17 animals whose names start with letter Z (2024)

Dec 27, 2023

Timesofindia

Animals that start with Z

It may not seem like many animals start with the letter Z, but there are surprising ones. You definately know about a zebra, but what about a zonkey or zorse? These animals also offer interesting insight into the diversity of our amazing animal kingdom.

Zebra

The iconic Z-animal, zebras are African equines with distinctive black and white striped coats. An interesting fact is that no two Zebras can have the same pattern of stripes.

Zorse

A zorse has one donkey and one zebra parent and can vary widely in their appearance due to the sheer number of types of horses that exist. A fun fact about this animal is that its zebra DNA helps to protect them from diseases.

Zanj Sun Squirrel

The Zanj sun squirrel can be found high on Mt. Kilimanjaro where it survives on a diet of fruit, seeds, flowers and palm dates. However, this habitat is under threat from agriculture and resource extraction.

Zanzibar Red Colobus

The Zanzibar red colobus is a species of red colobus monkey. Unfortunately, this animal is classified as endangered due to habitat destruction.

Zebra Finch

The zebra finch is a small songbird whose origin is in the southern Pacific region. These tiny adorable birds are a popular animal to keep as a pet.

You may also like

10 people of Indian-origin who are world...

11 Animals that shed skin, body parts

Zebra Mussels

The zebra mussel is a small freshwater mussel and the species originates from the lakes of southern Russia and Ukraine. It has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas and has become an invasive species in many countries worldwide. The zebra mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces via strong threads like rocks and boats and are also known to damage the engines of ships.

Zebra Shark

The zebra sharks spend the majority of their lives on the ocean floor. These spotted fish can live up to thirty years in the wild and gather near Queensland every summer. The young zebra sharks have stripes and the markings change into spots as they mature.

Zebra Spider

The zebra spiders are a species of jumping spiders and their common name refers to their vivid black and white colouration.

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

The butterfly has thick, black and white stripes along its wings, resembling those of its namesake.

Zebrafish

The zebrafish are prolific breeders and hatch about 20-200 offspring on each occasion. They are known to grow from a single cell to a swimming adult in just only days.

Zebra-Tailed Lizard

The zebra-tailed lizard will run and curl their striped tails when they feel threatened. They have a varied diet which includes buds and flowers, moths, ants, spiders and smaller lizards.

Zenaida Dove

Zenaida dove is common in the country of Anguilla and is the country's national bird. The young birds are developed enough to fly after only two weeks in the nest.

Zimmer’s Woodcreeper

This delicate-looking bird has a relatively long tail and a short, straight bill. It is found in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Zoea

Zoea is actually the scientific name for the larvae of crustaceans like crabs and lobsters.

Zone-Tailed Hawk

The zone-tailed hawk lives in the forests and foothills of Mexico and Central and South America. They are often mistaken for turkey vultures due to their colouring.

Zonkey

This animal is the offspring of a male zebra and a female donkey. That's how it gets the name. Zonkeys have brown-gray bodies and zebra-like stripes on their bellies or legs.

Zorilla

The zorilla is also known as the stripes polecat. It is native to Southern Africa and is considered to be very aggressive. Zorilla hunts a lot as its tiny stomach causes it to need to feed frequently.

Thanks For Reading!

Next: 10 people of Indian-origin who are world famous