Did you know there are over 60 animals that start with that lucky letter L? With the help of our animal round-up, teach your children about animals from all over the world. They’ll come to understand what they look like, decipher their habitats, understand whether they’re endangered species or not, and how we can protect them!
1. Lion – The King of the Jungle
Home to the African Continent- Lions are strong, beautiful, and dangerous creatures. They thrive in groups of up to 40 members. If a lion roars you can hear it up to five miles away, and even though they are the king of the jungle they are pretty bad at hunting.
Learn More: Free School
2. Leopard
This beautiful strong wild cat species has one distinct feature- their yellow, brown, or even orange spots. They live and thrive in the grasslands of Africa and being able to run up to 36mph, makes them excellent hunters! It is a breathtaking animal whose only predator is a man.
Learn More: AWF.org
3. Lemur
Many of us remember these hysterical little primates from the film called Madagascar. They are black, white, and grey with big yellow eyes. Did you know that lemurs actually evolved before monkeys and other primates? About 60 million years ago lemurs were found in Madagascar.
Learn More: San Diego Zoo
4. Llamas
If you thought a llama wasn’t clever, think again. They are cute and sociable amongst themselves but not so people-friendly. These creatures are super protective and will guard their territory.
Learn More: Thought.co
5. Leatherback Sea Turtle
Could you imagine swimming 10,000 miles a year? The leatherback sea turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world and is a fantastic swimmer. They have been tracked since the age of the dinosaurs. Find out more about what makes them different and why they are at risk.
Learn More: Fisheries.NOAA.gov
6. Lorikeet – A Rainbow That Can Fly
Have you ever seen such a beautiful exotic bird species? The Rainbow Lorikeet is so bright in color, it looks surreal! They are from Australia and New Zealand and live in the rainforests and coastal towns. They thrive in the wild and live up to 30 years.
Learn More: Bird Fact
7. Lemmings
These little creatures are really cute but they don’t have a very long lifespan. They are small rodents that live in big groups. They are quite territorial and prefer to be alone. They are known to walk across the Tundra in search of food and water. Unfortunately many do not make it, but those who survive to reproduce immediately.
Learn More: Animal Fun Facts
8. Lamprey – The Vampire Fish
The Vampire Fish got its name because it loves blood and feeds off of the blood of other fish in the water. The official name is a Lamprey and there are over 38 different species swimming in the ocean, waiting to catch their next prey.
Learn More: Fact In Former
9. The Iberian Lynx
This medium size endangered species is the most threatened among the Lynx species. There are less than 200 left in the world. It has a muscular body, long legs, and a spotted coat. It truly is a stunning animal that needs to be protected from extinction. The Lynx is the second fastest animal on the planet at 80 kph, and they are amazing to watch in action.
Learn More: Animalia
10. Leopard Frog
The Northern Leopard frog is an amphibian species found in the Northern part of the USA and Canada. They tend to live in marshy areas and wetlands where it’s easy to live off of insects, spiders, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Learn More: NPS.gov
11. Loon
These are not crazy birds. They can swim well and only spend time on land to mate and incubate their eggs. After spending so much time in the water it may come as a shock to learn that Loons can fly up to 70mph. It’s good that they can fish well because, in a 15-week period, a family of 4 can eat almost a half-ton of fish!
Learn More: All About Birds
12. Labrador Retrievers
These dogs are super swimmers because they have webbed toes. In addition to being good in the water, their webbed toes double as snowshoes in winter. These dogs are so smart that they are used as guide dogs and have been known to save people in serious situations.
Learn More: Petair UK
13. Leeches
This slimy creature might make you squeal with disgust. The leeches have been given a bad reputation, but they don’t deserve it because they help a lot of people in the medical field using leech therapy. Did you know that they’re classed as invertebrates and have 10 eyes?
Learn More: Reach The World
14. Lobster
Did you know that a lobster can grow up to 1 meter in length? There are two types of lobsters called clawed and spiny lobsters. Many people think that lobsters are red, but really they are brown, yellow-white, or bright blue! If you’re on the hunt for these creatures, you’ll find them along the bottom of the ocean beds!
Learn More: Ocean Conservancy
15. Long-Eared Owl
Long Eared Owls are beautiful creatures that generally look surprised. They hunt mice, rodents, and small mammals at night and make their nest or “roost” in areas that are dense so that they are camouflaged from predators calling.
Learn More: All About Birds
16. Leafy Sea Dragon
Is it a plant, a fish, or a dragon? This creature looks like a sea horse and is native to the southern coast of Australia. Even though they live in the sea they are not good swimmers and need to camouflage themselves from predators. They eat small plankton crustaceans and the male cares for the fertilized egg creatures.
Learn More: National Geographic.com/animals/fish/facts/leafy-sea-dragon
17. Lake Sturgeon
This fish looks pre-historic and has a shark-like tail. It’s not going to win any beauty competitions anytime soon. Known as the dinosaur of the Great Lakes, they can grow up to 12 feet long and one curious fact is that the indigenous people used to use every part of this fish for food, needles, paint, weapons, and more!
Learn More: NWF.org
18. Locust
This insect species belong to the grasshopper family. They are known to destroy crops and vegetation by attacking huge groups called swarms. They are excellent jumpers and make a chirping noise by rubbing their hind legs together. They play a huge part in the ecosystem by laying millions of eggs which later provide food for birds and other species.
Learn More: Easy Science For Kids
19. LaMancha Goat
The LaMancha Goat has tiny ears, that when observed from afar, make it seem as though they have none. These are sturdy little guys who can survive in many types of environmental conditions. These goats provide us with quality dairy which contains a high content of butterfat and allows us to make rich cheeses and other products. They are primarily found in Oregon and all over Spain.
Learn More: Backyard Goats
20. Leopard Seal
If you want to spot a Leopard Seal, you will have to head to Antarctica. These mammals play an important role in the Antarctic ecosystem by eating a lot of the overpopulated fish and species in the ocean. They are known predators and eat approximately six percent of their body weight daily.
Learn More: Doc.govt.NZ
21. Ladybug
The Ladybug is a well-known insect that we’ve all seen flitting about in Spring and Summer. Some have stripes, are solidly colored, or are best known for their spots. Shockingly, these tiny insects can live up to 3 years thanks to their distinct colors which help to ward off predators.
Learn More: National Geographic Kids
22. Langur
These primates are known as the “Old World ” monkeys and amazingly enough, there are over 150 different species of Langurs still in existence. They are leaf-eating monkeys and have a special stomach that can digest other plants and roots when leaves are scarce.
Learn More: EPRC.asia
23. Raksasa Lizard
The largest species of lizard is called a “Komodo Dragon”. There are over 3,000 lizards living in the wild, but this one is the biggest and the oldest living lizard in the world. They range in color from black to yellow-grey and thrive in Indonesia in the wild.
Learn More: San Diego Zoo
24. Loggerhead Sea turtle
This turtle has got some tough jaws to help it chew through hard-shelled creatures in the sea. It received its name thanks to possessing such a large head. It is the most populated turtle in the USA and like all marine animals, it surfaces for air. The females come ashore to lay their eggs and are fantastic navigators- going back to the same nesting spot year after year.
Learn More: Fisheries.NOAA.gov
25. Lagorchestes
Let’s travel to the land down under and meet the lagorchestes which, when translated, means dancing kangaroo. It’s commonly known as a wallaby. These creatures can be found in the warm climates of Australia and live off the land by finding seeds fruits and grass.
Learn More: Animal Diversity
26. Leaf-Cutter Ants
Leaf Cutter Ants are fascinating to watch, but just by looking at them, one would never guess that they have jaws that are like chainsaws. Could you imagine chewing 1,000 counts per second? Like many ants, they too can carry up to 50 times their weight.
Learn More: Study.com
27. Lionfish
Lionfish are beautiful but are surprisingly an invasive species. These fish eat just about everything so they have no problem surviving. Their spines contain neurotoxins which expose humans to certain vulnerabilities and ailments- so stay back!
Learn More: Marine Sanctuary
28. Loris
This cute mammal forages at night looking for fruit, nectar, and insects. Although it looks gentle, be warned because it is the only venomous primate on the planet! They are known as the Slow Loris because they remain motionless for hours on end.
Learn More: Britannica
29. The Long-Tailed Duck
This species is quite populated and even though there has been a decline in the last twenty years, there are still over one million Long Tailed Ducks on our planet. The decline was sadly due to oil spills and pollution- a lesson we can all take in learning how to better care for our planet.
Learn More: Audubon.org
30. Lovebird
Lovebirds have beautiful colored feathers. If these cheery creatures have company, they can live as long as 20 years! They are native to Africa and they need lots of freedom and a well-balanced diet, which includes specific food products, to thrive.
Learn More: The Happy Chicken Coop
30 Bold And Beautiful Animals That Start With B