1. North American Cacomistle

Refreshingly this species is not endangered. The North American Cacomistleis common in southern USA but is otherwise unknown. Alias’s of the North American Cacomistle include ‘ring-tailed cat’ and ‘cat squirrel’, neither of which give an accurate description of this evasive mammal. The North American Cacomistle is more like a Raccoon than at cat and has similar habits, sometimes causing trouble that the Raccoon gets the blame for. The name North American Cacomistle comes from the Nahuatl language literally meaning ‘ half mountain lion‘ which again is pretty far off target.

That rounds up out list of the most elusive mammals in the world! hopefully you’ve discovered some wonderful creatures that you never thought existed so if you live close to any of these animals why not keep an eye out for them? just don’t bother the Hairy Saki!

2. Moon rat

This funny looking creature is the Moon rat or otherwise known as the hairy hedgehog. The Moon rat makes its home in south east Asia and avoided by many due to the potent foul smell produced from its musk glands that rival the better known skunk. Sporting a white face the moon rat is big for its family and usually has a dark brown cost everywhere bar its face. The most distinct characteristic this weird mammal possesses is its nose which is bald and oddly shaped like a toned down version of the Star moles nose.

3. Fossa

The Fossa is an extremely rare mammal that is found only on the island of Madagascar. The Fossa does look a lot like a cat but is actually much more like a Mongoose and sporting a lushous brown coat the Fossa is the largest member of the Civet family and the largest mammal on Madagascar. Currently the Fossa is listed as endangered as it is believed there is only around 3000 left in Madagascar.

4. European souslik

OK so you might be wondering why the over elaborate name for a squirrel? Well the the simplest answer is because it sounds better! Yes it is just a squirrel but more specifically the European souslik is the common ground squirrel of Europe and Asia so its likely that not everyone will be familiar with this particular species. Although physically very similar to other species of squirrel the European souslik is worth a mention due to its unique diet that most people probably don’t know about because the European souslik actually can eat quite an amount of meat unlike other rodents. Common meals for the European souslik include mice, voles and even small birds.

5. Lesser Grison

The Lesser Grison are native to South America and are very similar to stoats. These natural hunters were once domesticated in Peru and used to hunt Echidnas. If you have never been to South America then you will have probably never have seen one of these unique mammals before, they are around 30 cm in length and although they are closer relatives to stoats they resemble Otters more physically with coloration not different to that of badgers.

6. Douroucouli

The Douroucouli otherwise known as owl monkeys or night monkeys are the only true nocturnal species on monkey in the world. Its common to think of other species of monkeys to be nocturnal but usually its the twilight periods where most species are active whereas these night ninjas truly make the night their own. Although these monkeys are nocturnal they certainly aren’t going to keep themselves hidden for long as they are extremely musical boasting over eight distinct calls. The Douroucouli can be found in south America and sometimes in the central regions and you will definitely hear them before you see them!

7. Aardwolf

The Aardwolf or ‘earth wolf’ is a mammal that makes its home in Africa and although the Aardwolf resembles a Hyena this unique mammal’s diet actually consists entirely of insects. The name ‘earth wolf’ was given to the Aardwolf as it spends at lot of time in its underground burrow and as such is rarely seen. Even though the Aardwolf is nocturnal it doesn’t have to compete too much for food due to its unique diet, however it does mean that the Aardwolf has to consume a massive amount of insects such as termites and ants to get its fill.

8. Pink Fairy Armadillo

The Pink Fairy Armadillo is a species of armadillo that lives exclusively in Argentina and is very small (roughly about 120mm long). Even in its home country of Argentina the Pink Fairy Armadillo is a rare sight which is probably down to its size and the fact that it is an absolute expert when it comes to digging itself out of an not so desirable situation. The Pink Fairy Armadillo will usually get out of sight before you’ve even noticed its there by burrowing and hiding underground which makes coming accross this little mammal by accident almost impossible.

9. Argali

Oh, you’ve seen an Argali before have you? Actually unless you’ve spent time in Mongolia, Siberia or Tibet I very much doubt it. Even then these large wild sheep are very rare. The Argali may not seem particularly different from any other sheep however Argali are critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. The Argali travel the plains of central Asia in same sex herds of up to 100 and are a rare sight indeed.

