Incredible Animals You Can Only Find In One Place
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The world is full of animals you have to see to believe. But some of them can be difficult to find. That's because some animals exist only in a single place or country in the world.
They are called endemic animals, and if you want to see any of these animals in the wild, you’ll have to travel to their homeland. Whether you’ll ever get to visit them in their natural habitat or not, they are worth learning about.
These are the most incredible animals that exist in only one place.
Bornean Pygmy Elephant — Borneo
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 60-75 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: Northeastern Borneo
What makes Bornean pygmy elephants cool: Bornean pygmy elephants are the smallest subspecies of elephants, at an average of 8 to 9 feet tall. In fact, they are 30 percent smaller than Asian elephants. And that’s adults. Imagine how adorable the babies are.
These elephants are only found in Borneo, the second-largest island in the world, usually in the northeastern part that is shared between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Golden Poison Frog — Colombia
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Animal class: Amphibian
Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Pacific coast of Colombia
What makes golden poison frogs cool: This tiny amphibian measures about 2.2 inches, yet is considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world. The poison carried in a single one of these small frogs is enough to kill ten human adults.
The Emberá people traditionally dipped darts and arrows with the frog’s poison to make their weapons deadlier.
Blue-Footed Booby — Ecuador
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Animal class: Bird
Lifespan: 17 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Galapagos Islands
What makes blue-footed boobies cool: Blue-footed boobies are unique because of their bright blue feet, which are used to attract mates.
Besides their appearance, these birds are interesting due to the fact that males literally strut their feet to show them off in front of females.
You will only find them in the Galapagos Islands — the ones that made Charles Darwin famous.
Kangaroo — Australia
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Animal class: Marsupial
Lifespan: 10 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: All over Australia
What makes kangaroos cool: Kangaroos look more like the product of a science fiction author’s imagination than of evolution.
They are muscular and aggressive, hop on their gigantic feet and sometimes stand tall. They also carry their babies in their pouch and have been known to box.
Kangaroos are native to Australia and are the country’s official animal.
Coquí — Puerto Rico
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Animal class: Amphibian
Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: El Yunque National Forest
What makes coquís cool: The unofficial symbol of Puerto Rico, coquís are incredibly important to the island’s culture.
The small frogs get their name from the call that males make at night, which sounds like "ko-kee." The first part of the call repels other males while the second part attracts females.
If you go to the Isle of Enchantment, you’re sure to find many coquí-related souvenirs.
Lemur — Madagascar
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 16-19 years
Diet: Omnivore/herbivore
Where to find it: All over Madagascar
What makes lemurs cool: The island nation of Madagascar is the only place in the world where you’ll find lemurs — all hundred-plus species of them.
Lemurs gained worldwide fame thanks to King Julian in the film "Madagascar," but they are even cooler than their cartoon counterparts. The size, weight and habits of lemurs vary from species to species, with some lemurs being herbivores and others being omnivores.
Many of the species also have matriarchal systems.
Golden Lion Tamarin — Brazil
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 8 years
Diet: Omnivore
Where to find it: Atlantic coast of Brazil
What makes golden lion tamarins cool: This small monkey species is simply gorgeous with its deep orange mane.
You’ll find them in the state of Rio de Janeiro, though the chances of seeing one have been dwindling for centuries due to the development of the area, which is one of Brazil’s most visited places.
Kangaroo Rat — United States
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Animal class: Rodent
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Diet: Omnivore
Where to find it: California
What makes kangaroo rats cool: These rodents are in no way related to kangaroos, but receive their name because they have long hind legs that they use to hop around, much like the Australian animal.
Rats aren’t normally animals we’d consider interesting, but kangaroo rats are actually pretty cute. They mostly eat seeds but occasionally treat themselves to an insect.
Most importantly, some types of kangaroo rats are keystone species, meaning that they have a significant impact on the health of their environment.
Kiwi — New Zealand
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Animal class: Bird
Lifespan: 25-50 years
Diet: Omnivore
Where to find it: Haast Kiwi Sanctuary
What makes kiwis cool: New Zealand’s national animal gives the people of the country their nickname. The flightless bird resembles a large kiwifruit with a beak and legs, making it extremely unique and very adorable.
Despite their cultural importance, kiwis are critically endangered, so that your best chance to see them is as the Haast Kiwi Sanctuary, where predators and the environment are controlled to help the kiwi population recover.
Marine Iguanas — Ecuador
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: 60 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: Galapagos Islands
What makes marine iguanas cool: You can find normal iguanas in several countries, but to see giant blue iguanas that swim in the ocean and feast on algae, you’ll have to fly to the Galapagos.
