Rare Animals | List of Rare Animals With Description and Images

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Rare Animals: Rare animals are those that are difficult to find or encounter. They are generally restricted to a certain geographic area. These creatures are so uncommon that you may only see them once in your lifetime, even if it has been decades since one last saw them. So, consider yourself fortunate if you ever come across one of these creatures. One should always be aware of at least 10 rarest animals in the world and gather some knowledge about how endangered are rare animals.

Nature always has a surprise up its sleeve, even when you think you’ve seen it all. This is because new animal species are found every year. There are close to 8.7 million animal species on the planet, according to estimates.

This article offers a quick summary of the rarest animal in the world, 2021, as well as their current population estimates based on research figures. So, we have made a curated list of rare animals in the world.

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List of Rare Animals

Name of Rare Animals

Description on the Rare Animals on the list

Pangolin

Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their flesh and scales, used in traditional medicine) and deforestation and are the world’s most trafficked animals. Pangolins are the only known animals with enormous protective keratin scales covering their skin.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Mirorder Ferae
Clade Pholidotamorpha
Order Pholidota

Seneca White Deer Endangered

The Seneca white deer are a unique leucitic herd with brown eyes and no colouring. With a population of only 300, the species was granted its own protected area in the former Seneca Army Depot, free of predators and available to the public.

Elephant Shrew

Elephant shrews are tiny, quadrupedal, insectivorous animals with scaly tails, large snouts, and legs that are lengthy for their size. While the size of the trunk varies between species, all can twist it to find food. In the wild, they live between 2.5 and 4 years. Unfortunately, he argues, deforestation has reduced the shrew’s number fast, and it “probably won’t be long before it vanishes.”

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Subclass Theria
Clade Eutheria
Infraclass Placentalia
Superorder Afrotheria
Order Macroscelidea
Family Macroscelididae

Ti-Liger-Endangered

The Ti-Liger is a rare animal. In reality, this man-made liger-tiger hybrid is hardly visible. One is in Oroville, California, and there are between six and ten worldwide. These tigers don’t have the same health issues as their hybrid counterparts; therefore their population may grow.

Hairy Nosed Wombat

A wombat may be familiar to you, but you’ve probably never seen this hairy gentleman. Having no eyesight, these adorable animals use their noses to find food in the dark. Radin estimates that only 115 remain in the wild, all in Queensland, Australia.

Scientific Name Lasiorhinus krefftii
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Infraclass Marsupialia
Order Diprotodontia
Family Vombatidae
Genus Lasiorhinus

Yangtze Finless Porpoise

The Yangtze River, Asia’s longest, previously had two dolphin species: the finless porpoise and the Baiji dolphin. It died out in 2006 owing to man-made environmental changes. Sadly, like the Baiji dolphin, its number is rapidly dwindling. There were 1,000 in 2013, although that number may have fallen since then.

Scientific Name Neophocaena asiaeorientalis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Infraorder Cetacea
Family Phocoenidae
Genus Neophocaena
Species N. asiaeorientalis

Vaquita Endangered

The vaquita, found in 1958, is the world’s rarest marine animal. With big grey fins and a black ring around the eyes, this porpoise is easily identified. The vaquita has been approximately reduced to a population of 30 individuals due to its frequent drowning in illicit fishing nets in the Gulf of California.

Scientific Name Phocoena sinus
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Infraorder Cetacea
Family Phocoenidae
Genus Phocoena
Species P. sinus

Saola Endangered Unicorn

The saola is a rare Vietnamese mammal discovered in 1992. The species is known as the “Asian unicorn” because to its long parallel horns. The saola is an antelope-like creature found exclusively in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos, where experts have no idea how many there are.

Scientific Name Pseudoryx nghetinhensis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Subfamily Bovinae
Tribe Bovini
Genus Pseudoryx
Species P. nghetinhensis

Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard is rare in that it lives in the Russian Far East, not the savanna. The Amur is a natural marvel, with warm fur and a top speed of 37 mph. Despite a 10- to 15-year lifetime, the Amur is uncommon, with the WWF presently counting just 84.

Scientific Name Panthera pardus orientalis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Suborder Feliformia
Family Felidae
Subfamily Pantherinae
Genus Panthera
Species P. pardus
Subspecies P. p. orientalis

Hector’s Dolphin

Hector’s dolphins are the world’s rarest and tiniest marine dolphins. These rare dolphins are only seen in the seas around New Zealand’s North Island. The species is estimated to have 7,000 individuals, with certain subspecies having numbers as low as 55.

