Weird Animals You Never Knew Existed
Today we have a list
of 21 weird animals you never knew existed. Even though you might think you’ve
seen the world over, but there are still wonders that will surprise you and may
even make your eyes pop.
Even if you’re a
dedicated animal enthusiast, you can’t honestly expect to know all of the
1,367,555 non-insect animal species, that are
identified on the face of Earth today!
Red-lipped Batfish
Found on the Galapagos
Islands, this fish is actually a pretty bad swimmer, and uses its pectoral fins
to walk on the bottom of the ocean. (Image credits: imgur)
SEE ALSO – 10 Rare Dog Breeds You Probably Never Knew
Existed
Goblin Shark
Goblin sharks inhabit
around the world at depths greater than 100 m (330 ft), with adults found
deeper than juveniles. Given the depths at which it lives, the goblin shark
poses no danger to humans. (Image credits: imgur)
The Panda Ant
The Mutillidae are a family of more than 3,000 species of wasps
(despite the names) whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Found in
Chile, they are known for their extremely painful stings, hence the common name
cow killer or cow ant. Black and white specimens are sometimes known as panda
ants due to their hair coloration resembling that of the Chinese giant panda.
(Image credits: Chris Lukhaup)
Penis Snake
This, uhm… peculiar
eyeless animal is actually called Atretochoana eiselti. It is a large, presumably aquatic, caecilian
amphibian with a broad, flat head and a fleshy dorsal fin on the body. (Image
credits: fotos.noticias.bol.uol.com.br)
Umbonia Spinosa
These thorn bugs are
related to cicadas, and use their beaks to pierce plant stems to feed upon
their sap. Their strange appearance still poses many questions to scientists.
(Image credits: Colin Hutton)
Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Found in Madagascar,
Africa, this small tenrec is the only mammal known to use stridulation for
generating sound – something that’s usually associated with snakes and insects.
(Image credits: hakoar | telegraph.co.uk)
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
As this hawk-moth
feeds on flowers and makes a similar humming sound, it looks a lot like a
hummingbird. What’s interesting is that it is surprisingly good at learning
colors. (Image credits: Jerzy Strzelecki | unknown)
Glaucus Atlanticus
Also known as the blue
dragon, this creature is a species of blue sea slug. You can find it in warm
waters of the oceans. it normally floats on the
surface because of a gas-filled sac in its stomach. (Image credits: unknown |
unknown | paulhypnos)
Mantis Shrimp
Also called the “sea
locusts“, “prawn killers” and even “thumb splitters”, this is one of the most
common predators in tropical and sub-tropical waters; little is known about
them because of how much time they spend hiding in their burrows. (Image
credits: Alexander Safonov)
Venezuelan Poodle Moth
Discovered in
Venezuela in 2009, this new species of alien-looking moth is still poorly
explored. Waiting for more info about them! (Image credits: Arthur Anker | imgur)
The Pacu Fish
You probably don’t
need much explanation as to why the residents of Papua New Guinea call this
fish a “ball cutter.” The local fishermen were really worried about the safety
of their testicles when they had to get in the water! (Image credits: imgur | evolvingcomplexityii)
Giant Isopod
This one is the
largest of the existing isopods. “The enormous size of the giant isopod is a
result of a phenomenon known as deep sea gigantism. This is the tendency of
deep sea crustaceans and other animals to grow to a much larger size than
similar species in shallower waters.” (Image credits: Littoraria)
The Saiga Antelope
This saiga, spread
around the Eurasian steppe, is known for its an extremely unusual, over-sized,
flexible nose structure, the proboscis. (Image credits: enews.fergananews.com)
The Bush Viper
Being a carnivore
predator, the Bush Viper lives up in the trees of the tropical forests of Africa, and does most of its hunting at night. (Image
credits: thegeneralmonk)
The Blue Parrotfish
This bright blue fish
can be found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and spends 80% of its time
searching for food. (Image credits: imgur | depalmadise)
Indian Purple Frog
Found in India, this
species of frog have a bloated body and an unusually pointy snout; it only
spends two weeks a year on the surface of earth, leaving the underground for
mating. (Image credits: wikipedia.org)
Shoebill
This large stork-like
bird gets its name because of the shape of its beak. Even though it was already
known to ancient Egyptians and Arabs, the bird was only classified in the 19th
century. (Image credits: David Li | shoebill.info)
Okapi
This mammal is native
to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Despite the
zebra-like stripes, it is actually more closely related to giraffes. (Image
credits: marylandzoo.org | baynews9.com)
Narwhal
This toothed whale,
found in the arctic, has been valued for over 1000 years by the Inuit people
for its meat and ivory. The narwhal, however, is especially sensitive to the
climate change. (Image credits: gowild.wwf.org.uk | Richard Thomas)
Thorny Dragon
Colored in
camouflaging shades of desert browns, this lizard has a “false” head, which he
presents to his predators by dipping the real one. (Image credits: imgur | Christopher Watson)
Sea Pig
Scotoplanes live on deep ocean bottoms, specifically on the abyssal plain
in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean, typically at depths of over 1000
meters. They are deposit feeders, and obtain food by extracting organic
particles from deep-sea mud. (Image credits: imgur |
thedailygreen.com | realcoldfish)
#Tufted Deer
Tufted deers are a small species of deer that are found in China.
