Commonly Known Animals That Begin With C
Camel
The Camel is an amazing creature! It was once believed that they stored water in their humps, but they actually store fat in their humps. They can live off this fat for weeks or months! A camel is capable of drinking up to 40 gallons of water in one sitting. At a full run, the camel can get up to 40 miles per hour, the same speed as a racehorse. Camels live in the deserts of Africa and the Arabic, and to avoid getting dust in their nose they can close their nose!
California Condor
The California Condor is the largest bird in North America. Its wing span is over 9 feet! Condors are scavenger animals and only eat dead animals. They have been known to scavenge from beached whales. Condors are very social creatures and live together in groups. When baby condors are born, they stay with their parents for a whole year. The California Condor is on the protected species list due to the low numbers of the population.
Cardinal
The male Cardinal is a very bright and noticeable due to its bright red plumage. The female Cardinal is less colorful but just as beautiful fawn color and red accent plumage. Cardinals, like Flamingos, get their red coloring from the food they eat. Cardinals live primarily in the Southwest region of North America and Mexico. Cardinal pairs stay together all year long but will join other Cardinals during the winter months.
Caribou
Caribou, also known as reindeer, are members of the deer family. Caribou can be found in Europe, Alaska, North America, and Greenland. Despite popular belief, both male and female caribou have antlers. Due to living in colder climates, Caribou have two layers of fur to keep them warm, it is up to 3 inches long! Depending on the season, their hooves change to help them walk on snow or dirt.
Cat
Your cuddly feline friend is actually part of the tiger family! They share 95% of their DNA with tigers. Cats are amazing creatures, and have the capability to fit in very tight spaces. If their head can fit through a hole, then the rest of their body can too! Did you know that cats have 18 toes, and the pads of their paws are designed to sneak up on prey (or their favorite person)? Cats use their purrs as a way to communicate with those around them and can have up to 100 different purr sounds.
Catfish
Catfish got their name from the whiskers that resemble cat whiskers. Catfish are adapted to various water environments, some prefer stagnant water and other rivers and lakes. The size a catfish grows depends on their environment, so it can be small or up to 700 pounds! Primarily, Catfish eat small fish, rodents, and even aquatic birds.
Centipede
The word Centipede means “one hundred feet” but no centipede has exactly 100 feet. Centipedes can have between 30-350 feet. Centipedes are rarely seen during the day and are most active at night. Centipedes are carnivores and enjoy eating cockroaches, spiders, and flies. There are 8,000 different species of centipedes and can be found all over the world.
Chameleon
Chameleons are very interesting creatures and have many unique characteristics. Chameleons are always looking at you because their eyes move independently from each other. This gives them the ability to see prey or predators at all times. Chameleons have the ability to change their color but only due to specific circumstances such as poor health, pregnancy, or temperature changes.
Cheetah
Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals in the world. In 3 seconds, they can reach speeds up to 64 miles per hour! Cheetahs will hunt large prey but will abandon it if another larger predator, such as a lion comes around. Cheetahs are often mistaken for leopards but have different physical features to help tell the difference. Cheetahs have solid spots and two curved lines running from their eyes to their cheeks, while leopards have rosette spots and no lines.
Chicken
There are over 33 million chickens around the world! Chickens used to be jungle birds that were domesticated. Chickens are known to have great memories and can recall 100 faces even after not seeing another chicken or person for a long period. A flock is a group of chickens that live together, and there is always one chicken in charge. Chickens are omnivores and enjoy a good meal of bugs and love beetles, grasshoppers, and mealworms.
Chimpanzee
Humans and Chimpanzees share around 98% of the same DNA, which is even more than Humans and Gorillas. Wild Chimpanzees are only found in the African rainforests. Often chimpanzees are seen eating fruits and plants, but they will occasionally eat other small monkeys or other small animals. Chimpanzees are very fast and can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour! Currently, the Chimpanzee is on the endangered species list.
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are very small, fully grown they weigh less than 1 pound and reach 6 inches long (not including their tail). Chipmunks are only found in North America, and part of Siberia. Chipmunks live in heavily forested areas but can find refuge in a hollow fence post if needed. They are underground dwellers and live in burrows. Chipmunks are omnivores since they like to eat plants and bugs. Chipmunks hibernate during the winter months.
