Let’s explore the vast world of animals starting with L. We all know lions and leopards, but there’s much more to uncover.
Did you know there are hundreds of lesser-known creatures sharing this initial?
We promise a journey through an amazing array of life forms. From tiny ladybugs to massive lungfish, the L-list is full of surprises.
This article will guide you through 299 animals that start with L. We’ll showcase familiar favorites and introduce you to species you might never have heard of.
Get ready to expand your knowledge of the animal kingdom. Whether you’re a nature lover, student, or just curious, our comprehensive list will have something fascinating for you.
Popular Animals that Start with L
Let’s take a look at some common and popular names of animals that start with L.
1. Lion
Lions are large, muscular cats with short tan fur and a long tail ending in black hair. Male lions are easily recognized by their majestic manes, which can vary in color from blond to black.
Adult male lions stand about 1.2 meters tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 250 kg, while females are slightly smaller, weighing around 180 kg.
Their powerful build and large size make them one of the most iconic animals in the wild.
- Region of Habitat: Savannahs, grasslands, and woodlands
- Scientific Name: Panthera leo
- Place of Origin: Africa
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on large herbivores such as zebras and wildebeests
- What Sound They Make: Roar
Fun Facts: Lions are the only cats that live in groups called feelings of pride. Their roar can be heard up to 8 kilometers away.
2. Leopard
Leopards are sleek, muscular big cats with strikingly beautiful spotted coats. Their fur is yellowish-gold with black rosettes, giving them excellent camouflage in their natural habitats.
Adult leopards typically stand 70 to 80 cm at the shoulder and weigh between 30 to 90 kg, depending on their gender and environment.
Despite their relatively smaller size than lions, leopards are incredibly strong and agile, often dragging their prey up into trees to keep it safe from scavengers.
- Region of Habitat: Forests, mountains, savannahs, and grasslands
- Scientific Name: Panthera pardus
- Place of Origin: Africa, Asia
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on a wide range of animals from small birds to large antelope
- What Sound They Make: Growl, grunt, or cough
Fun Facts: Leopards are excellent climbers and often store their prey in trees. Unlike many other big cats, they are also strong swimmers.
3. Lemur
Lemurs are small primates with large eyes and soft, woolly fur. They are typically gray, brown, or reddish and have long tails that are often striped.
Adult lemurs range in size from about 25 to 45 cm in body length, with tails up to 60 cm long, and can weigh between 1 to 4 kg. Known for their agility, lemurs use their tails for balance as they leap through trees.
- Region of Habitat: Tropical forests
- Scientific Name: Lemuriformes
- Place of Origin: Madagascar
- Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on fruits, leaves, and small insects
- What Sound They Make: Chirp, grunt, or howl
Fun Facts: Lemurs are only found in Madagascar, and some species can jump over 6 meters between trees.
4. Lizard
Lizards are cold-blooded reptiles with long bodies, tails, and scaly skin. They come in various colors, from green to brown to brightly patterned species.
Depending on the species, they can grow from a few centimeters to over 3 meters in length (like the Komodo dragon). Most lizards are agile and use their long tails for balance while climbing.
- Region of Habitat: Deserts, forests, and grasslands
- Scientific Name: Lacertilia
- Place of Origin: Worldwide, especially in warmer climates
- Feeding Habits: Omnivorous or insectivorous, depending on the species
- What Sound They Make: Hiss or silent
Fun Facts: Some lizards can regrow their tails if they lose them. The largest species, the Komodo dragon, can weigh up to 90 kg.
5. Lobster
Lobsters are marine crustaceans with long, muscular bodies and strong claws.
Their hard exoskeleton protects them. They are typically greenish-brown in color, though they turn bright red when cooked. They can grow up to 60 cm long and weigh up to 20 kg.
Lobsters are often found crawling along the sea floor, searching for food.
- Region of Habitat: Coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
- Scientific Name: Nephropidae
- Place of Origin: North Atlantic
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on fish, mollusks, and other small marine creatures
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Lobsters can live for over 100 years and molt or shed their shells as they grow.