10 Mammals You Never Knew Existed

If you are an avid follower of It’s Nature then you might recognize some of these elusive mammals, however to the everyday public these animals are relatively unknown and are some of the most unique mammals in the natural world. It’s not uncommon to find a new species or sub species of animal, but mammals are one type of animal that don’t crop up very often when it comes to new species. Check out these weird and wonderful creatures below.

10. Hairy Saki

The Hairy Saki also known as the Monk Saki because of its unique pattern of fur is unique to the Amazon and is seldom seen by anyone. These colorful monkeys spend nearly all of their lives up in the trees away from danger and that is actually a good thing because if you came face to face with one you may scare it to death, literally. These fearful monkeys are not seen in captivity because even the slightest bit of panic sends these monkeys into shock which is nearly always fatal.

The Lonomia Caterpillar

Caterpillars are pretty things aren’t they? But not all are friendly or touchable. The next time you’re tempted to lift up one of these hairy little things and show him to your kids, consider the caterpillar of the Lonomia moth.

These lie in wait, showing up minimally against the trunk of a tree and are responsible for several deaths each year. Lay your hand on one or two and you will be dosed with one of the most potent anticoagulants around. In fact so potent that medicine is researching it as you read.

The effect of this sting is named ‘Lonomiasis’ which will make your bloodcells break down and unable to clot. Death can come from internal haemorrhage, kidney failure or simply hemolyzed blood. Not exactly a pleasant way to go. The next time you consider picking up that cute little hairy thing… think again!

Some of the most powerful and deadly predators aren’t always those which make noise or a slither to alert you to the fact that you are in close proximity. Some of the most deadly and most horrific ways to die come with no warning at all.

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/4-silent-killers-of-the-natural-world

The StoneFish

There are worse things it seems in the depths of the beautiful blue ocean than the Great White Sharks or the Tiger Sharks that frighten sunbathers and swimmers with their circling fins in all the best movies. This one is barely worth a second look. He’s not at all spooky and has no large teeth or even a big fin to warn you of his presence, but all the same, he’s probably more deadly.

The Stonefish is a hider who lies on the bottom of the sea waiting for the next victim to come along. One wrong step, one single tread is all it takes to leave you wishing you were home again and not in the sunny seas.

That single step that carries you over the back of these deadly killers is going to have you in nearly immediate agonizing pain while you wait for the end. The back of the stonefish is loaded with spines, each of which offers enough venom to kill you in minimal time, but is death really the worst of it? Some say no. There are reports of those who beg to have their hand or foot removed because the pain is more than they can bear. Even though the venom will kill you in a matter of hours, some say that is far too long to live with the pain of the sting that you’ve just received.

The next silent killer is so completely nondescript that you’re probably not going to notice him at all. Beautiful butterflies come from the fuzzy little caterpillars that we all played with as children, but some of them aren’t quite as friendly as they might seem…

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/4-silent-killers-of-the-natural-world

The Cone Snail

Beautifully colored and a real temptation for the traveller to the beach, getting your hands on one of these lovelies can see you dead in less than five minutes.

The happy beachcomber sees the shells lying on the sand and doesn’t it look just the perfect gift to take home? The shells are bright and beautiful, perfect for keepsakes of that trip to the seashore.

The little animal inside however has another idea; suddenly with no warning, no hiss or growl, you feel a single sharp jab and the small barb that lives inside the cone snail injects you with a neurotoxin that has proven to be the most poisonous substance that exists in the world today.

The burning pain spreads slowly as this potent toxin takes over your system. These tiny predators can even shoot their venom though a glove, a wetsuit, or protective coverings you may be wearing.

The venom works quickly, paralyzing you completely. The pain passes, and a blessed numbness enters, as you begin to breath slower and your heart begins to fail, both will cease entirely in a matter of minutes.

There is in fact an antivenin available for the cone snail but death often takes place in under five minutes. Unless you’re carrying that in your jacket pocket or holding it in your hand, chances are excellent that you’re not going to get it in time. These little guys are used to develop weapons by the CIA and not without good reason. It seems a fast and efficient method of eliminating your enemies.

