Kan Dail
The animal kingdom is vast and diverse, with millions of species that continue to mesmerize us with their uniqueness. Land, mountains, swamps, oceans, snow, deserts- animals inhabit almost every nook and corner of the earth. The diversity of the animal kingdom extends beyond words. Today we will go over some lesser-known animals beginning with the letter T.
‘T’ holds special significance due to the characteristics that it represents- thoughtful, timid, tough, trustworthy, and tenacious. These are the qualities that animals of almost all species have in common that make their survival possible even in the harshest climates and living conditions. Although there are many animals that you spell out with the letter’, like the tiger, turtle, tortoise, tarantulas, and even the Tasmanian devil, below, we discuss some lesser-known animals.
Animals with the Letter T
1. Tayra
The Tayra is native to the Americas and is a member of the weasel family. This omnivorous animal with a long, slender nose, bushy tails, and small round ears. They can be identified by their black or brown fur with a distinct yellow or orange spot on the chest. The hair is covered with special sensors. Tayras have special scent glands and are usually found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Being solitary animals, the tayras are more active during the nights. They have a strong sense of smell and chase their prey by scent. They are avid tree climbers and steady walkers, who can walk up to 6 km in a night!
Image Source: Wikimedia
2. Tapir
One of the animals beginning with the letter T, Tapirs are large, rhino-like animals with dangerous teeth. They are herbivores and found in the Americas as well as Southeast Asia. Tapirs can run at speeds of 30 miles per hour. They exist in several species, which are becoming endangered now. The Malayan tapir is an Endangered Species, with only 3000 of these animals left. Among the endangered species are the Mountain tapirs from South America and Baird’s tapirs from Central America. Another species, the Brazilian tapir, has now fallen in the Vulnerable category.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Toddy Cat
The Toddy Cat is the common name for the Asian Palm Civet, which is native to South East Asia. These small animals are widely found in the jungles, gardens, and parks of most of the south Asia countries. They have sharp claws that help them to climb trees easily. These animals are also solitary creatures that can live both on land and the trees. They mostly feed on palm flower juice converted to raw wine or toddy, from which they get their name.
Image Source: Marie Hale(Flickr)
4. Tarsier
The tarsier belongs to the primate class. They are the only primates that are carnivores. They mainly feed on insects and beetles by jumping on them for prey. These animals mainly inhabit the islands of South East Asia. These are small animals with big eyes. They are nocturnal animals that primarily prey on snakes, lizards, cats, and owls that come out on the night. They are extremely shy animals and stay away from any kind of human contact or bright light and loud sounds.
Also Read: A List of 40+ Different Extinct Animals Across the World
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Tang
These animals are beautiful fish, commonly known as Doctor Fish or the Surgeon Fish. They are mostly found in the Indo-pacific oceans. They are quite colourful, bright, and active fish that feed on marine algae. The yellow tang is a popular fish that can be kept in the aquarium. They thrive well in coral reef systems as a peaceful community. Blue tangs are otherwise harmless creatures, but when in danger, they can raise a pair of razor-sharp, venomous spines on either side of their tails. This feature is a method of self-defence against enemies.
6. Tetra
The Tetra is a small and colourful fish found in abundance in South American and African freshwater rivers and other water bodies. They also constitute the common aquarium category as pet fish. They occur as different colour species. The GlowLight Tetra has shiny red stripes on either side of its small body. You can find the Neon Tetra has glowing light green metallic side stripes.
Also Read: 10 Lesser Known Animals In The World
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Tiffany
The Chantilly or Tiffany is a rare species of cats. This animal is a medium-sized cat with a silky black, silver, champagne, or fawn colour coat. They have beautiful gold eyes. Tiffany makes a great companion and is loving and affectionate with their owners. They were bred and raised in North America. They are gentle and loyal and do not like to be left alone. It is one of the animals beginning with the letter T.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Tuatara
Tuataras are lizard-like creatures that are native to New Zealand. Their name means “peaks on the back” in the native Maori dialect. A unique and exciting feature of these reptiles is the presence of a third eye! The parietal eye is present above their head and is only visible in hatchlings. It becomes covered in scales after four to six months of growth. It is believed““` that its function is to absorb UV rays and in setting the circadian cycles of these reptiles. These animals can also regrow their lost tails like the lizards.
Image Source: Wikimedia
9. Topi
The Topi is a subspecies of the common antelope. It is native to the savannas and deserts in sub-Saharan Africa. They are also known as Sassaby in southern Africa. These animals are social in nature and dwell in large herds. These animals have a sleek body with a reddish-brown colour. Their lean heads have crescent moon-shaped horns that can be up to 16 inches long. They are known to be the fastest running antelopes which can run up to speeds of 45 miles per hour when scared.
Image Source: Wikimedia
10. Two-Toed Amphiuma
The two-toed amphiuma is a snake-like salamander native to the southeastern United States. These amphibians are also commonly known as the “Blind Eel” or the “Congo snake” because of their resemblance to eels. They have slender, eel-like bodies with four small limbs at their sides. They can grow up to great lengths and can bite like water snakes when threatened. They are hardy amphibians who can live up to 30 years. They are mostly found in shallow, stagnant water areas.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are some interesting animals with unique features that are known less. They inhabit various parts of our planet and increase its diversity and variety. These are the animals beginning with the letter T.l Kindly share and do post your comments.