Protista

Plasmodium falciparum

This parasite is a unicellular organism that causes malaria in humans. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, and is responsible for about half of human malaria cases, causing one million deaths every year.

Theileria parva

This parasite causes East Coast fever in cattle, a disease that is very harmful to parts of Africa. It has genes that allow itself to enter a host, attach itself to white blood cells, and then take them over.

Fungi

Cantharellus cibarius

Chanterelle mushrooms are a species of wild mushrooms that can be safely eaten. They are usually either orange or yellow and have a unique fruity smell and taste. They are common in many places, such as Europe, North America, Central America, Asia, and Africa. Chanterelles tend to grow in clusters in mossy areas of the confierous forest, but they can also be found in birch forests and beech forests.

Rhizopus stolonifer 

This type of mold is more commonly known as “Black Bread Mold”. It is one of the most common fungi in the world, and has a global distribution. It decomposes stored food, and it can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Archaebacteria

Pyrococcus furiosus

This species was first discovered in Vulcano City, Italy. It thrives best in extremely high temperatures.

Thermoplasma acidophilum

Also thrives in high temperatures, and grows optimally at 56 degrees C. It doesn’t have cell wall, so the cell membrane is directly exposed to the outside.

Eubacteria

Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis is very harmful and is involved with many forms of plauge. Ex: pneumic, septicemic, and bubonic. It was transferred through China by rats on steamboats and the diseases spread from there. This deadly bacteria is related to the Plauge of Justinian, the Black Death, and the Third Pandemic, therefore it’s safe to say, it’s caused a lot of damage to us humans. 

Streptobacillus moniliformis

S. moniliformis causes diseases like Rat Bite Fever and Haaverhill Fever, usually transmitted through the bite of a rat. However, some people are infected by drinking infected water or close contact with rats. The diseases cause high fevers, rashes and hemorrhaging vesicles.

Plants

Marchantia polymorpha

More commonly known as the liverwort, this plant has a wide distribution around the world and has many sub-species. It is found worldwide and can thrive in both arctic and tropical climates. It grows on moist soil, often on bogs and banks of streams, and in man made habitats such as greenhouses and gardens.

Amorphophallus titanum

This plant has the nickname of “The Corpse Flower” because of it’s unique smell, described as “rotting flesh”. The plant produces this smell in order for beetles and flies to be attracted to it and pollinate it. They only grow in Sumatra, Indonesia, on limestone hills and in openings of rain-forests.

Animals

Chlamyphorus truncatus

The Pink Fairy Armadillo is the smallest species of Armadillo. It is desert-adapted and native to Argentina’s sandy dunes and scrubby grasslands. It’s diet is mostly composed of insects, worms, snails, and plants. They do not live well in captivity, and are on a decline in population.

Gypaetus barbatus

The bearded vulture is a unique bird of prey that lives in the mountainous ranges of Europe, Africa, and Tibet. It’s diet consists of mostly bone, and when hunting prey, it disregards it’s meat and eats it’s bone marrow, instead. It is the only bird that can live off of bone marrow, and it’s teeth and mouth have adapted to be able to swallow and chew through large bones. The species is locally threatened, with probably fewer than 10,000 pairs worldwide.