Scientific Name Cephalorhynchus hectori
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Infraorder Cetacea
Family Delphinidae
Genus Cephalorhynchus
Species C. hectori

Borneo Pygmy Elephant

The Borneo pygmy elephant has enormous ears, a protruding belly, and a tail too long for its body, dragging on the ground behind it. Despite its attractiveness, the Borneo pygmy elephant is highly endangered owing to poaching and deforestation.

Scientific Name Elephas maximus borneensis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Proboscidea
Family Elephantidae
Genus Elephas
Species E. maximus
Subspecies E. m. borneensis

Rare Animals 1

Black Spotted Cuscus

The black-spotted cuscus has vertical pupils and arched front claws. The cuscus is only found in New Guinea and is endangered owing to poaching and deforestation. The species is classified as “rare” and has been critically endangered since 2010, with some populations totally wiped out.

Scientific Name Spilocuscus rufoniger
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Infraclass Marsupialia
Order Diprotodontia
Family Phalangeridae
Genus Spilocuscus
Species S. rufoniger

The Purple Frog

The purple frog lives mostly underground, only surfacing to mate once a year. The species has been developing independently for about 100 million years. The purple frog, which was only recently described in 2003, is already in danger of extinction owing to deforestation. Due to their reclusive nature, no precise population estimates exist.

Scientific Name Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Nasikabatrachidae
Genus Nasikabatrachus
Species N. sahyadrensis

Hispaniolan Solenodon

The Hispaniolan solenodon is one of the few mammals capable of producing venom and one of the last representatives of a lineage of shrews that may have lived alongside the dinosaurs. With just two litters of one to three pups every year, the solenodon is one of the world’s rarest mammals. The solenodon inhabits a small region of 100 square kilometres in Haiti.

Scientific Name Solenodon paradoxus
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Eulipotyphla
Family Solenodontidae
Genus Solenodon
Species S. paradoxus

Hooded Grebe

Climate change and exotic predators have caused a 98% reduction in the Hooded Grebe population since 1974. Due to poor reproduction rates, this unique species is currently endangered, with only approximately 800 members remaining.

Scientific Name Podiceps gallardoi
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Podicipediformes
Family Podicipedidae
Genus Podiceps
Species P. gallardoi

Philippine Eagle

Known as the “Monkey-eating Eagle,” this Philippine native can use its powerful beak to attack monkeys, snakes, and lizards. Despite being the Philippines’ National Bird, this eagle’s population has been reduced to about 300 owing to deforestation and extreme weather.

Scientific Name Pithecophaga jefferyi
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae
Genus Pithecophaga
Species P. jefferyi

Northern Darwin’s Frog

The Northern Darwin’s Frog is known one of only two frogs that “mouth broods,” or raises a youngster within its father’s vocal sac. The frog, which has been present for at least 55 million years, is nearly vanished owing to deforestation, climate change, and potentially illness. The Zoological Society of London stated that there is still chance of seeing one, therefore they are not entirely gone.

Scientific Name Rhinoderma darwinii
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Rhinodermatidae
Genus Rhinoderma
Species R. darwinii

Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth

The pygmy three-toed sloth is particularly found on an island off the coast of Panama. They only leave their homes in the tree canopy to defecate, an action they can spend almost a week without. And, due to climate change, the sloth is increasingly rarer: its number is estimated to be around 100 and dwindling.

Scientific Name Bradypus pygmaeus
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Pilosa
Family Bradypodidae
Genus Bradypus
Species B. pygmaeus

Rare Animals 2

Seychelles-Bat

The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat is named from its long, membrane cape-like skin that can be extended or shortened to aid in flying. Their population has shrunk dramatically due to habitat loss for plantations, now numbering less than 100.

