Nature includes millions of fascinating things: plants, animals, stones, minerals, and more.
You can find things in nature that fit all letters of the alphabet, but which ones start with K?
From favorite animals like kangaroos to lesser-known plants like knautia, find the list of nature words starting with the letter K below (with definitions)!
- Kangaroo:
hopping animal found in Australia - Kiwi:
green fruit with fuzzy brown skin - Kale:
cabbage-like leafy vegetable - Key lime:
green citrus fruit - Koala:
Australian animal that looks similar to a small bear and lives in the trees - Kidney:
an organ found in humans and other creatures that filters the blood - King Topaz:
a type of stone - Killer whale:
large, black and white whale; also known as orca - Kingsnake:
a type of non-venomous snake with over 40 different subspecies - Kid:
a baby goat - Kiwi berries:
grape-sized miniature kiwi - Kalanchoe:
flowering succulent with thick leaves - Kohlrabi:
in the cabbage family - Kidney bean:
a red or white bean often used in chili - Kunzite:
a mineral that ranges from pastel pink to violet - Katydid:
insect similar to a cricket - Kinradite:
Jasper stone - King crab:
large crabs that live in cold seas, such as the coast of Alaska - Krill:
small, shrimp-like crustacean - Kaffir lime:
Thai lime - Kentucky coffeetree:
Midwestern tree with seeds similar to coffee beans - Kencur:
aromatic ginger - Kakortotite:
volcanic stone from Greenland - Kingman Turquoise:
from Kingman, AZ mines - Kelp:
seaweed - Knotweed:
invasive weed also known as the “Godzilla weed” - Korean Evodia:
a type of tree - Kalmia:
evergreen shrub - Kudu:
antelope - Kookaburra:
Australian bird - Kumara:
New Zealand sweet potato - Kumquat:
orange-like fruit from Southeast Asia - King mackerel:
a type of fish - Komodo dragon:
large lizard that can reach up to 300 pounds and 10 feet long - Klipspringer:
antelope - Kinkajou:
rainforest mammal similar to a raccoon - Kingfisher:
brightly-colored bird that lives near water - Kangaroo rat:
small, jumping rodent with a long tail - Kakapo:
ground-dwelling parrot - Kabosu:
similar to a key lime - Kingfish:
another name for the king mackerel (see number 33 above) - Killdeer:
a type of bird - Kremersite:
rare brown-red or orange mineral - Kudzu:
perennial vine - Knautia:
a perennial flower with burgundy-colored blooms - Kalimeris:
a perennial plant that has bluish-white flowers with a yellow center - Katsura tree:
a shade tree commonly found in Japan and China - Kimberlite:
rock that sometimes contains diamonds - Kidney ore:
type of Hematite; mineral - Katoite:
mineral - Kame:
gravel and sand mounds found in melting ice sheets - Kaolinite:
white, red, blue, or brown clay mineral - Karst:
erosion in the landscape - Knickpoint:
abrupt landscape change such as a slope - Knob:
a small hill - Keyite:
mineral - Krohnkite:
copper sulfate mineral
Activity: Find out more about your favorite “K” nature word!
This activity — similar to show and tell, but without bringing an actual kangaroo or koala to your house — will help you dig deeper into the words on our list.
(Tip: This activity is best done with a group of classmates or friends!)
Step 1: Choose your favorite word on our list (or pick one at random)!
If a certain word on our list stands out to you or interests you more than the others, pick it.
If you’re struggling to choose between all of the cool things that start with K, pick a number one through 57 and see which word you get.
Step 2: Look at our definition, then find more information about the word.
We provide basic definitions for each of the nature words that start with K above, but there’s plenty more to know about each of these plants, animals, and other natural features.
After taking a look at our definition, see if you can find any books, encyclopedia entries, or websites dedicated to your nature word.
Gather facts like where it is found in the wild, its scientific name, and any other interesting details you find.
Look for pictures, too, so you can see what your nature word looks like in the real world!
Step 3: Share your findings!
Put together a poster, slideshow, or video to share all of the facts you find about your nature word!
Show off your new knowledge to your family — or, if doing this activity with friends or classmates, you can present your findings to each other (online or in-person).