They are mainly solitary creatures, sometimes found in pairs, and they are very
shy. Also, majestic fangs.
Tufted Deer
#Star-nosed Mole
Star-nosed moles are
small moles found in eastern Canada and United States along wet and low areas.
Star-nosed Mole
#Southern Right Whale Dolphin
Southern right whale
dolphins are small species found in cool waters far south. They have no visible
teeth or dorsal fin but they still leap out of the water gorgeously.
Southern Right Whale
Dolphin
#Raccoon Dog
Raccoon Dogs, or
Tanuki, are found in East Asia. They are not actually a type of raccoons, but
they climb trees regularly.
Raccoon Dog
#Patagonian Mara
Patagonian Maras are
large rodents found in parts of Argentina. They are herbivorous and cute.
Patagonian Mara
#Markhor
Markhors are large
species of wild goats that are found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are
classified as endagered species by the IUCN since
there are only 2,500 mature markhors in existence.
Markhor
#Maned Wolf
Maned Wolves are found
in South America. They live mostly in grasslands.
Maned Wolf
#Lamprey
Lampreys are the spawn
of hell. Kidding. They are jawless fish that suck the blood of fish, or humans,
and their body hasn’t changed since 300 milion years
ago.
Lamprey
#Gerenuk
Gerenuks are
long-necked species of antelopes found in Eastern Africa. They stand up to
graze for food. Very picky eaters!
Gerenuk
#Amazonian Royal Flycatcher
Amazonian Royal
Flycatchers are found in the Amazon. They are about 6 inches and they mostly
eat insects.
Amazonian Royal
Flycatcher
1.) Sea Pig: Scotoplanes live on
deep ocean bottoms, specifically on the abyssal plain in the Atlantic, Pacific
and Indian Ocean. They are deposit feeders and extract their food from deep sea
mud.
2.) Okapi: This faux-zebra mammal is native to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Even though it looks like a
zebra, it’s actually closely related to the giraffe.
3.) Thorny Dragon: This small lizard is covered in
camouflaging shades of desert brown so it can hide more easily in the sand. It
also has a “false head” that it uses to distract predators.
4.) Shoebill: This large bird is called a shoebill because
of its beak. Even though it was already known to ancient Egyptians and Arabs,
the bird was only classified in the 19th century.
5.) Indian Purple Frog: This gross-looking species of frog
only spends two weeks out of the year on the surface of the Earth (which is
probably why it looks the way it does).
6.) The Blue Parrotfish: Found in the Atlantic Ocean, this
bright blue fish spends 80% of its time searching for food.
7.) The Bush Viper: This predator lives high up in the
trees of tropical forests in Africa. It does most of its hunting at night. It
may look adorable, but it’s deadly.
8.) The Saiga Antelope: This saiga may look like a science
experiment gone wrong, but it’s actually an antelope found on the Eurasian
steppe. Its known for its over-sized, flexible nose
structure, the proboscis.
9.) Glaucus Atlanticus: This adorable little guy is also
known as the blue dragon. It is a species of blue sea slug, found in warm ocean
waters. It can also glide on the surface of the water, thanks to a gas-filled
sac in its stomach.
