[Unusual creatures too?] Animal names that start with “nu”
In this article, we’ll introduce animal names that start with the Japanese syllable “nu” (ぬ).
When you play word-chain games like shiritori with a theme such as “animal names only,” there are always a few tricky starting sounds.
Names of living creatures that seem like they should exist, but don’t come readily to mind.
If you love animals, you may have heard of some of these species or already know them.
By learning about these slightly niche creatures, you’ll not only have more options for various games, but the knowledge may also come in handy at some point.
Feel free to use this as conversation material about animals most people don’t know.
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5 characters (1–10)
Pacific hagfish
The hagfish, also known as a “living fossil.” Although it has “eel” in its name in Japanese, it is one of the most distantly related to common eels and is hardly ever eaten.
marsh frog (literally: ‘swamp frog’)
A small brown frog that mainly inhabits western Japan.
It is characterized by tiny bumps on its back, and in the Kyushu region it often has a white line along its back and is reportedly called “Senhiki-gaeru” in the local dialect.
Numa quail
It is a bird of the pheasant family, with an appearance resembling the pattern of pheasant feathers.
It is characterized by a cute, small, rounded body and subdued colors, which help it blend well into environments such as forests.
nutria
Nutria means “otter” in Spanish.
They have webbed hind feet and are good swimmers, and it’s said they can stay underwater for more than five minutes!
6 characters (1–10)
Bennet’s stingray
The white-striped harlequin tuskfish is a medium-sized marine fish widely distributed from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
It secretes toxins from its skin, so it is not edible.
Mexican jay
The beautiful blue-plumed Purplish-backed Jay inhabits tropical forests and woodlands in western Mexico.
Since it belongs to the crow family, its head and beak may resemble those of a crow!
Marbled flounder (Numagarei)
Numagarei (freshwater flounder) inhabits freshwater bodies such as lakes, marshes, and rivers.
It has the characteristic of migrating down to the sea during the spawning season.
Because it is low in fat and tends to be dry, it is not often eaten.