Top 57 Nature Words That Start With K: Animals, Plants, etc

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)!

1. Kangaroo:
   hopping animal found in Australia
2. Kiwi:
   green fruit with fuzzy brown skin
3. Kale:
   cabbage-like leafy vegetable
4. Key lime:
   green citrus fruit
5. Koala:
   Australian animal that looks similar to a small bear and lives in the trees
6. Kidney:
   an organ found in humans and other creatures that filters the blood
7. King Topaz:
   a type of stone
8. Killer whale:
   large, black and white whale; also known as orca
9. Kingsnake:
   a type of non-venomous snake with over 40 different subspecies
10. Kid:
    a baby goat
11. Kiwi berries:
    grape-sized miniature kiwi
12. Kalanchoe:
    flowering succulent with thick leaves
13. Kohlrabi:
    in the cabbage family
14. Kidney bean:
    a red or white bean often used in chili
15. Kunzite:
    a mineral that ranges from pastel pink to violet
16. Katydid:
    insect similar to a cricket
17. Kinradite:
    Jasper stone
18. King crab:
    large crabs that live in cold seas, such as the coast of Alaska
19. Krill:
    small, shrimp-like crustacean
20. Kaffir lime:
    Thai lime
21. Kentucky coffeetree:
    Midwestern tree with seeds similar to coffee beans
22. Kencur:
    aromatic ginger
23. Kakortotite:
    volcanic stone from Greenland
24. Kingman Turquoise:
    from Kingman, AZ mines
25. Kelp:
    seaweed
26. Knotweed:
    invasive weed also known as the “Godzilla weed”
27. Korean Evodia:
    a type of tree
28. Kalmia:
    evergreen shrub
29. Kudu:
    antelope
30. Kookaburra:
    Australian bird
31. Kumara:
    New Zealand sweet potato
32. Kumquat:
    orange-like fruit from Southeast Asia
33. King mackerel:
    a type of fish
34. Komodo dragon:
    large lizard that can reach up to 300 pounds and 10 feet long
35. Klipspringer:
    antelope
36. Kinkajou:
    rainforest mammal similar to a raccoon
37. Kingfisher:
    brightly-colored bird that lives near water
38. Kangaroo rat:
    small, jumping rodent with a long tail
39. Kakapo:
    ground-dwelling parrot
40. Kabosu:
    similar to a key lime
41. Kingfish:
    another name for the king mackerel (see number 33 above)
42. Killdeer:
    a type of bird
43. Kremersite:
    rare brown-red or orange mineral
44. Kudzu:
    perennial vine
45. Knautia:
    a perennial flower with burgundy-colored blooms
46. Kalimeris:
    a perennial plant that has bluish-white flowers with a yellow center
47. Katsura tree:
    a shade tree commonly found in Japan and China
48. Kimberlite:
    rock that sometimes contains diamonds
49. Kidney ore:
    type of Hematite; mineral
50. Katoite:
    mineral
51. Kame:
    gravel and sand mounds found in melting ice sheets
52. Kaolinite:
    white, red, blue, or brown clay mineral
53. Karst:
    erosion in the landscape
54. Knickpoint:
    abrupt landscape change such as a slope
55. Knob:
    a small hill
56. Keyite:
    mineral
57. 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).