Capybara

Origin: South America

Fun fact: The capybara is the world’s largest rodent, weighing up to 140 lbs, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.

Note: Exotic pet laws in the U.S. vary from state to state, as do requirements for some pets’ care, so be sure to look into local regulations before bringing home a new furry or scaly friend.

Serval

Origin: Central and southern Africa 

Fun fact: In the wild, servals are the most successful hunters of all wild cats, killing one for every two attempts to capture prey. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, most cats in the wild kill one in every five or six shots.

Chinchilla

Origin: Andes mountains, South America

Fun fact: Chinchilla fur is so dense that it’s tough for water to penetrate its skin. To clean themselves, chinchillas bathe in dust, which absorbs dirt and oil from their fur.

Wallaroo

Origin: Australia

Fun fact: The term “wallaroo” is a mix, or portmanteau, of “kangaroo” and “wallaby.” Likewise, a wallaroo is not quite as big as a kangaroo but not relatively as small as a wallaby.

Axolotl

Origin: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, central Mexico

Fun fact: The axolotl is a salamander that fails to metamorphose into a land animal in its larval stage, instead keeping its gills and remaining aquatic. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, axolotls can re-grow most body parts.

Kinkajou

Origin: Central and South America

Fun fact: Domesticated kinkajous in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are called “Nicole

Pacman Frog (Horned Frog)

Origin South America

Fun fact: Pacman frogs are named after the famous video game due to their vast mouths, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.

Degu

Origin: Chile

Fun fact: Degus bond more easily with their owners than hamsters or gerbils due to their intelligence and occasionally “groom” their handlers by giving them gentle nibbles.

Hedgehog

Origin: Europe, Asia, and Africa

Fun fact: Hedgehogs exhibit an “anointing” behavior when they encounter a new smell, lick or bite the source of the scent, form a foam with their mouth, and distribute the saliva on their quills. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, it’s believed by researchers that this is for scent camouflage purposes.

Genet

Origin: Africa

Fun fact: Genets can squeeze through any space ample enough for their head to fit through, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.

Sugar Glider

Origin: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia

Fun facts: The sugar glider is a marsupial that carries its young in a pouch like a kangaroo. Skin membranes that stretch between its front and rear legs allow it to “glide” through the air for up to 150 meters.

Fennec Fox

Origin: Northern Africa

Fun fact: In the wild, fennec foxes hunt at night and use their large ears to listen for prey burrowing underground, such as insects or rodents, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.

Pygmy Goat

Origin: Cameroon Valley, West Africa

Fun fact: Pygmy goats are similar to dogs in that one human year is seven years to a pygmy goat. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, pygmy goats can adapt to virtually any climate.

Ball Python

Origin: Central Africa

Fun fact: According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, the name for this python species comes from its defensive maneuver: rolling into a tight ball with its head in the middle.

Bearded Dragon

Origin: Australia

Fun fact: Bearded dragons can change their color in response to temperature or when engaging in displays of male territorial dominance, during which their “beards” can also expand.

Pot-Bellied Pig

Origin: Vietnam

Fun fact: Though many people unfamiliar with pot-bellied pigs believe they remain a miniature size, adult pot-bellied pigs grow to be the size of a medium to the large-sized dog but with a much heavier build.

Tarantula

Origin: Tarantulas can be found in every continent except Antarctica

Fun fact: Tarantulas molt during their lifetime, shedding their old skin and growing a new, softer shell that will harden over several days.