The Rarest Creatures On Our Planet!

 Our planet is inhabited by millions of different species of animals, plants and fungi. Among them there are many amazing and unusual creatures that amaze with their beauty, adaptation and uniqueness. Some are so rare that they can only be seen in certain places or at certain times of the year. In this article we will tell you about ten of the rarest creatures on our planet that deserve your attention and respect.

1. Amur leopard

The Amur leopard is the northernmost and rarest subspecies of leopard in the world. It lives in the forests of the Far East of Russia and China, where it has to survive in harsh climatic conditions. The Amur leopard differs from other leopards in its thick and long fur, which protects it from the cold. Its coloration is also adapted to the snow cover: its spots are larger and lighter than those of other leopards. The Amur leopard is a solitary and secretive predator that hunts roe deer, wild boar, deer and other animals. He can jump up to 6 meters and a height of 3 meters. The Amur leopard is critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, conflict with humans, and declining prey numbers. It is estimated that there are fewer than 100 individuals of this species left in the wild.

2. Saola

Saola is one of the most mysterious and little-studied animals in the world. It was discovered only in 1992 in the mountain forests of Vietnam and Laos. Saola looks like an antelope, but is actually more closely related to bulls and goats. It has two long and thin horns that can reach 50 cm in length. Its body is covered with brown or black fur with white stripes on the face and neck. The saola is a herbivore that feeds on leaves, grass and shoots. He leads a secretive lifestyle and avoids human contact. Saola is on the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction, poaching and infectious diseases. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there may be fewer than 100 saola left in the wild.

3. Vulture turtle

The snapping turtle is one of the heaviest freshwater turtles on the planet. It lives in the rivers and lakes of Africa, where it has no equal among other turtles. The snapping turtle is famous for its incredibly powerful jaws, which can even chew through bones and shells. Its bite has a force of 158 kgf/cm2, which exceeds the bite of a great white shark. The snapping turtle can reach 80 cm in length and 100 kg in weight. Its shell is dark brown or black with yellow spots. The snapping turtle is an omnivore that feeds on fish, shellfish, crustaceans, snakes, birds, small mammals and vegetation. She can stay underwater for up to 50 minutes, using her cheeks as gills. The snapping turtle is endangered due to habitat loss, water pollution, illegal trade, and killing for its meat and shell.

4. Quokka

The quokka is an adorable and sociable marsupial that lives on several islands off the west coast of Australia. It belongs to the kangaroo family, but has a smaller size and a rounder muzzle. Its fur is grey-brown in color with a white belly and a black tail. His main distinguishing feature is his smile, which gives the impression that he is always happy and content with life. The quokka is a herbivore that feeds on leaves, grass, bark and fruits. He leads an active lifestyle and can jump up to 1.5 meters. The quokka is not afraid of humans and often approaches tourists to get food or pet it. The quokka is endangered due to habitat loss, disease, fires and predators. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 10 thousand quokkas left in the wild.

5. Axolotl

The axolotl is an amazing creature that is a type of amphibian. It lives in lakes and canals in Mexico, where it is endangered due to pollution, trapping and invasive species. The axolotl differs from other amphibians in that it does not undergo metamorphosis and remains in the larval stage throughout its life. It has three pairs of external gills, which look like furry appendages. Its skin can be of different colors: from white to black, from pink to gold. The axolotl is an omnivore that feeds on worms, insects, fish and small rodents. The axolotl has a unique ability of regeneration: it can restore its limbs, tail, heart, brain and even part of the spinal cord. The axolotl can also change its sex depending on environmental conditions.

6. New Zealand bat

The New Zealand bat is one of the smallest and rarest bats in the world. It is found only in the forests of New Zealand, where it is the only native mammal. The New Zealand bat has a body length of only 6 cm and weighs about 10 g. Its fur is brown or black with a silver tint. The New Zealand bat is an insectivorous animal that feeds on moths, beetles, spiders and other invertebrates. She catches her prey in the air or on the ground using her vision and hearing. The New Zealand bat is nocturnal and sleeps in tree holes or under bark. It may hibernate during the cold season to conserve energy. The New Zealand bat is critically endangered due to habitat loss, predator invasion, disease and climate change.

7. Amorphophallus titanica

Amorphophallus titanica is the largest and rarest species of Amorphophallus in the world. It grows in the tropical forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, where it is an important part of the ecosystem. Amorphophallus titanica can reach 20 meters in height and 10 meters in diameter. Its leaves are up to 6 meters long and up to 2 meters wide. Its flowers have a diameter of up to 1.5 meters and weigh up to 10 kg. Amorphophallus titanica is a monoecious plant, meaning it has male and female flowers on the same plant. To pollinate amorphophallus, special insects are needed that are attracted by its smell. Amorphophallus titanica blooms very rarely: once every few years and only for a few days. Its flowers emit a strong and unpleasant odor that is reminiscent of rotten meat. This smell is called “the aroma of death” or “the aroma of a corpse.” Amorphophallus titanica is endangered due to deforestation, fires and illegal collection.

8. Aye-aye

The aye-aye is a strange and wonderful animal that is a species of primate. It lives in the tropical forests of Madagascar, where it is nocturnal and arboreal. The aye-aye has a body length of about 40 cm and a weight of about 2.5 kg. Its coat is dark brown or black with white hairs. His eyes are large and yellow, and his ears are large and floppy. Its tail is long and bushy, and its paws have long and thin toes. Its main feature is its middle finger on its front paw, which it uses to find and obtain food. The aye-aye is an omnivore that feeds on insects, worms, fruits, seeds and fungi. It finds its prey by tapping wood with its middle finger and listening to the sound the wood makes. Then he digs a hole in the bark with his sharp teeth and pulls out the larvae or seeds with his middle finger. The aye-aye is endangered due to loss of habitat, hunting and beliefs. Many locals consider the aye-aye to be an unlucky sign or a harbinger of death and kill it upon meeting it.

9. Coral polyp

A coral polyp is a microscopic creature that forms the basis of coral reefs in the seas and oceans. It belongs to the phylum Coelenterata and has a cylindrical body with a mouth and tentacles at one end. Its skeleton is calcareous and can have different shapes and colors. The coral polyp is a symbiont, meaning it lives in close interaction with other organisms. It contains green algae in its cells, which photosynthesize and provide it with nutrition. It also feeds on plankton and other small particles that it catches with its tentacles. The coral polyp reproduces both sexually and asexually. He can separate parts of his body from himself that grow into new polyps. It can also secrete cells that fuse with cells from other polyps to form larvae. The coral polyp is endangered due to warming waters, pollution, overfishing and reef destruction. According to WWF, about 27% of the world's coral reefs have already been lost, and another 32% are under threat.

Conclusion

In this article, we told you about ten of the rarest creatures on our planet, which amaze with their uniqueness, adaptation and beauty. They represent a valuable and irreplaceable resource for science, ecology and culture. Unfortunately, most of them are endangered due to human actions and climate change. We must do everything we can to preserve these creatures and their habitats, otherwise we may lose them forever. This will be not only an environmental, but also a moral catastrophe for all humanity. Let's take care and respect these amazing creatures that share our common home with us - planet Earth.