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/4-silent-killers-of-the-natural-world

The Poison Dart Frog

That gorgeous little guy that you see featured on so many animal sites, cute and unassuming looking, can truly give you a real shock. Doesn’t he just remind you of a gorgeous little gem?

Lift him for a closer look and in moments you can be dead. A second of curiosity can kill. He has no bite, he doesn’t sting you, and he has no fangs to deliver a devastating poison into your system but all the same, you’re going to be sorry you picked him up. Nothing but that shiny substance that coats his jewel-toned body to deliver the toxins that will leave you gasping for breath and wishing you’d ever seen him.

Native tribesmen use that lovely shiny substance to coat their darts. With a single dart, animals fall prey to their deadly touch and become lunch. While the poison dart frog doesn’t want to eat you, it makes very little difference. You’re going to be part of the forest floor in no time once you handle this beautiful beast.

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/4-silent-killers-of-the-natural-world

4 Silent Killers of the Natural World

Some of the most deadly creatures out there aren’t the largest, the most threatening looking or even have the biggest teeth. Some of the most deadly parts of the world of nature are those things that you might look at and think…”oh sure, THAT’S going to hurt me?”

You can avoid the tigers of the world, not visit the places where the cobra lies in wait, or even avoid the ocean so that the Great Whites can’t come near, but what if we told you about a few nondescript creatures that don’t seem at all threatening, but will end your life in as little as a hour?

These most deadly of beings can end your life in devastating rapidity, with barely any warning at all.

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/4-silent-killers-of-the-natural-world

The Yellow River Flood 1931

China, 1931. Death toll: 1 – 4 million.

The flood of 1931 is without a doubt the worst flood to have occurred in recent year and is often thought to be the worlds worst natural disastrous. The flood swept the flatland’s taking with it up to 4 million lives and destroying farmland, houses -literally everything in its way. The flood itself was not directly responsible for the estimated number o death as famine, disease and droughts caused by the flooding contributed to the total.

Hopefully we won’t have any natural disasters making it onto this list ever again, however disasters will strike and the best we can do is be prepared! The Yellow river is without a doubt one of the most deadly rivers in the word and a sour reminder of the power of nature.

The Yellow River Flood 1887

China, 1887. Death toll: 900, 000 – 2, 000, 000.

The Yellow River has been mentioned previously for its devastating floods and it will certainly be mentioned again. This particular flood claimed 500, 000 lives outright and it is estimated that another 2 million people were left homeless with most succumbing to the elements and starvation due to the overwhelming destruction. The flood covered 50, 000 square miles and destroyed a missive amount of crops and residences. Although dikes were in place to protect from inevitable flooding from the yellow river, exceptional rainfall at the time proved too much to contain.

Bhola Cyclone

Bangladesh, 1970. Death toll: 500, 000 – 1, 000, 000.

The Bhola Cyclone is the name given to a cyclone that decimated Bangladesh in 1970 taking with it 500, 000 lives, thus making it the most deadly cyclone ever recorded. The loss of human lives didn’t stop after this however and its believed that the number may have as much as doubled in the months following the cyclone due to disease and starvation. Officials were criticized by the Pakistani government and media around the world for their poor aid efforts.

The Shaanxi Earthquake

China, 1556. Death toll: 830, 000.

The morning of January 23rd, 1556. Around 860, 000 lives were taken in the most devastating earthquake of all time which affected 97 countries and completely annihilated a 520 mile wide area. Looking back, the Shaanxi Earthquake is believed to have had a magnitude of around 8 however the massive loss of life is thought to have occurred because most of the local residences were built into artificial cave systems – almost all of which collapsed.

The India Cyclone

India, 1839, Death toll: 300, 000.
Although not the actual cyclone, the picture above shows the power of a cyclone when unleashed in the natural world. The India Cyclone occurred out a sea and although cyclones themselves are immensely dangerous, it was the tidal wave caused by this particular cyclone that as responsible for taking over 300, 000 lives. The tidal wave completely destroyed the harbor city of Coringa taking with it around 20, 000 ships.

The Kaifeng Flood

China, 1642. Death toll: 300, 000.

