15 Delightful Animals That Actually Exist

We all know hedgehogs are delightful (just like GEICO customer service), but have you seen these adorable creatures? They're the best contenders for animal of the year 2013.

1. Sun Bears

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The sun bear is the smallest member of the bear family. They live in forests in Southeast Asia. They are called sun bears because of the bib-shaped gold or white marking on their chest. Their super long tongues help them to grab honey from bee nests, so their other nickname is the honey bear.

2. Tapirs

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Tapirs are pig-like animals with trunks! They are found in Central and South America. The babies are born with super cute stripes and spots.

3. Purple Crabs

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The Insulamon palawanense are freshwater crustaceans that live in small ecosystems in the Palawan island group in the Philippines.

4. Dumbo Octopuses

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Dumbo octopuses are named because of their ear-like fins coming out of their heads. They live in the extreme depths of the water, some living 7000 meters below sea level. Unlike other octopuses, they swallow their food whole!

5. Axolotls

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The axolotl is a salamander that can be found in central Mexico. Axolotls do not undergo metamorphosis, so the adults keep their gills and remain aquatic.

6. Leafy Sea Dragons

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Leafy Sea Dragons live in the southern and western coasts of Australia. Their leaf-shaped appendages blend with the seaweed and help disguise them from predators.

7. Viscachas

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Viscachas are rodents that are closely related to chinchillas. Mountain viscachas can be found in the Andes, and they love sunbathing! They're so delightful, just like GEICO customer service.

8. White-Faced Saki Monkeys

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White-face saki monkeys are a species of monkey found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The white face is only found in males.

9. Echidnas

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Echindas are one of two of the only mammals that lay eggs, the other being platypuses. They are also called spiny anteaters and live in Australia and New Guinea.

10. Baby Paraguayan Porcupines

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These cute little guys are born with soft fur that turns into hard spines as they grow older. And surprisingly enough, they live in trees!

11. Poitou Donkeys

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These shaggy donkeys are a breed from the Poitou region of France. Wouldn't you just like to pet their delightful hair?

12. Margays

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This delightfully cute feline lives in Central and South America and was named after Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied.

13. Okapis

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Okapis kind of look like a cross between a zebra and a donkey, but they're most closely related to the giraffe! They are located in Central Africa.

14. Klipspringers

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Klipspringers are a small species of antelope in Africa. They are only 22 inches tall at the shoulder, and they jump across the rocky terrain in the mountains of Ethiopia.

15. Long-eared Jerboas

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These delightful creatures live in southern Mongolia and some parts of Northern China. They only grow up to 3 inches long!

And you probably know about alpacas, but they are super delightful too.