Birds & Reptiles

Hoatzin: Lone Survivor
The Hoatzin is a primitive bird that has largely defied classification.

It is unique among birds in digesting plant matter by fermentation, along the lines of ruminents such as deer and cattle. This gives it a bad odor; thus, the nickname "stinkbird".

Most interestingly, it is the only bird that has claws in its wings when babies, like pterodactyls of the dinosaur era.

Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoatzin

Secretary Bird: Part Eagle, Part Stork
The secretary bird roams the plains of Africa.

Unlike most birds of prey, it prefers to hunt on the ground.

It is famous for defeating and eating venomous snakes such as cobras.

Secretary birds are thought to be descended from giant "terror birds" millions of years ago that were much larger and preyed upon larger animals.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretarybird

Superb Bird-of-Paradise: Males Got Game
Female superb bird-of-paradise are picky.

There are few of them, so competition amongst males is fierce. Males have an elaborate courtship display that involves folding back its feathers and rhythmically snapping them. Females will reject 15-20 males before one of them demonstrates a display worthy enough to mate.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superb_bird-of-paradise

Kiwi: Proportionally Largest Egg
The kiwi is the smallest ratite (a family of flightless birds that includes ostriches and emus), and lays the largest egg in proportion to its body size of all birds.

Kiwis have hairy feathers and a long bill with vestigial wings that do not help it to fly at all.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi

Tuatara: Most Primitive Amniote
Tuatara look like lizards, but they are actually the last remaining species of an order that predates lizards. It is considered the most primitive amniote (which includes birds, lizards, and mammals). It has a third eye (known as the parietal eye) on top of its head, whose function may involve monitoring the position of the sun.

They have managed to survive in New Zealand until modern times.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara

Alligator Snapping Turtle: Armored Dinosaur
The alligator snapping turtle is native to the southeastern United States. It has a primitive look, like a dinosaur.

It is equipped with a powerful set of jaws, and its tongue serves as a red lure for creatures passing by its mouth.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig-nosed_turtle

Purple Frog: Gondwanaland Survivor
The purple frog is a unique species of frog native to India, whose closest relatives are located in the Seychilles, an island chain thousands of miles away. It is thought to provide evidence that the Seychille and Madagascar were once a part of the Indian subcontinent some 120 million years ago.

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_frog