Usually looks shorter-legged because of its overall build and stance

It’s the hornbill with the “rockstar hair”

Capable of mimicking simple sounds, which has made them popular in captivity

Cannot swim or land on water because their feathers are not waterproof

When alarmed, it often points its bill straight up and stays still so it looks like just another reed stalk

Tallest flying birds on Earth

From far away it looks plain brown, but up close the male’s tail eye-spots can shimmer when light hits them

For a long time, it was feared extinct, then confirmed sightings and photos showed it still survives in few places

Can be black, can be grey but it’s the same bird

Has one of the longest nonstop flights ever recorded for any bird

Biggest “sandpiper” on the planet

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

Has a “bug-like” smell—possibly from their insect-heavy diet

One of the few bats known as possible “spider experts”

One of the most colorful squirrels on Earth

Looks more like a spiky rat than a typical porcupine

One of the few with webbing between its toes, helping it walk through water and grab slippery prey

Literally barks like a dog—hence the nickname “barking deer”

One of the few ibis species that prefers dry forests over wetlands, making its ecology quite unusual

One of the largest living ducks, often heavier than many geese

For years it was lumped into “lesser sand plover”

Its boom has been compared to blowing across the top of a giant bottle — a sound low enough to feel in your chest on still mornings

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

More active on overcast or slightly rainy days, when amphibians are abundant and easier to catch

A heavyweight champ — elegant, yes, but you don’t want to mess with that beak

Black feathers, white cap, sleek shape — it’s the tuxedo of the bird world

Its bright turquoise bill actually seems to glow in the dim forest light, a rare trait among birds

Can stay completely motionless for hours or even days, waiting for an unsuspecting rodent to wander by

Among the most athletic dolphins, known for their spectacular leaps and spins that can reach several meters high

Sometimes called the “scars in the water” thanks to their many white markings

When you touch it (not that you should!), it feels like coarse sandpaper

Can rotate its ankles backward—just like a raccoon—allowing it to climb down trees headfirst

Called a “mock viper” because it mimics the look and behavior of true vipers

Believed to guard hidden treasures or sacred sites due to its rare and majestic appearance

Often mistaken for an earthworm because of its size and shiny, cylindrical body

Has salt-excreting glands, allowing it to live entirely in the ocean without ever needing to come ashore

Often seen near the surface, basking or breathing, where it may resemble a drifting piece of seaweed

The most widespread species of snakes on earth are found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans and from Africa to Central America

Its venom is among the most toxic of any snake, but it’s so mild-mannered that bites to humans are extremely rare

Its thin, translucent skin gives it a ghostly appearance under bright light

With quills that are lighter and more flexible than those of other porcupines

Can spray a strong secretion from its anal glands when threatened—somewhat analogous to a skunk, though not as potent

Can tolerate humid heat extremely well, thanks to its habit of seeking shade and damp soil

Its flight is nearly soundless, thanks to specially fringed wing feathers that disrupt air turbulence

Defies the usual “creature of the night” stereotype by thriving in open landscapes and often hunting boldly in daylight

A sleek, fast-flying raptor that has mastered the art of hunting bats in midair

A living jewel that seems to have stepped straight out of a painting

Its “smiling” appearance isn’t just endearing—it’s a natural shape of its jawline and mouth corners that gives it a perpetual friendly look

Known as the “temple turtle” because it is often kept in temple ponds

Nicknamed the “Asian pancake turtle” for its flat shape and smooth, soft texture

While they look soft and harmless, their strong jaws can deliver a surprisingly sharp bite

With their specialized, multi-chambered stomachs, they can digest tough tropical leaves that most animals can’t

No two civets look exactly alike—like a fingerprint in fur

A beak built for everything—one of the most versatile tools in the kingfisher family!

Both predator and scavenger, shy yet bold, wild yet living close to human world

Has a charming quirk—it’s a tent-making bat

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

A giant among Asia’s harmless snakes

Despite its small frame, this eagle can take prey almost as large as itself

Local birdwatchers sometimes call it the “silver ghost of the grasslands”

Its name comes from its habit of preying on free-ranging domestic hens in medieval Europe—though such encounters are rare today

Quietly appreciated by farmers because it helps control pest populations, especially rats and locusts, in agricultural areas

Proudly holds the title of the largest woodpecker in Asia—and one of the largest in the world

Its call is considered a sign of hot afternoons, since it often calls persistently during the warmest parts of the day

Often seen in pairs, roosting together snugly in tree hollows

Nocturnal crab-cracker, master of camouflage, and solitary guardian of the beach

A bird built for subtlety—rarely drawing attention but always leaving an impression when spotted

Often mistaken for an earthworm

Its lungs are long and extend almost the entire length of its body

When resting, it can be very difficult to spot, as it looks like part of the tree itself

Sometimes mistaken for a rock or a log when it’s resting

People who encounter it for the first time often don’t believe it’s a bat at all

Deeply rooted in Filipino culture that it was once featured on the Philippine one-peso coin

It’s not actually a deer—it belongs to an older, separate group of hoofed animals

One of the smallest hoofed mammals on Earth

A bird that adds both music and style to any landscape it inhabits

One of the rarest birds in the world with feathers that change color depending on the season

Famous for very long migrations between Arctic breeding grounds and coastal wintering areas

In winter, they’re plain grey and white, but in the Arctic summer, they turn into a glowing rusty red

Looks ordinary—but transforms into one of the most extravagant birds during breeding season

One of the rarest reptile oddities on Earth

The largest tortoise species native to mainland Asia

One of the few tortoises that regularly eats mushrooms and fungi, including species toxic to humans!

One of the rarest and least-known otters in the world

Has a quieter lifestyle and is rarely seen by people

One of the lesser-known members of the dolphin family, despite its dramatic name

May appear grayer when calm and brighter pink when active or overheated

One of the most beautiful of the wild cattle species

Nicknamed the “undertaker bird” because of its bald head and hunched stance, as if dressed in dark mourning clothe

Rare “fine-beaked cleaner” of Asia’s plains and forests

Can squeeze through shockingly small gaps if their head fits

The third most widespread rat on Earth, after the brown rat and black rat

Bristly mane from head to back and backward-curving horns give it a tough, distinctive appearance

Has a piercing yellow eyes with a default “surprised” look

This owl sometimes makes a dog-like “wow-wow” bark when alarmed

The only sawfish known to spend long stretches of its life in freshwater lakes, not just rivers or coasts