7 Animals you’ve probably never heard of Native to North America

The Americas are not only home to American pop culture and good Latin American food, but this humongous piece of land also houses a number of unique animal species. Although some of these animals are already well known, such as the American bald eagle, some of these amazing creatures are not as well known.

Here are a few animals native to North America that you may not have heard of.

Ocelot

A wild cat specie that’s looks like a tiny leopard or jaguar, this animal grows to about 3 to 4 feet in length and weigh in at 20 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Like all cats, they’re very territorial and rely on forest or thick vegetation for hunting and shelter. They’re seen throughout central and south America, as well as certain areas of North America.

Collared Peccary

Although it’s commonly mistaken as a feral pig, this creature is a specie of its own. Also called Mexican hogs, musk hogs, and javelin, they’re smaller and more slender compared to regular domesticated pigs and they have a few anatomical differences, such as the number of toes on their feet as well as how their tusk points out. They live in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as South and Central America.

Ringtail

A creature that you think would only be found in the wild forests or Australia is actually seen throughout the West and South coast the United States. This cat/fox/raccoon like creature gets in name from the black rings around its bushy tail. They grow to around 2 feet long and weigh at 1 to 2 pounds. Also called the miner's cat, settlers and miners use have them around as pets to hunt vermin, rats, and mice. 

Gulf Coast jaguarondi

Another wild cat specie that lives in the United States, this endangered and unusual looking wild cat is compared to the otter because of their short, stubby legs, long flat tail, rounded ears, and long body. Their coat ranges from dark grey to rusty brown, depending on their habitat. Not a lot is known about these animals due to lack of studies, but they are being conserved.

Flying Squirrel

You might think that flying squirrels are only found in Asia, but there are actually two species of flying squirrels endemic to the Americas. The southern and northern flying squirrels are as cute as their Asian cousins. They’re nocturnal, feed on fruits and nuts, and have a beautiful blown coat with a black base. Southern flying squirrels are seen in eastern U.S. from Florida to Maine and western states from to Texas to Minnesota. Northern flying squirrel mostly lives in the northwest coast, specifically in Montana and Idaho.

Coati

A relative of the ringtail and raccoon, these animals reside in southwestern New Mexico, southwestern Arizona, and certain areas of Texas. About the same size of a house cat, they hold their tails straight up like a flagpole, which is a big help since they live in groups and need to stick together. They’re also called hog-nosed raccoon because of how the ends of their noses are up-turned.

Luna moth

One huge moth specie, the Luna moth has a distinct green color and reaches a wing span of 4.5 inches. They’re seen through northern Mexico to Nova Scotia and are the biggest moth species in North America. They only mature to reproduce and die 4 days after reaching adulthood.