Cobra
Cobras get their name from the name because of their hood. Their hood is actually ribs that extend up toward the neck and is used to deter predators. Cobras are the largest venomous snakes in the world. Cobras are native to Asia and Africa, and prefer spending time underground or under rocks. The best-known enemy of the cobra is the mongoose, which has thick fur that the Cobra’s fangs can not penetrate. Cobras lay their babies in eggs, and can have between 30-60 babies at a time!
Cockatiel
Cockatiels are native to Australia and were first discovered there in the 1700’s! Cockatiels are great pets and are more often kept as pets than parrots. Cockatiels are not talkers but they are whistlers! Some cockatiels learn to whistle entire songs. As a pet, Cockatiels can live to be between 20 and 25 years old. Cockatiels are very intelligent and can learn to give high fives! Cockatiels have the same mate for life, and pet stores will only sell mated pairs together.
Cockroach
Cockroaches have been around since the time of the dinosaur. Cockroaches are resilient creatures and can live for one week after losing their head! There are 4,000 different species of cockroaches around the world. Cockroaches in homes can cause allergy attacks in children and carry 44 different types of bacteria on their bodies, eww. Cockroaches prefer to live in wet and dark spaces, so they love to live in basements and sewers. Cockroaches are not picky eaters and will eat anything that is available.
Condor
There are two major types of Condors, the California Condor, and the Andean Condor. The Andean Condor is found living in the Andes mountains, while the California Condor resides in the South Western United States and Mexico. The Andean Condor is the larger of the two types, with a wing span of 9 feet! The California Condor’s wingspan is smaller by a foot. Both condor types live in mountain regions where it is windy, which makes it easier for them to fly.
Corn Snake
Corn Snakes are easily recognizable with their bright red to dark orange coloring. Corn Snakes are found living in the humid climates of the United States. Corn snakes are nonvenomous and constrict their prey before eating it whole! They only have to eat every few days. Female corn snakes lay up to 10-30 eggs at a time, and they incubate for 60 days.
Cougar
The Cougar holds the world’s record for the most names for one animal. Depending on their region there are 40 different names for Cougars. In North America, cougars are called Mountain Lions. The Cougar is the fourth largest feline in the world. Cougars have the ability to leap over 25 feet in the air. Cougars have a horrible sense of smell, but still better than a human.
Cow
Cows are female, but the male cow is called a bull. Only cows can produce milk. The cow’s stomach has four different stomachs. A cow’s spots are like a human’s fingerprints, no two cows have the same spots! Cows are very social and prefer to live in a group. Cows have an amazing sense of smell and can smell you coming from 6 miles away. Cows are very slobbery and can produce 40 gallons of saliva a day!
Coyote
Coyotes can be found all over North and Central America. The coyote is related to the fox and the wolf. The coyote is considerably smaller than the wolf, weighing around 40 pounds compared to the 100+ pounds of a wolf. Coyotes are omnivores and love to eat small rodents and the occasional stray chicken. Coyotes are incredibly fast and can reach speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Their coat color depends on what region they live in.
Crab
The red skin of the crab is actually an exoskeleton! The exoskeleton protects the soft tissue underneath. Crabs are omnivores, meaning they eat plants as well as small fish. Some crabs have the ability to live in water and on land, they possess both lungs and gills. Crabs have teeth…in their stomach! If Crabs lose a leg, it will grow back in about a year.
Cricket
Crickets and grasshoppers are related. In some countries, crickets are a delicacy and eaten as a source of protein. Did you know that crickets do not breathe? Instead, they absorb oxygen through holes in their body. In China, there are actually Cricket fighting competitions.
Crow
Crows are one of the most intelligent birds, and can remember faces up to 12 years! If you are ever mean to a crow, it will teach the other crows to avoid you. They are not picky eaters and they like to save their food for later. If they find food laying around, they will find a place to stash it away for later. Crows are omnivores so they will eat everything, literally! The Caw (noise crows make) is different depending on the region the Crow grew up in. There are 40 different species of crows and they vary in size.
