Top 100 Rare and Unique Mammals

Scientists have launched an attempt to save some of the world's rarest and most neglected creatures from extinction. The program focuses on "EDGE" species, or Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered. These are one-of-a-kind species. If they are lost there is nothing similar to them left on the planet. The Top 100 EDGE mammals can be viewed here. Below are several examples from the EDGE website:

Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni)
This ancient rabbit is one of South Africa’s rarest and most endangered mammal species:



Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
The scientific name of this rare and beautiful species literally means ‘fire-colored cat’:



Golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus)
Recent studies indicate that elephant-shrews are in fact distantly related to elephants:



New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata)
The world's most terrestrial bat, this species fills the niche of mice or shrews in other parts of the world:



Maned three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus)
The green algae that live in the fur of sloths provide them with excellent camouflage: