Xenops).
Conclusion
Animals that start with X are rare but remarkable, from the playful Xerus to the ancient Xoloitzcuintli. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or curious learner, this list offers fascinating facts for all ages. Next time someone asks for an animal starting with X, you’ll have more than enough answers!
Download and Print X Animal Coloring Pages