The iguanas can hold their breath for an hour underwater, so divers and snorkelers around the islands have a chance for a very interesting encounter.
If the prospect of swimming with a mini Godzilla seems scary, don’t worry. They’re — thankfully — herbivores.
Komodo Dragon — Indonesia
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: 30 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang Islands
What makes Komodo dragons cool: Komodo dragons are cool in a way that makes you hope you never run into a hungry one. If these giant lizards get close enough to take a bite out of you, the venom and bacteria in their saliva can kill you within hours.
The good news is they mostly go for non-human animals, including cattle, water buffalos, deer and even other Komodo dragons.
Komodo Island is the most famous place to go see these deadly reptiles.
Axolotl — Mexico
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Animal class: Amphibian
Lifespan: 15 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Xochimilco
What makes axolotls cool: Nicknamed the "walking fish," the axolotl is a weird and fascinating salamander species. It has legs, but it does not live outside of water, using its abilities to stroll around in the bottom of lakes.
Axolotls are also distinct because of their often bright and unusual colors.
Thorny Devil — Australia
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Animal class: Lizard
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: All over Australia
What makes thorny devils cool: Just look at this awesome lizard. It really does look like a tiny, thorny devil and like it would be the sidekick to a future Disney villain you secretly like.
But the thorny devil is not just cool-looking. It is actually an amazingly resilient animal that has evolved to drink water through its skin.
Okapi — Democratic Republic of Congo
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: Uturi Forest
What makes okapis cool: This elusive mammal is often described as a kind of mix between a zebra and a giraffe and can only be found deep in the Uturi Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, unless you’re a scientist, don’t dream of seeing one in the wild, since the area is closely guarded in order to preserve its unique species.
Okapis also are extremely elusive. So much so, that Western scientists didn’t know about their existence until the early 1900s.
Venezuelan Poodle Moth — Venezuela
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Animal class: Insect
Lifespan: 8-9 months
Diet: Nectarivore
Where to find it: Gran Sabana region
What makes Venezuelan poodle moths cool: This moth is probably the closest thing we’ll ever have to a real-life Pokemon. In fact, when Western scientists first found out about it in 2009, many people thought it was a hoax.
We certainly understand the skeptics. It’s a bit hard to believe that a large moth covered in fluffy hair has been living in relative obscurity for thousands of years. Yet we can assure you, the poodle moth is very much real.
Gelada — Ethiopia
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 30 years
Diet: Omnivore
Where to find it: Ethiopian Highlands
What makes geladas cool: Sometimes called bleeding-heart monkeys because of the bright red streak in their chest, these monkeys are different from their cousins. They inhabit Ethiopia’s highlands, which have rocky cliffs and large meadows rather than the typical forested habitat monkeys prefer.
Because of this, you’ll be much more likely to find geladas hanging out on the ground rather than up in a tree.
Galapagos Tortoise — Ecuador
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: 80-120 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: Galapagos Islands
What makes Galapagos tortoises cool: The amazing Galapagos strike again with another endemic species that is incredibly unique.
Not only are these tortoises the largest in the world, but they also have very high life expectancies and can live without food or water for up to a year.
Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko — Madagascar
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: 10 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: All over Madagascar
What makes satanic leaf-tailed geckos cool: As weird as this gecko's name is, it actually makes sense, given that resembles a dried leaf, courtesy of its evolutionary ability to camouflage.
It also has creepy-looking eyes that make it seem like it's ready to take you to the underworld.
But the tail is not just for show or camouflage. It can be easily shed and left behind to allow the gecko to distract its predators and make an escape.
Platypus — Australia
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 17 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Eastern Australia
What makes platypuses cool: With the mouth of a duck, the body of a beaver and the feet of a reptile, platypuses look more like a mythical creature than an animal on planet earth. But by now, you should know this applies for many Australian animals.
Platypuses aren’t content to just look unique. They are also one of the few mammals that lay eggs rather than give birth to live young.
Mexican Mole Lizard — Mexico
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Baja California
What makes Mexican mole lizards cool: Nobody would blame you if you confuse this lizard for a worm when you first see it. But look closer and you’ll see it has small five-fingered legs and a distinct face, unlike worms.
The Mexican mole lizard only lives in the Mexican state of Baja California and is fairly elusive to those not looking carefully.
Minute Leaf Chameleon — Madagascar
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Animal class: Reptile
Lifespan: Unknown
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: All over Madagascar
What makes pygmy leaf chameleons cool: Western scientists have been studying the forests of Madagascar for a while now, so how did they not learn about the minute leaf chameleons (or Brookesia minima) until 2012? Probably because the chameleon is small. Tiny, really, at about 19 millimeters long. That’s about the size of a fingernail.