6. Lynx
The lynx is a medium-sized wild cat known for its tufted ears and short, bobbed tail. Its thick coat of fur can be gray, brown, or reddish, often with spots.
Adult lynxes stand about 60 to 70 cm tall at the shoulder and can weigh between 8 and 30 kg. They are stealthy hunters known for their excellent hearing and vision.
- Region of Habitat: Forests and mountains
- Scientific Name: Lynx
- Place of Origin: Europe, Asia, North America
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on small mammals such as hares and birds
- What Sound They Make: Growl, hiss, or yowl
Fun Facts: Lynxes have excellent eyesight and can spot a mouse from 75 meters away. They are solitary animals, often traveling alone.
7. Lamprey
Lampreys are jawless fish with long, eel-like bodies and a circular mouth with sharp teeth. They can range in color from dark brown to gray and can grow up to 1 meter in length.
Lampreys are known for their parasitic feeding habits, attaching themselves to other fish to suck their blood.
- Region of Habitat: Freshwater rivers and coastal regions
- Scientific Name: Petromyzontiformes
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Parasitic, feeding on the blood of other fish
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Lampreys have been around for over 360 million years, making them one of the oldest living vertebrates.
8. Lapwing
Lapwings are medium-sized wading birds with striking black and white plumage and long, pointed wings.
They are known for their bold aerial displays and distinctive calls.
Adult lapwings typically measure about 30 cm long and have a wingspan of around 85 cm. They are often seen in wetland areas, foraging for insects and other small creatures.
- Region of Habitat: Wetlands, farmlands, and grasslands
- Scientific Name: Vanellus
- Place of Origin: Europe, Asia
- Feeding Habits: Insectivorous, feeding on insects and small invertebrates
- What Sound They Make: Pee-wit or whistle
Fun Facts: Lapwings are known for their aerial acrobatics, often performing flips and rolls in the air during mating displays.
9. Lark
Larks are small to medium-sized songbirds with long, slender legs and streaked brown feathers.
They are known for their melodic songs and can often be seen fluttering high in the sky while singing. Adult larks measure around 18 cm in length and weigh about 30 grams.
They are ground-dwelling birds, often seen in open fields and grasslands.
- Region of Habitat: Grasslands, fields, and meadows
- Scientific Name: Alaudidae
- Place of Origin: Europe, Asia, Africa
- Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, insects, and small invertebrates
- What Sound They Make: Melodious song
Fun Facts: Larks are known for their elaborate songs, which they perform while flying high above the ground, sometimes at dawn.
10. Leatherback Turtle
The leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle. It is known for its leathery shell, unlike other turtles’ hard shells.
Leatherback turtles can grow up to 2 meters long and weigh as much as 900 kg. They are excellent swimmers and migrate across oceans to feed and lay eggs.
- Region of Habitat: Tropical and subtropical oceans
- Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, primarily feeding on jellyfish
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Leatherback turtles can dive deeper than any other turtle species, reaching depths of over 1,000 meters.
11. Loggerhead Turtle
Loggerhead turtles are large sea turtles with reddish-brown shells and powerful jaws. They typically grow up to 1 meter in length and can weigh between 80 to 200 kg.
These turtles are strong swimmers and are often found in coastal regions. Their powerful jaws help them crush hard-shelled prey such as crabs and mollusks.
- Region of Habitat: Coastal regions of oceans worldwide
- Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, mollusks, and jellyfish
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Loggerhead turtles can live up to 50 years and travel thousands of miles between feeding and nesting grounds.
12. Loris
Loris is a small, nocturnal primate with large, round eyes and slow, deliberate movements. They have soft, woolly fur ranging in color from gray to reddish-brown.
Adult lorises grow to about 18 to 40 cm long and weigh around 200 to 1,500 grams. Their strong grip allows them to move slowly and silently through trees at night.