Although technically a natural disaster the Kaifeng Flood was actually a military effort. Kaifeng which is located in the Henan province was flooded by the Ming army with water from the Yellow River. This was done to prevent the rebel Li Zicheng taking over Kaifeng and halved the population from 600, 000 to around 300, 000 through the initial flooding and post flood famine.

The Tangshan Earthquake

China, 1976. Death toll: 242, 000.

The Tangshan Earthquake was absolutely devastating mostly because it hit so close to Tangshan which was a large city with a population over 1 million. The magnitude of the earthquake as recorded at 7.8 and in terms of the loss of human lives the Tangshan Earthquake is one of the worst with 242, 000 lives taken. Chinese officials were scrutinized at the time for not preparing for the possibility of an earthquake.

The Banqiao Dam Failure

China, 1975. Death toll: 231, 000.

Banqiao Dam was built to handle a flood said to occur “1 in 1000″ years however unluckily China was bombarded by a “1 in 2000″ year floor which drenched China with more than a whole years rainfall in just 24hrs. As a consequence of the terrible rainfall a total of 64 dams failed and the Banqiao Dam was one of the dams to fail. Where the Banqiao Dam failed a giant wave swept the land covering 6 miles and peaking at heights around 23 feet! This titanic wave traveled at around 30mph and decimated the surrounding area taking 231, 000 lives.

The Indian Ocean Earthquake

Indian Ocean, 2004. Death toll: 230, 000.

The Indian Ocean Earthquake is the second largest earthquake ever recorded measuring at a magnitude of 9.3. This devastating underwater earthquake is believed to have cause the entire planet to vibrate over half an inch! Although the earthquake was very powerful, it was the tsunamis caused by this earthquake that devastated coastal regions and claimed 230, 000 lives.

10 Worst Natural Disasters

Nature is a beautiful thing, just choose any article on this site and you’ll find countless reasons to back it up. Nature however can be very deadly. With this list we explore the darker side of nature and the tragedy nature has inflicted upon humanity in recent years.

The Aleppo Earthquake
Syria, 1138. Death toll: 230, 000.

The Aleppo Earthquake claimed around 230, 000 lives and the citadel pictured above which was built by crusaders partially collapsed killing around 600 guards. Harim was worst hit during the earthquake in which the castle as almost completely destroyed. The fort of Atharib was also completely destroyed during the earthquake.

Guaira Falls

The Guaíra Falls was once located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay and was the largest waterfall in the world, dwarfing waterfalls like the acclaimed Niagara Falls. Unfortunately this spectacle of nature is no more due to flooding caused by the creation of dams in the area.

Keep your eyes peeled for more articles on the most amazing places on earth in the weeks to come! There are just far to many amazing spectacles of nature on this beautiful planet to condense down to 10!

The Rotorua

Rotorua is a very interesting city found in northern New Zealand. What makes Rotorua so special is all the geothermal activity that takes places there providing locals and tourists with many fantastic features such as hot springs and boiling mud piles like the spectacular ones found in the picture above. If you do decide to visit Rotorua in your lifetime just be aware that the whole area smells like rotten eggs due to the high sulfur content!

The Socotra

Socotra is a world heritage sight that is located within the Republic of Yemen and is widely considered the most bio-diverse place in the Arabian Sea. This alien land boats some of the most unusual looking plant life found in the world, most of which is unique to Socotra due to its harsh climate. As well as plant life Socotra is home to a host of creatures ranging from spiders to birds and even spectacular coral reefs that are entirely unique to Socotra.

Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima is a massive tabletop mountain that is found in Venezuela/Brazil/ Guyana. The side facing Brazil and the side facing Guyana are both vertical cliffs that reach 400 meters in height, whereas the side facing Venezuela is a steep incline and although steep it is accessible. This unique mountain boats a variety of plant life, much of it unique and also creates some of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

The Door to Hell

The Door to Hell is the only item on this list that has direct human involvement, however the creation of the Door to Hell certainly wasn’t the intended outcome. The Door to Hell is located in Turkmenistan, close to the town of Darvaza. The name ‘Door to Hell’ comes from the fact that this hole has been burning for over 35 years without stopping! The Door to Hell was initially discovered while drilling for gas deposits but the cavern caved in, took a lot of expensive equipment with it and filled with poisonous gas so it was decided the best course of action would be to burn the gas out – it has still yet to burn out.

