Top 10 Evolutionary Unique Animals in the World

Top 10 Evolutionary Unique Animals

Have you heard about EDGE species ? EDGE refers to Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species. This is a great remark of unique evolutionary history. Animals, birds and other coming under this category have few close relatives, are often the only surviving member of their genus. The animal may be the last surviving genus of their evolutionary family. Here you can read about Top 10 Evolutionary Unique Animals in the World. 

Long-eared jerboa

1. Long-eared jerboa

Long-eared jerboa is one of the Evolutionary Unique Animals, which is scientifically called Euchoreutes naso.This is a nocturnal mouse-like rodent with a long tail and long hind legs for jumping. The animal gets exceptionally large ears. Long-eared jerboa is the only member of both its genus, Euchoreutes, and subfamily, Euchoreutinae.These are most commonly found in  Palearctic ecozone includes  southernmost Mongolia to the Takla-Makan Desert, Mengxin, Aerijin Mountain, and Qing-Zang Plateau regions. This is identified as one of the top-10 “focal species”.

Hispaniolan solenodon

2. Hispaniolan solenodon

Hispaniolan solenodon is an Evolutionary Unique Animals and scientifically called Solenodon paradoxus. The animal also called Dominican solenodon,Haitian solenodon or agouta. This is only found in Hispaniola Island and thus the name came. On external they appear much like an oversized shrew. Hispaniolan solenodon features brownish-red fur on most of its body. They have long rostrum and tiny eyes. They have a  special bone on the tip of the rostrum called proboscis which supports the snout cartilage. Both sexes of Hispaniolan solenodon looks similar and Males gets unexposed penis and testes. 

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

3. Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus is one of the Evolutionary Unique Animals and this is the scientific name of golden-rumped elephant shrew. This is the largest species in the African elephant shrew family. Rhynchocyon chrysopygus only found in coastal Arabuko Sokoke National Parknorth of Mombasa which is located at Kenya. On its hindquarters, you can see conspicuous golden fur. Rhynchocyon chrysopygus lives on the forest floor. They eat grasshoppers, beetles, spiders and other small invertebrates.


4. Bumblebee bat

Bumblebee bat is well known as Kitti’s hog-nosed bat and this is one of the Evolutionary Unique Animals. Scientific name for this is, Craseonycteris thonglongyai. Bumblebee bat is the vulnerable species of bat. This is the only extant member of the family Craseonycteridae lives in limestone caves. It is found in western Thailand and southeast Burma. They are the  world’s smallest mammal. On external you can see a reddish-brown or grey coat. Its pig-like snout is the most important part. They have no visible tail and features large web of skin between the hind legs. 

Hirola antelope

5. Hirola antelope

Hirola antelope is best known as Hunter’s hartebeest or “Hunter’s antelope”. This is a Critically Endangered antelope species. They usually live in the border between Kenya and Somalia.Only 300–500 Hirola antelope lives worldwide. They have tan to rufous-tawny in colour and features very sharp, lyrate horns. Hirola antelope gets large, dark sub-orbital glands and these are usually used for marking their territories and thus calls them “four-eyed antelope”.

 Slender loris

6. Slender loris

Slender loris or Loris which is scientifically are native to India and Sri Lanka. They live most of their hours in tree. They used to travel along the top of branches and keeps slow and precise movements. On average  Slender loris or Loris gets lifespan of 15 years and are nocturnal in type. They eat insects, reptiles, shoots of plants and fruits. 2 species of Slender loris are found and they are Red slender loris and Gray slender loris. Local people believe that they have some medicinal or magical powers and cause its destruction. 

Yangtze River dolphin

7. Yangtze River dolphin

Yangtze River dolphin which is most commonly called Baiji and scientifically known as Lipotes vexillifer. This is a freshwater dolphin which is only found in the Yangtze River in China.  Yangtze River dolphin have the nick name “Goddess of the Yangtze”. Due to industrialization number of baiji population declined drastically in china. This is the first known aquatic mammal species to become extinct. Mature male Yangtze River dolphin were about 2.3 metres. They can even reach 60 km/h (37 mph) on swimming. 

Bactrian camel

8. Bactrian camel

Bactrian camel is scientifically called Camelus bactrianus and this is a large  even-toed ungulate native to Central Asia. What is special about this camel is, it has two humps on its back rather than the ordinary camel with a single hump. They have high tolerance for cold, drought, and high altitudes. Wild Bactrian camel found in Mongolia and China. They used to migrate from the desert to rivers in Siberia during winter season. Wild Bactrian camels are able to drink saltwater slush and Domesticated camels are unable to drink that. 

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna

9. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna is well known as Sir David’s long-beaked echidna. They lives in the Cyclops Mountains. Males are larger than females and males can be easily identified by the spurs on its hind legs. This is not a social animal and they join for only mating. Female will lay the eggs after 8 days of mating. Echidna babies will stay in the mother’s pouch for eight weeks or until their spines develop. Echidna can roll up into a spiny ball when they feels threatened.

pygmy hippo

10. Pygmy hippopotamus

Pygmy hippopotamus is one of the Evolutionary Unique Animals in the world. This is a  is a small hippopotamid. They found in the forests and swamps of West Africa. Pygmy hippopotamus is reclusive and nocturnal animal. They features many terrestrial adaptations. The  common hippopotamus is its larger cousin. This is semi-aquatic and be in water in order to  to keep its skin moisturized and its body temperature cool. Mating and giving birth may happen in water or on land.

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One thought on “Top 10 Evolutionary Unique Animals in the World

  1. rikhitha
    July 6, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    great animals. these are really unique animals in the world.

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