Seldom-Seen Species: Difference between revisions
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Animal characters in fiction run the gamut. Just a look at the listing in [[Animal Stereotypes]] shows that there are plenty of common enough animals that are used for their distinctive traits (presumed or real). |
Animal characters in fiction run the gamut. Just a look at the listing in [[Animal Stereotypes]] shows that there are plenty of common enough animals that are used for their distinctive traits (presumed or real). |
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Then there's the Seldom Seen Species — that is, a species that, once you see it, makes you think, "Hey, you don't usually see that animal!" In some cases, this may be a forced attempt to avoid the countless existing [[Animal Stereotypes]]. |
Then there's the Seldom Seen Species — that is, a species that, once you see it, makes you think, "Hey, you don't usually see that animal!" In some cases, this may be a forced attempt to avoid the countless existing [[Animal Stereotypes]]. |
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== [[Film]] == |
== [[Film]] == |
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* How many fictional meerkats can you name outside [[The Lion King|Timon]]? |
* How many fictional meerkats can you name outside [[The Lion King|Timon]]? |
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** Well there is [[Compare the Meerkat|Alexandr and Sergei]]. |
** Well there is [[Compare the Meerkat|Alexandr and Sergei]]. |
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** The sequel prominently featured okapi, a close relative to the giraffe. |
** The sequel prominently featured okapi, a close relative to the giraffe. |
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** [[Prequel|''Ariel's Beginning'']] has a manatee named Benjamin serve as Marina del Ray's [[The Dragon|Dragon.]] |
** [[Prequel|''Ariel's Beginning'']] has a manatee named Benjamin serve as Marina del Ray's [[The Dragon|Dragon.]] |
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* Although not exactly cute in the ordinary sense (think [[Ugly Cute]]), the animals in [[Rango]] are not the typical animals you find in an animated movie about desert animals. Cases include Priscilla the oddly adorable, big-eyed cactus mouse, Beans the [[Love Interest]] and desert iguana, and the burrowing owl mariachi band. |
* Although not exactly cute in the ordinary sense (think [[Ugly Cute]]), the animals in [[Rango]] are not the typical animals you find in an animated movie about desert animals. Cases include Priscilla the oddly adorable, big-eyed cactus mouse, Beans the [[Love Interest]] and desert iguana, and the burrowing owl mariachi band. |
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* The different species of owls from [[Legend of the Guardians: |
* The different species of owls from [[Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole]]. You have Gylfie the timid yet intelligent tiny Elf Owl, Twilight the street-smart Great Grey Owl, and Digger the fast talking Burrowing Owl. In fact, the movie's plot is kick-started by the barn owls called the 'Pure Ones' (in a not-so very subtle call to Nazi Aryanism) starting a race war against the other owls. |
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** An echidna and a Tasmanian devil also show up. |
** An echidna and a Tasmanian devil also show up. |
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* In [[Happy Feet]], one can count several different types of penguins beyond the generic black and white ones seen in typical media. Mumble and Gloria are emperor penguins, the Latino-accented [[Plucky Comic Relief|Plucky Comic Reliefs]] are Adelie penguins, and the guru voiced by [[Robin Williams]] is a Rockhopper penguin. Chinstrap Penguins and African Jackass Penguins are also seen briefly during Mumble's imprisonment in the marine animal exhibit. In addition to the penguins, there's the [[Nightmare Fuel]]-laden leopard seal, a herd of elephant seals, and a gang of skuas. |
* In [[Happy Feet]], one can count several different types of penguins beyond the generic black and white ones seen in typical media. Mumble and Gloria are emperor penguins, the Latino-accented [[Plucky Comic Relief|Plucky Comic Reliefs]] are Adelie penguins, and the guru voiced by [[Robin Williams]] is a Rockhopper penguin. Chinstrap Penguins and African Jackass Penguins are also seen briefly during Mumble's imprisonment in the marine animal exhibit. In addition to the penguins, there's the [[Nightmare Fuel]]-laden leopard seal, a herd of elephant seals, and a gang of skuas. |
