This list includes 14 Big animals that start with K, from “Kangaroo (red)” to “Kudu”. These are large mammals, birds, reptiles and fish with global ranges, useful for education and content creation.

Big animals that start with K are large species whose common names begin with the letter K. The red kangaroo is a famous example and a national symbol of Australia.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Primary habitat and Typical lifespan (years).

Common name: The familiar name you will recognize and use when searching or labeling species in lists or educational materials.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise species identity so you can avoid confusion between similarly named animals.

Primary habitat: Shows the main biome and region where the species lives so you can understand its ecological setting.

Typical lifespan (years): Provides an average wild lifespan estimate to help you compare longevity across species and plan further research.

Big animals that start with K

Common nameScientific nameTypical adult sizePrimary habitat
Killer whaleOrcinus orca6–8 mmarine — worldwide (polar to temperate)
Komodo dragonVaranus komodoensis70–90 kgtropical dry forest — Komodo region, Indonesia
King cobraOphiophagus hannah3.0 mtropical forest — South & Southeast Asia
King penguinAptenodytes patagonicus11–16 kgsubantarctic islands — Southern Ocean
Kodiak bearUrsus arctos middendorffi360–680 kgtemperate rainforest/coastal — Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska
Kermode bearUrsus americanus kermodei100–300 kgtemperate rainforest — British Columbia, Canada
KuduTragelaphus strepsiceros190–270 kgsavanna/woodland — eastern & southern Africa
KobKobus kob80–120 kgfloodplains/savanna — West & Central Africa
Kori bustardArdeotis kori10–18 kgdry grassland — Southern Africa
Kangaroo (red)Osphranter rufus60–90 kgarid shrubland/savanna — interior Australia
KiangEquus kiang250–350 kgmontane grassland — Tibetan Plateau & adjacent regions
KoupreyBos sauveli600–900 kgdeciduous forest/grassland — Southeast Asia
Kemp’s ridley sea turtleLepidochelys kempii40–60 kgcoastal waters/estuaries — Gulf of Mexico & NW Atlantic
King brown snakePseudechis australis2–3 marid shrubland/woodland — Australia

Descriptions

Killer whale
Large, social apex predator with striking black-and-white coloration; powerful swimmers that hunt in pods and feed on fish, seals and other whales.
Komodo dragon
The largest living lizard, reaching over 2 m and heavy-bodied; ambush predator with a venomous bite and strong sense of smell.
King cobra
World’s longest venomous snake, often exceeding 2 m; known for its impressive hood display and diet specialized on other snakes.
King penguin
Second-largest penguin species, colorful breast patch and deep-diving behavior; breeds on remote islands in large colonies.
Kodiak bear
One of the largest bear subspecies, massive coastal omnivore that feeds on salmon, plants and mammals; impressive bulk and strength.
Kermode bear
A white-phased black bear subspecies (aka “spirit bear”), fairly large and rare; notable for its striking pale coat in some individuals.
Kudu
Large spiral-horned antelope; males are heavy-bodied with long, corkscrew horns and are prominent browsers of woodlands and thickets.
Kob
Medium-to-large antelope often found near water; gregarious herds and strong leapers, important prey species for large African predators.
Kori bustard
One of the heaviest flying birds; ground-dwelling bustard where males can be exceptionally large and display on open plains.
Kangaroo (red)
The largest kangaroo species, powerful hind legs adapted for long hops; iconic Australian grazer reaching over 2 m standing height.
Kiang
The largest wild ass, sturdy and adapted to high-altitude steppe; strong, social herbivore with a thick coat.
Kouprey
Large wild forest ox with impressive horns; rare and possibly extinct, historically a heavy-built bovine of Asian woodlands.
Kemp’s ridley sea turtle
Smallest sea turtle species by shell size but still heavy-bodied; endangered, nests in large synchronized arribadas.
King brown snake
Large, heavy-bodied venomous snake commonly exceeding 2 m; adaptable predator of mammals, birds and reptiles.
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