- Region of Habitat: Tropical forests of Southeast Asia
- Scientific Name: Lorisidae
- Place of Origin: Asia
- Feeding Habits: Omnivorous, feeding on fruits, insects, and small animals
- What Sound They Make: Hiss or soft clicks
Fun Facts: Some loris species have venomous bites, making them one of the few mammals.
13. Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish with elongated, eel-like bodies and the unique ability to breathe air. They have lungs and gills, allowing them to survive in waters with low oxygen levels.
Lungfish can grow up to 1.5 meters long and weigh around 10 kg. They are known for their ability to aestivate during droughts, burrowing into mud.
- Region of Habitat: Freshwater lakes and rivers
- Scientific Name: Dipnoi
- Place of Origin: Africa, South America, Australia
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on insects, small fish, and amphibians
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Lungfish can survive out of water for months by breathing air and burrowing into mud during dry seasons.
14. Leech
Leeches are segmented worms with soft, flexible bodies, known for their parasitic nature. They are typically dark brown or black and can grow up to 15 cm long.
Leeches attach themselves to a host to feed on blood using their suction-cup-like mouths, although some are scavengers.
- Region of Habitat: Freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers
- Scientific Name: Hirudinea
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Parasitic or scavenger, feeding on blood or decaying matter
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Leeches have been used in medicine for centuries to reduce blood clots and improve circulation in certain medical treatments.
15. Lacewing
Lacewings are delicate insects with large, transparent wings that are intricately veined. They are usually green or brown and measure around 1 to 2 cm in length.
These insects are known for their beneficial role in gardens, as their larvae feed on harmful pests like aphids.
- Region of Habitat: Gardens, fields, and forests
- Scientific Name: Chrysopidae
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, larvae feed on small insects like aphids
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Lacewings are often called “aphid lions” because their larvae can eat hundreds of aphids in just a few days.
16. Ladybug
Ladybugs are small, round beetles with brightly colored bodies, typically red or orange with black spots.
They grow up to 1 cm in length and are considered beneficial insects due to their predation on plant-damaging pests. Their distinctive appearance makes them easily recognizable.
- Region of Habitat: Gardens, fields, and forests
- Scientific Name: Coccinellidae
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on aphids and other small insects
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: A single ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime, making them valuable in pest control.
17. Langur
Langurs are medium-sized monkeys with long limbs, tails, and soft fur. They can grow up to 75 cm in length (excluding the tail) and weigh around 15 to 20 kg.
Langurs are known for their agility and are commonly seen leaping through trees in troops. Their fur is typically gray or brown, and they have expressive faces.
- Region of Habitat: Forests and grasslands
- Scientific Name: Semnopithecus
- Place of Origin: Asia
- Feeding Habits: Herbivorous, feeding on leaves, fruits, and flowers
- What Sound They Make: Cough, bark, or hoot
Fun Facts: Langurs are revered in parts of India, where they are often protected and allowed to roam freely in urban areas.
18. Leafhopper
Leafhoppers are small, agile insects with wedge-shaped bodies and strong hind legs for jumping. They typically grow to about 1 cm long and are usually green or brown.
Leafhoppers are known for their rapid movements and ability to cause damage to crops by sucking plant sap.
- Region of Habitat: Gardens, fields, and forests
- Scientific Name: Cicadellidae
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Herbivorous, feeding on plant sap
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Leafhoppers can jump distances 100 times their body length, making them some of the most agile insects.
19. Limpet
Limpets are small marine mollusks with conical shells that cling tightly to rocks. They typically measure around 2 to 10 cm in length and are found in tidal zones.
Limpets use a muscular foot to grip onto surfaces and feed on algae by scraping it off rocks with their radula, a tongue-like organ.
- Region of Habitat: Coastal tidal zones
- Scientific Name: Patellidae
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Herbivorous, feeding on algae
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Limpets have incredibly strong muscles, allowing them to cling to rocks even in strong waves.
20. Long-eared Owl
Long-eared owls are medium-sized owls with long ear tufts and yellow-orange eyes. Their mottled brown and gray feathers help them blend into their forest habitats.