10.) The Pacu Fish: This living
nightmare is found in Papua New Guinea. Locals call this fish a “ball cutter.”
Good luck sleeping tonight.
11.) Venezuelan Poodle Moth: Yes, bugs can be adorable.
This one was found in Venezuela in 2009, a new species. Scientists don’t know
that much about the poodle moth, but they are learning more every day.
12.) Hummingbird Hawk-Moth: This hawk-moth (possibly the
world’s smallest superhero) feeds on flowers and makes a sound similar to that
of a hummingbird’s. If you saw it fly by, you might even mistake it for one.
13.) Mantis Shrimp: There are several species of mantis
shrimp, but the rainbow variety is visually stunning. They’re also called “sea
locusts“, “prawn killers” and even “thumb splitters. This is a powerful
predator located in tropical and sub-tropical waters, killing its prey with its
powerful claws.
14.) Umbonia Spinosa: These
colorful thorn bugs are related to cicadas. They use their beaks to pierce
plant stems to feed upon their sap. No one is really sure why they look the way
they do, but it’s most likely a form of camouflage.
15.) Atretochoana Eiselti (a.k.a., the Penis Snake): This suggestive-looking,
eyeless animal is actually called Atretochoana eiselti. It is a large, presumably aquatic, caecilian
amphibian with a broad, flat head and a fleshy dorsal fin on the body.
16.) The Panda Ant: This bug, a Mutillidae,
is part of a family of more than 3,000 species of wasps (despite the names).
These wasps have wingless females that resemble large, hairy ants. Panda Ants are
found in Chile, they are known for their extremely painful stings, hence the
common name cow killer or cow ant.
17.) Goblin Shark: These nightmarish sharks live in the
ocean at depths greater than 100 m (330 ft). Adults are found deeper than
juveniles. These scary sharks pose no threat to humans (but they will haunt
your dreams).
18.) Red-lipped Batfish: This creature is found on the
Galapagos Islands. It’s not good at swimming, so it uses its fins to walk
across the ocean floor… while looking fabulous.
(H/T Reddit) The animal kingdom can
be majestic, but obviously it can also be a frightening and strange place. Most
of these animals wouldn't be found in zoos - and for good reason. The goblin
shark will haunt my dreams for years. Click below to share these awesomely odd
animals with others.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Image credits: reddit | wikipedia
Aye-aye
Image credits: animalsadda.com
The Maned Wolf
Image credits: imgur
Tufted Deer
Image credits: zoochat.com
Dumbo Octopus
Image credits: interactiveoceans.washington.edu
Patagonian Mara
Image credits: zoochat.com
Naked Mole Rat
Image credits: extremelongevity.net
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Image credits: wwf.org | imgur
The Gerenuk
Image credits: Michael
Despines | imgur
Dugong
Image credits: webecoist
The Babirusa
Image credits: oregonzoo.org
Lamprey
Image credits: forum.lowyat.net
The Fossa
Star-Nosed Mole
Image credits: synapsebristol.blogspot.com
Sunda Colugo
Image credits: identi.info
Zebra Duiker
Image credits: imgur
Yeti Crab
Image credits: oceanleadership.org
Superb Bird of Paradise
Image credits: BBC
Planet Earth | National Geographic
Blob Fish
Image credits: coloribus.com | monsterfishworld.com
Cantor’s Giant Soft Shelled Turtle
Image credits: wwf.panda.org
Gobi Jerboa
Image credits: tgran | wildofanimals.blogspot.com
Japanese Spider Crab
Image credits: telegraph.co.uk
LOGIN
Babirusa (Hog Deer)
The Fossa
Gobi Jeroba
Zebra Duiker
Cantor's Giant Soft
Shell Turtle
The Blob Fish
Patagonian Mara
Sunda Colugo
Star Nosed Mole
Kiwaidae (Yetti
Crab)
Lamprey
Mantis Shrimp
Venezuelan Poodle
Moth
Okapi
Thorny Dragon
Glaucus Atlanticus
Umbonia Spinosa
Shoebill
Indian Purple Frog
The Panda Ant
The Bush Viper
Pacu Fish (Human-looking Teeth!)
