The animal kingdom is as vast as it is beautiful. Yet despite our best efforts, most people only know a very select part of the different kinds of species you can run into on our beautiful planet. We’re discovering new species on almost a daily basis (and sadly, species are dying at an even faster rate) so it’s pretty much impossible to keep up with all the new discoveries.
Let’s take a look at some animal species you’ve probably never heard of. And because I’m in somewhat of a good mood, I’ll let you know where to find them! Just don’t hunt them all down and kill them, it literally ruins ecosystems. Looking at them is fine, waving is fine too, but that’s about as far as human interference should go.
Snub-Nosed Monkey
These monkeys appear in China and Myanmar. As you can guess, they get their name from their stumpy noses in combination with their typically round face. And yes, they look a bit like Michael Jackson.
Gerenuk
This one is also known as a “giraffe gazelle”, since it’s a gazelle with a freakishly long neck. They’re found in the wild in the Horn of Africa and the drier parts of the Eastern African continent.
Okapi
Looking like a mix between a zebra and a donkey with the head of a giraffe, one can only imagine the events where this species came to be. Must’ve been one hell of a party. These animals are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is in Central Africa.
Markhor
The Markhor is also known as the “screw horn goat”, because their horns look like screws. Yeah. They’re not very inventive with the nicknames. Anyway, they’re found in most Middle Eastern countries ending on “-stan”, along with the Himalayas.
Gharial
Think “crocodile that had his nose stuck between a heavy door”. The animal is native to India, yet sadly almost extinct. The recent estimates put their population at 235 worldwide. If you want to see one in the wild, you’ll have to hurry up.
Pangolin
These scaly anteaters are nocturnal creatures that can be found in Africa and Asia, depending on the specific species. Like many creatures on the planet, they’re threatened by extinction due to hunting and deforestation.
Spiny Orb Weaver Spider
These cute little critters get their name from their spikes on their abdomen. They’re harmless to humans and appear in the edges of woodlands and gardens. So pretty much everywhere.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Yes, it looks like a walking piece of sushi. They’re the smallest type of armadillo and can be found in the central part of Argentina.
Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Only found in the northeastern parts of Madagascar (the country, not the movie), these critters are only about 1,5 cm in body size. Bring your magnifying glass!
Blue Glaucus
While this ocean slug might look kind of cute, its sting will hurt you a lot. And it’s potentially dangerous, so stay away. It’s found in pretty much every ocean on the planet, except for the territories that belong to America or Asia. You can find them on beaches occasionally, if one should wash up.
