Have you ever wondered about the rarest animals on Earth? It’s a sad reality, but we are losing animal species at an alarming rate. While not all of the animals on this list are necessarily considered “endangered”, they would still be very challenging to photograph in the wild. In fact, some of these animals were even thought to be extinct until an unsuspecting photographer managed to snap a photograph. With that said, these are the 10 rarest animals on Earth.
10. Bamboo Lemur
With jaws designed to crack through bamboo, which makes up most of its diet, there are only about 100 of these lemurs left in the rain forests of Madagascar.
9. Spoon Billed Sandpiper
Living in Northeastern Russia and often found wading through shallow water there are fewer than 1000 of these tiny birds left.
8. Jamaica Rock Iguana
Although it was declared extinct for many years, it was found again in the remote Hellshire Hills of Jamaica in 1970.
7. Geometric Tortoise
Living in Cape Province, South Africa this species is now threatened by habitat destruction and predation.
6. Araripe Manakin
As of now there are only 779 Araripe Manakins in Brazil. Due to an increase in logging and other activities they have suffered habitat loss.
5. Roloway Monkey
In the past it could be found in the rainforests of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana but today it is extinct in Ghana and severely endangered in Côte d’Ivoire.
4. Durrell’s Vontsira
This crazy looking marsh dweller is found in only one place on Earth – near Lake Alaotra in Madagascar.
3. Angonoka
Also known as the plougshare tortoise, this is often considered the rarest tortoise on Earth. Like many other animals on this list it is endemic to Madagascar.
2. Angel Shark
Looking more like a ray than a shark, this creature used to inhabit the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea, but now is a rare sight in these waters due to fishing.
1. Northern Hairy Nose Wombat
There are only 115 of these animals left in the wild and they all live in Epping Forest National Park in Australia.