Scientific Name Coleura seychellensis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Chiroptera
Family Emballonuridae
Genus Coleura
Species C. seychellensis

Rondo Dwarf Galago

The Rondo dwarf galago is found in coastal Tanzania and weighs around 60 grammes. The galago, with its “bottle-brush” tail and big, black eyes, has witnessed its population fall owing to deforestation. Currently, their population is extremely threatened and cannot be studied. And just eight “small and severely endangered evergreen areas” exist in Tanzania.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Suborder Strepsirrhini
Family Galagidae
Genus Paragalago
Species P. rondoensis

Dwarf Gecko

With a length of barely 2 cm, a dwarf gecko might easily slip under your radar. Regardless, this Colombian native has been present since the dinosaurs, and maybe since humans and lemurs shared an ancestor. Sadly, they appear to be extinct, with only sporadic reports of sightings.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Sphaerodactylidae
Genus Sphaerodactylus

White Winged Flufftail

The white-winged flufftail is a pretty small bird that lives solely in Ethiopia’s highland marshes. Unfortunately, cattle grazing on their natural habitats, as well as the draining of local wetlands, has drastically reduced their already uncommon number, which is now estimated at approximately 700 globally.

Scientific Name Sarothrura ayresi
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Gruiformes
Family Sarothruridae
Genus Sarothrura
Species S. ayresi

Hirola

The hirola is one of the world’s rarest antelopes, named after a tiny Somali group that believed it a supernatural entity. The hirola is known as the “four eyed antelope” because to the black glands beneath its eyes that appear to need sleep. Drought, poaching, and habitat degradation have reduced their numbers to approximately 400, and the population is continually declining.

Scientific Name Beatragus hunter
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Subfamily Alcelaphinae
Genus Beatragus
Species B. hunteri

Stream Frog Rare

The El Rincon stream frog is found exclusively in Argentine Patagonia. For protection from the plateau’s subzero temperatures, it stays in thermally heated springs. An mammal with a population of fewer than five square kilometres, the El Rincon is uncommon. Unfortunately, the construction of dams and the introduction of non-native species into their waterways has drastically reduced the population of El Rincon. It is now exclusively found on one plateau in Argentine Patagonia.

Scientific Name Pleurodema somuncurense
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Leptodactylidae
Genus Pleurodema
Species P. somuncurense

Cebu Flowerpecker

The male Cebu Flowerpecker’s beautiful plumage comprises blue, red, yellow, and white. Despite being considered extinct in 1990 owing to habitat loss, the Flowerpecker was rediscovered in 1992. The Flowerpecker can still be found on the isolated Philippine island of Cebu, where its numbers are estimated approximately to be between 60 and 70 individuals.

Scientific Name Dicaeum quadricolor
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Dicaeidae
Genus Dicaeum
Species D. quadricolor

Hawaiian Monk Seal

The monk seal was originally considered a favourable omen by the ancient Greeks. They now need luck, as commercial hunting has reduced their number to only 250 monk seals globally. The monk seal is one of the world’s rarest—and cutest—creatures.

Scientific Name Neomonachus schauinslandi
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Clade Pinnipedia
Family Phocidae
Genus Neomonachus
Species N. schauinslandi

Banded Grand-Cuckoo

The Banded ground-cuckoo is endemic to Ecuador. The blue skin surrounding the eyes may expand and shrink. Because of Ecuador’s deforestation, they are now one of the region’s rarest birds, with a population of 600-1,700.

Scientific Name Neomorphus radiolosus
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae
Genus Neomorphus
Species N. radiolosus

Largetooth Sawfish

The largetooth sawfish has a bill that resembles a sideways chainsaw. They may live up to 30 years but are in danger of extinction owing to overfishing. Due to their rarity, no precise population estimates can be determined. Only two nations in the Eastern Atlantic have verified sightings in the last decade.

Scientific Name Pristis pristis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Rhinopristiformes
Family Pristidae
Genus Pristis
Species P. pristis

Chinese Giant Salamnder

The Chinese gigantic salamander is one of just three species left worldwide. With a tail over two metres long, it’s little surprise it’s called a giant. Sadly, water contamination and consumption as a delicacy in China threaten the gigantic salamander’s survival. The gigantic salamander is categorised as “very uncommon,” with “few surviving populations.” If you see one, rejoice.

Scientific Name Andrias davidianus
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Cryptobranchidae
Genus Andrias
Species A. davidianus

Chacoan Peccary

The Chacoan peccary is a strange-looking animal with a large snout and a thick covering of bristly hair. Long considered extinct, a population was discovered in western Paraguay in the 1970s. Despite this, habitat loss and exotic illnesses threaten its extinction. There were 3,200 peccaries remaining in 2002, but it was before extensive deforestation, so the population is likely considerably lower now.

Scientific Name Catagonus wagneri
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Tayassuidae
Genus Catagonus
Species C. wagneri

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