|
# |
Species
[range] |
Photo/art [see credits]
all photos taken in wild unless stated |
Reason for choice |
DR seen? |
|
41 |
Brown Bear [Grizzly Bear]
Ursus arctos
[n. Holarctic] |
|
Although its range is widespread
throughout northern forests, Brown Bear – and especially Grizzly Bear U.a.horribilis of North America (left) – is a prized and wondrous beast. Watching
them catch fish during wild salmon runs was a wildlife spectacle to remember forever. |
Yes |
42 |
Tasmanian Devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
[Tasmania] |
|
This
fierce marsupial is the largest carnivorous marsupial alive today.
Although extirpated from Australia long ago, it was common on Tasmania
but is now threatened by an epidemic disease, and is much reduced. Said
to be pound-for-pound as vicious as any predator — and then it has a
great name. One of those iconoclastic beasts. |
No |
|
43 |
Puma [Cougar or
Mountain Lion]
Felis concolor
[New World |
|
Widespread across North &
South America, this is the "ghost cat." I live
where it is common, and still have not seen one, but Vladimir Dinets
has many photos [including Florida panther, left; see
his wild cats of world].
Some say this cat is "too common" for this list, but it is the epitome
of New World wilderness. Seeing one would be a highlight. |
No |
|
44 |
Brown Hyena
Hyena brunnea
[s. Africa] |
|
Nocturnal, elusive, and with a
complex and interesting matriarchal social life, Brown Hyena is almost
never seen by tourists. They are incredible scavengers with the ability
to gnaw bones left behind by other carnivores, including diurnal hyenas.
I've wanted to see these fascinating beasts ever since reading Cry
of the Kalahari. |
No |
|
45 |
Babirusa
Babyrousa babyrussa
[Sulawesi] |
|
This
large wild pig of tropical forests in Sulawesi and surrounding islands
is rare and elusive. The male's upper tusks emerge through holes in the
snout and curve back toward the forehead, producing a totally unique
look. Video in David Attenborough's Life of Mammals is very impressive — it would be a treat to see it in the wild. |
No |
|
46 |
Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
[arctic] |
|
Giant tusks on the world's
largest seal make the Walrus unique and impressive. Packs live on
remote ice flows in the Arctic. Populations were over-hunted for ivory
for decades but are now making recoveries. Walrus can dive to 350' and
dig mollusks with those tusks. |
No |
|
47 |
any Lion-Tamarin
Leontopitheus sp.
[coastal Brazil] |
|
Lion-Tamarins are small,
marmoset-like monkeys of the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil. The
four species are colorful, acrobatic, and serious endangered: Golden L.
rosalia (left), Golden-headed L. chrysomelas, Black L.
chrysopygus, and Superagui L. caissara. Most exist only found in isolated research reserves. |
No |
|
48 |
any Mesoplodon
beaked whale
Mesoplodon sp.
[oceans] |
|
Among 20+ species in family
Ziphiidae (beaked whales), 12-14 are in genus Mesoplodon.
Although widespread, they are very difficult to see due to their
off-shore habitat and deep-diving behavior. Considered near-mythical by
sea-going wildlife watchers, any observation is highly prized. Other
ziiphids are also very cool. |
Yes; 2 of 12-14 |
|
49 |
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
[e. & s. Africa] |
|
A strong argument can be made
that this is the most impressive of all antelope. It can be found in
some parks in east and southern Africa without huge effort, but at
other places (like Kruger) can be elusive. I wanted to see one ever
since staring at natural history dioramas with stuffed Sables in San
Francisco & New York as a kid. |
Yes |
|
50 |
any rare bat or
impressive bat
[world] |
|
Of 1100+ bat species (20% of all
mammals), many are local or endangered. Rarest (and smallest) may be
Bumblebee (Kitti's Hognose) Bat Craseonycteris thonglongyai
of Thailand/Burma. Seeing any rare bat is exciting, and especially
those with big ears or odd faces. Mine was Townsend's
Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii (left). |
Yes; 1 rarity
|
