Unseen Creatures: Exploring The World's Strangest And Smallest Animals Reading Answers

Jul 4, 2025

Unseen Creatures Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. The Unseen Creatures reading section must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading passage, you'll encounter question types like Choose no more than two words or numbers and Choose the correct letter. Also, Unseen Creatures Reading Answers contains detailed information about the diversity of animal species. To practice reading comprehension passages like this one, candidates are encouraged to explore the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

Many people are unable to truly comprehend the number of animals that exist, let alone grasp the idea that there are literally thousands of creatures that they have never come across. Especially in the information age, where the amount of input received by people far outstrips any quantities we took in in the past. However, many would be surprised to learn that there are 1,357,555 species of animals out there in the wide world- and that is not even inclusive of insects. What is more, scientists are positive that there are plenty of species yet to be discovered. And, to take it a step further, knocking even more socks off, that number of identified non-insect species is representative of only 1% of all animal species that ever lived on Earth. All of this data just goes to show that one should feel no twinge of surprise when faced with an animal that he or she never learned of before.

Let us begin in the sea, where millions of living things float and flap about that you will never be able to lay eyes on.

Perhaps the most fantastically named creature on this list is the Sarcastic Fringehead. The name may sound light and amusing, but the object of the term is anything but. This fish is waiting to greet you in the seas off the West Coast of America. Fringeheads have enormous mouths that seem to stretch wider than their 12-inch bodies. Plus, they are known to be quite vicious when provoked by other sea creatures, or humans. Another fish, the Red-Lipped Batfish, cannot even swim. Instead, this fish, who looks like a crab with person-like lips covered in red lipstick, walks around on the ocean floor on its fins.

Looking up into the trees, now, there are many creepy-crawlies alive and ready. Some, though, are easier to spot than others. Take the Leaf-Tailed Gecko from the Galapagos Islands for example. He or she is almost completely disguised from unprepared onlookers due to its entire body resembling a brown leaf. This lizard, though, is gentle in demeanor.

Not so with the Frill-Necked Lizard, found in Australia. When frightened, this dragon looking beast opens its mouth wide to reveal its bright pink and yellow lining, and long spines of cartilage make bright orange scale-covered skin burst outward from its head. It is also known to hiss and lunge when approached.

Now for a visit with some of our more miniscule finds. There are some fascinating beings here as well. The Pink Fairy Armadillo, in Argentina, is the teensiest member of the armadillo family, but is still covered in an armor of bony shell like its cousins. It is only 3 inches, or 7.6 centimeters long, and has the handy talent of being able to bury itself completely in dirt in a matter of seconds. Then, there's the Pygmy Marmoset in South America, one of the world's smallest primates, at only 6 inches, or 16 centimeters, in height. They have uniquely evolved claws especially for tree-climbing, and they subsist on many foods, greatest among these being sap derived from the trees they scale.

Perhaps the most recent and eye-opening, or eye-squinting, in this case, living discovery is the Pea Frog of Borneo, its vegetable moniker being generous. The largest adult of this species fails to reach even half an inch, or 1.2 centimeters.

Scientists concluded that this is the smallest frog inhabiting the Old World, which includes Europe, Asia and Africa.

With new species being discovered all the time, no one can know what awaits in the surrounding, and distant, natural environs. So, next time you are out for a walk or a hike in the woods, keep your eyes peeled for movement- those leaves and sticks may be breathing, and looking at you right back.

Questions 1-4

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1. The quantity of recorded non-insect animals today represents a mere ………. of all the creatures to have ever existed on our planet.

Answer: 1%

Supporting statement: "… that number of identified non-insect species is representative of only 1% of all animal species that ever lived on Earth."

Keywords: [1%, identified non-insect species, ever lived]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, Line 6

Explanation: The passage states that the recorded non-insect animal species represent only 1% of all species that ever lived, emphasizing the vastness of unknown species.

2. One animal blends into the background of trees because it appears to others as a ………………..

Answer: brown leaf

Supporting statement: "…due to its entire body resembling a brown leaf."

Keywords: [brown leaf, resemble, disguise]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, Line 3

Explanation: The Leaf-Tailed Gecko blends into its environment because its body looks like a brown leaf, making it hard to spot.

3. Another interesting find has developed special paws which aid it in securing …………

Answer: tree sap

Supporting statement: "… they subsist on many foods, greatest among these being sap derived from the trees they scale."

Keywords: [sap, trees, evolved claws]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 3

Explanation: The Pygmy Marmoset has claws adapted for climbing trees, which help it access sap, its main food source.

4. The ………… of this miniscule species is not even as big as its name implies.

Answer: size

Supporting statement: "…its vegetable moniker being generous. The largest adult of this species fails to reach even half an inch…"

Keywords: [size, generous, fails to reach]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, Lines 2–3

Explanation: The Pea Frog's size is smaller than what its name suggests, indicating its minuscule physical stature.

