From a primate capable of gliding up to 230 feet between trees to a curly-fleeced hog
that battled back from the brink of extinction, today we look at 14 Animals You've Probably
Never Heard Of.
Number 14 Sulawesi Bear Cuscus Though it may have bear in its name, this
thick furred critter is actually a tree-dwelling marsupial native to the island of Sulawesi
and other forests in Indonesia.
The 15-to-20 pound Sulawesi Bear Cuscus can grow to a length of 2 feet on average, and
has a tail that will measure close to the same length.
These herbivorous mammals live in groups of two to four individuals, keeping adolescents
safe in a natural pouch as the vulnerable species slowly scours for leaves and flowers
to consume.
Number 13 Saiga Antelope The Eurasian steppe is vast biome containing
shrub and grasslands and stretches from Bulgaria and Eastern Europe across Asia and into Mongolia.
Checkered throughout this massive ecosystem is the critically endangered Saiga Antelope.
This species of antelope isn't the largest, with a shoulder height of just 24 to 32 inches,
a length of 39 to 55 inches, and a weight ranging between 57 and 152 pounds for adults.
Still, this hasn't kept local populations from hunting them since prehistoric eras.
While initially sought after for consumption due to the lamb-like texture and taste of
Saiga meat, their horns have actually driven them to the point of being endangered.
A traditional Chinese medicine relies on Saiga Antelope horns as a main ingredient, and poaching
of the protected species remains a consistent problem with the horns selling for thousands
of dollars each on the black market.
Number 12 Lowland Streaked Tenrec Shielded in a layer of black and yellow spines,
the Lowland Streaked Tenrec is a shrew-like creature that lives within the tropical lowland
rainforest of Madagascar.
A subterranean species, this animal is equipped with elongated hands, special joints, and
hairs specifically meant to aid in digging underground.
The majority of their diet is composed of earthworms, and will stamp on the soil before
burrowing as a means of sparking greater worm activity.
The spiky quills that adorn the body of the Lowland Streaked Tenrec don't assist in boring
holes, but they do serve a number of other important purposes.
In addition to providing a defense mechanism by erecting and facing forward when confronted
with a predator, the tips of their quills emit a sound when vibrating.
This allows them to both communicate with family members about incoming threats as well
as potentially deter predators in a manner similar to a rattlesnake.
Number 11 Bat-Eared Fox The Bat-Eared Fox is split into two subspecies,
residing within two separate regions of Africa.
The virgatus subspecies makes its home on the Eastern coast of the continent in nations
like Ethiopia, Sudan and Tanzania , while the megalotis version can be seen along the
Southern tip of Africa in Zambia , Angola , South Africa and elsewhere.
These foxes prefer to hunt among short grasslands, filling their diet with ants, beetles, scorpions,
crickets and termites, the last of which tends to make up 80 to 90 percent of their diet.
However, in desperate situations they have been known to turn to birds, reptiles, smaller
mammals, and even truffles for nutrience.
Because of their inclinations towards eating termites, they are not majorly threatened
by most local human populations due to their role as a form of natural pest control.
Number 10 Quoll The meat-eating marsupial known as the Quoll
is a furry, nocturnal creature that populates Australia and New Guinea.
There are six different species of Quoll and they range in size from 11 ounces to 15 pounds.
For the most part, these creatures lead a reclusive life, seldom engaging in social
activity outside of mating in the winter.
Mothers can bear up to 18 pups at a time, but can typically only raise 6 to full adulthood.
Over the past two centuries, these animals have struggled with a number of threats, such
as the toxic, invasive cane toad, pest control compounds, and increased urbanisation, and
because of this their conservation is constantly at risk.
Number 9 Hummingbird Hawk-Moth From Portugal to Japan, the strange Hummingbird
Hawk-Moth spans the continents of Europe, Africa and Asia.
This miniscule insect with a full grown wingspan of just 1.6 to 1.8 inches earns its name from
the elongated 25 to 28 millimeter proboscis and the audible hovering it uses to feed on
flowers, giving it a similar look to a hummingbird!
These similarities are an example of what evolutionary biologists call convergent evolution,
the occurrence of similar adaptations in separate species brought on by shared evolutionary
needs and responding mutations.
Such physical exertion causes these Hawk-Moths to reach high body temperatures, with some
measurements of the thorax reading as warm as 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
For an insect, the Hummingbird Hawk-Moth has notably exceptional vision, able to discern
a wide range of color variations better than even the western honey bee.
Number 8 Mexican Mole Lizard It might surprise you, but this pink, slithering,
worm-like burrower isn't actually a worm, but rather a species of typically legless
reptiles called amphisbaenians . The Mexican Mole Lizard is the exception to the rule,
though, because of its strong, five-toed forelegs that remain.
These tiny creatures are typically just 7 to 9 inches long, and a quarter of an inch
wide.
Their blunt snouts give them an advantage in burrowing as they delve underground throughout
most of their one to two year lifespan.
They will rise from their sandy homes during times of heavy rain or at night, but in dangerous
situations, the Mexican Mole Lizard can choose to shed its tail and distract predators as
it escapes back below the surface.
