Olm
The olm inhabits the caves of Central and Southeastern Europe and is one of only a few amphibians that is entirely aquatic - eating, sleeping and breeding underwater. Living its entire life in complete darkness, the olm never developed eyes and instead has incredible senses of hearing and smell.en.wikipedia.org
Proboscis monkey
This strange species of monkey, found only on the island of Borneo, are known for their large bellies and noses. These traits earned them the nickname “Dutch monkey” after Indonesians remarked that Dutch colonists who came to the island had similarly large guts. The population of these unique monkeys has dropped 50% in the past 40 years.
Tree Kangaroo
These marsupials inhabit the rainforests of New Guinea and Queensland and as their name suggests, are members of the kangaroo family that live in trees. Hunting and deforestation have seen these amazing creatures reduced to 1% of their former strength.
Hooded Seal
en.wikipedia.org
dougallan.comHooded Seals are only found in small areas of the North Atlantic. The seal is known for its unique nasal cavity located on the top of its head, which inflates and deflates as they swim. The hood also inflates when threatened, attracts mates and communicates health and superior status. These enormous animals can weigh as much as 900lbs and measure 8 foot long.en.wikipedia.org
Coconut Crab
Coconut crabs are the largest example of arthropods in the world, weighing up to 9 pounds. As their name suggests, the animals have been known to climb trees to pick coconuts and then crush them with their powerful claws.
Gharials
en.wikipedia.orgThe global population of gharial crocodiles is thought to number less than 235, most of which are in the Indian subcontinent. These 20 foot long beasts weigh in at 350 pounds and used to dominate all major river systems, where their long, thin jaws proved adept at hunting and eating fish. Overfishing by humans has seen these reptiles reduced to 2% of their former strength.nationalzoo.si.edu
Kakapo
The kakapo is the world’s fattest parrot and because of its weight issues, the only flightless parrot. Native to New Zealand, the European colonisation of the island bought cats and stouts with it. These birds are now critically endangered and only around 128 individuals remain on a few predator-free islands.en.wikipedia.org
Dugong
The dugong is one of only four living species of sea cows found from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa. These giants have long been hunted for their meat and oil, leaving them threatened with extinction.en.wikipedia.org
Axolotl
Also known as the Mexican salamander, these odd little amphibians are found in several central American lakes, including Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City. Since 2010, the strange creatures have been critically endangered and a study in 2013 was unable to locate any wild axolotls.
Slender Loris
huffingtonpost.comThe elusive Horton Plains slender loris has been spotted only four times since 1937 and disappeared completely from 1939 until 2002, raising fears that the primate had gone extinct. Found in Sri Lanka, the large eyes of the animal give it excellent night vision but have also given birth to superstition. Some communities believe the flesh of the animal can cure leprosy, and that body parts can be used to protect from as well as conjure curses.bbc.co.uk
Gooty Spider
The Gooty Spider - or Poecilotheria metallica - is only found in a single small Indian forest around 60 miles squared in size. Collector demand for these beautifully colored arthropods sometimes reaches $500 for an adult has led to their population dropping significantly and they are now critically endangered.en.wikipedia.org
Markhor
photos.zoochat.comThe Makhor looks like something straight out of a fantasy book and it’s easy to see why the goat is the national animal of Pakistan. Their high status and amazing looks have made them a prime target for trophy hunters and now there are only around 2,500 individuals remaining.en.wikipedia.org
Solenodon
eladiofernandez.comSolenodons are one of only a few venomous mammals, indicating that this shew-like creature has an incredibly ancient heritage. The solenodon itself has been around virtually unchanged for more than 76 million years. Confined to the Caribbean, the arrival of European cats and other predators have seen the animal brought to the brink of extinction.bbc.co.uk
Bumblebee Bat
Bumblebee bats occupy limestone caves throughout western Thailand and southern Burma. At 1.1 inch long and 2 grams in mass, the bumblebee is easily the smallest bat and arguably, the smallest mammal in the world. In Thailand, the bat can only be found in a single region with human development reducing their numbers significantly.
Quokka
Quokkas are an extremely friendly marsupial found in a small corner of southwestern Australia. Their friendliness partially explains why they are under threat, as they have been known to approach dingo and foxes.huffingtonpost.com
Florida Panther
The Florida panther (which is actually a type of cougar) inhabits the forests and swamps of Southern Florida and serve as the state’s official animal. These elegant felines start life spotted but they fade over time. It is estimated that only around 160 remain in the wild, due in part to poaching and collisions with cars.
Snub Nosed Monkey
ngm.nationalgeographic.comDavid Attenborough once remarked that these marvelous monkeys look like “elves” and others like “plastic surgery gone too far.” Found in Asia, at heights of up to 13,000 feet, these primates with a short stump of a nose are rarely spotted. These strange monkeys have become critically endangered because of deforestation.
Pallas's Cat
catersnews.comIn the grasslands and steppes of Central Asia live this curious species of small wild cats with thick coats that make them look far bigger than they are. These solitary animals spend most of the day in caves and only emerge in the late afternoon to start hunting. Habitat degradation and hunting have seen these felines become threatened.
Long-Beaked Echidna
The long-beaked echidnas is incredibly important to science because it is one of only two types of mammals that lay eggs, the other being the platypus. These reptilian and mammalian features are an example of evolution in action. Despite their importance, these animals are critically endangered and were thought extinct until small populations were rediscovered in 2007.theguardian.com
Saiga Antelope
naturepl.com
sospecies.orgThe saiga is a critically endangered antelope that inhabits the Eurasian steppe, including Dzungaria and Mongolia. This amazing alien-like creature has a strange nose which is extremely flexible and helps to filter out dust kicked up by the migrating herd.
Ganges River Dolphin
travelsworlds.comThese incredibly rare and completely blind dolphins inhabit the river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Known for their incredibly long snouts, they are one of only four dolphins that can thrive in fresh water, one of which is now believed to be extinct. Unless something is done quickly, the 1,200 Ganges dolphins left look set to follow suit.wwf.panda.org
Bearded Vulture
These beautiful birds inhabit Everest, the Himalayas and other mountainous regions in Europe and Asia. They were nearly eradicated because people used to fear that bearded vultures would attack lambs and children, and now, the WWF estimates only 10,000 are left.
Okapi
Known as the “zebra giraffe,” the Okapi has the legs of a zebra and the long neck of a giraffe. The animal came to fame during the 1800s, when they were found by British explorers. Today, they can only be found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and only 10,000 to 20,000 remain.
25 Animals That Could Go Extinct In Our Lifetime
![25 Animals That Could Go Extinct In Our Lifetime]()
Reviewed by
parcelhubkajang
on
June 07, 2014
Rating:
5
