Credit by Snub-nosed monkey © Chinaicons.com
12 Rare Animals You’ve Probably Never Even Heard Of
NATURE Indonesia

12 Rare Animals You’ve Probably Never Even Heard Of

Mother Nature is always full of surprises. It’s hard to believe how many incredible and different creatures live on our planet! There's a big chance that you've never heard of these rare animals.

Gosh, the diversity of planet earth never ceases to amaze us. 

1. Ili Paka - China

This cute and incredibly rare animal is also known as the ’magic rabbit’. Ili Pika was recently photographed for the first time in twenty years. It was first discovered in China’s Tian Shan Mountains | Photo by Li Weidong
This cute and incredibly rare animal is also known as the ’magic rabbit’. Ili Pika was recently photographed for the first time in twenty years. It was first discovered in China’s Tian Shan Mountains | Photo by Li Weidong

2. The Pinocchio frog - Indonesia

 This creature also goes by the name ’Spike-Nosed Tree Frog’. When a male frog tries to attract a female or senses danger, its elongated, Pinocchio-like nose points upward. | photo by Tim Laman/National Georgraphic
This creature also goes by the name ’Spike-Nosed Tree Frog’. When a male frog tries to attract a female or senses danger, its elongated, Pinocchio-like nose points upward. | photo by Tim Laman/National Georgraphic

3. The snub-nosed monkey - Myanmar

The rarest primate in the world was discovered in 2010 in northern Burma (Myanmar). Because of the unusual shape of its nose, the monkey always sneezes when it rains. | © Tim Plowden/REX/Shutterstock
The rarest primate in the world was discovered in 2010 in northern Burma (Myanmar). Because of the unusual shape of its nose, the monkey always sneezes when it rains. | © Tim Plowden/REX/Shutterstock

4. The pink handfish - Southern Australia and Tasmania

Several years ago, scientists discovered 14 species of fish with hand-like fins. At present, nine of them are in danger of extinction. | © Karen Gowlett-Holmes
Several years ago, scientists discovered 14 species of fish with hand-like fins. At present, nine of them are in danger of extinction. | © Karen Gowlett-Holmes

5. Honduran white bats - Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama

These pretty little white fellows from Central America live in a tent of Heliconia leaves, eat fruit, and can grow only up to 1.5 inch (4.7 cm) in length. | photo by nationalgeographic
These pretty little white fellows from Central America live in a tent of Heliconia leaves, eat fruit, and can grow only up to 1.5 inch (4.7 cm) in length. | photo by nationalgeographic

6. The Grimpoteuthis (aka Dumbo Octopus) - US, The Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, California, Papua, and New Guinea. 

This bizarre deep sea animal received its nickname because of the two fins on the membrane between its legs, which resemble the ears of the flying elephant Dumbo from the famous animated film | © NOAA Ocean Explorer/flickr
This bizarre deep sea animal received its nickname because of the two fins on the membrane between its legs, which resemble the ears of the flying elephant Dumbo from the famous animated film | © NOAA Ocean Explorer/flickr

7. The salp - Southern Ocean (near Antarctica)

 Salps are planktonic tunicates that feed off CO2 in the water, pumping it through their transparent bodies. We should all probably say thank you to them, because they reduce the carbon levels in the water and in the air as well. | Reddit.com
Salps are planktonic tunicates that feed off CO2 in the water, pumping it through their transparent bodies. We should all probably say thank you to them, because they reduce the carbon levels in the water and in the air as well. | Reddit.com

8. The pink-eyed Caedicia - Papua New Guinea

This grasshopper with striking, pink bean-like eyes lives in the Muller Range mountains in the Pacific highlands. | © Piotr Naskrecki/Courtesy of Conservation International
This grasshopper with striking, pink bean-like eyes lives in the Muller Range mountains in the Pacific highlands. | © Piotr Naskrecki/Courtesy of Conservation International

9. The Cherax Pulcher - Indonesia

This fantastically beautiful, colorful crab was discovered in Indonesia few years ago | Photo by  Christian Lukhaup
This fantastically beautiful, colorful crab was discovered in Indonesia few years ago | Photo by Christian Lukhaup
 
 

10. The Albino Chinese softshell turtle - China

These little turtles use their long necks and tube-like nostrils as a snorkel to breath under the water. |  © Mikael Buck/SOLENT
These little turtles use their long necks and tube-like nostrils as a snorkel to breath under the water. | © Mikael Buck/SOLENT

11. The Nendo tube-nosed fruit bat - Papua New Guinea

This cute bat with unusually kind eyes and tube-like nostrils was discovered in 2009 in the forests of Papua New Guinea. It became an internet sensation as the ’’Yoda bat’’ due to its resemblance to the Jedi Master from the Star Wars movies. | © Piotr Naskrecki/Courtesy of Conservation International
This cute bat with unusually kind eyes and tube-like nostrils was discovered in 2009 in the forests of Papua New Guinea. It became an internet sensation as the ’’Yoda bat’’ due to its resemblance to the Jedi Master from the Star Wars movies. | © Piotr Naskrecki/Courtesy of Conservation International

12. The Amazon river dolphin - Bolivia

Young Amazon river dolphins, also known as pink river dolphins, are light gray, but some of them become pink as they get older. These dolphins aren’t friendly or easily trained, so they are rarely held in captivity | © Ivan Sgualdini/Shutterstock
Young Amazon river dolphins, also known as pink river dolphins, are light gray, but some of them become pink as they get older. These dolphins aren’t friendly or easily trained, so they are rarely held in captivity | © Ivan Sgualdini/Shutterstock

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This article was first published on Bright Side titled 11 Incredible Animals You’ve Probably Never Even Heard Of

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