Best Extant

The Pandinus imperator, or emperor scorpion, represents the largest terrestrial scorpion species. Native to West African rainforests, it’s notable for its impressive size and distinctive coloration. These scorpions are popular in invertebrate collections and terrariums, primarily serving hobbyists a...

The sword-billed hummingbird is a unique South American hummingbird inhabiting the Andean slopes of eastern Peru and northern Bolivia. It’s notable for possessing an extraordinarily long, curved bill—the longest among all birds—which it uses to access nectar deep within tubular flowers. This special...

The koala is a medium-sized marsupial belonging to the diprotodontia order and native to eastern Australia. Notable for its specialized diet of eucalyptus leaves, it relies on these leaves for sustenance. Koalas are primarily found in forests and woodlands and are particularly relevant to conservati...

The Leiurus hebraeus, or deathstalker scorpion, is a species of Old World scorpion found primarily in Israel and other parts of the Middle East. It’s notable for possessing one of the most potent venom among scorpions, capable of causing severe pain and potentially life-threatening symptoms. This hi...

The quokka is a small marsupial native to Rottnest Island and parts of Western Australia. It belongs to the macropod family, closely related to wallabies. Notably, its perpetually smiling expression has made it an internet sensation. Quokkas are primarily herbivores and are most relevant to research...

The deathstalker (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is a large, predatory scorpion belonging to the Buthidae family. Native to desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East, it’s notable for possessing one of the most potent venomous strikes among scorpions. Its venom causes intense pain, paralysis, and...

Heterometrus swammerdami is a large scorpion native to India and South Asia. It’s notable for its significant size, making it one of the largest extant species within the Scorpionidae family. Adults can reach over 17 centimeters in length and weigh more than 50 grams. This giant scorpion primarily i...

The wire-crested thorntail *Discosura popelairii* is a hummingbird species found in the Andean foothills of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s notable for its distinctive wire-like crest and long, curved tail feathers, features that distinguish it within the Discosura genus. This bird is primarily ob...

The red kangaroo is a large marsupial native to Australia’s arid regions. It's notable for its impressive size – the largest of all kangaroos – and unique adaptations to survive in dry environments including a long tail for balance and specialized kidneys for water conservation. These animals are pr...

Hadogenes troglodytes is a species of scorpion found in southern Africa. It’s distinguished by significant size differences between males and females, making it one of the largest known scorpions. This lithophilic species favors rocky habitats and is primarily studied by arachnologists and herpetolo...

The Juan Fernández firecrown is a small hummingbird species native solely to the island of Juan Fernández off the coast of Chile. It’s notable for being one of only two extant species of Sephanoides hummingbirds and critically endangered due to habitat loss and introduced predators. This bird is pri...

The Crimson Topaz is a sizable hummingbird species found in the neotropics. It’s distinguished by the male's vibrant crimson plumage and impressive size, reaching approximately 23 centimeters including tail streamers. This bird is notable for its striking coloration and remains an extant example of...

The scissor-tailed hummingbird is a small hummingbird species native to Venezuela’s Paria Peninsula. Distinguished by its exceptionally long tail feathers, it represents one of the world's most unique hummingbirds. This extant species faces significant threats due to habitat loss and declining popul...

The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat is a large marsupial native to Queensland, Australia. It’s notable as one of the planet’s most critically endangered mammal species with an estimated population of under 300. This diprotodont relies on dense scrub and sandstone ranges for survival. Zoologists, conserv...

The numbat is a unique myrmecobiid marsupial native to southwestern Australia. It’s notable for being one of only two species of termites-eating mammals in the world. This endangered animal plays a crucial role in maintaining termite populations and is recognized as a symbol of Western Australia, p...

The long-tailed sylph is a hummingbird species native to the Andean highlands of Venezuela, Bolivia, and surrounding areas. It’s recognized by its males possessing exceptionally elongated outer tail feathers, reaching up to twelve centimeters – significantly longer than most other hummingbirds. This...

The Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornatus) is a small hummingbird found throughout the Caribbean islands and parts of South America. It’s notable for its distinctive tufts on its head and vibrant turquoise plumage. Primarily breeding in Trinidad, Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil, it's of interest to birdw...

Androctonus australis is a venomous scorpion belonging to the Buthidae family. Native to North Africa, it’s notable for possessing one of the most potent scorpions stings globally. Its venom causes severe symptoms including paralysis and cardiac failure. This species poses a significant risk to indi...

The horned sungem is a hummingbird species found primarily within Brazil’s cerrado biome. It is notable as the only extant member of the Heliactin genus, distinguished by prominent, horn-like plumes on the male's head. This unique feature makes it a subject of interest for ornithologists and conserv...

The giant hummingbird represents the largest hummingbird species currently living. Native to the Andes mountains of South America, it is distinguished by its significantly larger size compared to other hummingbirds. Recent genetic research has confirmed distinct populations within the species, separ...

The fiery topaz is a hummingbird species native to the Amazon rainforests of South America. It’s distinguished by its exceptionally vibrant orange-red coloration in males, a result of unique pigments within its feathers. This small bird is primarily found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venez...

Parabuthus transvaalicus is a species of spitting scorpion native to Southern Africa specifically Transvaal. It belongs to the Buthidae family and possesses one of the most potent venoms among scorpions. This venomous defense mechanism involves projecting a spray from its tail, posing a significant...

The red-tailed comet is a hummingbird species endemic to the Andes Mountains of Bolivia and Argentina. It’s notable as the last remaining member of its genus, *Sappho*, making it a significant example of extant Andean avian evolution. Primarily found in cloud forests, it's of interest to ornithologi...

The common wombat is a sizable, burrowing marsupial found in eastern Australia. It belongs to the diprotodontia group and is recognized by its distinctive cube-shaped feces, which it uses for scent marking and establishing territory. These animals are primarily herbivores and play an important role...

The ruby-topaz hummingbird, *Chrysolampis mosquitus*, is a small hummingbird species native to open country habitats across the Caribbean and South America. Its distinctive bright red throat patch, or gorget, earned it its name. This extant bird is notable for being one of the few hummingbird speci...

The Resplendent Quetzal is a vibrantly colored bird found in cloud forests of Central America. Its iridescent green plumage and crimson chest make it one of the most spectacular avian species. Historically significant to Mayan cultures for its feathers’ use in religious ceremonies, the quetzal remai...

Rivoli’s hummingbird represents a distinct hummingbird species found in montane cloud forests of western Mexico and Central America. Officially recognized in 2017 as a separate taxon from the Talamanca hummingbird, it exhibits unique plumage characteristics. This bird is primarily studied by ornitho...

The rainbow-bearded thornbill is a small hummingbird species found in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s notable for its vibrant plumage, specifically the iridescent gorget that gives it its distinctive name. This bird belongs to the *Chalcostigma* genus and is currently extant...

The velvet-purple coronet is a monotypic Boissonneaua hummingbird of the Choco Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, described by Bourcier in 1851.