Unusual pets that are legal to own
Capybara
Lifespan: 8-12 years
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
Serval
Lifespan: Up to 19 years
Origin: Central and southern Africa
Fun fact: In the wild, servals are the most successful hunters of all wild cats, making one kill for every two attempts to capture prey. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, most cats in the wild kill one in every five or six attempts.
Chinchilla
Chinchilla
Lifespan: 15-22 years
Origin: Andes mountains, South America
Fun fact: Chinchilla fur is so dense that it’s very difficult for water to penetrate to its skin. To clean themselves, chinchillas bathe in dust, which absorbs dirt and oil from their fur.
Wallaroo
Wallaroo
Lifespan: 15-20 years
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 quite as small as a wallaby.
Axolotl
Axolotl
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Origin: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, central Mexico
Fun fact: The axolotl is actually a salamander which 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 of their body parts.
Kinkajou
Kinkajou
Lifespan: 20-25 years
Origin:Central and South America
Fun fact: Domesticated kinkajous in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are called “micole
Pacman Frog (Horned Frog)
Pacman Frog (Horned Frog)
Lifespan: 6-10 years
Origin South America
Fun fact: Pacman frogs are named after the famous video game due to their particularly large mouths, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.
Degu
Degu
Lifespan: 6-8 years
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
Hedgehog
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Origin: Europe, Asia and Africa
Fun fact: Hedgehogs exhibit an “annointing” behavior when they encounter a new smell, in which they will lick or bite the source of the smell, form a froth with their mouth and distribute the froth on their quills. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, it’s believed by researchers that this is for scent camouflage purposes.
Genet
Genet
Lifespan: Up to 20 years
Origin: Africa
Fun fact: Genets can squeeze through any space that is big enough for their head to fit through, according to CBS affiliate WDBJ.
Sugar Glider
Sugar Glider
Lifespan: 10-15 years
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
Fennec Fox
Lifespan: 10-16 years
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
Pygmy Goat
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Origin: Cameroon Valley, West Africa
Fun fact: Pygmy goats are similar to dogs in that one human year is like seven years to a pygmy goat. According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, pygmy goats can adapt to virtually any climate.
Ball Python
Ball Python
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Origin: Central Africa
Fun fact: According to CBS affiliate WDBJ, the name for this species of python comes from its defensive maneuver, which is to roll into a tight ball with its head in the middle.
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragon
Lifespan: 5-8 years
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
Pot-Bellied Pig
Lifespan: 10-15 years
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 large-sized dog, but with a much heavier build.
Tarantula
Tarantula
Lifespan: 10-25 years (oldest ever recorded was 49)
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.
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.