Nature is wonderful and will never cease to amaze us with recently discovered strange animals and their unusual characteristics or behaviors. It can be birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects or the enormous (and unknown) amount of fauna that inhabits the seas and oceans.
Therefore, the list that we will show today is doomed to be ephemeral because new species are constantly being discovered and are incorporated by right into the list of the rarest animals in the world. Another sad reality is that, because they are threatened, some animals will become, due to their small number, the rarest animals in the world. Keep reading to discover in this article on our site the 30 names of the world's rarest animals
Elephant shrew (Macroscelidea)
Currently there are 16 species of elephant shrew. Apart from having a kind of trunk, these shrews are the largest on the planet, as there are specimens weighing up to 700 grams. Although they obviously bear a strong resemblance to shrews, elephant shrews are larger in size. His eyes are big and round.
They are only found in Africa and feed mainly on insects. Although elephant shrews are not threatened, three of their species have been classified as endangered species:
- The golden-trunked elephant shrew
- Peters' Elephant Shrew
- Elephantulus revoili
What do shrews eat? If you have been intrigued to know more about these strange animals, do not hesitate to take a look at this article that we recommend.
Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest species of perissodactyl mammals, weighing between 600 and 800 kg (while other rhinos reach almost 3,000 kg). Some of the most outstanding characteristics of these rare animals are the presence of incisors in adult rhinoceroses and the reddish coatthat covers their bodies and they lose when they are old. Notably, this rare rhino is endemic to Sumatra and has been hunted for its valuable horns for years.
Is the rhinoceros in danger of extinction? Discover the answer in this post on our site that we recommend.
Myanmar Noseless Monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri)
The Mayanmar Noseless Monkey is one of the rarest animals in the world as, as its name suggests, it apparently has no nose. It is believed that there are barely 100 living specimens of this strange Asian ape, which is native to northern Burma. A curiosity about these rare animals with flat snouts is that when it rains they sneeze a lot due to the lack of skin around their nose. Due to habitat loss and hunting, this monkey is in a threatened state.
Find out more about the Types of monkeys and their names, here.
Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Like the rare animal above, the aye-aye is a primate, although in this case it is related to lemurs of Malagasy origin. It is the only living aye-aye within its genus Daubentonia, family Daubentonidae and infraorder Chiromyformes. It's not just one of the weirdest animals out there, it's also one of the animals with weird names.
Its appearance is characterized by long hair all over its body, which made it initially be considered a squirrel. It usually measures about 40 centimeters, weighs 2 kilos at most and can live for about 23 years. What is most striking about his physique are his disturbing hands and nails, which look like science fiction, and his huge ears.
Here you can see more Animals of Madagascar that may also catch your attention.
Hagfish (Myxini)
The world's marine waters are a constant source of new species being discovered every day and others going extinct. The hagfish, also known as hagfish, is an agnathic fish that feeds scavenging and is a predator.
This disturbing blind fish clings to its prey, pierces them into them and then begins to devour them from within. It is a fish that can measure up to a meter and a half in length and, although all specimens have ovaries and testicles, they are not hermaphrodites
We leave you more information about predatory Animals: meaning, types and examples in this post on our site that we recommend.
Vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus)
The vaquita porpoise is one of the six species of porpoise that, in 2017, lost 67% of its entire population. As in 2018 it was estimated that there were less than 20 specimens left alive, it is currently in danger of extinction It is the smallest dolphin that exists, as well as being a predator non-selective.
One interesting thing about these strange animals is that they use high-pitched sounds to communicate, that is, practice echolocation in order to move. They tend to avoid approaching boats and usually swim alone, unless accompanied by their young.
Why is the vaquita porpoise endangered? Find out the answer to this question in the following article that we recommend from our site.
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
Characterized by its pink color, the axolotl is a Mexican amphibian, also known as axoloti, it is native to Mexico and lives in Xochimilco. One of the most outstanding curiosities of the axolotl is that it is a rare animal that does not complete its metamorphosis, so it maintains the larval stage even when it reaches adulthood.
