9 Animals That Start With 'V': From Vaquitas to Velvet Ants

The vaquita is the most critically endangered marine mammal, with only a few individuals left. Scientists estimate there are about 10 left in the wild. Illegal fishing practices have driven it to the brink of extinction, making it one of the rarest creatures in the natural world.

Vaquitas only live in the northern part of the Gulf of California. Scientists typically focus on one zone of the gulf, but it's possible vaquitas have moved to other areas. “We just need to go out and find out whether the vaquitas have moved someplace else and adapt the management accordingly," says Barbara Taylor, a vaquita researcher, to The New York Times.

Closely related to other porpoises, the vaquita is unique for its dark eye patches and tiny size.

With eight arms and a cloak-like webbing between them, the vampire squid looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Unlike its name suggests, it doesn’t suck blood; this ancient creature survives in the deep sea by feeding on dead animals and organic debris drifting through the water.

Its ability to turn itself inside out as a defense mechanism makes it one of the most bizarre deep-sea dwellers.

Native to eastern and southern Africa, the vervet monkey is a highly social, intelligent and playful primate. These monkeys have complex communication systems and even unique alarm calls for different predators.

One study found that when the monkeys heard the different calls, they had different reactions. "Recordings of the alarms played back when predators were absent caused the monkeys to run into trees for leopard alarms, look up for eagle alarms, and look down for snake alarms," the study reads.

As for the vervet monkey's feeding habits, they eat a variety of things, including fruits, leaves, and small animals, like some bird species.

Another animal beginning with a "V" is also one of the tiniest reptiles in the world. This gecko is so small it can nearly fit on a dime. Found only on the Virgin Islands, this elusive lizard is difficult to spot in the wild.

Despite its name, the velvet ant isn’t an ant at all: It’s a type of wasp. The females of this species are wingless, giving them a more ant-like appearance. These insects are colorful and have a painful sting, earning them the nickname “cow killers.”

The vampire bat is one of the only mammals that survives entirely on a liquid diet — blood! Found in warmer climes, from Mexico to Central America to South America, these small, nocturnal creatures use heat sensors in their noses to locate warm-blooded prey.

Unlike common misconceptions, they don’t suck blood but rather make a tiny incision and lap it up with their tongues.

One of the most common insect pests, the varied carpet beetle has a striking pattern of orange, black and white scales.

While the adults feed on pollen and nectar, the larvae have an appetite for natural fibers, making them a nightmare for fabric and museum collections. These tiny scavengers help break down organic matter in the ecosystem.

The volcano rabbit, found in Mexico, is one of the world's smallest rabbit species, weighing less than 1 pound (0.45 kg). It lives in Central Mexico near volcanoes. Due to habitat destruction, this tiny mammal is now endangered.

This slender green snake is an expert at blending into its environment, making it one of the stealthiest venomous snakes. Found in tropical forests, the vine snake uses its excellent camouflage to ambush prey like lizards and frogs. Though mildly venomous, it poses little threat to humans.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.