The black-and-white-ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a mammal version of the bumblebee. In fact, it’s considered to be the largest pollinator in the world, and collects pollen on its fur when it drinks nectar from flowers. It’s found in Madagascar, where heavy hunting and deforestation has led to an 80 per cent decline of the species in the last 27 years.

It’s on the EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) list.

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The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is thought to be the common ancestor of all domestic two-humped camels. Only 1000 of the animals survive in the wild today, and live in China and Mongolia. One of the threats to this species is interbreeding with domestic Bactrian camels that have been introduced to their habitats.

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The Rondo dwarf galago (Galagoides rondoensis) is tiny, weighing just 60 g. It’s the smallest of all the galagos (bush babies). It’s also the rarest – there are no population estimates. The species are thought to live in seven isolated forest patches in Tanzania, where the habitat itself is at risk due to agricultural encroachment, logging, and charcoal manufacture.

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The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is covered in fused hair, which forms the scales on its body. The hair makes up one quarter of the animals weight.

Unfortunately the species is widely hunted. Its scales are used in Chinese medicine, and the meat of the pangolin is thought to be a delicacy. It’s on the EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) list.

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The pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) was recognised as a species in 2001. At around half a metre long, it’s the smallest of the sloth species. It’s also the rarest. There are estimated to be fewer than 5000 left, all confined to a single tiny island off the coast of Panama.

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The Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) is the largest of the four living species of tapir. It can grow up to 2.5 metres long, and its distinct black and white colouring is thought to break up the animal’s outline in the darkness of the forest. There are around 2,000 Asian tapirs left, the bulk of which can be found in Malaysia.

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While the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) may look harmless, it’s one of the few species of mammals that can produce toxic saliva. Until European colonisation, it was one of the most dominant predators on Hispaniola – an island in the Caribbean – which is why it’s inept at defending itself against introduced predators, like cats. These are the biggest threat to its existence.

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The pygmy hippopotamuses (pygmy hippopotamuses) look like smaller versions of hippopotamuses, but their features are also different. Pygmy hippos have smaller, rounder heads, and their eyes are set on the sides of their heads rather than the front. The species live in West Africa and have suffered due to loss of habitat. In 1993, population estimates of the species were 2000 to 3000.

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The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) , also referred to as the “Asian unicorn” was only discovered in 1992. The discovery was bittersweet, as so few of the species are left. Only a few tens of them remain in the mountainous region that straddles Laos and Vietnam, making it one of the world’s rarest and most endangered species.

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The mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus) is the only marsupial to hibernate under the snow during winter, and is found only in the high alpine boulder fields of NSW and Victoria. This tiny creature, which weighs just 45 g, can live up to 12 years, making it the longest-living small marsupial known.

The Australian Geographic Society is currently raising money for the conservation of this unique species, of which only about 2000 remain. It was only known from fossils until 1966, when one was spied at a ski lodge.

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