Adorable critters have a way of making us happy. Scientifically, cute creatures trigger dopamine release from our brains. While you can’t travel and explore these creatures in person, we’ve rounded up a succinct description of adorable animals from each continent.
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Quokka
Did you know that the quokka is the world’s happiest animal? This animal is most loved because of its face. They have a little smile that will leave everyone yearning to see more of their friendly nature.
The quokka is a small creature almost the size of a cat. Its face lies somewhere between a rabbit and a mouse. This amazing creature lives on Rottnest Island, Australia.
Asian Small-Clawed Otter
The Asian small-clawed otter belongs to the weasel family and is commonly found in all continents except Antarctica and Australia. There are 13 otter species; most live in lakes, freshwater rivers, and wetlands.
One interesting fact about these animals is that they have small ears that they usually close when swimming underwater. The Asian small-clawed otters live for 12 years or more. Some have lived for more than 20 years. Some places even offer interactions, where you can meet and take selfies with otters.
Red Panda
The red pandas are bamboo eaters, and they originate from Asia’s high forests. Despite sharing a similar name with the giant pandas, the red pandas differ. Red pandas are smaller than giant pandas since they only grow to about the size of a cat.
Pika
Pika dwells mostly in the mountains and has its origins in North America. It’s small and round-bodied with stumpy limbs. Pika, also called the ‘whistling hare,’ usually makes a sharp sound when returning home, hence the nickname.
Elephant Shrew
Elephant shrews are native to Africa. They are also called sengis or jumping shrews. These mammals earn their name from the long, pointed noses that resemble elephant trunks. The elephant shrews prefer living in environments where they can burrow into sandy soil, such as dry grasslands, arid semi-deserts, and shrublands.
Japanese Weasel
Japanese weasels hail from Japan. It has orange-brown fur with dark forehead markings. They often differ with their white fur on the throat. These weasels live on the islands of Shikoku, Kyūshū, and Honshū. Japanese weasels prefer living near water or mountainous areas and often try to avoid busy cities.
Meerkat
Meerkats are among the cutest of animals originating from Southern Africa. You’ll find them living in groups and are exceptionally social. They look funny with their big eyes and small, pointed faces. These creatures are mostly found in Botswana, South Africa, and Angola.
Dolphins
It wouldn’t be DolphinFacts.com if we didn’t include our favorite aquatic mammal! So the bonus cute animal is Dolphins. Dolphins are known to be some of the most intelligent and playful animals in the entire animal kingdom. With the exception of Antarctica dolphins can be found near every continent in the world!
Which animal do you find adorable from this list? We’d love to know whether you’ve traveled around the world to see these cute animals in person. Arguably, the friendly nature of these animals and the fact that they trigger dopamine release to make us happy makes them worth touring the world to see them up close.