Adults typically grow to around 35 to 40 cm long and have a wingspan of up to 1 meter.
- Region of Habitat: Forests and woodlands
- Scientific Name: Asio otus
- Place of Origin: Europe, Asia, North America
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on small mammals like mice and voles
- What Sound They Make: Hoot, screech
Fun Facts: Long-eared owls are nocturnal and rely on their exceptional hearing to locate prey in complete darkness.
21. Little Penguin
Little penguins are the smallest species, growing to around 30 cm in height and weighing about 1 kg. They have blue-gray feathers and a white belly, and they have strong flippers for swimming.
Little penguins are excellent swimmers and can dive deep to catch fish.
- Region of Habitat: Coastal regions and islands
- Scientific Name: Eudyptula minor
- Place of Origin: Australia, New Zealand
- Feeding Habits: Carnivorous, feeding on fish, squid, and small crustaceans
- What Sound They Make: Bark or squawk
Fun Facts: Little penguins are also called “fairy penguins” due to their small size and charming appearance.
22. Lava Lizard
Lava lizards are small reptiles with long tails and spiny scales. They are typically gray or brown with black markings and grow to 20 to 25 cm in length.
These lizards are often found basking on volcanic rocks in warm climates.
- Region of Habitat: Volcanic regions
- Scientific Name: Tropidurus
- Place of Origin: Galapagos Islands
- Feeding Habits: Insectivorous, feeding on small insects and spiders
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Lava lizards can change their skin color slightly to regulate their body temperature in hot environments
23. Longhorn Beetle
Longhorn beetles are easily recognizable by their long antennae, which can sometimes exceed their body length. They typically have elongated bodies, usually black, brown, or brightly colored.
Depending on the species, they can grow up to 20 cm in length. Their powerful jaws allow them to bore into wood, their primary food source.
- Region of Habitat: Forests and woodlands
- Scientific Name: Cerambycidae
- Place of Origin: Worldwide
- Feeding Habits: Herbivorous, feeding on wood and plant material
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Longhorn beetles can cause significant damage to trees by boring into the wood, making them a concern for forestry and agriculture.
24. Leafcutter Ant
Leafcutter ants are famous for their ability to cut and carry large pieces of leaves back to their nests.
These ants are reddish-brown or black and vary in size depending on their role in the colony. Workers can reach up to 2 cm in length.
They don’t eat the leaves but use them to cultivate fungus, their primary food source.
- Region of Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests
- Scientific Name: Atta
- Place of Origin: Central and South America
- Feeding Habits: Fungivorous, feeding on fungus cultivated from leaf material
- What Sound They Make: Silent
Fun Facts: Leafcutter ants can carry leaves up to 50 times their body weight and maintain one of the most complex agricultural systems in the animal kingdom.
Uncommon and Rare Animals that Start with L
Let’s look at some rare animals that start with L in the animal kingdom.