Carnivorous, even for their tiny stature, this species survives on a number of bugs
and even smaller lizards for sustenance.
Number 7 Dhole [DOHL] Known by a plethora of names, such as the
Asian wild dog, the Indian wild dog, the mountain wolf, or simply red dog, Dhole [DOHL] is considered
the official name of this canid species.
Like other dogs and wolves, the Dhole [DOHL] is a social creature, preferring to live in
large collectives called clans, but without the strict hierarchy conventions of similar
species.
Though it now must compete against tigers and leopards for predatory dominance across
Central, South, and Southeast Asia, scientists believe these animals once traversed regions
like Europe and North America some 12 to 18 thousand years ago.
In modern times, Dholes [DOHLZ] are actually now considered endangered by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature with a population of just 2,500 left in the world.
Number 6 Spiny Orb Weaver This genus of arachnid is notable for their
broad spectrum of hardened, carapace like abdomens, earning them nicknames such as the
thorn spider, kite spider, star spider or jewel spider.
This natural decor of the Spiny Orb Weaver spider is reserved exclusively for females
as males will lack the thorns and coloration of their counterparts.
Though they may look intimidating, these creatures are harmless to humans, instead proving a
menacing predator for the bug populations in the tropical regions of southern Asia.
Spiny Orb Weaver spiders come in a wide selection of vivid species, with their shell-like bodies
ranging from orange to red to green or even white and black, resembling some sort of twisted,
multi-eyed skull!
Over 70 different species of this spider are believed to exist, with documentation of various
specimens dating back over a century.
Number 5 Colugo A close relative to primates, Colugos are
also known by the colloquial name of "flying lemurs" and are the most capable of all gliding
mammals known to man.
Between their legs hang large flaps of skin that allow the creatures to travel by air
up to 230 feet without dropping much in altitude.
This is especially handy for the Colugos as they will spend a vast majority of their life
within trees.
They don't get very large at an average weight of 2.2 to 4.4 pounds, aiding them in their
aerial pursuits.
But despite being well developed for gliding, this species is notably terrible at climbing.
Due to a lack of strength or opposable thumbs, these mammals must take their time hopping
up the sides of trees, using their tiny, sharp claws as pitons along the way.
Number 4 Patagonian Mara Though on first glance the Patagonian Mara
might appear to be some sort of short-eared rabbit, it is in fact a large rodent that
can be found throughout Argentina.
On average, these stout critters can grow to be around 30 inches long and weigh up to
35 pounds.
Their long, muscular hindquarters contribute to their jackrabbit-esque demeanor.
The feet of the Patagonian Mara are compact, though, almost resembling hooves, while their
tail is short and hairless...a far cry from the typical tail of a hare.
They can be found in either shrub-covered plains or amid barren soil, combing the landscape
for fruits and vegetation and staying wary of large cats, foxes, South American wolverines
and other predators.
Number 3 Aardwolf Across eastern and southern Africa, a nocturnal
animal by the name of the Aardwolf wanders the shrublands in search of its much smaller
prey of choice: bugs!
As an insectivorous species, this relative to the hyena subsists primarily on creatures
like termites, slurping down as many as 250 thousand individual insects in a night thanks
to their adhesive, proboscis-like tongue.
Aardwolves appear similar to their striped hyena kin, yet much thinner and covered in
a black-striped, yellow coat of fur.
This species is similar in stature to a medium sized dog, growing up to 31 inches long, sporting
a tail between 7 inches and one foot in length, and weighing an average of 15 to 22 pounds.
Though they face harsh repercussions from farmers who mistakenly believe they attack
livestock, aardwolves have a stable population considered at "least concern" by conservationists.
Number 2 Mangalitsa Pig The Hungarian Mangalitsa Pig is the result
of years of breeding different Hungarian hogs with a Serbian breed and European wild boars,
however given its thick, wooly coat, this pig may look more like its been crossbred
with a sheep!
This curly fleece can grow in black, red, or blonde as is most often the case.
The name "Mangalitsa" means "hog with a lot of lard", an accurate name for these fat-heavy
swine often described as the Kobe beef equivalent to pork.
While it has been in high demand in recent years, though, there was a time when the Mangalitsa
Pig almost went extinct!
In the mid-20th century, as lard phased out of popularity as a cooking component and this
species proved to yield very little lean meat, the value placed on them began to drop, causing
many farmers to stop breeding them.
By the 1990s, this pig population dropped down to just 198 total, but animal geneticists
and farmers worked together over the next 2 decades to stabilize them.
Number 1 Raccoon Dog Popularly referred to as the Tanuki, the Raccoon
Dog of East Asia is a staple in Japanese folklore.
Heralded as a yokai , or supernatural being, the bake-danuki is said to be a shapeshifting,
mischievous being and can be seen in Japanese literature and artwork dating back over a
millennia.
In the modern world, raccoon dogs can be found all across the Asian continent, from Russia
and Korea to China and Vietnam.
Closer related to foxes, these predatory canids can climb trees and must whether natural enemies
such as wolves, lynxes and birds of prey.