The term “living fossil” has been used to describe creatures that retain primitive features, have remained unchanged for millions of years, or are members of species-poor taxa. Many of which, incidentally, are unbearably cute. Here are the most adorable of the lot presented in no particular order.
New Zealand Rock Wrens
New Zealand Rock Wrens (Xenicus gilviventris) are the rarer of the two extant species in the family Acanthisittidae. Unike true wrens, they are exceptionally poor fliers, having evolved in an area without predatory mammals for millions of years. They nonetheless survived the introduction of Polynesian rats (500 CE) and humans (1300 CE) to New Zealand, making them tenacious little birdies in addition to being living fossils. Their stubby tails and bouncy disposition only serves to enhance their adorable, ball-like appearance. Which, by the way, is why they made this list.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Monito del Montes
Spanish for "little mountain monkey," the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) is a diminutive marsupial notable for being the only extant member of the ancient taxonomic order Microbiotheria, as well as the only member of the superorder Australidelphia that is indigenous to the Americas. Which isn't to say that there aren't marsupials native to North and South America. Virginia opossums and their ilk are simply members of a different taxon: Ameridelphia. Essentially, the monito del monte's presence in southern Chile and Argentina raises important questions about the evolutionary history of marsupials. But if you're thinking that the monito's ancestors popped over here from Australia, you're wrong. Scientists ultimately concluded that your favorite marsupials (koalas, kangaroos, etc.) had ancestors in South America millions of years ago that headed "down under" via Antarctica in a single dispersal event. Oh, and as for the cute thing? The monito del monte has a partially prehensile tail, which it WILL use to cling to your thumb, being just about thumb-sized. THUMB-SIZED, I tell you.
Source: jacobita.cl
Okapis
Any creature that looks good in horizontal stripes has an automatic advantage when ranking cute animals. Looks like a zebra, doesn't it? Well, the cloven-hoofed okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is more closely related to a giraffe than any modern equine. Okapis flew under Western scientists' radar until the 20th century, when Harry Johnston obtained a skull and skin sufficient to identify it as a new species. Incidentally, the animals had been known to Africans for thousands of years before British colonialists "discovered" the creatures. Other ancient civilizations probably knew about okapis as well; an okapi-like creature appears in the carvings at Apadana, a 5th century BCE building at Persepolis.
Source: lola1405.uol.ua
Amami Rabbits
Amami rabbits (Pentalagus furnessi) only can be found on two tiny islands in Japan: Toku-no-Shima and Amami Ōshima, both of which are part of the Amami Island group that the bunnies are named for. These dark-furred rabbits retain a number of primitive features that distinguish them from modern rabbits: shorter ears and legs, bulkier bodies, small eyes, and large, curved claws. These rabbits once lived on the mainland, but their ancestors were wiped out. The surviving population (roughly 2000-5000 animals) persisted due to their isolated habitat. As for their inclusion on this list, I dare you to find a rabbit that isn't 100% adorable.