25. Long-tailed Duck
26. Long-finned Pilot Whale
27. Lanternfish
28. Leaf Beetle
29. Lesser Kudu
30. Lesser Panda (Red Panda)
31. Long-nosed Bat
32. Lapdog
33. Leafbird
34. Lechwe
35. Lilac-breasted Roller
36. Little Owl
37. Luzon Bleeding-heart Dove
38. Lappet-faced Vulture
39. Lesser Flamingo
40. Little Brown Bat
41. Long-nosed Bandicoot
42. Lesser Bilby
43. Lace Monitor
44. Long-tailed Weasel
45. Little Egret
46. Large-spotted Genet
47. Lesser Goldfinch
48. Little Blue Heron
49. Laughing Kookaburra
50. Long-tailed Macaque
51. Lesser Tenrec
52. Lemming
53. Lesser Weever
54. Long-beaked Common Dolphin
55. Lantern Shark
56. Lancelet
57. Large White Butterfly
58. Large Blue Butterfly
59. Little Ringed Plover
60. Lesser Siren
61. Lesser Mouse-deer
62. Longfin Smelt
63. Lesser Sooty Owl
64. Laughing Dove
65. Long-horned Grasshopper
66. Lesser Sand Plover
67. Lesser Black-backed Gull
68. Long-tailed Finch
69. Long-nosed Potoroo
70. Long-tailed Tit
71. Lesser Frigatebird
72. Large-billed Crow
73. Lesser Electric Ray
74. Lemon Shark
75. Lesser Whistling Duck
76. Long-spined Sea Urchin
77. Large-spotted Civet
78. Little Auk
79. Largetooth Sawfish
80. Little Grebe
81. Long-beaked Echidna
82. Lesser Egyptian Jerboa
83. Large-toothed Snake Eel
84. Long-tailed Shrike
85. Loggerhead Shrike
86. Lobed Comb Jelly
87. Long-legged Fly
88. Long-snouted Seahorse
89. Little Green Bee-eater
90. Long-nosed Gar
91. Long-necked Turtle
92. Lance-tailed Manakin
93. Ladybird Spider
94. Leafcutter Bee
95. Long-billed Curlew
96. Leopard Cat
97. Long-tailed Skua
98. Laotian Rock Rat
99. Long-billed Dowitcher
100. Labrador Retriever
101. Large Indian Civet
102. Lesser Cane Rat
103. Leopard Seal
104. Long-tailed Porcupine
105. Lesser Redpoll
106. Long-whiskered Owlet
107. Laced Woodpecker
108. Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
109. Lionfish
110. Limpkin
111. Large-eared Pika
112. Least Weasel
113. Lichen Moth
114. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
115. Long-winged Harrier
116. Lined Seahorse
117. Lesser Scaup
118. Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
119. Long-billed Thrasher
120. Lowland Anoa
121. Leopard Gecko
122. Long-tailed Chinchilla
123. Least Sandpiper
124. Long-nosed Dace
125. Lesser Shortwing
126. Lionhead Rabbit
127. Leaffish
128. Ladder Snake
129. Lesser Cuckoo
130. Large-headed Capuchin
131. Lemon Dove
132. Lesser Bushbaby
133. Little Raven
134. Long-legged Buzzard
135. Leaping Blenny
136. Labrador Duck
137. Long-fingered Bat
138. Lesser Broad-nosed Bat
139. Long-nosed Chimaera
140. Least Bittern
141. Lesser Adjutant Stork
142. Lesser Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle
143. Leaf-scaled Sea Snake
144. Long-beaked Spider Crab
145. Long-haired Jerboa
146. Long-tailed Ground Squirrel
147. Lesser Marbled Fritillary
148. Longnose Hawkfish
149. Lace Bug
150. Little Spiderhunter
151. Lichen Katydid
152. Leathery Turtle
153. Little Black Cormorant
154. Long-tailed Widowbird
155. Loggerhead Sea Turtle
156. Leopard Tortoise
157. Little Pied Bat
158. Long-spined Black Sea Urchin
159. Least Flycatcher
160. Lichen Huntsman Spider
161. Longhorn Cowfish
162. Leaf-nosed Snake
163. Little Bunting
164. Leopard Moth
165. Laysan Albatross
166. Lesser Blue-ringed Octopus
167. Lesser Whitethroat
168. Little Red Flying-fox
169. Large-scaled Purse Crab
170. Leopard Frog
171. Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat
172. Lined Leaf-tail Gecko
173. Long-nosed Horned Frog
174. Long-eared Hedgehog
175. Luzon Warty Pig
176. Lesser Yellowlegs
177. Long-nosed Goonch
178. Lowland Tapir
