We all think we’ve seen it all when it comes to nature and the creatures that inhabit our world, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth.
There are certain creatures that are rarely seen and would mystify you if you ever saw them. Well this is it! Today we countdown 15 unique animals you won’t believe exist.
MANED WOLF
Often described as a ‘fox on stilts’ the maned wolf is instantly recognisable for the long legs which are believed to be an adaptation allowing them to easily see over tall pampas grasses.
Their coat is an orangey red across most of the body.
Under the muzzle, along the tail and inside the ears the fur is white. The legs have black fur up until the knees.
They have a distinctive mane which is also coloured black. This is raised up when they are threatened to scare off predators.
The average maned wolf has a body measuring 4-4.25ft. The tail adds up to 18in to the body length. At the shoulder they stand 29-36in tall. An average weight for the maned wolf is 44-55lbs.
Another distinctive feature is the large ears which can stand up to 7in tall. The maned wolf is an omnivore.
Up to half of their diet consists of fruit. The rest is supplemented with small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, palm nuts, eggs and grass.
A particular favourite of theirs during the rainy season is lobiera, or wolf apple which a fruit similar to the tomato.
BALD UKAR
The Bald uakari is a South American primate with a rather unusual appearance. Thus, this animal exhibits a bright red, wide and flat face.
Another characteristic feature of this animal is its extremely short tail. The Bald uakaris are believed to have developed this unique color pattern as a result of malaria, which is a common disease in their Amazon rainforest habitat: those with bright red faces are considered to display healthiness, while those with paler faces have definitely contracted malaria and lack the natural immunity to this disease.
Hence, these sick animals are typically left without mates. Bald uakaris are highly social creatures, forming groups of 10 – 30 individuals, although these primates have been observed in larger units of up to 100.
When foraging, these groups divide into smaller sub-groups of 1 – 10 animals.
Bald uakaris sleep during the nighttime high in thin tree branches. They use all four legs, when walking and running both on the ground and in trees. When bounding and jumping, they use only two legs.
Bald uakaris communicate and mark their home ranges through loud shrieking calls, although these animals are generally quiet.
They are not only intelligent, but also very active and playful animals. They spend a lot of time playing various games, particularly young individuals.
