Can you name 5 animals that start with the letter “X”? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not as easy as you might think. Take your time, I’ll wait.
Several days ago I received a comment on one of my YouTube videos from the user ‘Maria’ who asked what animals start with the letter X. For some reason, this question really interested me and instead of just answering it on YouTube I decided to create a blog post with a list of 26 animals beginning with X.
The letter X has inspired a lot of curiosity. As I started listing out animals, I was surprised by how many there were and how little we knew about them.
Here goes the list of animals that start with X.
Contents show
X-Ray Tetra
X-Ray Tetra is a small species of fish that has a layer of skin that is translucent in color by which their backbone can be seen through their skin. These types of fishes have a boney internal structure, which is used to absorb the sound waves to transmit in the sense of hearing.
The scales of this fish have a shade of yellow and silvery contrast that makes its existence eye-catching. It is also the reason for which it is also known as Golden Pristella Tetra and Water Goldfinch.
The X-Ray Tetra fish is naturally habituated in the Amazon Rivers of South America, which includes the coastal waters of Venezuela, Guyana, Guiana, and Brazil.
This species of fish differs from the other ones as it can tolerate water near the coast that is harder and brackish, but also the freshwater environments where it usually prefers to live as they are greatly threatening to pollution.
The female X-Ray Tetra fishes can lay 300 to 400 eggs in the season of their matting. Within 24 hours of laying their eggs, they start to hatch.
Their babies take a few days to start swimming, from which onwards they find their food themselves and develop further characteristics.
They live approximately three to four years in a wild environment but it could last even longer if the environment is safe and captive.
Xerus
Xerus is an animal species that is a ground squirrel. They are highly social animals that live in hounds and groups.
The females of this species live in a group of one to two whereas, males group up with three to four other male squirrels. However, the males and females both live in separate groups and only come together to mate.
Although, this species of Xerus has further species that include striped ground squirrel, mountain ground squirrel, unstriped ground squirrel, and cape squirrels.
Xerus weighs approximately 14 ounces and its length goes from 17 to 18 inches, which doesn’t include the tail.
This species of Xerus is originated from Africa. They are scattered in Africa in their different regions.
As the western region of South Africa and Namibia comprise the mountain ground squirrels. Whereas Botswana and Namibia contain the cape ground squirrels.
Similarly, the striped ground squirrel is found in southwestern areas of Africa that comprise Senegal, Morocco, and Mauritania. However, the northeastern areas of Sudan and Tanzania habituate the unstriped ground squirrels in woodlands, grasslands, and rocky areas.
This species doesn’t have any specific time for mating but it breeds throughout the year. The male and female-only collaborate during mating or otherwise, they live separately in; the same-sex groups.
The babies live with their mothers until they get mature in the burrows. The maximum time for a male to get mature is 8 months, whereas a female matures in 10 months.
Xantic sargo
Xantic sargo is a breed of fish that is also known as California sargo or sweetlips. Their length is almost 50 cm and they are found underwater in a depth of 0 to 40 m deep.
They have more like molar teeth due to which they grind their teeth and a grunting sound is produced, which they use for communication among them and their surroundings. Xantic sargo lives nearly from ten to twelve years of their life.
This species of fish lives in the Western Indian Ocean and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They are also found in the Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands, and Madeira.
From late spring through early summer is the mating season of these species. Xantic sargo can have both of the reproductive organs. However, the spawning is influenced by the temperature of the sea, which helps them to reproduce.
Xantus’ Hummingbird
This species of hummingbird has a length of three-to-three point five inches. Although till they reach their maturity their weight reaches four to five grams.
They are found in tropical and subtropical environments, bushy forests, arable regions, and scrublands are the area where they are habituated. They are mostly seen in California and Mexico.
The male leaves the female after copulation, whereas the female takes the responsibility of making the nest on average, the female lays two white eggs that take 15 days to hatch.