179. Lanceolate Snipe
180. Little Bustard
181. Large Antbird
182. Long-bearded Screech Owl
183. Lesser Antillean Bullfinch
184. Lemon-bellied Flycatcher
185. Lammergeier
186. Lesser Horned Owl
187. Little Cormorant
188. Lace Mantis
189. Leopard Lacewing Butterfly
190. Lesser Marmoset
191. Large-footed Myotis
192. Little Long-fingered Bat
193. Lesser Madagascan Tenrec
194. Leopard Whipray
195. Least Chipmunk
196. Large Brown Bat
197. Loggerhead Sea Shrimp
198. Little Blue Macaw
199. Long-toed Salamander
200. Large-scaled Green Tree Frog
201. Large-spotted Tree Rat
202. Long-tailed Field Mouse
203. Long-tailed Meadow Katydid
204. Long-tongued Nectar Bat
205. Leaping Spider
206. Leaf Monkey
207. Lace Weaver
208. Long-legged Sac Spider
209. Lappet Moth
210. Lesser Bamboo Rat
211. Livid Purplewing Butterfly
212. Large Milkweed Bug
213. Lacebark Elm Moth
214. Large Flat-headed Mayfly
215. Long-billed Spiderhunter
216. Least Sand Dollar
217. Large Tree-frog
218. Lesser Prairie Chicken
219. Loggerhead Shrew
220. Long-spined Porcupinefish
221. Lesser Noctule Bat
222. Lined Lungfish
223. Lesser Capybara
224. Little Brown Job (Bird species)
225. Large Mouse-eared Bat
226. Lesser Scorpionfish
227. Leafy Seadragon
228. Long-footed Potoroo
229. Lesser Scaly-foot
230. Little Stint
231. Long-clawed Hermit Crab
232. Lantern Bass
233. Leaf-miner Moth
234. Land Crab
235. Large Brindled Butterfly
236. Longhorn Moth
237. Least Pufferfish
238. Leopard Pufferfish
239. Large-spotted Cuscus
240. Leaf Weaver Ant
241. Long-legged Honey Bee
242. Large Tree Frog
243. Lesser Honeyguide
244. Lightbulb Tunicate
245. Least Auklet
246. Long-horned Orb Weaver
247. Lesser Stag Beetle
248. Long-legged Flycatcher
249. Leopard Moray Eel
250. Lilliput Parrotfish
251. Long-billed Woodcreeper
252. Large-eyed Pit Viper
253. Lesser Kestrel
254. Long-fingered Frog
255. Lemon-breasted Canary
256. Leafnose Hummingbird
257. Little Lorikeet
258. Little Bittern
259. Leaf Warbler
260. Lace Shrimp
261. Ledra
262. Leggadina
263. Leiopelma
264. Leistes
265. Lemmus
266. Leontopithecus
267. Leopardus
268. Lepidomeda
269. Lepilemur
270. Lepisosteus
271. Leptobrachium
272. Leptocephalus
273. Leptodeira
274. Leptomyrmex
275. Leptonychotes
276. Leptopilus
277. Leptophis
278. Leptotyphlops
279. Lerista
280. Lesser dwarf lemur
281. Lesser fairy armadillo
282. Lesser false vampire bat
283. Lesser galago
284. Lesser long-nosed bat
285. Lesser masked weaver
286. Lesser noctule
287. Lesser panda
288. Lesser rhea
289. Lesser sheathbill
290. Lesser short-tailed bat
291. Lesser slender loris
292. Lesser slow loris
293. Lesser stick-nest rat
294. Lesser white-fronted goose
295. Lethenteron
296. Leuciscus
297. Leucoraja
298. Leucospermophilus
299. Liasis
Wrapping It Up
Our journey through the L-section of the animal kingdom has been eye-opening. We’ve seen a variety of life forms sharing this initial, from the mighty lion to the tiny lace bug.
What have we learned? The natural world is more diverse than we often realize. Whether well-known or obscure, each creature plays a unique role in its ecosystem.
This list of animals that start with L is just the beginning. There’s always more to discover about animals, even those we know well.
Why not pick a few intriguing species from our list and learn more about them?
Remember, knowledge leads to appreciation, and appreciation leads to conservation. By better understanding these animals, we can help protect them and their habitats.
What animal on our list captured your interest the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!
