The animal kingdom contains creatures of all shapes and sizes. This standardised naming system enables scientists globally to refer to the same animal species by a shared scientific name. You can find many of the animal names starting with the letter L. From fierce big cats like lions and leopards to domesticated llamas and cute little ladybugs, animals beginning with L are diverse and fascinating. In this write-up, we will explore 8 incredible animals that start with l.
8 animals that start with l
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Lion
The lion is definitely the first name comes to our mind when we think of animals that start with l. They are the largest cats in the world and the only truly social cats. A lion pride consists of about 15 lions related to one another. The male lion has a magnificent mane that makes it easily recognizable.
Lions are apex predators that hunt large prey like zebras, antelopes and wildebeests. They are incredibly fast and can reach speeds up to 50 mph for short bursts. A Lion sleeps for almost twenty hours per day. They are vulnerable to threats like hunting, habitat loss and disease. There are only about 20,000 lions left in the wild.
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Leopard
The leopard is a large cat native to parts of Africa and Asia. It is known for its distinct spotted coat and its ability to climb trees and stalk prey unseen. Leopards are strong swimmers and very agile, making them effective hunters. They mainly eat mammals like deer, baboons and rodents. Leopards are mostly solitary and territorial animals.
They are adapted to surviving in a variety of habitats like rainforests, deserts, mountains and grasslands. Loss of habitat is the biggest threat to leopard populations. There are less than 25,000 leopards remaining in the wild. Protection of their habitat and reduced hunting are critical for their survival.
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Llama
Next in our list of animals that start with l is Llamas. They are domesticated pack animals from South America related to camels. They were first domesticated by the Incas and continue to be important livestock animals in the Andes Mountains. Llamas can grow up to 5 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 400 pounds. They are hardy animals well-adapted to high elevations.
Llamas are vegetarians that graze on grass, shrubs and trees. They communicate using various body postures and vocal sounds. Llamas can spit when agitated. There are two llama relatives – the alpaca and vicuna. There are over 3 million llamas in South America.
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Leatherback Sea Turtle
The largest species of turtle in the world is the leatherback sea turtle. It gets its name from its shell which is leather-like rather than hard like other turtles. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans are home of the most leatherback sea turtle. They migrate long distances between nesting and feeding grounds. Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet in search of jellyfish and other prey.
Unlike other turtles, they maintain a high body temperature which allows them to swim in cold waters. Leatherbacks face numerous threats including hunting, fishing gear entanglement and habitat loss. Their global population has declined dramatically in recent decades.
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Lynx
The lynx is a medium-sized wild cat that lives in forests across North America, Europe and Asia. It has large paws that act like snowshoes and long legs for bounding through snow. The lynx is recognized by its short stubby tail, long ear tufts and spotted coat. It primarily hunts small mammals like hares, squirrels and rodents.
Lynx populations are highly dependent on the population of snowshoe hare, its main food source. Due to habitat loss and trapping, some lynx species like the Iberian lynx are endangered. The Eurasian lynx and Canadian lynx still have large widespread populations.
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Lemur
Type of primates called lemurs can be seen only in the Madagascar island. They range in size from just over an ounce to 20 pounds. Lemurs have large reflective eyes for seeing at night, long tails for balance and pointed snouts for eating fruit and insects. Lemurs live in a variety of forest habitats and play an important role in dispersing seeds.
Lemur species include the ring-tailed lemur, mouse lemur, indri and sifaka. Lemurs are very social and communicate using scents and vocalisations. More than 90% of lemur species are threatened due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. They are considered the most endangered group of mammals.
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Ladybug
The ladybug is a type of beetle best known for its distinct red and black polka-dotted appearance. There are over five thousand species of ladybugs can be found worldwide. They are 1 to 10mm in size q. Ladybugs are beneficial insects that help control pests by feeding on aphids, scale insects and mites.
Ladybugs secrete a foul-tasting fluid when threatened. In some cultures, ladybugs are considered good luck. Their populations naturally fluctuate depending on food sources and weather. A few species like the nine-spotted ladybug have become quite rare.
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Locust
Locust is another important species of animals that start with l who are a type of short-horned grasshopper that can form massive swarms that destroy crops. Under normal conditions, locusts live solitary lives and avoid each other. But in certain circumstances like drought, they enter a gregarious phase and gather in swarms that can contain billions of insects. Locust swarms migrate long distances, feeding on any vegetation in their path.
A swarm of locusts one square kilometer in size can consume as much food as thirty-five thousand humans can in a single day. Destructive locust plagues still occur today in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Control methods include spraying insecticides and using biological pest control.
Overview
Knowing animals that start with l allows us to broadly classify and communicate about them in everyday language. You can teach your kids so that they can learn about the amazing creatures. However, common names can be imprecise or vary by region. That is why sometimes scientific naming eliminates confusion by assigning each organism a universally accepted two-part Latin name consisting of genus and species.
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