Animals that start with Q - Simply Ecologist (2024)

The animal kingdom is a vast and diverse realm, with creatures of all shapes, sizes, and behaviors. Among the countless species that exist, there are a handful of animals that start with the letter Q.

Despite being a relatively rare letter in the English language, these animals are no less fascinating or impressive than their counterparts with more common names.

In this article, we will explore animals that start with Q, their taxonomies, short descriptions, fun facts, and links to pictures. Let us delve into the incredible world of these creatures that start with the letter Q.

Animals that start with Q

1. Quail
2. Quetza
3. Quokka
4. Quoll
5. Quahog
6. Queenfish
7. Quarter horse
8. Queen angelfish
9. Queen triggerfish
10. Quillback carpsucker
11. Quillback rockfish
12. Quinoa weevil
13. Quail-plover
14. Quilted butterflyfish

1. Quail

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Galliformes
• Family: Phasianidae
• Genus: Coturnix

Short description: The quail is a small game bird that is native to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are about the size of a pigeon and are known for their plump, rounded bodies, short wings, and small heads. Quails are typically brown or gray with speckled feathers, and have distinctive crests on their heads. They are ground-dwelling birds that feed on seeds, insects, and small invertebrates.

Fun fact: Quails have a unique adaptation to help them survive in their natural habitats. When threatened, they will often freeze in place and remain motionless until the danger has passed. This makes them difficult for predators to spot and increases their chances of survival.

Link to pictures

2. Quetzal

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Trogoniformes
• Family: Trogonidae
• Genus: Pharomachrus

Short description: The Quetzal is a brightly-colored bird that is native to the cloud forests of Central and South America. They are known for their stunning iridescent green and blue feathers, long tails, and distinctive crests on their heads. Quetzals are frugivorous and feed mainly on fruits, berries, and insects.

Fun fact: Quetzals are highly prized for their feathers, which were traditionally used in the headdresses of Mesoamerican rulers and nobles. In fact, the bird’s name is derived from the Aztec word “quetzalli”, which means “precious feather”.

Picture.

3. Quokka

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Diprotodontia
• Family: Macropodidae
• Genus: Setonix
• Species: S. brachyurus

Short description: The Quokka is a small marsupial that is native to Rottnest Island and adjacent mainland areas in Western Australia. They are about the size of a domestic cat, with stocky bodies, short tails, and round ears. Quokkas are known for their friendly and curious behavior, and are often referred to as “the world’s happiest animal”. They are herbivorous and mainly feed on leaves, grasses, and bark.

Fun fact: Quokkas have become somewhat of an internet sensation in recent years due to their adorable and photogenic appearance. They are often referred to as “the world’s happiest animal” due to their friendly and approachable behavior and their seemingly constant smile.

Picture

4. Quoll

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Dasyuromorphia
• Family: Dasyuridae
• Genus: Dasyurus

Short description: The Quoll is a carnivorous marsupial that is native to Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania. They are about the size of a domestic cat, with slender bodies, short legs, and distinctive spotted coats. Quolls are nocturnal and mainly hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Fun fact: Quolls have a unique adaptation to help them survive in their natural habitats. When threatened, they can emit a pungent, musky odor from their anal glands, which can deter predators and give them time to escape.

Picture

5. Quahog

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Bivalvia
• Order: Veneroida
• Family: Veneridae
• Genus: Mercenaria

Short description: The Quahog, also known as the hard clam, is a species of edible clam that is native to the Atlantic coast of North America. They are large bivalves, with hard, heavy shells and a thick mantle. Quahogs are filter feeders, and can live for over 100 years.

Fun fact: Quahogs have been an important part of Native American cuisine for thousands of years, and are still widely harvested and consumed today. They are also used in traditional Native American jewelry, where the iridescent lining of their shells is used to make wampum beads.

Picture

6. Queenfish

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Perciformes
• Family: Carangidae
• Genus: Scomberoides

Short description:The Queenfish, also known as the Talang Queenfish, is a species of saltwater fish that is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are sleek and streamlined, with long, pointed snouts, and a distinctive silver color with black spots on their back. Queenfish are a popular game fish due to their strong fighting abilities.

Fun fact: Queenfish are known for their aggressive feeding behavior, and will often leap out of the water to catch small fish and other prey. They are also commonly used as bait for larger predatory fish such as marlin and tuna.

Picture

7. Quarter horse

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Perissodactyla
• Family: Equidae
• Genus: Equus
• Species: E. ferus
• Subspecies: E. f. caballus

Short description: The Quarter horse is a breed of domestic horse that is known for its speed and agility, especially over short distances. They are a muscular and compact breed with a distinctive, wide-set chest and strong hindquarters. Quarter horses are commonly used for a variety of purposes, including racing, rodeo events, and ranch work.

Fun fact:The Quarter horse gets its name from its ability to outrun other breeds over a quarter-mile distance. They are also known for their versatility and intelligence, and are often used for tasks such as cattle herding, trail riding, and pleasure riding.

