Insects like lacewings, leafcutter ants, and locusts; mammals like leopards, lions, lemurs, and lemmings; reptiles like the leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles; and birds like the lammergeier and lapwing are among the animals that begin with L.
Beginning with L, this page has a list of numerous animal species, each with photos and interesting facts.
Links are provided below each animal that will lead you to additional information, images, and videos.
Individual species (e.g., the leopard seal) and groups of animals
Each of the individual species has scientific and conservation names and status provided.
Index
All of the animals’ pictures and information can be found on page down.
List Of Animals Beginning With L
- Labradoodle
- Labrador Retriever
- Lacewing
- Ladybug / Ladybird
- Lammergeier
- Lapwing
- Leafcutter Ant
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Leech
- Lemming
- Lemur
- Leopard
- Leopard Cat
- Leopard Frog
- Leopard Seal
- Leopard Tortoise
- Liger
- Limpet
- Lion
- Lionfish
- Lizard
- Llama
- Lobster
- Locust
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Long-Eared Owl
- Longhorn Cowfish
- Longnose Gar
- Long-Tailed Tit / Long-Tailed Bushtit
- Loris
- Lungfish
- Lynx
- Lyrebird
Labradoodle
- Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris / Canis familiaris
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Canidae (dogs)
- Origin: Australia
The labradoodle was created in Australia in the 1980s and is a popular dog breed. A labradoodle is a hybrid Labrador retriever and poodle, as its name suggests.
The labradoodle is often utilized as a service or therapy dog because to its intelligence and relative ease of training. Families like it because it is sociable and has hypoallergenic features, making it a popular breed.
Black, brown, cream, apricot, or red are some of the colors available in Labradoodles. Their coats are available in a variety of textures, from straight to curly.
Labrador Retriever
- Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris / Canis familiaris
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Canidae (dogs)
- Origin: England
The Labrador retriever is a British dog breed that is also known as a “Labrador” or “lab.” Labrador Retrievers have a excellent temperament and intelligence, making them suitable family pets as well as competent working pets. Guide dogs and military dogs are both Labrador retrievers.
Labrador’s forefathers were Labrador’s “fishing dogs,” which are now a part of Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province. Fishing dogs dived into the sea to recover nets and lines as their fisherman owners dove in.
Lacewing
- Type of animal: Insect
- Order: Neuroptera
Lacewings are insects with two sets of delicate, lace-like wings on each pair.
Insects in the Chrysopidae family, which has 1,486 species (source), are among the most well-known lacewings. Green lacewings belong to this family of lacewings. Because of their capacity to release a foul-smelling chemical from glands in their thorax (mid-section) when frightened, they are also known as “stinkflies.”
The order Neuroptera, which has existed since the Permian Era, long before the dinosaurs, is home to lacewings. There are currently 6,697 species in the Neuroptera genus.
Ladybug / Ladybird
- Type of animal: Insect
- Order: Coleoptera (beetles)
- Family: Coccinellidae
- Where found: All continents except Antarctica
The brightly-colored, spotted wing cases and rounded body form of ladybugs make them a popular little beetle family. Outside of North America, ladybugs are referred to as “ladybirds.”
The Coccinellidae family of ladybugs comprises 6,000 or more species. Everywhere in the globe, ladybugs may be found.
Aphids (greenflies) are crop-eating insects that ladybugs feed on. As a result, seeing ladybugs on your veggies is sometimes a delight for gardeners!
Several ladybug species, like the Harmonia axyridis, which is native to Asia, are considered invasive species in other places of the globe.
As a natural means of insect control, the harlequin ladybird was first introduced to Europe and North America. Unfortunately, it is extremely harmful to native ladybug species.
Lammergeier
- Scientific name: Gypaetus barbatus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Family: Accipitridae
- Where found: Europe, Asia, Africa
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
The lammergeier is a vulture that may be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa’s mountainous areas. It’s also known as the “bearded vulture.”
The lammergeier is a rare species, with fewer than 7,000 individuals thought to be surviving in the wild despite its wide range (the region where it lives).
The lammergeier has a wingspan of up to 2.83 meters / 9 feet 3 inches, making it one of the few vultures with a feathered head.
The lammergeier, like other vultures, eats carrion. The diet of this species, which is primarily bone, makes it unique among vertebrates. The lammergeier’s stomach acids are particularly acidic, capable of breaking down huge bones in 24 hours as an adaptation for its peculiar diet.