Questions 5-7

Look at the following statements and the list of animals below. Write the correct letter, A-G.

NB YOU MAY USE ANY LETTER MORE THAN ONCE.

NOT ALL LETTERS MAY BE USED.

5. This animal reacts to others by exhibiting an enlarged and colorful body part, revealing it's not so pleasant nature.

Answer: D. Frill-Necked Lizard

Supporting statement: "…opens its mouth wide to reveal its bright pink and yellow lining, and long spines… burst outward…"

Keywords: [opens mouth, colorful body part, frightened]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, Line 3

Explanation: The Frill-Necked Lizard displays colorful frills when frightened, as a defense mechanism.

6. If frightened, this small find can hide itself shockingly fast.

Answer: E. Pink Fairy Armadillo

Supporting statement: "…has the handy talent of being able to bury itself completely in dirt in a matter of seconds."

Keywords: [bury, hide, seconds]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 2

Explanation: The Pink Fairy Armadillo can quickly burrow underground when threatened.

7. When approached by another animal, this smallish sea creature shows how sizable its head can really be.

Answer: A. Sarcastic Fringehead

Supporting statement: "Fringeheads have enormous mouths that seem to stretch wider than their 12-inch bodies…"

Keywords: [enormous mouths, provoked, sea creature]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, Lines 3–4

Explanation: The Sarcastic Fringehead reacts by showing its disproportionately large mouth when approached.

LIST OF ANIMALS

A. Sarcastic Fringehead

B. Red-Lipped Batfish

C. Leaf-Tailed Gecko

E. Pink Fairy Armadillo

F. Pygmy Marmoset

G. Pea Frog

D. Frill-Necked Lizard

Questions 8-11

Look at the following statements and the list of animals below. Write the correct letter, A-G.

NB YOU MAY USE ANY LETTER MORE THAN ONCE.

NOT ALL LETTERS MAY BE USED.

8. Although it is the tiniest of its kind, it still retains features.

Answer: E. Pink Fairy Armadillo

Supporting statement: "…still covered in an armor of bony shell like its cousins."

Keywords: [armor, bony shell, tiniest]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 1

Explanation: Despite being the smallest in its species, it retains the shell feature common to armadillos.

9. This creature has evolved an ability to use a fish appendage for mobility like a land-based life form.

Answer: B. Red-Lipped Batfish

Supporting statement: "…walks around on the ocean floor on its fins."

Keywords: [walks, fins, ocean floor]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, Line 6

Explanation: The Red-Lipped Batfish uses fins to move across the sea bottom, resembling walking.

10. This miniscule find has been recorded to inhabit three different continents.

Answer: G. Pea Frog

Supporting statement: "…smallest frog inhabiting the Old World, which includes Europe, Asia and Africa."

Keywords: [Old World, Europe, Asia, Africa]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, Line 4

Explanation: The Pea Frog is known to exist across three continents defined as the Old World.

11. Perhaps the smallest of its family, its nails help it stay alive and move around.

Answer: F. Pygmy Marmoset

Supporting statement: "…evolved claws especially for tree-climbing…"

Keywords: [evolved claws, tree-climbing, movement]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, Line 3

Explanation: The Pygmy Marmoset uses its specialized claws to navigate and survive in tree environments.

LIST OF ANIMALS

A. Sarcastic Fringehead

B. Red-Lipped Batfish

C. Leaf-Tailed Gecko

E. Pink Fairy Armadillo

F. Pygmy Marmoset

G. Pea Frog

D. Frill-Necked Lizard

Questions 12-13

Choose the correct letter.

12. People may feel surprised to learn about these creatures because

A. insects are not included in the count.

B. many more species have already lived and become extinct.

C. the amount of data available today surpasses any time in history.

D. the idea of the existence of some creatures cannot be grasped.

Answer: B. many more species have already lived and become extinct.

Supporting statement: "…that number… is representative of only 1% of all animal species that ever lived on Earth."

Keywords: [1%, ever lived, extinct species]

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, Line 6

Explanation: The surprise stems from realizing that the known species form a tiny fraction of all that ever existed, implying mass extinction and unknown diversity.

13. An appropriate title for this passage would be

A. The Oddest Animals You've Never Heard Of

B. All Creatures, Great and Small

C. Great discoveries on Land and in the Sea

D. The Surprising Thing About Evolution

Answer: A. The Oddest Animals You've Never Heard Of

Supporting statement: Throughout the text, unique and lesser-known animals are highlighted.

Keywords: [odd animals, unknown creatures, never heard]

Keyword Location: Whole passage

Explanation: The passage introduces bizarre, rarely known species, making option A the most fitting title.

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