One of the most difficult letters of the alphabet to play in the game of scrabble is Q, but how much more difficult it becomes when you try to name animals whose names begin with this letter! The truth is, there aren’t many animals beginning with the letter Q but the ones that we have found are a beautiful cross-section of the natural world. From parrots to sharks to salamanders and everything in between, learn which animals beginning with the letter Q are endangered or thriving, hunter or hunted, their eating and mating habits as well as how and where you may be able to spot them.  Read on to expand your own personal animal encyclopedia! 

Quail

Scientific name: Coturnix coturnix

The oft-quoted curmudgeonly adage that children should be ‘seen and not heard’ appears to be something that quails have adopted as a reliable safety method! A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the shrill staccato sounds of the quail convey a myriad of meanings. Three chirps indicate a potential threat and a squawk alarm lets its comrades and family know that danger is imminent. Don’t be fooled by its misleading corpulence, these plump game birds can reach speeds of almost 40 miles an hour in the air. They have pointed wings and their upper parts are a buffy shade of warm orange and some have speckling on their upper breast.

Quetzal

Scientific name: Pharomachrus mocinno

It’s off to the lush forests of central America to catch a glimpse of this resplendent, avian rainbow, the Quetzal. Note that the males will be easier to spot than the females because, like many sexually dimorphic creatures, the masculine of the Species is more ostentatiously colored in its plumage compared to the females which sport the more neutral and muted tones of two. They enjoy the humid highlands and they are the national emblem of Guatemala.

Quaker parrot

Scientific name: Myiopsitta monachus

The quaker parrot, also known as the monk parrot is a bit more versatile when it comes to architecture than others of his species, he is the only parrot that builds its nest in a tree or a man-made structure instead of in a tree hole-like other members of the true parrot family. In fact, his gregarious construction is so prolific, the nests are communal structures for multiple pairs of birds. Happily, the WQuaker parrot is one of 25 species of parrot that were once exclusively kept as pets but now are thriving in the wild of 23 states. 

Quagga catshark

Scientific name: Halaelurus quagga

You don’t get much rarer than this elusive aquatic species, given that what little we know of their natural history comes to us from a mere 9 specimens caught off the coast of eastern Somalia and southwestern India. What we do know is that their diet consists almost entirely of shrimp which they find at the bottom of the ocean. You shouldn’t expect to hear the soundtrack to Jaws when you see one of these approaching, for this striped sub-queen measures a paltry 11 inches. 

Quokka

Scientific name: Setonix brachyurus

About the size of a domestic cat, the Quokka is the only member of the genus Setonix. The Quokka has some traits in common with other marsupials (such as kangaroos and wallabies) for instance, they are herbivorous and mostly active at night. 

Quokkas frequent the smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia, a specific favorite habitat is Rottnest Island just off Perth and Bald Island near Albany. Other far more restricted populations roam around the forest and coastal heath between Perth and Albany. There is also a protected area of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve which works to preserve this unique species.

Queen angelfish

Scientific name: Holacanthus ciliaris

The females of this selective angelfish primarily eat sponges. They thrive in a fascinating community that has been compared to harems which include one male and up to four females. The females forage in isolation from the males and some would say romantically. Breeding in the species occurs near a full moon. They lay transparent eggs that float in the water until they hatch. 

Quahog

Scientific name: Mercenaria mercenaria

Also known as the round clam, or hard-shell clam is native to the eastern shores of North America and Central America. It can often be confused with the “ocean quahog” which is an entirely different species, Arctica islandica. The shape is somewhat similar but it is in a different family of bivalves: One of the ways you can tell them apart from each other is that the ocean quahog is more curved in shape than the hard clam, generally has a jet periostracum, and there is no pallial sinus inside of the shell.

Queen Alexandra’s birdwing

Scientific name: Ornithoptera alexandrae

Ornithoptera alexandrae, otherwise known as Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, has an impressive claim to fame, it is the largest species of butterfly in the world. In fact, female wingspans can reach slightly in excess of 25 cm to 28 cm (9.8 inches to 11 inches). Despite its great size, its territory is relegated to the forests of the Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Commercial international trade in this butterfly is illegal as it is classed as endangered. In fact, it is one of only three insects to be listed in Appendix I of CITES. Sadly, the other two insects are other species of butterfly. 

Queen snake

Scientific name: Regina septemvittata

The regal queen snake is often compared to the garter snake which belongs to a different genus. It can be recognized by its olive, deep tan, green-grey, or deep brown color with remarkable pale peach or yellow stripes running along its length. It also has four bold ventral stripes which are a deeper tone. As no other similar species have stripes running down its underside, this is a thoroughly reliable technique for identifying this snake.

Quoll

Scientific name:  Dasyurus

This meat-eating mini-marsupial makes his home in Australia or New Guinea. These carnivorous creatures live a solitary life for most of the year. Outside of the winter season, when mating keeps them warm. They are quite easy to recognize, just look for the brownfield of fur speckled with flecks of cream circles. Although, catch it while you can because the species has drastically reduced in number ever since the Europeans colonized Australasia.  

Queen snapper

Scientific name: Etelis oculatus

For most creatures, love is in the air come springtime, but the Queen Snapper is the one exception because spring is the one time of year when this species is not particularly active. Also, Momma and Papa queen snapper and Junior snapper don’t adhere to the same diet! While the adults go in for squid, and often other fish, the juveniles dine on crustaceans. Found in Atlantic water as far as Bermuda it reproduces throughout the year with the peak times being October and November.