Lapwing
- Type of animal: Bird
- Family: Charadriidae
- Where found: All continents except Antarctica
The Vanellinae subfamily of the shorebird family, Charadriidae, contains 24 species of ground-nesting birds.
Lapwings are distinguished by their long, nasal cries, which have earned them the moniker “peewit” in various regions of the globe. They fly with distinct, slow wingbeats.
Lapwings prefer open places such as grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural fields, and are found on every continent except Antarctica. Insects make up the majority of their diet, but they will also consume small invertebrates like snails and earthworms.
Due mainly to habitat loss and degradation, lapwings are one of the most endangered bird groups in the world.
Leafcutter Ant
- Type of animal: Insect
- Family: Formicidae
- Where found: South America, Central America
In Central and South America, leafcutter ants may be found. Atta and Acromyrmex are two genera that contain 47 different species of leafcutter ants.
Leafcutter ants, like other ants, are gregarious and live in colonies that are mostly female workers. Leafcutter ant colonies may house up to 8 million insects, making them particularly large.
Leafcutter ants gather leaves and other plants and carry them back to their colonies. The plant material is chewed and deposited in a section of the nest known as a “fungal garden,” where it grows fungus. The queen and the other ants that stay in the nest eat the fungus.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Family: Dermochelyidae
- Where found: Oceans worldwide
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The world’s biggest turtle (only three crocodilians are bigger) and the fourth-largest living reptile, the leatherback sea turtle, lives in its habitat. The thick, leathery carapace (shell) of the leatherback sea turtle earned it its name. It’s the only turtle that doesn’t have a hard shell.
Leatherback turtles may be found in tropical and temperate seas all around the globe, migrating large distances between their breeding and feeding grounds. The Arctic Circle has also been discovered to be home to this species..
The Dermochelyidae family includes just one species: the leatherback turtle. The Cheloniidae family contains the six remaining sea turtle species.
Leech
- Type of animal: Segmented worm (phylum Annelida)
- Where found: All continents except Antarctica
Annelids (ringed worms) belong to the Hirudinea class, which includes leeches. The presence of a sucker at both ends of their bodies distinguishes them from earthworms, and they may be identified from these and other worm types. While moving, leeches utilize both suckers, and certain types can swim as well.
The majority of leeches are parasites that attach to other animals (including humans) via their specially designed mouthparts in order to drink blood. Hundreds of little, razor-sharp teeth can be found in the mouths of blood-sucking leeches.
Leeches were once thought to help restore the body’s natural balance by removing blood; they were used to treat a variety of ailments in the past.
Lemming
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Cricetidae
- Where found: The Arctic and sub-Arctic
In the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, lemmings exist in 19 different species of tiny rodents. They belong to the Arvicolinae subfamily, which includes voles and muskrats.
Lemmings are plant-eating herbivores that consume everything from leaves and shoots to vegetables.
Lemming populations can unexpectedly expand dramatically under particular circumstances. Large numbers of lemmings migrate away from their birthplaces as a result of these population booms.
The notion that huge numbers of lemmings jump off cliffs arose as a result of these wide-scale migrations.
Lemur
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Superfamily: Lemuroidea
- Where found: Madagascar
The African island-country of Madagascar is home to lemurs, a kind of primate.
Lemurs come in about a hundred different varieties. The primate superfamily Lemuroidea is made up of both of them.
About 50 to 60 million years ago, lemurs are thought to have developed from loris-like primates who were transported to Madagascar on a raft of vegetation from Africa. Lemurs developed to occupy a variety of ecological roles due to the absence of other mammals.
The mouse lemur, with a head-tail length of 27 cm / 11 in., is the world’s smallest primate, and it is the smallest lemur.
The indri is the biggest lemur. Almost 1.2 m / 4 ft. tall, this black and white herbivorous lemur With its legs spread apart, it stands tall. The indri, like many other lemurs, is endangered.
Leopard
- Scientific name: Panthera pardus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Felidae (the cat family)
- Where found: Africa, Asia
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
Only the tiger, lion, and jaguar are bigger than the leopard in terms of cat species. Its unusual coat is golden-yellow and has rings (really, they are more like rings than spots) that are covered in little patches.
In comparison to other old world cat species, the leopard has a wider range and a greater variety of habitats. The leopard can be found in a variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts to human communities.
Prey is varied, with mid-sized hooved creatures like antelopes and deer being the most likely targets for this adaptable carnivore.
The stealth and might of leopards has been recognized. A leopard will frequently drag its prey up a tree in order to keep other predators away from its food.