Iceberg B – 15

Iceberg B-15 was first created back in 2000 when part of the Ross Ice Shelf detached, although today the iceberg has broken up into many smaller pieces of which some are still around today. When Iceberg B-15 first broke from the Ross Ice Shelf is was the largest iceberg ever recorded with measuring in at 3, 100 km squared making Iceberg B-15 even larger than Jamaica in its day.

The 83 – 42

83-42 does have a strange name and certainly doesn’t seem extraordinary at first glance, however this small piece of land which is only 35 x 15 meters is the northernmost piece of permanent land on the earth which measures at around 400 miles from the North Pole. 83-42 was discovered in 1998 and was confirmed to be a permanent land formation after the discovery of lichen on the island. Only 5 people have ever stepped foot on 83-42.

The Great Dune of Pyla

When you think of sand dunes you mostly think of deserts, right? Well there are no deserts in Europe however the Great Dune of Pyla is indeed Europe’s largest sand dune. Located in France, the Great Dune of Pyla is a massive tourist attraction and a favorite spot of para gliders. The dune comes in from the coast with the steep side facing a forest, such a strange sight! Running along 3km of coastline the dune peaks of a height of around 100 meters and covers 500 meters from coast to forest, truly spectacular!

Don Juan Pond

Located in Antarctica, the Don Juan Pond is a seriously salty body of water. To put things in perspective, compared with the dead sea which is 8 times saltier than sea water, the Don Juan Pond is a staggering 18 times saltier than sea water! Although not very deep, the Don Juan Pond never freezes thanks to its high salt content even when temperatures drop as low as -30 degrees. This intriguing body of water was first discovered in 1961.

10 Amazing Places On Earth

Over the years nature has done a fine job of creating wonderful and exciting spectacles all over the planet for the likely adventurer to discover and explore. This is a list of ten of our favorite places on earth that are a truly amazing sight to see (so what if one got a helping hand from humans!)

US Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater is located in the northern region of the Arizona desert, United States. Approximately 45 miles easy of Flagstaff this massive crater is the handy work of a 50 meter wide meteorite that broke the atmosphere and smashed into our planet sometime around 50, 000 years ago. Although now a desert, this area was once grassy plains dotted with woodlands that ancient beasts like the wholly mammoth and ground sloths would have inhabited.

Mayflies – Maximum Lifespan: 24 HOURS!

Here we have it. The number one creature with the shortest life is the Mayfly, who is lucky to achieve a lifespan of just 24hrs, that’s 1 day folks in case it hasn’t sunk in. If you take it right down to the basics then you will have to agree that every creature on the planet lives to help ensure the survival of its species by reproducing. The Mayfly is no different, however that literally is all it does with its life. The Mayfly’s life can be as short as 30 minutes depending on the species and after hatching they mate, lay eggs and die.

Although the Drone Ant has a very short lifespan of around 2 weeks its life couldn’t be any different to that of the previous entry, the worker bee. T

You thought 2 weeks was bad? try 3 days! The Gastrotrichs may not look like much but they are indeed a living creature. Now you would expect that a creature that really doesnt exert itself in any way would probably live a long life.. but that isn’t the case. The Gastrotrich’s life is made up of floating on water currents and occasionally eating, 3 days of this and it probably dies from boredom.

Drone Ants – Average Lifespan: 2 Weeks

Although the Drone Ant has a very short lifespan of around 2 weeks its life couldn’t be any different to that of the previous entry, the worker bee. There is no life of endless work for this creature, the job of the Drone Ant literally entails eating and breeding. Now this may seem like heaven for some people but is the cost for this easy life really worth it? 2 weeks? probably not.

Bees – Average Lifespan: 4/5 Weeks

Now where getting down to the really small lifespans, 4 or 5 weeks.. is there much point? Maybe 4 or 5 weeks is not a lot to humans however to a Bee it literally is a lifetime. The most common of all bee species that you are likely to see are worker bees who actually spend the vast, vast majority or their 5 week life working to improve the hive. Now if you had to spend all of your life working on the hive I’m sure you would be pretty protective of your life’s work and the bee is no different. The downside to this of course is that if the bee does try to protect the hive by stinging a dangerous animal or predator then the bee will die as when its stinger detaches the gaping wound where the stinger was is always fatal to the bee. How is that fair?