This is a rare animal that can measure up to 30 centimeters in length, although they are usually half as long (15 cm). It is currently in critical conservation status, since in Mexico it has traditionally been an edible animal.
In this article you can discover more Curiosities of the axolotl in case you are still interested.
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
In the world of birds there are also new discoveries and species on the brink of extinction This rare animal is a great bird that inhabits in the tropical east of the African continent. It is the only living species of the Balaenicipitidae family. It is one of the rarest animals in the world because it can measure up to 1 meter and 40 centimeters, in addition to weighing up to 7 kilos. Its name is given by its huge and long beak
If you want to know more about the Shoebill: characteristics, where it lives, feeding and reproduction, don't hesitate to take a look at this article.
Bare ibis (Geronticus eremita)
This variety of ibis is highly endangered and there are barely 200 specimens in the world, so it is in serious danger of extinction In fact, it can only be found in Morocco and some areas of Syria. Their diet is based on invertebrates, scorpions and beetles.
It is one of the rarest animals in the world due to its shiny black plumage, as well as its large size: it measures between 70 and 80 cm and has a wingspan of up to 135 cm. Both the head and throat are furless. A curiosity of this rare animal is that the males, the longer their beak is, the more successful they are in finding a mate
Check this other article about Birds in greatest danger of extinction.
Honduran Emerald (Amazilia luciae)
Also known as the Honduran Emerald Hummingbird or Hoduran Amazilia, this rare but beautiful bird is Critically Endangered, since silvestrismo and deforestation are their main problems to survive. Its color depends on the light that its body receives, although it generally has greenish and blue tones in contrast to some darker areas.
This is a rare animal endemic to Honduras that lives in tropical or subtropical dry forests and thickets. As a curiosity, when they are attacked, they gather in flocks to escape from their predators.
Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)
The invertebrate marine fauna is full of strange animal species. This crab has recently been discovered on the seabed near Easter Island. It lacks eyes and lives surrounded by hydrothermal vents at a depth of 2,200 metres. It measures approximately 15 cm and one of the most striking things about this rare animal is the amount of hair that surrounds its claws Its diet is based on algae, small shrimp and bacteria.
We leave you the detailed file on the Yeti Crab so you can read more about one of the rarest animals in the world.
Worm squid (Teuthidodrilus samae)
At a depth of nearly 3,000 metres, this strange species of animal unknown to science was discovered in the Celebes Sea. Its feed is based on plankton and it inhabits the regions of the Philippines and Indonesia. It has 25 "legs" or oars on each side of its long body, which measures about 9 cm. In addition, it also has tentacles on its head, which gives it an appearance similar to that of a squid.
One of the greatest curiosities about this rare animal is that when they are young they are transparent, while when they grow they are brown and gelatinous.
Mississippi Dusky Frog (Lithobates sevosus)
Rivers, lakes, and swamp waters are also home to a host of rare species, including the Mississippi Dusky Frog, an anuran amphibian that is Critically Endangered of extinction A curiosity about this rare animal is that the females are larger than the males, which usually measure between 56 and 105 centimeters. Notably, the biggest threats to this animal are two fungal diseases
You may also be interested in this article where we discuss the species of frog that you can have as a pet.
Rex leech (Tyrannobdella rex)
Its scientific name really means queen tyrant leech and it was discovered in Amazonian Peru in 2010, cataloged as one of the rarest animals in the world. A curiosity about this animal is that it likes to inhabit the nostrils of humans Although it does not exceed 5 cm in length, it is a large leech.
If you are curious, we leave you this article on Animals that feed on blood so you can have more information on the subject.
Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)
There are some species of animals that will soon become extinct if a real miracle doesn't happen. An example of this are the very few captive specimens of this rare animal: the strange and curious Chinese soft-shelled turtle. It looks similar to the pig-nosed turtle and is endemic to China.