Leopard Cat
- Scientific name: Prionailurus bengalensis
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Where found: Asia
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The leopard cat, which can be found in woods across much of Asia, is a tiny and agile felid. The coat of this animal is speckled, rosetted, and striped, making it ideal for stalking prey through the underbrush.
The leopard cat is known to eat reptiles, amphibians, and even fish despite its diet of small mammals and birds. Farmers in some sections of the leopard cat’s range consider it a threat, as it has been known to murder chickens and other animals.
The species’ greatest danger stems from human activities that lead to habitat destruction and isolation.
Leopard Frog
- Type of animal: Amphibian
- Family: Ranidae (true frogs)
- Genus: Lithobates
- Where found: North America, South America
The genus Lithobates belongs to the Ranidae family of frogs, and it contains 23 species of leopard frog. North America is home to all leopard frogs.
In wooded areas, Leopard Frogs can be found near ponds, lakes, and streams. They are semi-aquatic frogs. Green or brown, with black markings on the rear and sides, they’re all the same. They can swim swiftly and jump far distances, making them formidable swimmers.
The United States, South America, and Canada are all home to Leopard Frogs. It’s a amphibian, which means it can exist in both land and water. Insects, spiders, and small invertebrates are among the foods of the Leopard Frog.
It is an essential component of the ecosystem, helping to keep these species in check. Other creatures, such as snakes, birds, and mammals, eat the Leopard Frog as a major food source.
Leopard Seal
- Scientific name: Hydrurga leptonyx
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Phocidae
- Where found: Antarctica
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Along Antarctica’s shoreline, the leopard seal may be found. The leopard seal grows to lengths of up to 3.6 m/11 ft. 10 in. and weighs up to 450 kg/992 lb., making it the second-largest Antarctic seal (after the enormous southern elephant seal). The species’ name comes from the dark, leopard-like spots on its chest and underbelly.
The leopard seal is a ferocious predator with formidable jaws and pointed teeth. It is known to attack humans both in the water and on the ice, and it targets penguins and other seals.
Leopard Tortoise
- Scientific name: Stigmochelys pardalis
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Family: Testudinidae (tortoises)
- Where found: Africa
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The leopard tortoise is the world’s fourth-largest tortoise, growing to lengths of up to 40 cm (15.75 in). The striking shell of this handsome reptile is easily recognized. The color of the shell ranges from yellow to gray, with black markings or streaks. It is high-domed.
From Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, these tortoises may be found throughout Africa. Savannas, woodlands, and even semi-desert areas are among the habitats they occupy.
They’re lively and skilled swimmers who are out and about during the day. They go inside their shells to rest after nightfall.
A vegetarian (plant-eater), the leopard tortoise Grasses are the preferred food of the tortoise, although it will also eat leaves and fruits.
The leopard tortoise, a common household pet in the west, is an important dietary source for many African tribes.
Liger
- Scientific name:Panthera leo × Panthera tigris
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Felidae
- Where found: Usually Bred In Captivity
- Conservation status: n/a
A liger is the product of a mating between a male lion and a female tiger, and it is a cross between the two species. (A tigon is the offspring of two different species.)
Ligers are the world’s biggest cats and are frequently bigger than both parents. The physical and sociable characteristics of a liger are similar to those of both parents, with faint stripes like a tiger and social behavior like a lion.
Limpet
- Type of animal: Mollusk
- Where found: All Oceans
Limpets are tiny shelled creatures that feed on algae and cling to rocks. While there are limpets that live in freshwater, the majority of them are found in saltwater environments.
The Gastropoda class (which includes a wide range of related creatures) includes limpets. Snails and slugs are two other types of gastropods.
The phylum Mollusca contains a wider group of animals known as Gastropoda. Mollusks refers to animals that include bivalves such as oysters and mussels, as well as cephalopods like octopuses and squid.
Lion
- Scientific name: Panthera leo
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Felidae
- Where found: Africa, Asia (India)
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
Second only to tigers, lions are the world’s second-largest cat species. While the species’ sizes overlap (i.e., many lions are larger than tigers), just the tiger is bigger.
One of the most recognizable animals on the planet is the male lion, whose flowing mane makes it distinctive.
Africa is home to the majority of wild lions. Outside of Africa, India’s Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the only lions that live in the wild. This region has 523 lions, according to a 2015 study.
Only avoiding tropical rainforests and the interior of the Sahara desert are lions able to live in a wide range of habitats.
