The Galapagos Tortoise

Meet the world's biggest tortoise and the longest-living animal on earth! The Galapagos tortoise can only be found on the Galapagos Islands, located off South America's northwestern coast, along with the marine iguana and Galapagos sealions. These reptiles can live for a very long time. The oldest Galapagos tortoise ever found was 175 years old! Its scientific name is chelonoidis nigra.

These gigantic tortoises can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh 550 pounds. They live around volcanic rocks and scrub lands, where they eat a wide variety of plants, including the prickly pear cactus. Their shells are shallow in the front, to allow them to stretch their necks high up to reach the cacti. Certain finch species that live on the islands help keep these tortoises clean by eating parasites off of them!

Female Galapagos tortoises lay 2 to 19 eggs two to three times per year. A baby tortoise is born with an egg tooth - a small spike on their nose that falls off after a few months - to break through the egg when it's ready to hatch. It absorbs the remaining yolk sac before feeding.  

There are currently about 15,000 Galapagos tortoises in the wild. It is unclear how these animals reached these remote islands, but it is believed that their ancestors were carried there on ocean currents from the American mainland. They have no natural predators, but are threatened by poachers and habitat destruction. The tortoise is now strictly protected and the Galapagos Islands are now a national park!

Cool Fact: The Galapagos tortoise was named by Spanish explorers in the 16th century - galapagos is the Spanish word for tortoise. 

The Binturong

The binturong can look a little disheveled, probably because it sleeps most of the day. This slow-moving creature has a very unusual smell - buttered popcorn! The binturong's strange body odor helps it mark its territory. Binturongs are also called bearcats - even though they are not related to bears or cats. They are most closely related to fossas and civets. 

Binturongs can be found in the rainforests of India and parts of Asia, where they live in the trees. They are often confused with sloths because of their lazy behavior and shaggy coats. (But sloths actually live in the Amazon rainforest.) Binturongs eat small mammals, birds, fish, earthworms and fruit, especially figs. Binturongs can grow up to 73 inches long and weigh up to 60 pounds. Females are typically heavier than males. Their long, shaggy coats help keep them dry in the rain. Their ankles can turn 180 degrees so their claws can still grip when climbing down a tree head first. Their tails are special too - known as prehensile because they are very strong and help them grip branches.  

Binturongs have no known predators, but are at risk due to habitat destruction, poaching for traditional Asian medicines, and the fur and pet trade. They are also considered to be a delicacy in some areas and are hunted for food. 

Each year, the second Saturday of May is World Binturong Day!

Cool Fact: The binturong's unusual name originates from a native language that died out some time ago, and it's actual meaning is unknown. 

The Rock Hyrax

This cute little creature looks like a rodent but it's actually more closely related to the elephant! Rock hyraxes, also called the cape hyrax, have long, pointed incisors that are comparable to tusks and project over their lower lips. 

These animals can be found in holes in rocky areas across much of Africa, and can live at elevations over 4,000 feet. They live in groups of up to seven related females. The groups huddle together for warmth because they are not able to regulate their body temperatures as well as other mammals. They are good climbers. They like to rest and hide in rock crevices, usually with another hyrax standing watch. Rock hyraxes eat fruit, shrubs and grasses. Their predators include Arabian leopards, Egyptian cobras, rock pythons, African wild dogs and birds of prey. The Verreaux's eagle is a specialist when it comes to hunting hyraxes.

Their hind feet are equipped with a sharp inner claw. Hyraxes also have long hairs along their backs, similar to whiskers, that help them feel in dark spaces. They have rounded ears, black noses and pale fur around their dark eyes. They can grow up to 21 inches long and weigh 4 to 12 pounds. In some areas, rock hyraxes are considered minor pests. 

Cool Fact: Hyraxes have a brown scent gland on their backs used to mark trees and rocks to communicate with other hyraxes!

The Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard may have one of the saddest stories of all wildcats. This cat is critically endangered - there are only an estimated 35 Amur leopards left, and probably even fewer now. This cat is being hunted for its hide, like many other cats including jaguars, other leopards, cheetahs and more. Its habitat is also being threatened by forest fires and construction. 

The Amur leopard can be found in snowy areas along the Amur River in Eastern Russia and Northern China, but they are extremely rare. They have large paws that work like snowshoes to help them walk on the snow. It is very cold here, so they have soft, dense, light-colored fur to keep it warm and help it camouflage in the snow. The camouflage helps them to hunt prey including deer, boars and rabbits. These cats measure 6 to 7 feet long, and males are typically larger than females. Its scientific name is Panthera Pardus Orientalis. 

To help protect this amazing cat, the area where the Amur leopard can be found has been made into a wildlife refuge called Land of the Leopard National Park. The Colchester Zoo in England has a real Amur leopard - cool, huh?   

Cool Fact: The Siberian tiger is sometimes called the Amur tiger because it can be found in the same area. There is also the Amur leopard cat, which is also found in the same area, but is much smaller.