Dragonflies – Average Lifespan: 4 Months

The strange thing about Dragonflies is that they can take forever to emerge from the pupal stage, which essentially signs their death warrant. Dragonfies can be dazzling in beauty and as such are popular inspirations for art and tattoos however this doesn’t do anything to help with their small lifespan of around 4 months, especially after they could have spent anywhere up to 5 years waiting to emerge from the pupal stage.

Labord’s Chameleon – Average Lifespan: 1 Year

Labord’s chameleon is a fairly recent discovery and is a type of chameleon that can only be found on the island of Madagascar. These unique chameleons only have a life cycle of 1 year which makes it one of the shorter living ‘larger’ creatures on this list. Every year the Young are born in November and become sexually mature by the end of January – February, mating occurs and before the young are born again in November the entire adult population of these unique chameleons dies off.

Mosquito Fish – Average Lifespan: 2 Years

The palm sized Mosquito Fish is a master of endurance and can be found in the Gulf of Mexico where they are known as Gambusia. These hardy little fish only have a short lifespan but unlike most species of fish they give birth to live young, which in turn boosts the Mosquito Fish’s chances of survival as a species. On top of birthing live young the Mosquito Fish can also give birth multiple times per mating season and each time have to between 50 & 100 young, they can also survive in worse conditions than other fish which adds to their continued survival as a species.

Mice – Average Lifespan: 3 Years

Mice have a very short lifespan which isn’t helped by the fact that they are classed as pests and are constantly exterminated by humans. With a maximum lifespan of around 3 years the common house mice breed with great efficiency with femles being able to breed once or twice a month, bearing anywhere between 4 – 10 young in each birth.

Hamsters – Average Lifespan: 4 Years

The Hamsters again are very common pets with kids the world around even though they too, like the Rabbit, have an extremely short lifespan. Averaging anywhere between 2 – 4 years the Hamsters make up for this short lifespan in the same way as Rabbits, excessive breeding. Hamsters can reach sexual maturity as young as 1 month old and can give birth multiple times a year, each time possibly bearing multiple young.

Top 10 Short-lived Creatures

Having already covered the creatures with the longest lifespan we thought it would only be right to do a feature on the creatures with the shortest lifespan. Here we have the Top 10 creatures with the shortest lifespan, counting down from 5 years we kick off this list with a common pet that everyone recognizes, the Rabbit.

Rabbits – Average Lifespan: 5 Years

The Rabbit, much loved and a common pet for kids around the world. So, why exactly is an animal that lives usually for a maximum of 5 years such a great pet? If you decide to buy a pet rabbit for your kid then you need to consider that in at the most – 5 years time your going to have to explain to your kid that ‘fluffles’ has snuffed it, not exactly ideal but who knows. Anyway, the common rabbit may only have a short lifespan but the species ensure their survival by breeding excessively, this keeps the population count up and steadily increasing.

Read more: http://www.itsnature.org/what-on-earth/top-10-short-lived-creatures/#ixzz0nJO17Ant

Great White Shark

The great white shark, also known as white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in ALL major oceans. It becomes sexually mature at around 15 years of age and has a lifespan of 30 to over 100 years. It's arguably the world's largest known predatory fish and is the only surviving species of its genus, Carcharodon.

The Piglet Squid

The Piglet Squid, Helicocranchia pfefferi, is about the size of an orange, it was named because of its tuft of bristle-like arms and tentacles and rotund shape, is normally found more than 320 feet (100m) below the surface of the ocean.

The Frilled Shark

The frilled shark is one of the two extant species of shark in the family Chlamydoselachidae. This uncommon species is found over the outer continental shelf and upper continental slope, generally near the bottom though there is evidence of substantial upward movements.

The Sperm Whale

The sperm whale is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal.

The Lamprey

A lamprey is a parasitic marine/aquatic animal with a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. Translated directly, their name means stone lickers.

The Fangtooth

Fangtooths are deep-sea, ferocious-looking beryciform fish of the family Anoplogastridae. Found in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.