In comparison to most other cats, the lion is more social. It exists in prides, which are social groups that hunt. Lions are the only animal that has no natural predators.
Lionfish
- Type of animal: Fish
- Family: Scorpaenidae (venomous scorpionfish)
- Genus: Pterois
- Where found: Indo-Pacific Ocean
Pterois is a genus of lovely but venomous marine fish. The Indo-Pacific region is home to 12 officially recognized species, however they can now be found in a variety of seas. Their name comes from their heavy fins, which are reminiscent of a lion’s mane.
Lionfish are hungry creatures that prey on other fish. Their venomous spines make them very dangerous to other animals, including humans, and they may grow up to 45.7 cm / 18 inches long. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to a lionfish sting, which is extremely painful and sometimes fatal.
Because they have no natural predators, several lionfish species have been labeled as invasive in some regions. Scientists are investigating techniques to reduce the lionfish population, but they have yet to come up with one.
Because of its vivid colors and calm temperament, the lionfish is a popular aquarium fish.
Lizard
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Order: Squamata
- Where found: all continents except Antarctica
The order Squamata includes lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm-lizards).
Lizards come in a variety of sizes, from tiny geckos to the Komodo dragon, and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Lizards are the most diversified reptile group, with over 7,000 distinct species.
Most lizards have long tongues and are predators, catching prey with them. Several lizard species can alter their color to blend in with their surroundings, making them more difficult to see.
Lizards’ body temperature is regulated by an external heat source because they are ectothermic (cold-blooded). Lizards are frequently found hiding in cool, shady areas or basking in the sun.
Lizards aid predators and help to regulate insect populations, thus they are an important component of several ecosystems. Lizards are also cultural icons in some countries.
Llama
- Scientific name: Lama glama
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Camelidae
- Where found: Originally South America
- Conservation status: n/a (Domestic)
The camel family, Camelidae, includes the llama, which is a domesticated camel. The wild camelids, the guanaco, and the vicuña are its forebears.
Over a thousand years ago, the Incas domesticated the llama in South America, and domestic llamas were employed by them.
Llamas are now farmed in many parts of the globe, not just in South America, for their wool.
Lobster
- Type of animal: Crustacean
- Family: Nephropidae
- Where found: Oceans Worldwide
Lobsters are crustaceans that live in the oceans. Lobsters have segmented bodies and a protective hard exoskeleton, as do other crustaceans. Lobsters have ten legs, hence they are members of the decapod crustacean group. Crabs and shrimp are among the species found in this group.
Lobster claws are found on the front three pairs of legs, and the foremost pair is much larger and can inflict a painful pinch on you!
Lobsters sense their surroundings on the dark ocean bottom with their lengthy antennae.
Locust
- Type of animal: Insect
- Family: Acrididae
- Where found: All continents except Antarctica
The genus Acrididae contains various species of grasshoppers. Lobsters have long, strong hind legs, similar to those of grasshoppers, and are able to jump far distances.
In that they will swarm under specific circumstances, locusts differ from other grasshoppers. The typically solitary locusts congregate and multiplies quickly when swarming, forming enormous, wandering groups that may wreak havoc on crops.
After a drought, swarming is common because vegetation growth is fast.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Scientific name: Caretta caretta
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Where found: Oceans Worldwide
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The loggerhead sea turtle belongs to the Cheloniidae family of six marine turtles.
(The leatherback sea turtle, the world’s other surviving marine turtle, belongs to a distinct family, Dermochelyidae, and is the planet’s biggest surviving marine turtle.)
The loggerhead sea turtle’s carapace (shell) comes in a variety of hues, from orange to brown. The plastron is yellow, and it protects the turtle’s underside. Most ocean predators are unable to prey on the adult turtle because of its large size and strong shell.
The Pacific Ocean is home to loggerhead sea turtles, which migrate from Japan to North America and feed along the coast.
Long-Eared Owl
- Scientific name: Asio otus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Family: Strigidae (true owls)
- Where found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa
- Conservation status: Least Concern
With striking ear tufts that extend well beyond the head, the Long-Eared Owl is a medium-sized owl. The owl’s ears, which are in fact feathers, aids it blend in with its surroundings and makes it difficult for prospective prey to detect.
The Long-Eared Owl is mainly found in open woods and forests across North America and Europe, despite its large geographical range. It generally nests in trees, returning to the same nest location year after year.
The sharp vision and hearing of this magnificent beast make it an exceptional hunter, able to detect tiny creatures like mice and voles. Birds, reptiles, and insects will be taken if the chance arises.