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* Shifu the Red Panda and Tai Lung the snow leopard from ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'' |
* Shifu the Red Panda and Tai Lung the snow leopard from ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'' |
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* Besides the usual chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, [[Rise of the Planet of the Apes]] featured a bonobo named Koba too. |
* Besides the usual chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, [[Rise of the Planet of the Apes]] featured a bonobo named Koba too. |
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== [[Literature]] == |
== [[Literature]] == |
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* The owls in [[Harry Potter]] include some commonly-mentioned species, but also the lesser-known eagle owl and Scops owl. Similarly, lesser-known mythological creatures such as basilisks and Hippogriffs appear. |
* The owls in [[Harry Potter]] include some commonly-mentioned species, but also the lesser-known eagle owl and Scops owl. Similarly, lesser-known mythological creatures such as basilisks and Hippogriffs appear. |
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* ''[[Redwall]]'' is known for focusing on the seldom used ends of the mustelid spectrum, such as stoats. |
* ''[[Redwall]]'' is known for focusing on the seldom used ends of the mustelid spectrum, such as stoats. |
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* ''Rikki-Tikki-Tavi'', the [[Rudyard Kipling]] book about a mongoose. The story also features such seldom-seen Indian fauna as the krait, the muskrat <ref> oddly, as the muskrat is not native to India--Kipling may have been referring to some other, vaguely similar animal, such as the bandicoot rat</ref>, and the tailorbird. |
* ''Rikki-Tikki-Tavi'', the [[Rudyard Kipling]] book about a mongoose. The story also features such seldom-seen Indian fauna as the krait, the muskrat <ref> oddly, as the muskrat is not native to India--Kipling may have been referring to some other, vaguely similar animal, such as the bandicoot rat</ref>, and the tailorbird. |
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** A "sea cow" -- either a manatee or dugong -- appears in Kipling's "The White Seal" (and the [[Chuck Jones]] [[Animated Adaptation]]). |
** A "sea cow" -- either a manatee or dugong -- appears in Kipling's "The White Seal" (and the [[Chuck Jones]] [[Animated Adaptation]]). |
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*** Most likely referring to the [[wikipedia: |
*** Most likely referring to the [[wikipedia:Steller's Sea Cow|Steller's Sea Cow]]. which was hunted to extinction 27 years after its discovery in 1741. |
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* A mongoose also appears in the [[Sherlock Holmes]] story, "The Adventure of the Crooked Man." |
* A mongoose also appears in the [[Sherlock Holmes]] story, "The Adventure of the Crooked Man." |
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* [[Andre Norton]]'s Beast Master novels included meerkats: Hing in ''The Beast Master'' and ''Lord of Thunder'', and Ho in ''The Beast Master''. |
* [[Andre Norton]]'s Beast Master novels included meerkats: Hing in ''The Beast Master'' and ''Lord of Thunder'', and Ho in ''The Beast Master''. |
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* ''The Immortals'' quartet ([[Tortall]]) featured pygmy marmosets in the third book. |
* ''The Immortals'' quartet ([[Tortall]]) featured pygmy marmosets in the third book. |
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* The [[Spellsinger]] series includes increasingly-exotic species among its [[Funny Animal]] cast in its later books, including the likes of the pangolin, javelina, silky anteater, viscacha, and aye-aye. |
* The [[Spellsinger]] series includes increasingly-exotic species among its [[Funny Animal]] cast in its later books, including the likes of the pangolin, javelina, silky anteater, viscacha, and aye-aye. |
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== [[Live Action Television]] == |
== [[Live Action Television]] == |
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== [[Video Games]] == |
== [[Video Games]] == |
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* ''[[Crash Bandicoot]]'' |
* ''[[Crash Bandicoot]]'' |
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* ''[[Ty the Tasmanian Tiger]]'' |
* ''[[Ty the Tasmanian Tiger]]'' |
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* ''[[Bubsy]]'' the bobcat. |
* ''[[Bubsy]]'' the bobcat. |
