This list includes 42 Zoo animals that start with C, from “Caiman lizard” to “Cuvier’s dwarf caiman”. Many are reptiles, birds, and mammals commonly held in accredited zoos worldwide.
Zoo animals that start with C are species whose common names begin with C and occur in zoo collections. For example, the Caiman lizard illustrates how reptile exhibits support conservation and public education.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The familiar name used on signs and guides, helping you recognize species and search zoo lists quickly.
Scientific name: The binomial Latin name used by scientists, letting you confirm species identity and locate formal references.
Region of origin: The continent or country where the species naturally occurs, useful for understanding habitat and geographic context.
Typical adult size (cm): Average adult length or height in centimeters, with measurement method noted for clarity across animal types.
Zoo animals that start with C
| Common name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chimpanzee | Pan troglodytes | Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon) | 100 cm (body length) | Highly social great ape common in zoo primate exhibits; intelligent and tool-using, important in conservation and education; vulnerable in the wild. |
| Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus | Africa (Kenya, Namibia) | 120 cm (body length) | The fastest land mammal, often displayed in large carnivore exhibits; slender, built for speed and classified as vulnerable in many populations. |
| Capybara | Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris | South America (Brazil, Argentina) | 100 cm (body length) | World’s largest rodent, semi-aquatic and sociable; frequent in zoo wetland displays and popular with visitors. |
| Cougar | Puma concolor | Americas (USA, Canada) | 120 cm (body length) | Also called puma or mountain lion, commonly kept in North American zoos; solitary ambush predator with wide range. |
| Coyote | Canis latrans | North America (USA, Canada) | 85 cm (body length) | Adaptable canid seen in some wildlife centers and zoos; smaller than wolves and familiar in urban edges. |
| Caracal | Caracal caracal | Africa/Asia (South Africa, India) | 80 cm (body length) | Medium-sized wild cat with tufted ears, agile hunter shown in many carnivore exhibits and outreach programs. |
| Clouded leopard | Neofelis nebulosa | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Borneo) | 90 cm (body length) | Arboreal, beautifully patterned forest cat held in many zoos; vulnerable due to habitat loss and poaching. |
| California condor | Gymnogyps californianus | North America (USA – California) | 290 cm (wingspan) | Iconic recovery program species; enormous scavenging vulture featured in conservation-focused aviaries. |
| California sea lion | Zalophus californianus | North America (USA, Mexico) | 250 cm (total length) | Energetic pinniped common in marine parks and zoo aquatic shows; widely exhibited for training and education. |
| Chinstrap penguin | Pygoscelis antarctica | Antarctic (South Shetland Islands) | 70 cm (height) | Recognizable Antarctic species often in aquarium penguin displays; vocal and social in colonies. |
| Chilean flamingo | Phoenicopterus chilensis | South America (Chile, Argentina) | 120 cm (height) | Pink, long-legged wading bird common in zoo aviaries; filter-feeding and often used in breeding programs. |
| Chinese alligator | Alligator sinensis | Asia (China) | 170 cm (total length) | Small, endangered alligator species held in conservation breeding programs at select zoos. |
| Chital | Axis axis | Asia (India, Sri Lanka) | 180 cm (body length) | Also called spotted deer, commonly exhibited in hoofstock collections and used in education about Asian ecosystems. |
| Common marmoset | Callithrix jacchus | South America (Brazil) | 22 cm (body length) | Small, vocal New World primate frequently kept in zoo primate houses; active and often used in behavioral displays. |
| Cotton-top tamarin | Saguinus oedipus | South America (Colombia) | 25 cm (body length) | Small, critically endangered primate with distinctive white crest; major captive-breeding and education focus. |
| Coquerel’s sifaka | Propithecus coquereli | Madagascar | 90 cm (total length) | A lemur species often shown in primate exhibits; famous for vertical clinging and leaping; threatened by habitat loss. |
| Crowned lemur | Eulemur coronatus | Madagascar | 90 cm (total length) | Attractive lemur seen in many zoo collections; used in Madagascar conservation awareness and breeding programs. |
| Cape porcupine | Hystrix africaeaustralis | Africa (South Africa, Namibia) | 70 cm (body length) | Large African porcupine commonly kept in small mammal exhibits; nocturnal and herbivorous. |
| Crested porcupine | Hystrix cristata | Africa/Europe (Morocco, Italy) | 60 cm (body length) | Widespread porcupine species held in zoos; notable quill defenses and often used in outreach. |