Longhorn Cowfish
- Scientific name: Lactoria cornuta
- Type of animal: Fish
- Family: Ostraciidae
- Where found: Indo-Pacific region
- Conservation status: Unassessed
In the warm seas of the Indo-Pacific area, the longhorn cowfish is a spooky-looking fish.
The longhorn cowfish is recognized by its long, horn-like fins, as the name implies. It eats tiny invertebrates and is a sluggish-moving species. It does not flex its body when swimming and lacks pelvic fins, making it appear to “hover” in the water.
The cowfish is a poor swimmer who mostly travels via currents.
Longnose Gar
- Scientific name: Lepisosteus osseus
- Type of animal: Fish
- Family: Lepisosteidae (gars)
- Where found: North America, Central America, Cuba
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In freshwater all over North America, the longnose gar may be found. Its long, needle-like snout gives it the name, and it uses it to spear its meal.
The longnose gar is a hunter that will consume anything it can fit in its mouth. Other fish, reptiles, amphibians, and tiny mammals are all included in this category. The longnose gar has been documented to attack people who invade its area.
The longnose gar, on the other hand, is not regarded dangerous to humans despite its fearsome appearance. This elusive species is a common gamefish, and many anglers target it.
Long-Tailed Tit / Long-Tailed Bushtit
- Scientific name: Aegithalos caudatus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Family: Aegithalidae (bushtits)
- Where found: Europe and Palearctic
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Aegithalidae family of bushtits includes the long-tailed tit, a little yet noticeable species. In comparison to the long, narrow, black tail, its body, which is black and white with white underparts, appears very tiny.
The long-tailed tit, which lives in woodlands, farmland, and even gardens, is found over a huge range spanning western Europe to Japan.
Nests of the lichen, moss, and cobwebs are attached to branches in trees and bushes, and they are made of lichen. The birds are gregarious and frequently create colonies of numerous, coupled mated pairs and their offspring.
Instead of attempting again if a mated pair’s nest fails, they may often assist with a nearby nest.
Loris
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Lorisidae
- Where found: Asia
Lorises are nocturnal insect-eating monkeys that live in south and southeastern Asia’s tropical woods.
Lorises belong to the Lorisidae family, which also includes pottos and includes the Lorinae subfamily.
Slender lorises (genus Loris), slow lorises (Genus Nycticebus), and pygmy slow lorises (genus Xanthonycticebus) are the three types of loris.
Adult lorises lick their infants, coating them in saliva that is mildly poisonous to protect them from predators.
Lungfish
- Type of animal: Fish
- Where found: Africa; South America; Australia
Lungfish are a type of freshwater fish that has lungs and breathes air. Most other fish use gills to “breathe,” but they are distinguished by this.
Only the Australian lungfish (also known as the Queensland lungfish) is able to breathe solely with its gills, whereas all of the six surviving species of lungfish are fully reliant on their lungs.
Lungfish have eel-like bodies and are huge fish. Because it has changed relatively little over the 100 million years of its existence, the Queensland lungfish is regarded a “living fossil.”
Lynx
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Felidae
- Where found: North America; Europe, Asia
The genus Lynx contains four different medium-sized wild cat species. The short tails of lynx, as well as the peculiar tufts of black hair at the end of their ears, may be used to identify them.
The following is a list of lynx species, their scientific names, conservation statuses, and the continents(s) on which they may be found:
- Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx Least Concern Europe & Asia
- Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus Endangered Europe (Spain)
- Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis Least Concern North America
- Bobcat Lynx rufus Least Concern North America
Lyrebird
- Type of animal: Bird
- Family: Menuridae
- Genus: Menura
- Where found: Australia
The beauty and ability of lyrebirds to imitate sounds have earned them a reputation.
The superb lyrebird and Albert’s lyrebird are the two species of lyrebirds that live in Australia. These pheasant-sized passerines may grow up to 90 cm / 35.5 in overall length, with just a few ravens exceeding that.
The male lyrebird’s two main tail feathers, which may be up to 60 cm / 23.6 in long, curve back across its body and resemble a lyre. During courting ceremonies, the tail feathers are utilized for display.
Males may also make complex noises that mimic those of other animals, machines, and even human speech. The calls of lyrebirds may vary significantly from location to location, and they may mimic practically any sound they hear.
Animals That Start With L: Conclusion
On this page, we hope you’ve found some intriguing creatures with names starting with L.