The chameleons are very cute, especially when they change their colors to camouflage. Somehow when they do it, it’s even cuter than when larger chameleons do.
Because they were made known to Western science relatively recently, we don’t yet know what their lifespan is in the wild, though in captivity they tend to live for about 10 years.
Pink Fairy Armadillo — Argentina
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet: Omnivore
Where to find it: Central Argentina
What makes pink fairy armadillos cool: Unlike their plain Jane cousins, these Argentinean armadillos are quite fashionable with their pink shells.
They have a fuzzy white belly to make them look more like they belong in Paris Hilton’s purse rather than in the deserts, dunes and grasslands that they inhabit.
Pink fairy armadillos also are pretty small, measuring about the same as a hamster.
Giant Panda — China
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: Herbivore
Where to find it: Central China
What makes giant pandas cool: These large, fuzzy animals are famous around the world for being so darn cute. Chinese people are certainly proud of this endemic animal that every country in the world is jealous of.
With less than 2,000 pandas in the wild, your best bet to see a panda is, sadly, at a zoo. Whether in captivity or in the wild, pandas spend most of their days lounging around and eating bamboo.
Tasmanian Devil — Australia
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Animal class: Marsupial
Lifespan: 5-6 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Tasmania
What makes Tasmanian devils cool: Made world-famous thanks to the Looney Tunes, this small marsupial certainly does seem to have quite a temper and can be aggressive when threatened.
However, they are usually quick to escape confrontation and are rarely as dangerous as people think they are.
The Tasmanian devil existed only on the island of Tasmania for many years, but the Australian government has begun to try to reintroduce populations of it to the mainland.
Nigerian Monkey — Nigeria
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 20 years
Diet: Frugivore
Where to find it: Southern Nigeria
What makes Nigerian monkeys cool: Perhaps because of the white hair on its ears, this rare monkey seems like it’s going to ask you to sit next to it while it tells you tales of its youth and hard-earned life lessons.
Only about 11 populations of it have been found in Nigeria, so they are very elusive. If you see one in the wild, consider yourself lucky.
Red-Lipped Batfish — Ecuador
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Animal class: Fish
Lifespan: 12 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Galapagos Islands
What makes red-lipped batfish cool: Another gift from Galapagos to the world, this animal looks like the offspring of a fish and a bat ready for either a first date or a lead role in a bizarre vampire movie. We’re not sure which one it is.
The fish can be found at the bottom of the ocean floor, usually looking for its next prey.
Leafy Sea Dragon — Australia
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Animal class: Fish
Lifespan: 7-10 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Southern and western Australian coasts
What makes leafy sea dragons cool: Once again, Australia graces us with an incredible animal that forces us to fact-check before deciding to believe it’s real.
This strange fish literally looks like a leafy sea dragon, with a look that resembles seaweed and a shape that resembles that of its cousins, seahorses.
Paternal responsibility seems to be a family thing, since male leafy sea dragons also carry and take care of the eggs.
Lowland Streaked Tenrec — Madagascar
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Animal class: Mammal
Lifespan: 2.7 years
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Eastern Madagascar rainforests
What makes lowland streaked tenrecs cool: With its orange and black spikes, this tenrec looks like it’s ready to follow a punk band on its worldwide tour.
It is pretty small, fitting in the palm of a human hand, and it distinguishes itself by being the only mammal to make sounds by rubbing parts of its body together.
You have to admit that’s pretty punk.
Indian Purple Frog — India
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Animal class: Amphibian
Lifespan: Unknown
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: Western Ghats Mountains
What makes Indian purple frogs cool: This frog is weird in the most interesting way. What other frog can say that they are nicknamed after donuts?
A natural hermit, this wobbly frog lives underground eating termites and insects for most of its time, only coming up to the surface for a couple of weeks to carry out its species duties and mate.
Australian Peacock Spider — Australia
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Animal class: Arachnids
Lifespan: 1 year
Diet: Carnivore
Where to find it: All over Australia
What makes Australian peacock spiders cool: To finish off, we’ll give you yet another strangely awesome Australian animal. Part of the jumping spider family, this colorful spider is known to jump at other animals, including people.
The males use their beautiful colors to attract mates and pray that they are attractive suitors. If the female spider doesn’t like their colors and mating dance, she might try to kill and eat them.
And we thought human love was tough.
Related:Most Unusual Animals in the World