Xantus’ Becard
XantusBecard is species of bird. The males of this species have a neck of red-colored bib and are gray, while brown is mostly considered as a female. They do not live or move in a group and are solitary except breeding.
They are mostly seen on the pacific coast of North America. However, they share the habitats of mountain forests and forest clearings.
Xeme
Xeme is also known as Sabine’s gull, which is a small gull. It has a length of 27 to 33 cm while its weight is 135 to 225 grams.
In autumn it migrates to the south, while they are mostly seen in North America, Siberia, or even Europe.
The Xeme breeds at high latitudes and in winter it moves to the tropics and subtropic zones of coastal upwelling regions.
Xavier’s Greenbul
Xavier’s Greenbul belongs to the songbirds’ species of the family of bulbul.
This species of bird is of relatively green color with olive and greenback and yellow underparts. It usually moves in small flocks.
Central Africa is the origin of Xavier’s Greenbul. They are naturally habituated in the tropical or subtropical dry forests and moist lowland forests.
Xingu River Ray
It is a marine mammal that is also known as a polka dot stingray.
This species of water animal is venomous and its venom is saved in its dentine spine that goes straight to its tail.
The venom it holds inside keeps constant and does not change during its maturation, while the toxicity of its venom decreases with time as it gets older.
They can consume the hard-shelled invertebrates and other little marine insects.
They are often found in Brazil of Xingu River Basin as well as rock bottoms are mostly preferred by them.
Xingu river rays are the sea species that reproduce sexually. Their males are short as the females grow larger than them.
Xingu corydoras
Xingu corydoras is a species that is a tropical freshwater fish, which belongs to the corydoradinae subfamily. This fish was named after the name of the river in which it is found.
Xingu corydoras grow to the length of 1.5 inches. It eats marine insects, worms, and plant matter.
This species of fish lives in water with a tropical climate of 6.0 to 8.0 ph. However, the water temperature ranges from seventy-two to seventy-nine degrees Fahrenheit with a hardness of 2-25 dGH.
This species of fish reproduces asexually and in dense vegetation, they lay the eggs. Whereas, none of the parents guards the eggs.
Xantus Murrelet
Xantus Murrelet is a species that lives in the water. They are often called a small seabird, which is a small black and white auk with a pointed shot beak and a small head.
Their length ranges at 10 inches, though their weight is approximately 6 oz as they are shorter and smaller than the American Robin.
This species of small seabird is found in the Pacific Ocean of the California current system.
This species lays approximately only two eggs that take a month to hatch. These are the only species that raise their babies wholly at sea.
They spend the day on sea and only return at night in their colonies or crevices.
Xantus leaf-toed gecko
Xantus leaf-toed gecko is a species of reptile known as a lizard. Its pupils are vertical and its eyelids are immovable.
Although, it has a soft tail that can be easily lost. The length of this species of gecko varies from 2.5 to 6.5 cm.
Geckos are found in Baja California covering southern California. They are also found on the Mexican island.
Xantus leaf toed gecko is a species that reproduces sexually and matures seasonally.
Xucaneb Robber Frog
This species of frogs live under the water, on land, or in trees. However, this species seems to be endangered due to tree cutting and the production and release of charcoal.
They eat on small insects and worms and some arthropods but often they are also seen eating rodents, other frogs, and reptiles.
The interesting fact about them reproducing is that they hatch small frogs instead of tadpoles. As these are the species that reproduce sexually.
Xenarthra
Xenarthra is known as a group of mammals that consists of anteaters, sloths, and armadillos. These mammals look very different from each other due to adaptations with time.
The amazing thing about these mammals is, they share a common ancestor. That’s why these three mammals are closely related to each other.
Xenarthra means strange joints. These animals are called Xenarthra due to the extra joints found in their lower spines. Their metabolism is very slow due to which they consume less energy.
It’s quite astonishing that there was a time when Xenarthra was found all over America. But now, we can find only one kind of Xenarthra that is nine-banded Armadillo in the far north.
