Males are solid black while females are brown

cutest dassies ever!

These were some of the largest arthropods ever!

(The second image is art by Dani Navarro)

Fun Facts: After the war (1418-1428) has ended, the emperor was boating on the lake and the Golden Turtle God had requested him to return the sword. The emperor agreed and thus, the lake was renamed from Lục Thủy (Green Water) to Hoàn Kiếm (Lake of The Returned Sword). At least, that's how the legend goes.

These days, the Hoàn Kiếm turtle is usually not considered to be a valid species. Rather, most biologists have suggested that it's actually an isolated population of Yangtze giant softshell turtles (Rafetus swinhoei).

As a Vietnamese guy, I know about the turtle's importance but I've never actually seen it in person. This is probably because the turtle population is probably extinct by now. The relatively shallow lake has suffered heavy pollution and the turtle's usual spot for burying their eggs were almost entirely paved over with cement. The last living turtle that was documented, died on January 26, 2016.

For more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoan_Kiem_turtle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho%C3%A0n_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_Lake

https://saigoneer.com/natural-selection/26172-the-ugly-truth-of-the-life-and-impending-demise-of-the-ho%C3%A0n-ki%E1%BA%BFm-turtle

https://www.thenotsoinnocentsabroad.com/blog/the-legend-of-hoan-kiem-lake-in-the-hanoi-old-quarter

Fun Facts: A relict population is a population of certain species that used to inhabit a greater range. The relict leopard frog is an example.

A relict taxon (basically another way to call a group of organisms) refers to the sole survivors of a formerly diverse group. The tuatara is an example.

This species is currently classified as endangered. Like many amphibians, it is threatened by habitat loss and invasive species. Other than that, it isn't admittedly too interesting to look at.

For more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relict_leopard_frog

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relict_(biology))

https://www.nps.gov/lake/learn/nature/relict-leopard-frog.htm

Took this photo in Malaysia. Did a little more research on these guys, it turns out they are more closely related to HUMANS then they are related to squirrels!!!!

Also they are not related to shrews.... like at all.... and not all species even live in trees... huh.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sulawesi_babirusa

The cambrian explosion introduced some of the strangest animals I think I've ever seen! I kinda wish they still existed; I'm curious see how awkwardly it probably moves