20 Exciting Animals That Start With X | List And Fun Facts

As you can probably guess, there are not many animals that start with the letter X. Nevertheless, we’ve put together a list of 20 fascinating animals that start with X. In addition to a list, you’ll also find some fun facts about each animal below.

List Of Animals That Start With X

1. X-ray Tetra (a fish)
2. Xenops (a type of bird)
3. Xerus (African ground squirrels)
4. Xenopus (a genus of African frogs)
5. Xantus’s Hummingbird
6. Xantus’s Murrelet (a bird species)
7. Xeme (an Arctic gull)
8. Xylophanes (a genus of moths)
9. Xenopeltis (sunbeam snake)
10. Xylotrupes (a type of beetle)
11. Xenorhinos (a species of bandicoot)
12. Xenicidae (a family of New Zealand wrens)
13. Xolmis (a genus of flycatchers)
14. Xiphias Gladius (swordfish)
15. Xiphosura (horseshoe crab)
16. Xerophyllum (a genus of plants pollinated by insects)
17. Xantusiidae (Night lizards)
18. Xenarthra (a superorder of placental mammals)
19. Xenesthis (a genus of tarantula)
20. Xysticus (a genus of crab spiders)

Animals That Start With X – Fun Facts

X-ray Tetra

Also known as the golden pristella tetra, the X-ray Tetra is nearly transparent, giving it a skeletal, X-ray-like appearance. This transparency helps it to evade predators in its native Amazon River habitat.

Xenops

Xenops birds are known to hold their food with their feet, a trait relatively rare among birds. They use their distinctive, upward-curving beaks to forage for insects under tree bark.

Xerus

These African ground squirrels live in open woodlands, grasslands, or rocky country. They have cheek pouches to carry food, and they’re known to stand on their hind legs to survey their surroundings, looking much like meerkats.

Xenopus

Xenopus, a type of African clawed frog, was one of the first amphibians to have its genome sequenced. They’re frequently used in laboratory research due to their robustness and ease of care.

Xantus’s Hummingbird

This hummingbird species is native to Baja California in Mexico. Named after the Hungarian ornithologist John Xantus de Vesey, it’s one of the few hummingbird species known to breed in the winter.

Xantus’s Murrelet

Also named after John Xantus de Vesey, Xantus’s Murrelet is a small seabird. Unlike most seabirds, these murrelets are not gregarious and tend to nest alone or in small groups.

Xeme

The Xeme, an Arctic gull, has a uniquely adapted digestive system that allows it to eat a large number of certain prey, like lemmings, when they’re available in abundance during the short Arctic summer.

Xylophanes

A genus of moths, Xylophanes are known for their swift flight and their ability to hover, much like a hummingbird. Many species in this genus are important pollinators.

Xenopeltis

The Xenopeltis, or sunbeam snake, has iridescent scales that shimmer with a rainbow of colors. However, despite their beauty, they are known for their ill temperament when disturbed.

Xylotrupes

Xylotrupes is a type of rhinoceros beetle. Males of this genus are known to use their large horns in battles against rival males for the best food and breeding sites.

Xenorhinos

Xenorhinos is a species of bandicoot. Bandicoots are small, rat-like marsupials native to Australia. Some bandicoots have the ability to breed rapidly in response to favorable conditions.

Xenicidae

The family Xenicidae includes the New Zealand wrens, some of the smallest birds in the world. Several species in this family are flightless, a trait rare among birds.

Xolmis

Xolmis is a genus of birds known as flycatchers, named for their insect diet. These birds are found in open habitats across South America and are known for their distinctive, upright perching.

Xiphias Gladius

Xiphias Gladius, or the swordfish, is known for its long, pointed bill or “sword”. Swordfish are among the fastest fish, but speeds are often wildly exaggerated in popular media, such as reports of speeds of 97 km/h (60 mph).

Xiphosura

Xiphosura, commonly known as horseshoe crabs, are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs. Their blue blood is used in the medical industry to detect bacterial toxins in vaccines and other medical supplies.

Xerophyllum

While not an animal, Xerophyllum is a genus of plants that’s often pollinated by insects, connecting it to the animal kingdom. The plant’s common name, “beargrass,” comes from a misbelief that bears eat it (they don’t).

Xantusiidae

Night lizards, or Xantusiidae, are a family of lizards known for their secretive, nocturnal habits. Many species give birth to live young, a rarity among reptiles.

Xenarthra

Xenarthra is a superorder of placental mammals found in the Americas, including anteaters, tree sloths, and armadillos. They have a unique joint in their spinal vertebrae, which is not found in any other group of mammals.

Xenesthis

Xenesthis is a genus of tarantulas found in South America. They are known for their large size and their impressive, often brightly colored, hair patterns.

Xysticus

Xysticus, or ground crab spiders, have a unique hunting strategy. They wait on the ground or in vegetation for prey to come close, then they rush out and capture it, instead of building a web to ensnare their prey.

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