Buzz
Even for dedicated wildlife lovers, the wealth of creatures within the animal kingdom never fails to amaze. Our planet is still teeming with extraordinary and peculiar beings, many with unique behaviors and, often, extraordinary exotic names. Here are ten such animals that are largely unknown to the general public, presented in no specific order.
10. Aardwolf Proteles cristatus
A mammal native to Africa, the aardwolf resembles a lean, yellow-grey hyena but feeds mostly on insects like termites. Its name, meaning ‘earth wolf’, refers to its tendency to live in burrows. It might have been better known had it not narrowly missed being the first entry in the dictionary—an honor claimed by another burrow-dwelling African animal, the aardvark (‘earth pig’).
9. Argali Ovis ammon
The largest species of wild sheep, reaching up to 120 cm in height, with impressive, spiraling horns. Found in Central Asia, including Siberia, Mongolia, and Tibet, the argali is critically endangered due to habitat destruction, hunting for trophies, and its use in traditional Chinese medicine. Argalis live in herds that range from 2 to 100 animals, typically divided by gender except during mating season.
8. Douroucouli Aotus trivirgatus
Often called owl monkeys due to their large, expressive brown eyes, these creatures are the only truly nocturnal monkeys. Native to the forests of Central and South America, night monkeys are tree-dwelling and known for their impressive range of vocalizations, with up to eight distinct types of calls, including gruff grunts, resonant grunts, screams, low trills, moans, gulps, sneeze grunts, and hoots.
7. European souslik Citellus citellus or Spermophilus citellus
The ‘souslik’ is the name given to the common ground squirrel found in Europe and Asia. Unlike most other squirrels and rodents, their diet is notably diverse and can include substantial amounts of meat, such as small birds, mice, and voles.
6. Fossa Cryptoprocta ferox
The fossa, the largest member of the civet family, can grow up to 1.5 meters in length. It is the biggest carnivorous mammal on its native island of Madagascar, resembling a mongoose while also displaying cat-like traits. Its distinctive orange-brown fur sets it apart. With fewer than 3,000 individuals left, the fossa is currently classified as endangered.
5. Hairy Saki Pithecia monachus
This monkey, native to the Amazon Basin, spends nearly all its time in the treetops. Known as the monk saki due to its head fur that resembles a monk’s hood, the hairy saki is rarely seen in captivity due to its delicate nature. It is prone to panic and may die from shock at the slightest fright.
4. Lesser Grison Galictis cuja
A rarely seen carnivorous mammal native to Patagonia and surrounding South American regions. Measuring around 30 cm in length, it has black and grey fur and bears some resemblance to otters, though it is more closely related to stoats or martens. In Peru, it was once domesticated in a similar way to ferrets, where it was used to hunt chinchillas.
3. Lesser pichiciego Chlamyphorus truncatus
This is the fairy armadillo, also known as the pink fairy armadillo, a tiny creature from Argentina measuring only about 115 mm. It spends most of its life in underground burrows and is rarely seen, especially in captivity. Fairy armadillos are masters of escape, able to quickly burrow into the ground to conceal themselves.
2. North American Cacomistle Bassariscus sumichrasti and B. astutus
Found in the southern United States, the cacomistle is a small, reclusive animal resembling a raccoon. It is sometimes called the cat squirrel or ringtailed cat because of its distinctive striped tail. The name comes from the Nahuatl word meaning 'half-cat' or 'half mountain lion'. Though not critically endangered, it is considered a species at risk.
1. Moon Rat Echinosorex gymnurus
Often referred to as the Hairy hedgehog, this peculiar creature is native to Southeast Asia. It has dark brown or black fur that contrasts with its white face and long, whiskered nose. Measuring around 25 cm in length, the moon rat is the largest member of the order Insectivora. One of its distinctive features is the powerful, musky odor emitted by its scent glands.
+ Fennec Fox Vulpes zerda
Included as a bonus, the Fennec Fox is likely the most charming mammal on earth. This small, nocturnal fox resides in the northern Sahara Desert of North Africa and is easily identified by its large ears. The term ‘fenek’ is derived from Arabic, referring to various fur-covered creatures. Its sandy-colored coat helps it blend into the desert terrain, and its distinctive ears are designed to dissipate heat while also detecting prey movements at night. These large ears are sensitive enough to pick up the sounds of large insects, such as beetles and locusts, walking on the sand. [Source | Image source]