These are known as placental mammals and give birth to well-developed offspring. This characteristic makes them varied from egg-laying mammals or monotremes.
Xenops
Xenops belongs to the Ovenbird family which is also known as Furnariidae. Three species belonging to this group in which slender-bill Xenops, streaked Xenops, and plain Xenops are included.
Also, the other two birds belong to the same family having Xenops word in their names in which great Xenops and rufous tailed Xenops are included.
Xenops are usually found in Neotropics. They are mostly found in Central and South America’s swamps, tropical, and subtropical rain forests.
They are oviparous because these birds lay eggs. They pair up with each other monogamously and produce 1-2 broods of 2 eggs per year. In the genus Xenops, both mates are responsible for making a nest hole of 3-10m high on a decaying tree or the branch of a tree.
Xiphias Gladius
Xiphias Gladius is also known as the Swordfish. The swordfish is named due to their long bill. They have much resemblance with the billfish family (Istio Phoridae).
They belong to the Xiphiidae family and are the sole members of this family. These swordfishes don’t have teeth, unlike the other billfishes. Female swordfish are longer in size than male swordfish.
These swordfishes are found all over the world. They are found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Sometimes, these swordfishes are also found in cold waters.
The largest swordfish are found in the Pacific. They are also found in the Atlantic Ocean and weigh 320 kg. Whereas the swordfish in the Mediterranean weigh less than 23 kg.
These fishes lay eggs and female fishes carry about 1-29 million eggs. These fishes do external fertilization. The eggs of these fishes are 1.6 to 1.8 mm in diameter. After fertilization, eggs take 2.5 days to develop into embryos.
Xolmis
Xolmis belongs to the Tyrannidae family and is a bird species. They are flycatchers and mostly have plumage of only white, grey, and black.
There are two species of Xolmis:
- Xolmis Velatus, also known as white-rumped monjita
- Xolmis irupero, also known as White monjita
The Xolmis are mostly found in open habitats. They are found in Brazil, Uruguay, and South America.
The Xolmis mostly breed in very protected areas and small numbers.
Xoloitzcuintli
Xoloitzcuintli is a dog breed also known as Xolos. They are often called Mexican Hairless. They are rare and only found in shelters or rescues.
The best thing about Xolos is they are the best doctors for people who are suffering from arthritis. This is because the heat their body produces gives comfort to people suffering from arthritis or other ailments.
They are less tolerant of being alone and are very sensitive.
Xolos or Mexican Hairless are found in Mexico and Central America mostly. They were about to go extinct but the fans of this breed bring them to life again and now they are known as the treasure of Mexico.
Xolos takes about 58-65 days to give birth. Most of the time, the head comes out first while giving birth but sometimes the tail comes first. They are born in thin sacs like other dog breeds.
Also, they are hairless but one in five Xolos are born with short and smooth fur.
Xantusia Vigilis
Xantusia Vigils is also known as desert night lizard. These desert night lizards belong to the Xantusiidae family.
Well! We cannot deny the fact that women are afraid of lizards. But luckily these lizards are not spotted in homes like other species of lizards.
These lizards eat moths, caterpillars, termites, and other parasites.
These lizards are mostly found in desert scrubs habitats, Colorado deserts, and Central and South Coast ranges.
They are found in Joshua trees, Yucca logs, Juniper, foothill pine, and Pinyon pine. They are also found in the debris of digger pine and covered unnatural or natural objects.
The Xantusias mostly reproduce through courtship and parturition processes. They mostly reproduce in yucca logs or whatever shelter or cover they are using.
Xenopeltis
Xenopeltis are also known as Sunbeam Snake. These are the single genus of Xenopeltidae which is a monotypic family. They eat other snakes, small mammals, reptiles, and frogs, etc.
