Americans love their dogs and cats — they’re by far the most common pets in the U.S. Some prefer cold-blooded reptiles like snakes and turtles, and care for them just as tenderly. Others go for the exotic and unique. Have you ever considered having a four-eyed possum as a pet? How about a little rodent that goes by the name of degu?
24/7 Wall St. identified 44 particularly exotic animals that people actually own as pets. We reviewed news, pet expertise websites and other internet sources to compile our list. Not one of these animals is native to the United States, but some may be imported as pets.
It’s important to note that not all of these foreign creatures are allowed to be kept as pets in every state, and some are illegal everywhere in the U.S. For example, the fennec fox, which is native to northern Africa, is one of the fox species most commonly owned as a pet in the U.S. But as of 2014, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Washington have banned possession of fennec foxes. Another handful of states — Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas — require a permit or health certificate to have a fennec fox as a pet.
Some of these exotic animals are rarely kept as pets, but they can be, if desired. The zorilla, or striped polecat, for example, has gained the reputation as one of the smelliest animals on earth, and for that reason is not a popular pet. Its North American cousin the skunk is more likely to be welcomed into the household as a pet, if that is an indication of anything.
Click here to see the most exotic animals people keep as pets.
24/7 Wall St. identified 44 exotic animals that people own as pets by looking at sources, namely news site Words I Seek and pet expertise website Pethelpful. Not one of these animals is native to the United States, but some may be imported as pets.
Source: Soumyajit Nandy / Wikimedia Commons
1. African Jungle cat
> Natural habitat: Africa
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Source: Geoff Gallice / Wikimedia Commons
2. Agouti
> Natural habitat: Central/South America
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Source: Mandy / Wikimedia Commons
3. Asian palm civet
> Natural habitat: Asia
Source: ZeWrestler / Wikimedia Commons
4. Axolotl
> Natural habitat: Mexico
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Source: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons
5. Bat-eared fox
> Natural habitat: Africa
Source: jjron / Wikimedia Commons
6. Bearded Dragon Lizard
> Natural habitat: Australia
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Source: JJ Harrison ([email protected]) / Wikimedia Commons
7. Bettong
> Natural habitat: Australia
Source: 4028mdk09 / Wikimedia Commons
8. Binturong
> Natural habitat: Southeast Asia
Source: Mark Dumont / Wikimedia Commons
9. Bush Baby
> Natural habitat: Africa
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Source: Ivanhoe / Wikimedia Commons
10. Capybara
> Natural habitat: Japan
Source: Tom Thai / Wikimedia Commons
11. Chanterelle Fennec
> Natural habitat: Africa
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Coatimundi
> Natural habitat: South America
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Source: Ryskas / Wikimedia Commons
13. Crab-eating raccoon
> Natural habitat: Central/South America
Source: Cliff / Flickr
14. Cusimanse
> Natural habitat: Africa
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Source: Pierre Camateros / Wikimedia Commons
15. Degu
> Natural habitat: Chile
Source: Yathin sk / Wikimedia Commons
16. Dik-dik
> Natural habitat: Africa
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Piranha
> Natural habitat: South America
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Source: Angie spuc at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
18. Flying Squirrel
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central America, India, Africa, Southeast Asia
Source: Bernard DUPONT / Wikimedia Commons
19. Four-eyed opossum
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central/South America
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Source: Charles Barilleaux / Wikimedia Commons
20. Geoffroy’s cat
> Natural habitat: South America
Source: djpmapleferryman / Wikimedia Commons
21. Green iguana
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands, southern Brazil
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Source: Ana_Cotta / Wikimedia Commons
22. Hyacinth Macaw
> Natural habitat: South America
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Source: Yael
23. Hyrax
> Natural habitat: Africa
Source: MaRu180 / Flickr
24. Kinkajou (Flower Bear)
> Natural habitat: Central and South America
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Source: https://flickr.com/photos/calliope/4282167421
25. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
> Natural habitat: Madagascar
Source: http://vimeo.com/82544962
26. Marbled polecat
> Natural habitat: Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
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Source: Agência de Notícias do Acre / Wikimedia Commons
27. Paca
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Paraguay,Argentina, and Uruguay
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Patagonian Mara
> Natural habitat: Argentina
Source: prilfish / Wikimedia Commons
29. Pom pom anemone crab
> Natural habitat: Hawaii and Indonesia
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Source: Ketzirah Lesser & Art Drauglis / Flickr
30. Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
> Natural habitat: Venezuela, Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Trinidad, and Argentina
Source: Timo1974 / Wikimedia Commons
31. Prevost squirrel
> Natural habitat: Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo
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Source: Karlakas / Wikimedia Commons
32. Raccoon dog
> Natural habitat: Eastern Asia and Europe
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
33. Red river hog
> Natural habitat: Senegal, Guinea-Congo forest, and Congo
Source: Robertbody / Wikimedia Commons
34. Ring-tailed cat
> Natural habitat: North America
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Source: Rangerbait / Wikimedia Commons
35. Sea apple
> Natural habitat: Indian Ocean and the western part of the Pacific Ocean on coral reefs
Source: Andy Mitchell from Glasgow, UK / Wikimedia Commons
36. Snake-necked turtle
> Natural habitat: Southeastern Australia
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Source: Frédéric SALEIN / Wikimedia Commons
37. Spotted genet
> Natural habitat: Southern Africa
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Source: Devonpike / Wikimedia Commons
38. Springhaas
> Natural habitat: African savannahs
Source: Quartl / Wikimedia Commons
39. Tamandua
> Natural habitat: Central/South America
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Source: Marie de Carne / Wikimedia Commons
40. Tayra
> Natural habitat: Central/South America
Source: Elias Neideck / Wikimedia Commons
41. Tenrec
> Natural habitat: Madagascar
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Source: Ltshears / Wikimedia Commons
42. Wallaroo
> Natural habitat: Australia
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Source: istolethetv / Flickr
43. Whip scorpion
> Natural habitat: India, Japan, and New Guinea
Source: Paul Syme / YouTube
44. Zorrilla
> Natural habitat: Africa
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