Species

A collection of animal species from around the world.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Invertebrates
Fish

*Sources for information and photos (unless they were taken by me) can be found at the bottom of each species profile.

Amphibian, Europe Alexander Julius Jensen Amphibian, Europe Alexander Julius Jensen

Olm

The olm is a blind salamander found only in the caves of the Dinaric Alps. Like the axolotl, it never metamorphoses, and its maximum lifespan has been estimated at ~102 years. Olms would occasionally wash out of caves during floods and were once believed to be baby dragons in Slovenia.

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Amphibian, Mexico Alexander Julius Jensen Amphibian, Mexico Alexander Julius Jensen

Lake Pátzcuaro Salamander

The Lake Pátzcuaro salamander is only found in a single lake in Mexico, with an estimated population of less than 100 in the wild. For 150 years, nuns in a nearby convent have been raising a population in captivity — keeping the species alive, but also making them into "cough medicine".

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Amphibian, Japan Alexander Julius Jensen Amphibian, Japan Alexander Julius Jensen

Anderson's Crocodile Newt

The ribs of Anderson's crocodile newt are untethered to any muscular attachments at their ends and jut into the skin along its back, giving it an armoured appearance. When threatened, it adopts an anti-predator posture — using its sharp rib tips to pierce the rows of bumps on its sides.

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Amphibian, United States Alexander Julius Jensen Amphibian, United States Alexander Julius Jensen

Red Salamander

During mating season, male red salamanders are not aggressive towards each other. In fact, they actually court one another — this likely isn't a case of mistaken sex, but an attempt to trick rival males into wasting their sperm packets (spermatophores).

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