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* MANY [[Pokémon]] are actually based on obscure animal species. We have Pangolins <ref> the Sandshrew line</ref>, Hermit Crabs <ref> the Dwebble line</ref>, Tapirs <ref> the Drowzee and Munna lines</ref>, Dugongs <ref> the Seel line</ref>, Mongooses <ref> Zangoose</ref>, Weedy Sea Dragons <ref> Kingdra</ref>, Angler Fish <ref> the Chinchou line</ref>, Porcupine Fish <ref> Qwilfish</ref>, Mudskippers <ref> so i herd u liek Mudkipz</ref>, Cicadas <ref> the Paras and Nincada lines</ref>, Bagworms <ref> the Pineco and Burmy lines</ref>, Sea Slugs <ref> the Shellos line, Manaphy and Phione</ref>, Meerkats <ref> Watchog</ref>, Leaf Insects <ref> the Sewaddle line</ref>, Chinchillas <ref> the Minccino line</ref>, Lampreys <ref> the Tynamo line</ref>, etc. And that's ''not'' including the fossil Pokemon or plants! |
* MANY [[Pokémon]] are actually based on obscure animal species. We have Pangolins <ref> the Sandshrew line</ref>, Hermit Crabs <ref> the Dwebble line</ref>, Tapirs <ref> the Drowzee and Munna lines</ref>, Dugongs <ref> the Seel line</ref>, Mongooses <ref> Zangoose</ref>, Weedy Sea Dragons <ref> Kingdra</ref>, Angler Fish <ref> the Chinchou line</ref>, Porcupine Fish <ref> Qwilfish</ref>, Mudskippers <ref> so i herd u liek Mudkipz</ref>, Cicadas <ref> the Paras and Nincada lines</ref>, Bagworms <ref> the Pineco and Burmy lines</ref>, Sea Slugs <ref> the Shellos line, Manaphy and Phione</ref>, Meerkats <ref> Watchog</ref>, Leaf Insects <ref> the Sewaddle line</ref>, Chinchillas <ref> the Minccino line</ref>, Lampreys <ref> the Tynamo line</ref>, etc. And that's ''not'' including the fossil Pokemon or plants! |
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== [[Web Comics]] == |
== [[Web Comics]] == |
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* Roland le Fay, the pangolin from ''[[Concession]]''. |
* Roland le Fay, the pangolin from ''[[Concession]]''. |
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* [[Nature of Nature's Art]], full stop. Featuring jerboas, degus, tamanduas, kinkajous, several species of spiders and many more. |
* [[Nature of Nature's Art]], full stop. Featuring jerboas, degus, tamanduas, kinkajous, several species of spiders and many more. |
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* In ''[[Off White]]'', the pack is [http://off-white.eu/comic/page-142 shown hunting a chamois.] This might be the one and only time you'll ever see one in any fiction whatsoever. |
* In ''[[Off White]]'', the pack is [http://off-white.eu/comic/page-142 shown hunting a chamois.] This might be the one and only time you'll ever see one in any fiction whatsoever. |
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* ''[[Femmegasm]]'' has a tamarin monkey and axolotl as its lead characters. |
* ''[[Femmegasm]]'' has a tamarin monkey and axolotl as its lead characters. |
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* Tiko from ''[[Jana of the Jungle]]'' is a [[wikipedia:Water Opossum|yapok]], a little-known aquatic species of opossum. The show mislabels him a coatimundi, which is [[wikipedia:Coati|a completely different animal]]. |
* Tiko from ''[[Jana of the Jungle]]'' is a [[wikipedia:Water Opossum|yapok]], a little-known aquatic species of opossum. The show mislabels him a coatimundi, which is [[wikipedia:Coati|a completely different animal]]. |
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* ''[[Go Diego Go]]'' features a lot of [[Seldom-Seen Species]], including spectacled bears, kinkajous and pygmy marmosets. |
* ''[[Go Diego Go]]'' features a lot of [[Seldom-Seen Species]], including spectacled bears, kinkajous and pygmy marmosets. |
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* ''[[Its a Big Big World]]'' features a tamandua (a species of anteater) named Bob and a quetzal bird named Birdette. |
* ''[[Its a Big Big World]]'' features a tamandua (a species of anteater) named Bob and a quetzal bird named Birdette. |
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* The [[Classic Disney Shorts|classic]] [[Goofy]] animated short ''My African Diary'' featured hartebeest, which resemble medium-sized antelope whose horns are shaped like hearts, hence their name. |
* The [[Classic Disney Shorts|classic]] [[Goofy]] animated short ''My African Diary'' featured hartebeest, which resemble medium-sized antelope whose horns are shaped like hearts, hence their name. |
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* Minerva Mink and Baynarts "Charlton" Woodchuck from ''[[Animaniacs]]''. |
* Minerva Mink and Baynarts "Charlton" Woodchuck from ''[[Animaniacs]]''. |