Lowland Streaked
Tenrec
Red Lipped Batfish
Tanuki (Racoon Dog)
Lowland
Streaked Tenrec
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Madagascar
Defining characteristic: It’s
striped and spiny.
Glaucus
Atlanticus
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Temperate
and tropical waters
Defining characteristic: It’s
blue. It stings people. It’s only 1.2 inches long.
Pacu Fish
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Rivers
in the vicinity of the Amazon.
Characteristics: IT HAS
TEETH OH MY GOD. Also, it
likes biting testicles.
Eastern
Long-Necked Turtle
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Australia
Defining characteristic: It’s
basically a giraffe-turtle. Again, dat NECK.
Costa
Rican Variable Harlequin Toad
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Costa
Rica
Defining characteristic: It’s
very brightly colored. And the pattern varies.
Megalopyge
Opercularis Caterpillar
upload.wikimedia.org / Via Flickr:
hghjim
Native to: The
southern US; Mexico; and Central America.
Defining characteristic: It’s
wearing a fur coat 24/7.
Nyctimene
Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat
SWNS /
Via metro.co.uk
Native to: Oceania
Defining characteristic: It’s
all in the name.
Axolotl
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Also known as REAL LIFE NEOPET.
Native to: Central Mexico
Defining characteristic: They’re
weird as hell. And they’re smiling.
Yeti
Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Southern
Pacific Ocean
Defining characteristic: It’s
got furry appendages, y’all. It looks like freakin’
yeti.
Tarsier
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Southeastern
Asia
Defining characteristic: HOLY
EYES, BATMAN.
Want
to hear a Morgan Freeman impersonator tell you about the tarsier? HINT: Yes.
Yes, you do. Watch this video NOW.
Hispaniolan
Solenodon
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Hispaniola
Defining characteristic: It’s
a venomous mammal that apparently smells like a goat. What even?
Glass
Lizard
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Aka Fakey Snakey
Native to: Asia; Northern
Africa; Southeastern USA
Defining characteristic: They’re
lizards that don’t have legs. But they aren’t snakes.
Antarctic
Icefish
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Also known as Ghostfish Killah
Native to: Waters around
Antarctica
Defining characteristic: They’re
see-through and they have antifreeze in their blood.
Aye Aye
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Native to: Madagascar
Defining characteristic: It’s
basically the mammal version of a woodpecker. And its tail is as long as its
body.
Gharial
upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org
Also known as living needle-nosed pliers
Native to: Indian subcontinent
Defining characteristic: Long-ass
snout with 110 teeth.
This adorable little gremlin is called a pygmy marmoset. He's the smallest primate in the world, and he likes to hang out on human hands. (Lucky us!)
While pygmy marmosets are so rare
they aren’t frequently kept as pets, it’s admittedly fun to imagine one living
in an itty bitty cage from a Lilliputian pet supply store…is it not?
This is a baby pygmy hippo, so he will get a little bigger but not by much! Sadly, there are only 3,000 left in the wild.
Baby pygmy hippos are endangered and
you’d be lucky to spot one on the wild…these little lumps of love aren’t found
in zoos…they reside in wildlife preservations.
This ruby throated hummingbird is as majestic as it is adorable. Her wings can rotate nearly 180 degrees allowing her to fly in any direction.
If this itty-bitty-birdy-wonder
tried to hang out in my parakeet’s cage, she’d have trouble even gripping the
perch!
This pygmy goat is trying to sing you the song of her people! Pygmy goats are typically kept as pets, though sometimes they're also milked!
Ever wonder where you get pet
supplies for a pygmy goat? I’d say they probably come from the same PetCo where you purchased puppy supplies.
THIS is a teacup pig. Feel free to say "awwwww," though be careful, since other breeds of pigs can look similar when they're young, but only teacup pigs stay tiny.
I will never look at bacon the same
way again. Unfortunately for EVERYONE teacup pigs aren’t sold in pet stores,
though some specialty breeders do exist.
This tiny turtle is rich!
Imagine this tiny turtle in a
teeny-tiny aquarium swimming with all his exotic fish friends! Major squee alert.
This itty-bitty fairy penguin was stolen, but eventually returned to a zoo in Queensland, Australia.
