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World map showing endemic animals on each continent.
09/01/2024 | 1 MINUTE READ

Endemic Animals Around the World

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World map showing endemic animals on each continent.

“Endemic” refers to a species that is uniquely found in one part of the world, and that part only! These types of animals are most commonly found in more isolated parts of the globe, like islands, but they can be found in other places too.

Our map highlights some of these fascinating exclusive creatures. (Teachers – request one for your classroom here.)

Learn more about these amazing animals.

Two pandas eating bamboo in a forest.

Giant Panda 

Where: China

Not only are giant pandas endemic to China, but they are also considered a national treasure there. Though they are endemic to China, 27 zoos in 21 countries have giant pandas as part of worldwide conservation program, including three giant pandas who live at the Smithsonian National Zoo. There are fewer than 1,900 alive in the wild today.

Brown tabby cat sitting in green grass

Scottish Wildcat

Where: Scotland 

Scottie dogs drool and cats rule in Scotland. The Scottish wildcat population advanced when they became isolated by the English Channel over 9,000 years ago. At first glance, they may look like your typical house cat, but wildcats actually have slightly larger brains and different pupil shapes than your average tabby.

Brown tabby cat sitting in green grass
Alligator eye peeking through duckweed

American Alligator

Where: Florida, USA

See you later alligator…well, not really, because alligators are very common in the southern United States. They may be thriving now, but at one point the American alligator was endangered and on the verge of extinction – a rare success story!

Sloth hanging on a tree branch

Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth

Where: Panama

The smallest of the sloths, this slow mover is endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small island off the coast of Panama. In fact, it has been separate from the mainland of Panama for 9,000 years! So how small is small? Their body length is between 19 and 21 inches, and they usually weigh 5.5 – 7.7 pounds. All together now – awww!

Sloth hanging on a tree branch
Blue Poison Dart Frog on a Green Leaf

Poison Dart Frog

Where: Costa Rica and other humid Central and South America habitats

Colorful, but poisonous – really! The toxicity of a poison dart frog actually varies by type (and there are more than 100 types), but some are even so deadly that their poison could kill a person. They are tiny and tough to spot; some are less than an inch long!

Three black bears, two with rare gray-blue fur, stand on a mossy hillside.

Glacier Bear

Where: Alaska, USA

Sometimes called the blue bear, the glacier bear is a type of American black bear with silver-blue or gray fur. Yes, that kind of a confusing description, but that’s because there is little scientific knowledge of why they look the way they do.

Three black bears, two with rare gray-blue fur, stand on a mossy hillside.
A monkey with dark gray fur and a curious expression sits on a branch, its gaze fixed on the viewer.

Sclater’s Monkey

Where: Nigeria

Only 11 small populations of this species of monkey have been confirmed to exist. They live in the low elevation areas of the coast of Nigeria, where they enjoy the swamp-like floodplain forests. Perhaps the most distinct feature? The white tufts of hair on each ear.

A Patagonian Mara sitting on the ground.

Patagonian Mara

Where: Argentina

Kangaroo who? The Patagonian mara may look like a cross between a kangaroo and a rabbit, but this herbivore is actually a large rodent. In fact, they are the fourth-largest rodent in the world, measuring about 18 inches in height.

A Patagonian Mara sitting on the ground.
Tiny Chameleon on Fingertip

Brookesia Micra 

Where: Madagascar

Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny…chameleon! The smallest species of chameleon known as the brookesia micra grow to only be 29 millimeters long. We’re talking about the size of a fingernail! And yes, they really do change color.

A tree kangaroo at the zoo

Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo

Where: Papua New Guinea

This endangered species is so elusive, locals call it the “ghost of the forest.” No fear of heights here! Matschie’s tree kangaroos live in the mountainous cloud forests at elevations of up to 11,000 feet!

A tree kangaroo at the zoo
A young kiwi bird, native to New Zealand, is held gently by a person, showcasing its unique features and vulnerability.

Kiwi

Where: New Zealand

The kiwi – not just a delicious fruit. A unique bird for sure, the kiwi cannot fly and has strong legs but no tail. It has become the national icon of New Zealand, so much so that New Zealanders are often referred to as “kiwis.”

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