Instead of a hard shell with plates, this turtle is covered in leathery skin with a soft, slightly rounded skirt. It inhabits the depths of lakes and rivers and uses its long, thin snout to help it breathe well. Although most turtles are placid, the Chinese softshell turtle has aggressive behavior and often hides under the sand to capture prey.
You can take a look at this article on our site about Animals that are prey: characteristics and examples.
Angonoka Turtle (Geochelone yniphora)
The angonoka turtle is a land turtle endemic to Madagascar. It is one of the rarest animals in the world that is in critically endangered It usually inhabits dry forests and, one of the most outstanding characteristics of this rare animal is its shell: curved upwards and projecting its body forward. There is sexual dimorphism in this species, since males are larger than females and can reach about 35 cm.
If you want to know more about Sexual Dimorphism: definition, curiosities and examples, check out this article that we suggest.
Hirola (Beatragus hunteri)
Also known as Hunter's antelope or Hunter's damselfish, this artiodactyl mammal numbers only 500 to 1000 individuals today, making it Critically Endangered. extinction We can find it between the border of Kenya and Somalia and, according to the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, if it becomes extinct we would be talking about the first extinction of mammals in Africa during modern human history.
This is one of those rare and beautiful animals, as it is a medium-sized antelope with a color between brown and red. They have a white tail and extremely long horns. As he grows into an adult, his fur darkens.
Here is another post about Mammals in danger of extinction.
Water Bear
The so-called water bears, Tardigrada, are tiny animals (more than 1,000 subspecies of various sizes) that do not exceed the environment millimeter in size. However, this characteristic is not what distinguishes them from the vast majority of terrestrial fauna and makes them one of the rarest animals in the world.
These tiny, strange animals are capable of enduring and surviving a variety of circumstances that would wipe out any other species, which makes them the most resistant species in the world. Below we will list some of its prodigious features:
- Pressure: they are capable of surviving 6000 atmospheres of pressure. In other words, 6000 times more than the existing pressure on the surface of our planet.
- Temperatura: they are able to revive after being frozen at -200º, or withstand positive temperatures of up to 150º. In Japan they carried out an experiment in which specimens of Tardigrada were revived after 30 years of freezing.
- Water: They can survive up to 10 years without water. Its usual humidity is 85%, and it can be reduced to 3%.
- Radiation: they are capable of resisting radiation 150 times higher than that which would kill a human being.
These prodigious animals have been known since 1773. They live on the moist surfaces of ferns, mosses and lichens.
Uakari (Cacajao)
The uakarís or guacarís are primates that are part of the New World and are one of the rarest animals in the world. One of the most outstanding characteristics of these rare animals are the projecting lower incisors, in addition to the absence of hair on their headsSomething that also draws a lot of attention is that, having almost no fat on his face, his skin is practically adhered to the skull.
They are capable of jumping up to 6 meters high and, normally, they are usually grouped in groups of up to 100 members. Their diet is based on fresh fruit, shoots and leaves, as well as red fruits.
Can you have a monkey as a pet? Discover the answer in this article on our site that we recommend.
Giraffe Gazelle (Litocranius walleri)
The giraffe gazelle is one of the rarest animals in the world, found in arid areas such as Kenya or Ethiopia. The most outstanding characteristic of this animal is its prominent and extensive neck , reminiscent of a giraffe. This is a trait that makes it easier for it to feed, since it can easily reach its food, but it also makes it very visible to predators
Other rarest animals in the world
Next, we are going to number other rarest animals in the world that you may not know either:
- Bat yoda
- Cuban Funnel-eared Bat
- Pig-nosed Fruit Bat
- Western Lowland Gorilla
- Santa Marta Tree Rat
- Northern Wombat
- Binturong or catfish
- Ilia pika
- Darwin's Fox
- Black-footed Ferret
