This list includes 5 Zoo animals that start with X, from “X-ray Tetra” to “Xingu River Ray”. These animals are mostly aquatic or ray-shaped, and zoos exhibit them for education and conservation.
Zoo animals that start with X are species whose common names begin with the letter X. Notable examples include the X-ray Tetra, named for its translucent body, and the Xingu River Ray, from Brazil’s Xingu basin.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Region of origin, and Typical adult size (cm).
Common name: The name you’ll see on signs and guides, helping you quickly recognize species during visits.
Scientific name: Latin binomial that gives precise identification across languages and supports deeper research.
Region of origin: Shows the continent or country where the species naturally occurs, so you understand ecological context.
Typical adult size (cm): Adult total length or disc width in centimeters, clarified per row so you can compare species.
Zoo animals that start with X
| Common name | Scientific name | Region of origin | Typical adult size (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xantus’s Hummingbird | Basilinna xantusii | North America; Baja California (Mexico) | 8–9 (TL) | Tiny, striking hummingbird from Baja California; sometimes featured in specialized aviaries and educational displays, interesting for pollination behavior and local conservation concerns. |
| Xantus’s Leaf-toed Gecko | Phyllodactylus xanti | North America; Baja California (Mexico) | 6 (HL) | Small nocturnal gecko often kept in herpetology collections; useful for exhibits on desert ecology and reptile conservation, easy to observe in terraria. |
| Xantus’s Murrelet | Synthliboramphus hypoleucus | North America; California & Baja California (Mexico) | 20–22 (TL) | A rare, coastal auk with conservation importance; rarely in live exhibits but shows up in rehabilitation and education programs about seabird conservation and oil-spill response. |
| X-ray Tetra | Pristella maxillaris | South America; Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru) | 4–5 (TL) | Small, translucent freshwater fish popular in public aquarium displays and school programs; great for teaching about Amazon biodiversity and aquarium ecology. |
| Xingu River Ray | Potamotrygon leopoldi | South America; Xingu River (Brazil) | 60–80 (TL) | Striking freshwater stingray from Brazil’s Xingu, often shown in large aquarium exhibits; notable for conservation issues tied to river damming and habitat loss. |