Special Report

44 Most Exotic Animals People Keep as Pets

prilfish / Wikimedia Commons

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.

Soumyajit Nandy / Wikimedia Commons

1. African Jungle cat
> Natural habitat: Africa

[in-text-ad]

Geoff Gallice / Wikimedia Commons

2. Agouti
> Natural habitat: Central/South America

Mandy / Wikimedia Commons

3. Asian palm civet
> Natural habitat: Asia

ZeWrestler / Wikimedia Commons

4. Axolotl
> Natural habitat: Mexico

[in-text-ad-2]

Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons

5. Bat-eared fox
> Natural habitat: Africa

jjron / Wikimedia Commons

6. Bearded Dragon Lizard
> Natural habitat: Australia

[in-text-ad]

7. Bettong
> Natural habitat: Australia

4028mdk09 / Wikimedia Commons

8. Binturong
> Natural habitat: Southeast Asia

Mark Dumont / Wikimedia Commons

9. Bush Baby
> Natural habitat: Africa

[in-text-ad-2]

Ivanhoe / Wikimedia Commons

10. Capybara
> Natural habitat: Japan

Tom Thai / Wikimedia Commons

11. Chanterelle Fennec
> Natural habitat: Africa

[in-text-ad]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

12. Coatimundi
> Natural habitat: South America

Ryskas / Wikimedia Commons

13. Crab-eating raccoon
> Natural habitat: Central/South America

Cliff / Flickr

14. Cusimanse
> Natural habitat: Africa

[in-text-ad-2]

Pierre Camateros / Wikimedia Commons

15. Degu
> Natural habitat: Chile

Yathin sk / Wikimedia Commons

16. Dik-dik
> Natural habitat: Africa

[in-text-ad]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Piranha
> Natural habitat: South America

Angie spuc at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons

18. Flying Squirrel
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central America, India, Africa, Southeast Asia

Bernard DUPONT / Wikimedia Commons

19. Four-eyed opossum
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central/South America

[in-text-ad-2]

Charles Barilleaux / Wikimedia Commons

20. Geoffroy’s cat
> Natural habitat: South America

djpmapleferryman / Wikimedia Commons

21. Green iguana
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands, southern Brazil

[in-text-ad]

Ana_Cotta / Wikimedia Commons

22. Hyacinth Macaw
> Natural habitat: South America

Yael

23. Hyrax
> Natural habitat: Africa

MaRu180 / Flickr

24. Kinkajou (Flower Bear)
> Natural habitat: Central and South America

[in-text-ad-2]

https://flickr.com/photos/calliope/4282167421

25. Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
> Natural habitat: Madagascar

http://vimeo.com/82544962

26. Marbled polecat
> Natural habitat: Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and Asia

[in-text-ad]

Agência de Notícias do Acre / Wikimedia Commons

27. Paca
> Natural habitat: Mexico, Paraguay,Argentina, and Uruguay

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

28. Patagonian Mara
> Natural habitat: Argentina

prilfish / Wikimedia Commons

29. Pom pom anemone crab
> Natural habitat: Hawaii and Indonesia

[in-text-ad-2]

Ketzirah Lesser & Art Drauglis / Flickr

30. Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
> Natural habitat: Venezuela, Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Trinidad, and Argentina

Timo1974 / Wikimedia Commons

31. Prevost squirrel
> Natural habitat: Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo

[in-text-ad]

Karlakas / Wikimedia Commons

32. Raccoon dog
> Natural habitat: Eastern Asia and Europe

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

33. Red river hog
> Natural habitat: Senegal, Guinea-Congo forest, and Congo

Robertbody / Wikimedia Commons

34. Ring-tailed cat
> Natural habitat: North America

[in-text-ad-2]

Rangerbait / Wikimedia Commons

35. Sea apple
> Natural habitat: Indian Ocean and the western part of the Pacific Ocean on coral reefs

Andy Mitchell from Glasgow, UK / Wikimedia Commons

36. Snake-necked turtle
> Natural habitat: Southeastern Australia

[in-text-ad]

Frédéric SALEIN / Wikimedia Commons

37. Spotted genet
> Natural habitat: Southern Africa

Devonpike / Wikimedia Commons

38. Springhaas
> Natural habitat: African savannahs

Quartl / Wikimedia Commons

39. Tamandua
> Natural habitat: Central/South America

[in-text-ad-2]

Marie de Carne / Wikimedia Commons

40. Tayra
> Natural habitat: Central/South America

Elias Neideck / Wikimedia Commons

41. Tenrec
> Natural habitat: Madagascar

[in-text-ad]

Ltshears / Wikimedia Commons

42. Wallaroo
> Natural habitat: Australia

istolethetv / Flickr

43. Whip scorpion
> Natural habitat: India, Japan, and New Guinea

Paul Syme / YouTube

44. Zorrilla
> Natural habitat: Africa

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.