26 Animals Scientists Know Very Little About

Scientists believe that 8.7 million species of animals in the world have so far been classified. And, despite their best efforts, it’s estimated that there are still 5 million species to be described. However, not all of these are well-known or thoroughly studied. There are even more that, while classified, are animals scientists know little about, which means the average person knows even less about them.

From insects to deep-sea creatures, some animals have only been seen in the wild once or twice or haven’t been discovered at all, hiding in remote places of the world. Some animals, thought to be extinct, have even popped up on occasion.

You may know many common animals, like tigers, bears, and dolphins, but there are plenty of animals in the world you’ve never heard of, or know little about. Keep reading through to find out more about 26 animals that scientists know little about.

1. Madagascar Serpent Eagle (Eutriorchis astur)

This bird was thought to be extinct in the 1930s and then was rediscovered in 1993 by the Peregrine Fund.

2. Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

There are only two populations of mountain gorillas. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

3. Caecilian (Gymnophiona)

Caecilians may look like worms, but they’re actually amphibians.

4. Diabolical Ironclad Beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus)

These are tiny beetles, less than three inches long, but they are very tough and have long lifespans.

5. Batfish (Ogcocephalidae)

Batfishes often have heads that are flat and slim and often have lumps on the spine.

6. Salp (Salpidae)

These animals, though relatively unknown, aren’t rare, found near the surface in cold and temperate seas.

7. Barreleye Fish (Opisthoproctidae)

They have tubular eyes that direct straight upwards.

8. Larvacean (Copelata)

Even as adults, larvaceans look like little tadpoles.

9. Giant Squid (Architeuthis dux)

Giant squids are well-known animals, but scientists still don’t know much about them.

10. Stargazer Fish (Uranoscopidae)

Stargazers are fish with upward-facing heads, eyes, and mouths.

11. Rice’s Whale (Balaenoptera ricei)

Rice’s whale weighs up to 60,000 pounds.

12. Jackie’s Day Gecko (Cnemaspis jackieii)

Jackie’s day gecko was first discovered in 2021, and named after the famous Jackie Chan due to its nimble skills.

13. Demodex folliculorum

These are little mites that everyone has experienced before because they live on your face.

14. Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)

Because they’re so primitive, the frilled shark is considered a living fossil.

15. Squidworm (Teuthidodrilus samae)

These worms are free-swimming and are found in parts of the ocean below 6,690 feet.

16. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

False killer whales get their names due to their similar skill structure to orcas.

17. Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)

Goblin sharks are living fossils, descended from a lineage over 125 million years old.

18. Manduriacu Glass Frog (Nymphargas balionotus)

This frog has only been seen twice in the wild since 1975.

19. Pangolin (Pholidota)

There are eight species of pangolin, and all are protected.

20. Pacific Viperfish (Chauliodus macouni)

This species of fish is either mesopelagic or bathypelagic.

21. African Golden Cat (Caracal aurata)

The African golden cat is only found in West and Central African rainforests.

22. Elephant Shrew (Macroscelididae)

Elephant shrews get their name from their long noses and appearance similar to a shrew.

23. Southern Darwin’s Frog (Rhinoderma darwinii)

This frog earned its name because Charles Darwin was the one to discover it.

24. Giraffe Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa)

The giraffe weevil is endemic to Madagascar.

25. Wolfgang Böhme’s Ethiopian Chameleon (Trioceros wolfgangboehmei)

This chameleon grows to roughly six inches in length.

26. The Black Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus rufoniger)

This cuscus is the second largest of the family.