Quelea

Scientific name: Quelea quelea

The Quelea might be the ornithological kingdom’s best-kept secret. If you haven’t heard of the Quelea, it’s not for want of specimens. The red-billed variant, for example, is said to be the most numerous species of bird in the entire world. Beautiful though the individual Quelea might be to look at, he can be a bit of a rascal when it comes to consuming sub-saharan corn crops, so guard your crops well! 

Queensland lungfish

Scientific name: Neoceratodus forsteri

The term living history is especially true if one considers the Queensland lungfish. Fossil records of this lobe-finned fish date back at least 380 million years. While so many of the higher vertebrate classes were beginning to evolve, the Queensland lungfish stayed true to its form. In a rapidly changing world, it’s refreshing to know that this creature has stayed the same. In fact, he has earned the Scientific moniker shared by very few current fish, that of a living fossil. 

Quechuan Hocicudo

Scientific name: Oxymycterus hucucha

You might be forgiven for thinking that this mountain-dwelling rodent of Central Bolivia is a bit of a daydreamer, given that he resides in a cloud forest of altitudes of up to 3000 meters. He’s an exclusive little creature, not especially well-traveled, never venturing outside of the small region of Bolivia he calls home. As a result of this small concentration coupled with habitat destruction, his conservation status is troublingly listed as endangered.

Quacking Frog

Scientific name: Crinia georgiana

Those looking for a deep lexicographical meaning to this amphibious creature’s name need not bother. This frog simply makes a sound which sounds like quacking, hence the name. It has a repertoire of 11 notes that they can change at will resulting in a variety of calls but it’s a quack nonetheless! There is little in the way of sexual dimorphism, so those looking to distinguish males from females, won’t find much in the way of color discrepancy, although the size of the males tends to be slightly larger.  

Queensland tube-nosed bat

Scientific name: Nyctimene robinsoni

Aside from the peculiar proboscis which gives this winged creature its name, the Queensland tube-nosed bat is also unique in the flecks of yellow-green spots on their ears and wings. Some biologists have surmised that the spots serve as camouflage but they also have the characteristics of photoluminescence, a unique feature that sets them apart from all other bats. This visual hallmark of their physiognomy is convenient for bat enthusiasts, rendering these selectively audible (they only vocalize in flight) instantly recognisable.

Queens triggerfish

Scientific name: Balistes vetula

If ever a fish was justified in not liking labels, this one is it. In Cuba, he’s known as cochino (pig, in Spanish) And he can be found, no surprise, in the Bay of Pigs! As if that wasn’t identity-crushing enough, his ability to change colour to match his surroundings just might leave some marine biologists to bestow on him the moniker, ‘chameleon of the sea’! 

Queensland Grouper

Scientific name: Epinephelus lanceolatus

When one thinks of the Queensland grouper (or giant grouper) it’s hard to think of a more telling characteristic than their ravenous appetite. Known as opportunistic ambush predators, their diet is a veritable smorgasbord of fellow aquatic brethren. They’ll eat anything from crustaceans and molluscs to sea turtles and small sharks. And they can put it away being on average 17 inches in length. v

Quebrada Valverde salamander

Scientific name: Bolitoglossa diminuta

These colourful neotropical salamanders of the Bolitoglossa are actually the largest genus in the order of Caudata. Incredible, they make up one-fifth of the entire species of salamanders that we know about. The adults can vary in size anywhere from 45mm to 200mm in length. They have a very special skill set – they are able to project their tongue at their chosen prey! Another feature for which they are renowned is their webbed feet. They possess notably more webbing than almost any other species outside their genus. Only the cave-dwelling Mexican bolitoglossine Chiropterotriton magnifies beats them to this accolade. 

Qinling panda

Scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis

The fascinating Qinling panda is a subgenre of the giant panda. This particular species was discovered in 1959 but was not identified as a subspecies in its own right until as recently as 2005. His range is somewhat restricted to the Qinling Mountains where he enjoys elevations of 1,300–3,000 metres (4,300–9,800 ft). It is widely speculated that his colouration could be a consequence of inbreeding as the species is separated from other pandas. Another suggestion which is a troubling thought is that the Qinling panda may be under tremendous threat due to the metals and poisons now present in bamboo and the general air pollution in China.

Querétaro rattlesnake

Scientific name: Crotalus Aquilus

Like all snakes, the Querétaro rattlesnake moves around low on the ground. But when it comes to habitat, he’s high up in altitude, making the highlands of central Mexico his home. Hence the aquilus in Crotalus quilts (Latin for eagle) Be advised if you happen to find yourself in the presence of this wingless eagle, take caution. Like all species of pit viper, he’s venomous. 

Queen Victoria Riflebird

Scientific name: Lophorina victoriae

Despite the warlike implication of the Queen Victoria riflebird’s name, (taken from the similarity of their black plumage to the uniforms of the British army’s rifle brigade) the real point of interest when it comes to this aviary creature, is a love story. After putting on a show involving the displaying of his throat feathers to accentuate his plumage, the male moves from side to side in an almost metrical dance. This and the raspy calls (which gradually become less harsh and more sonorous during display) attract the female admirer! 

References:

• https://www.mammal.org.uk/
• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/
• https://ebird.org/home

List of Animals that Start with the Letter Q

1. Quail
2. Quetzal
3. Quaker parrot
4. Quagga catshark
5. Quokka
6. Queen Angelfish
7. Quahog
8. Queen Alexandra’s birdwing
9. Queen snake
10. Quoll
11. Queen snapper
12. Quelea
13. Queensland lungfish
14. Quechuan Hocicudo
15. Quacking frog
16. Queensland tube-nosed bat
17. Queen triggerfish
18. Queensland grouper
19. Quebrada valverde salamander
20. Qinling panda
21. Queretaran rattlesnake 
22. Queen Victoria Riflebird

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