Dogs that Start with C
- Cairn Terrier
- Canaan Dog
- Canadian Eskimo Dog
- Carolina Dog
- Catahoula Bulldog
- Catalan Sheepdog
- Caucasian Mountain Dog (Shepherd)
- Cava Tzu
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Cavapoo
- Cesky Terrier
- Cheagle
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Chihuahua
- Chihuahua Mix
- Chinese Crested Dog
- Chipit
- Chipoo
- Chiweenie
- Chorkie
- Chow Chow
- Chow Pom
- Chow Shepherd
- Chusky
- Clumber SpanielCockalier
- CockapooCollie
- Cocker Spaniel
- Collie Mix
- Comfort Retriever
- Corgidor
- Corgipoo
- Corkie
- Corman Shepherd
- Croatian Sheepdog
- Curly Coated Retriever
Zoo Animals that Start with C
Capuchin
Capuchin monkeys are considered the smartest of the New World Monkeys. New World Monkeys are those native to Central and South America. Capuchin’s like to eat plants and nuts that they find in the tropical forest. In order to open the nuts, they use rocks as tools to crack the shells. Capuchins are very social and live in groups of 20+ monkeys, usually led by a dominant male. Currently, the Capuchin is on the endangered species list.
California Kingsnake
California Kingsnakes are a nonvenomous snake that resides in the Western United States and Mexico. Because they are so easy to care for they are very popular pets. They are called kingsnakes for their habit of eating other snakes, mostly the rattlesnake. If you try to handle a kingsnake that is not in captivity and used to being handled, it will poop on you as a deterrent.
Canada Lynx
The Canada Lynx can be found in North America, not only in Canada. The Canada Lynx is different from a regular house cat, they actually like spending their time in the trees. They use the trees to hunt prey and pounce on their favorite food, snow hares. The Canada Lynx has unique paws that look like snow shoes. This allows them to not sink into the snow. The legs of the Canada Lynx are actually two different sizes, the front legs are shorter than the back legs.
Carpet Viper
The Carpet Viper is native to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This venomous snake is responsible for more human deaths on Earth than any other snake. The Carpet Viper is one of the less dazzling-looking snakes and has no bright colors. Despite being so deadly, the Carpet Viper is very small and only grows up to 2 feet long. The Carpet Viper is more active at night and will burrow underground during the day.
Chinchilla
Chinchillas are a rodent that is native to the country of Chile. They have become very popular pets, but are very specific in their needs. Chinchillas live in the Andes mountains of Chile, where their thick fur keeps them warm at higher elevations. If a Chinchilla gets wet, it takes a very long time to dry off, that is why they take dirt baths. Chinchillas tend to sleep with their eyes open, which can be a little creepy.
Chinese Cobra
Chinese Cobras are also known as Taiwan Cobras. Chinese Cobras are native to China but can be found in neighboring areas and islands. Of all the snakes in Taiwan, the Chinese Cobra is the most venomous. Toads are the Chinese Cobra’s favorite meal, along with other reptiles. The Chinese Cobra can live to be 12 years old.
Clouded Leopard
Unlike other cats, Clouded Leopards have the ability to climb down a tree head-first! Even though they are called Clouded Leopards, they are not actually leopards. Clouded Leopards are native to Eastern India and prefer to live in low tropical rainforests. Male and female Clouded Leopards create bonds at an early age and will mate for life. The Clouded Leopard is a descendant of the Sabertooth tiger.
Clownfish
The Clownfish is native to the warmer waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The most famous clownfish are Nemo and Marlin from the movie “Finding Nemo”. Clownfish have a distinct coloring of orange with white and black stripes. The female Clownfish can lay over 1000 eggs at a time! All Clownfish are male when they are born.
Cockatoo
Cockatoos are colorful and intelligent exotic birds. There are 21 different species of Cockatoos. Cockatoos, like parrots, can learn words and phrases. Some are able to say up to 1,000 words! Cockatoos are known to be stubborn and a little sassy at times. Cockatoos are very social creatures and love lots of attention.
Coral Snake
The Coral Snake is a venomous snake that has a bright, and noticeable pattern. Their scales are bands of yellow, red, and black. There are 80 different species of Coral Snakes found around the world. The Coral Snake has very small fangs so even though they are highly venomous they are not effective biters. They are the only venomous snake in North America to lay eggs, the rest give birth to live young.