The amazing fact about this species is its polished scales, due to which it is named as sunbeam snake. The sunbeam snake has a lifespan of about 10 years. Their maximum size is 1.2 m.
The Xenopeltis species are mostly found in Southeast Asia. They are habitual of living in open areas. Such as parks, gardens, forest clearings, and also found in rice paddies.
The Xenopeltis are oviparous and the female can lay almost 10 eggs at once.
Xenosaurus Newmanorum
The Xenosaurus newmanorum is part of an ancient family of primeval-looking lizards. About 85 million years ago, this species diverged from other reptiles. But unfortunately, their natural habitat is destroyed due to coffee plantations.
They are mostly found in areas of Xilita in the southeastern San Luis Potosi State. It is also found in Mexico, La Salva, at about 1100 to 2000 m above the level of the sea.
Unlike the other lizards, they give birth to live young. These are viviparous whereas other lizards mostly lay eggs. They provide complete maternal care to their children and are pregnant for almost 12 months.
Xenoclea Longwing
Xenoclea Longwing is also known as the postman butterfly. It is also called Heliconius Xenoclea.
There have elongated forewings, distinctive patterns, and characteristics like delicate fluttering flight. These can easily be recognized due to these characteristics.
There are bold orange patterns on their body. In their hindwings, you can find singular streaks of yellow color.
These butterflies are smaller in size than regular butterflies. Theyare rare and only found in neotropics. They are found in areas like Central Peru, Rio Shima, and Junin.
Xenoclea Longwing lays eggs in clusters. Male species possess abdominal claspers which are used to attract females for forced intercourses.
Female uses nutrient which has been passed by the male in spermatophore during mating, to fertilize their eggs.
Xestia Intermedia
Xestia Intermedia is a very rare species of moth. There are thin black lines and spots on it and are uniform light blue-grey. Its size is a minimum of 14 mm and a maximum of 17 mm.
They are found in the Northern hemisphere arctic portions, alpine, slopes of dry mountains, and temperate regions. Their species are negatively affected due to the utilization of herbicides and pesticides.
Xami Hairstreak
Xami Hairstreaks belong to the Lycaenidae family and their sub-family is Theclinae.
They can easily identify with their appearance. There is a postmedian line of yellow-green and jagged white under the hindwing. This post median line is forming W near the tails.
They are found in the levees, slopes, and rocky canyons. They lay eggs singly under the leaves of host plants.
Xylocopa
Xylocopa is also known as carpenter bees. They belong to the genus Xylocopa and their sub-family is Xylocopinae.
The reason for their name carpenter bee is their nesting behavior. Most of the species are found in dead bamboo or wood burrows.
They are only found in Jammu Kashmir’s northern regions and also in Punjab. Males search females carpenter bees via patrolling and hovering.
Xantus’ swimming crab
These crabs are amazingly different from other native crabs in the sea. They are found in 15 feet of water. Their paddle-like appendages make them different from other species of crabs.
They are mostly found in Southern California and Mexico. The warm currents make the larvae of this species move northwards for 2 to 3 years. These then after settling down, develop completely into adults.
Xerosecta
Xerosecta are small in size. They are classified into the genus of air-breathing land snails which belong to the family of Geometridae.
They are found in Mallorca and Spain. They use or often create love darts for mating.
Conclusion: Animals that Start with X
X is the 24th letter of the English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. It is identical to the Greek letter Chi (χ).
In English, X, pronounced as the combination of the sounds /ks/ (as in ecks), is a consonant letter, and the Roman numeral for 10. In ancient times, some Mediterranean cultures would count using their fingers all ten toes as one unit. The word “ten” itself is derived from the word “digits”.
So that brings us to the end of our list of animals starting with X! I hope you had a giggle, or maybe learned something new. Either way, I’ve had fun putting this post together and can’t wait for the next animal alphabet adventure. (if you have any ideas, please leave them via our contact page)
Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends!
Animals that Start with Q
Animals that Start with O