| Clownfish | Amphiprion ocellaris | Indo-Pacific (Australia, Indonesia) | 10 cm (total length) | Popular aquarium fish familiar from popular media; common in public aquaria and husbandry displays. |
| Cuban crocodile | Crocodylus rhombifer | Caribbean (Cuba) | 250 cm (total length) | Rare, robust crocodile kept in specialized zoo collections and conservation programs; critically endangered. |
| Cuvier’s dwarf caiman | Paleosuchus palpebrosus | South America (Brazil, Peru) | 120 cm (total length) | Small caiman species seen in many zoo herpetariums; reclusive and armored. |
| Chinese water deer | Hydropotes inermis | Asia (China, Korea) | 75 cm (shoulder height) | Small deer with tusk-like canine teeth, occasionally kept in hoofstock exhibits and conservation displays. |
| Common hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | Africa (Zambia, South Africa) | 350 cm (total length) | Large semi-aquatic mammal prominent in many zoos with underwater viewing; major conservation and education species. |
| Common crane | Grus grus | Eurasia (Europe, Russia) | 120 cm (height) | Tall migratory bird often in aviaries and wetlands displays; culturally important and conserved. |
| Common pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Eurasia (China, Europe) | 80 cm (total length) | Gamebird frequently kept in park and aviary collections; colorful males with long tails. |
| Corn snake | Pantherophis guttatus | North America (USA) | 120 cm (total length) | Popular colubrid frequently found in zoo reptile collections; docile and educational for snake care. |
| Copperhead | Agkistrodon contortrix | North America (USA) | 75 cm (total length) | Venomous pit viper appearing in many accredited herpetariums for education about native snakes. |
| Cape fur seal | Arctocephalus pusillus | Africa (South Africa) | 200 cm (total length) | Coastal pinniped common in aquarium and zoo marine exhibits; playful and trainable. |
| Cape buffalo | Syncerus caffer | Africa (South Africa, Botswana) | 150 cm (shoulder height) | Large, powerful African bovid seen in mixed savanna exhibits; known for herd behavior and conservation interest. |
| Chukar partridge | Alectoris chukar | Asia (Pakistan, India) | 35 cm (total length) | Ground-dwelling gamebird often in aviaries and educational collections; hardy and ground-oriented. |
| Chuckwalla | Sauromalus ater | North America (USA – Southwest) | 35 cm (total length) | Large desert lizard kept in desert-themed reptile exhibits; obligate herbivore with distinctive body shape. |
| Carolina anole | Anolis carolinensis | North America (USA – southeastern) | 20 cm (total length) | Small, common lizard used in many reptile displays and educational programs about native fauna. |
| Common eland | Taurotragus oryx | Africa (South Africa, Tanzania) | 250 cm (total length) | Largest African antelope, sometimes shown in large hoofstock exhibits and safari-style enclosures. |
| Common ostrich | Struthio camelus | Africa (Kenya, South Africa) | 250 cm (height) | World’s largest bird, frequently in zoo savanna displays; fast-running and farmed as well as exhibited. |
| Common genet | Genetta genetta | Africa/Europe (Morocco, Spain) | 50 cm (body length) | Small, cat-like carnivore occasionally displayed in small carnivore collections; nocturnal and arboreal. |
| Crowned eagle | Stephanoaetus coronatus | Africa (Gabon, South Africa) | 170 cm (wingspan) | Powerful forest raptor kept in select raptor collections; notable hunter of medium-sized prey. |
| Common warthog | Phacochoerus africanus | Africa (South Africa, Kenya) | 150 cm (body length) | Familiar savanna pig seen in many zoo African exhibits; social grazers with distinctive tusks. |
| Caiman lizard | Dracaena guianensis | South America (Brazil, Venezuela) | 100 cm (total length) | Semi-aquatic lizard with armored scales, found in many herpetological displays. |
| Celebes crested macaque | Macaca nigra | Asia (Indonesia – Sulawesi) | 50 cm (body length) | Striking black macaque with facial crest, kept in primate exhibits and involved in conservation efforts. |
| Chambered nautilus | Nautilus pompilius | Indo-Pacific (Philippines, Indonesia) | 20 cm (shell diameter) | Living fossil and attraction in public aquaria; delicate cephalopod with conservation concerns. |
| Crested gecko | Correlophus ciliatus | Oceania (New Caledonia) | 12 cm (total length) | Popular arboreal gecko in many zoo and educational collections; easy to view and breed in captivity. |
Descriptions
Chimpanzee
Cheetah
Capybara
Cougar
Coyote
Caracal
Clouded leopard
California condor
California sea lion
Chinstrap penguin
Chilean flamingo
Chinese alligator
Chital
Common marmoset
Cotton-top tamarin
Coquerel’s sifaka
Crowned lemur
Cape porcupine
Crested porcupine
Clownfish
Cuban crocodile
Cuvier’s dwarf caiman
Chinese water deer
Common hippopotamus
Common crane
Common pheasant
Corn snake
Copperhead
Cape fur seal
Cape buffalo
Chukar partridge
Chuckwalla
Carolina anole
Common eland
Common ostrich
Common genet
Crowned eagle
Common warthog
Caiman lizard
Celebes crested macaque
Chambered nautilus
Crested gecko