The animals you might have missed at Melbourne Zoo

WATCH: While the lions, tigers and elephants bathe in the constant admiration of visitors at Melbourne Zoo, some of the less popular animals are missing out on the attention.

JUST like the often forgotten middle child, a handful of creatures at Melbourne Zoo are fed up with missing out on their fair share of attention.

While the lions, tigers and bears bathe in the constant admiration of zoo visitors, some other less popular four-legged friends are pleading with attendees to just give them a fair go.

Thousands of people will flood through the gates at Melbourne Zoo these school holidays, and they are being urged to discover what some of the less popular creatures have to offer, off the beaten track.

Among them are the veiled chameleons, who promise they are not as shy as their camouflaging characters would suggest.

Cheeky otters are adamant they are otterly playful and always keen to show off to anyone up for a show.

And the African wild dogs may look fierce, but have enough spark and love to give as man’s best friend. Just don’t get too close.

Melbourne Zoo spokeswoman Judith Henke said these animals were often forgotten by zoo visitors because they were not immediately recognisable, or completely mistaken for other animals.

“This is an opportunity to draw people’s attention to some of the fantastic biodiversity of our planet, that we’re not always 100 per cent aware of,” Ms Henke said.

The Coatis at Melbourne Zoo.

Coatis

Where from: Found in Central and South America

What they eat: Eat fruit, vegetables, insects, small mammals and birds

Fun fact: They’re from the same family as the raccoon

The Tapir at Melbourne Zoo.

Brazilian Tapir

Where from: Four species found in South America and Asia

What they eat: Mostly eat leaves and fruit

Fun fact: Use their snouts to fetch leaves and food

Asian small-clawed otter

Where from: Found in Asia

What they eat: Love to eat crustaceans and fish

Fun fact: Asian small-clawed otters eat one third of their body weight in food each day

The Otter at Melbourne Zoo.

The wild dogs at Melbourne Zoo.

African wild dog

Where from: Found in Africa

What they eat: Mostly east small antelope

Fun fact: Live in large packs of up to 15

The veiled chameleon at Melbourne Zoo.

Veiled Chameleon

Where from: Live in Yemen and Saudi Arabia

What they eat: Vegetable matter and live insects

Fun fact: Will change colour according to surroundings and emotional state

Eastern black and white colobus monkey

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Colobus Monkey

Where from: Live in Central Africa

What they eat: Are Herbivorous, eat mostly shoots and leaves

Fun fact: They don’t have thumbs