Noooo! Who would
steal a cutie this sweet?
Is it wrong to feature both teacup pigs and pygmy hogs? Then we don't want to be right!
Pygmy hogs are found on farms rather
than in your local pet stores…but that doesn’t make them any less adorable.
A Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is perhaps our tiniest nocturnal friend on the list. This late-night diva is pictured with her even tinier babies!
Eep!! Flying
squirrels aren’t sold in pet stores in the US.
Tiny versions of already tiny animals like this dwarf hamster are even cuter! Some of the first dwarf hamsters were found in Mongolia of all places!
Here’s a sweetie that IS commonly
kept as a pet! Call your local pet store if you’re interested in owning a dwarf
hamster. Chinese dwarf hamsters are listed at $11.99 on PetSmart’s website.
That’s a great price for a pet so sweet.
And here we have a dwarf rabbit, looking too adorable to be real. There are many breeds of dwarf rabbit, but the Netherland Dwarf is the most common!
MEEP!
The pudu is a rare and tiny deer, and will only grow to be about 18 inches tall - MAX. These cuties inhabit Chile, and I might make a trip just to meet one.
Pudu aren’t
found in pet stores.
The paedophryne amauensis is the smallest vertebrate in the world.
Ribbit, ribbit!!
The bumble bee bat could (possibly) turn into the cutest vampire...if you believe in that sort of thing.
Eek! These cuties aren’t for sale in
pet stores because they run the risk of turning into itty bitty vamps. (Jk.)
Glass Frog
The skin of glass frog is usually lime
green, but it's belly is transparent and you can see
all of its organs.
Glass
Shrimp
Glass shrimp or ghost shrimp are
typically found in household aquariums. You may have owned one before.
Crocodile
Icefish
This terrifying creature can withstand
freezing temperatures and is native to the deep seas of South America and
Antarctica.
Glass
Catfish
These are also called ghost catfish and
are native to Thailand.
Glass
Octopus
Glass octopi can be found in tropical and
subtropical oceans.
Costa
Rican Glass Frog Tadpoles
Glass frogs are born translucent.
Barton
Springs Salamander
This salamander can be found in Barton
Springs, Texas and can grow to become 2.5 inches long.
Glass
Squid
There are more than 60 different species
of glass squid. They can found around the world in shallow waters.
Glasswinged
Butterfly
The glasswinged
butterfly can have a wingspan of up to 2.4 inches.
Salp
Salps live
in colonies and are actual planktonic tunicates. They have gelatinous bodies
that they pump water though in order to move.
Antarctic
Krill
Antarctic Krill are bioluminescent.
Jewel
Caterpillar
Jewel caterpillars can be found in South
America. They're intricate patterns make them look like living pieces of
hand-blown glass.
Larval
Squid
The larval squid is entirely transparent
with the exception of a few colored organs that can be seen from the outside.
The Goliath Bird Eater
Yep, it’s a spider that eats birds. They live in the South
Africa and luckily can’t harm humans.
Giant Soft-shelled Turtle
The heaviest soft-shell turtle ever found weighed 250 kg!
Saiga Antelope
These large-nosed creatures can still be found in parts of
Eurasia, but are seriously close to extinction.
The Purple Frog of India
These guys are only seen above ground for two weeks of every
year, so catching sight of one is regarded as good luck!
Flying Snake
These skilled gliders are found in the rainforests of Southeast
Asia and India. They flatten themselves out whenever they want to glide, make a
concave wing and launch themselves. They’re even better at gliding than flying
squirrels.
Irawaddy Dolphin
These cute oceanic dolphins are found only in small pods dotted
around Southeast Asia.
Aye-Aye
You’ll only find these guy in
Madagascar. Their older cousins are monkeys and chimpanzees.
Atretochoana Eiselti
Ahhh, the humble penis snake.
They’re limbless amphibians discovered in the Amazon in the late 1800s.
Goblin Shark
These terrifying deep sea sharks have been roaming the oceans
for 125 million years.
Gobi Jerboa
These kicky little creatures are only found in the Chinese and
Mongolian deserts. They can jump several feet both vertically and horizontally
even though they’re only about the size of your fist.
Feathered Tree Viper Snake