Crocodile
Crocodiles can be found on every continent except Antarctica and Europe. A fully grown crocodile can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Crocodiles are very fast swimmers and can swim up to 22 miles per hour. A crocodile can live up to 75 years old! A crocodile has up to 110 teeth at one time but can replace any of those teeth when they lose one. Crocodiles have the strongest bite in the world, their jaws can exert 5,000 pounds of pressure per square inch!
Other Animals that Start with C
- Caiman Lizard
- Cabbage Moth
- Cactus Moth
- Cactus Mouse
- Cactus Wren
- Caecilian
- Caiman
- California Tarantula
- Camel Cricket
- Camel Spider
- Canada Warbler
- Canadian Horse
- Cane Corso
- Cane Rat
- Cane Spider
- Capybara
- Cantil
- Canvasback
- Cape Lion
- Caracal
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Carmel Spider
- Carolina Parakeet
- Carp
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Beetle
- Carpet Python
- Carrion Beetle
- Cascabel
- Cashmere Goat
- Cassowary
- Cat Snake
- Catahoula Leopard
- Cat-Eyed Snake
- Cat-Faced Spider
- Cavador
- Cave Bear
- Cave Lion
- Cecropia Moth
- Cedar Waxwing
- Central Ranges Taipan
- Cephalaspis
- Ceratopsian
- Ceratosaurus
- Cervalces latifrons (Broad-Fronted Moose)
- Chickadee
- Cesky Fousek
- Chain Pickerel
- Chamois
- Chartreux
- Checkered Garter Snake
- Chestnut-Sided Warbler
- Chicken Snake
- Chigger
- Children’s python
- Chilean Rose Tarantula
- Chilesaurus
- Chimaera
- Chinese Alligator
- Chinese Geese
- Cicada
- Chinese Paddlefish
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Chinese Water Deer
- Chinook
- Chinook Salmon
- Chinstrap Penguin
- Chipping Sparrow
- Chiton
- Christmas Beetle
- Christmas Island Red Crab
- Chromodoris Willani
- Cichlid
- Cigarette Beetle
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cinnamon Bear
- Cinnamon Ball Python
- Cinnamon Ferret
- Civet
- Clark’s Grebe
- Clearnose Skate
- Click Beetle
- Clock Spider
- Clothes Moth
- Coachwhip Snake
- Coastal Carpet Python
- Coastal Taipan
- Coati
- Cobia Fish
- Cochin Chicken
- Common Frog
- Cockle
- Coconut Crab
- Codfish
- Codling Moth
- Coelacanth
- Collared Peccary
- Collett’s Snake
- Colossal Squid
- Comb Jellyfish
- Comb-crested Jacana
- Comet Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Carp
- Common European Adder
- Conger Eel
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Grackle
- Common Green Magpie
- Common House Spider
- Common Loon
- Common Raven
- Common Spotted Cuscus
- Common Toad
- Common Yellowthroat
- Compsognathus
- Cone Snail
- Congo Snake
- Conure
- Coral
- Cookiecutter Shark
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Copperhead
- Corella
- Cormorant
- Corn Earworm
- Corn Rex Cat (Cornish Rex)
- Cory Catfish
- Coryphodon
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Coton de Tulear
- Cottonmouth
- Cotton-top Tamarin
- Coues Deer
- Crab Spider
- Crabeater Seal
- Crab-Eating Fox
- Crab-Eating Macaque
- Crane
- Crappie Fish
- Crayfish
- Crested Gecko
- Crested Penguin
- Crocodile Monitor
- Crocodile Shark
- Crocodylomorph
- Cross Fox
- Cross River Gorilla
- Crucian Carp
- Cuban Boa
- Cuban Cockroach
- Cubera Snapper
- Cuckoo
- Cucumber Beetle
- Curly Hair Tarantula
- Cuttlefish
There are so many animals that begin with C! Did you learn about any you didn’t recognize? Leave us a comment! We’d love to know what you learned about.
If you’re looking for other unique and interesting animals, be sure to check out our other Animals lists.
- Amazing Animals that Start with A
- Captivating Animals that Begin with C
- Animals That Begin With E
- Interesting Animals that Start With G
- Animals That Begin With J
- Animals That Begin With K
- Animals That Begin With L
- Terrific Animals that Start with T
