Desert Pupfish

Fish > Pupfishes

The Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) is an astonishing evolutionary marvel of physiological extremotolerance. Thriving in the blistering desert springs and brine pools of the Sonoran Desert where virtually no other fish could survive for seconds, this tiny,...

Lake Sturgeon

Fish > Sturgeons

The Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is the colossal, ancient monarch of North America’s Great Lakes. Surviving virtually unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs over 150 million years ago, this armored giant is the largest and longest-lived freshwater fish...

Earless Monitor

Reptiles > Lizards

The Earless Monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis), reverently called the ‘Holy Grail of Herpetology,’ is an enigmatic, prehistoric-looking reptile that is the sole surviving member of the ancient family Lanthanotidae. Endemic to Borneo, this rare, semi-aquatic...

Northern Bald Ibis

Birds > Wading Birds

The Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), historically known as the Waldrapp, is one of the most critically endangered and charismatic birds in the world. Revered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs as a symbol of brilliance and splendor, this bizarre cliff-nester...

Slender-horned Gazelle

Mammals > Even-Toed Ungulates

The Slender-horned Gazelle (Gazella leptoceros), historically known as the Rhim, is an exceptionally pale, ghost-like desert antelope native to the deepest sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. Exquisitely adapted to survive in one of the most hyper-arid, scorched...