Picture

8. Queen angelfish

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Perciformes
• Family: Pomacanthidae
• Genus: Holacanthus
• Species: H. ciliaris

Short description: The Queen angelfish is a brightly colored species of marine fish that is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Florida to Brazil. They have a distinctive, circular shape with a bright blue body, yellow tail and dorsal fin, and dark blue or black accents on their fins and face. Queen angelfish are known for their striking appearance and are a popular species in the aquarium trade.

Fun fact: Queen angelfish are known for their unique courtship behaviors. During mating season, males will swim in front of females, extending their dorsal fins and quivering their bodies to attract their attention.

Picture

9. Queen triggerfish

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Tetraodontiformes
• Family: Balistidae
• Genus: Balistes
• Species: B. vetula

Short description: The Queen triggerfish is a colorful and distinctive species of marine fish found in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, from Florida to Brazil. They have a large, diamond-shaped body with a vibrant blue-green coloration and black and yellow accents. Queen triggerfish are known for their sharp teeth and powerful jaws, which they use to feed on a variety of hard-shelled invertebrates such as crabs and sea urchins.

Fun fact: Queen triggerfish are known to be very aggressive towards other fish and can be territorial, especially during mating season. They are also capable of producing a loud, grunting sound by grinding their teeth together.

Picture

10. Quillback sucker fish

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Cypriniformes
• Family: Catostomidae
• Genus: Carpiodes
• Species: C. cyprinus

Short description: The quillback carpsucker fish is a freshwater species found in the central United States. It has a long, slender body with a brownish-gray coloration and a distinctive, quill-like dorsal fin. They are bottom-dwelling fish that feed on insects, algae, and small aquatic invertebrates.

Fun fact: Quillback carpsuckers are known for their unique defense mechanism. When threatened, they will release a strong-smelling, milky substance from their skin that can repel predators.

Picture

11. Quillback rockfish

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Actinopterygii
• Order: Scorpaeniformes
• Family: Sebastidae
• Genus: Sebastes
• Species: S. maliger

Short description: The quillback rockfish is a species of marine fish found along the Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to California. They have a distinctive appearance, with a mottled reddish-brown coloration and a large, quill-like dorsal fin. They are bottom-dwelling fish that feed on a variety of small crustaceans and fish.

Fun fact: Quillback rockfish can live for up to 95 years, making them one of the longest-lived species of fish in the world. They are also known for their slow growth rate, which contributes to their longevity.

Picture

12. Quinoa weevil

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Coleoptera
• Family: Curculionidae
• Genus: Sitophilus
• Species: Sitophilus oryzae

Short description: The quinoa weevil is a small, dark brown beetle that is about 2-3 millimeters in length. Both the adult beetle and the larvae feed on quinoa, which can cause significant damage to crops. The female beetle lays her eggs on the surface of quinoa seeds, and the larvae then bore into the seeds to feed and grow.

Fun fact: Quinoa weevils are a common pest of quinoa crops, and farmers use a variety of methods to control their populations. Some farmers use natural predators like parasitic wasps to control the weevil population, while others use chemical pesticides.

Picture

13. Quail-plover

Taxonomy: The Quail-plover (Ortyxelos meiffrenii) is a species of bird in the family Pluvianidae, which contains only two species: the Egyptian Plover and the Quail-plover.

Short Description: The Quail-plover is a small, compact bird with a distinctive, dark brown plumage. It has a short, thick neck, a small head with a short, straight bill, and long, slender legs. It is typically found in dry, sandy areas, and feeds on insects and small reptiles.

Fun Fact: The Quail-plover is known for its peculiar habit of sitting still and motionless for long periods of time, which helps it blend in with its surroundings and avoid detection by predators.

Here is a link to a picture of a Quail-plover.

14. Quilted butterflyfish

Taxonomy: The Quilted Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quilting) is a species of reef fish in the family Chaetodontidae.

Short Description: The Quilted Butterflyfish has a round body shape with a bright yellow color and black spots on its dorsal fin. It has a distinctive, quilt-like pattern on its body, which is where it gets its name from. It feeds primarily on coral polyps and small invertebrates and can be found in shallow coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Fun Fact: The Quilted Butterflyfish is known for its unique mating ritual. During courtship, the male butterflyfish will perform a dance in front of the female to attract her attention. Once he has her attention, he will lead her to a suitable location for spawning.

Here is a link to a picture of a Quilted Butterflyfish.

Final thoughts

The animal kingdom never ceases to amaze us with its diverse and fascinating creatures. This list of animals that start with Q highlights some of the unique and often lesser-known members of this kingdom. From the quirky and endearing quokka to qilted butterflyfish each animal has its own story to tell.

Through learning about these creatures, we can deepen our appreciation for the natural world and its many wonders.

Explore further; Animals that start with J, Animals that start with L, Animals that start with D, Animals that start with N, Animals that start with V, Animals that start with E, Animals that start with S.