|
We’ve all heard about the flying squirrel, vampire
bats, and naked mole rat, but I bet you haven’t heard of The Dhole,
Tufted Deer, Sunda Colugo and Southern Right Whale Dolphin! Here are ten
animals that you probably haven’t heard of!
|
|
The Dhole
The Dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. The
dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans which
occasionally split up into small packs to hunt. It primarily preys on
medium-sized ungulates, which it hunts by tiring them out in long
chases, and kills by disemboweling them. Though fearful of humans, dhole
packs are bold enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild
boar, water buffalo, and even tigers. |
|
 |
|
Tufted Deer
The Tufted Deer is a small species of deer characterized by the
prominent tuft of black hair on its forehead. It is a close relative of
the muntjac, living somewhat further north over a wide area of central
China. It is a timid animal, mainly solitary or found in pairs and
prefers places with good cover, where it is well camouflaged. |
|
|
|
Sunda Colugo
Also known as The Sunda flying lemur, it is not actually a lemur and
does not fly. Instead, it glides as it leaps among trees. It is strictly
arboreal, is active at night, and feeds on soft plant parts such as
young leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits. The Sunda Coluga can be found
throughout Southeast Asia in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and
Singapore. |
|
|
|
Southern Right Whale Dolphin
The southern right whale dolphin is a small and slender species of
mammal found in cool waters of the southern hemisphere. They are fast
active swimmers and have no visible teeth and no dorsal fin. They are
very graceful and often move by leaping out of the water continuously. |
|
 |
|
Cyphonia Clavata
It is a species of treehopper called Cyphonia Clavata that literally has
an ant growing out of its head. Well not literally, the ant-like thing
on its head is an appendage that hides the treehopper’s actual body from
predators.
|
|
 |
|
The pink fairy armadillo
The pink fairy armadillo is approximately 3.5-4.5 inches long, excluding
the tail, and is pale rose or pink in color. It has the ability to bury
itself completely in a matter of seconds if frightened. It is a
nocturnal animal and it burrows small holes near ant colonies in dry
soil, and feeds mainly on ants and ant larvae near its burrow. It uses
large front claws to agitate the sand, allowing it to almost swim
through the ground like it is water. It is torpedo-shaped, and has a
shielded head and back.
|
|
 |
|
The Fossa
The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to
Madagascar. The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island
of Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. It has
semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and
down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree.
|
|
 |
|
The gerenuk
The gerenuk, also known as the Waller's gazelle, is a long-necked
species of antelope found in dry thorn bush scrub and desert in Eastern
Africa. The word gerenuk comes from the Somali language, meaning
"giraffe-necked". Gerenuks have a relatively small head for their body,
but their eyes and ears are proportionately large. Gerenuks seldom graze
but browse on prickly bushes and trees, such as acacias. They can reach
higher branches and twigs than other gazelles and antelope by standing
erect on their rear legs and stretching their elongated necks.
|
|
 |
|
The Irrawaddy dolphin
The Irrawaddy dolphin is a species of oceanic dolphin found near sea
coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and
Southeast Asia. Genetically, the Irrawaddy dolphin is closely related to
the killer whale.
|
|
 |
Raccoon Dog
The Raccoon Dog, or Tanuki, is a canid indigenous to East Asia. The
raccoon dog is named for its resemblance to the raccoon, to which it is
not closely related. They are very good climbers and regularly climb
trees. |
|
 |
|
VIEW PICTURE GALLERY
|
|
|