15 Strange Animal Facts

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Animals have forever surprised us with their aggressive behaviors and sometimes unbelievable adaptations. They are also the champions of strange things that amaze us. Here are 15 strange animal facts that stuck with us for a while, hope it does with you, too.

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Immortal Jellyfish

The Turritopsis Dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish, seems to defy the laws of aging. This tiny jellyfish has the unique ability to revert its cells to their earliest form. By doing this, they start their life cycle again. Therefore, it can live forever. This ability makes them the only creature with the potential for immortality.

Photo by Gustavocarra – Wikipedia

Wolverine Frog

The African hairy frog, or wolverine frog, gets its nickname due to its defense mechanism. When threatened, it breaks its toe bones and pushes them through the skin. This creates claws that scare predators away. When the frog gets relaxed, the bones heal as if nothing happened.

Photo by Nomis Simon – Wikipedia

Aye-Aye’s Peculiar Finger

The Aye-Aye is a lemur native to Madagascar. It has a unique ability to find food. Its long middle finger is used to tap on wood; the echoes help it locate insect larvae under the surface. And there is its food. Talk about having a peculiar finger!

Photo by Kenneth C. Catania

Star-Nosed Moles

The star-nosed Mole is known for its peculiar nose. It has 22 fleshy appendages, which resemble a star. These appendages are the fastest known touch sensors of any mammal. They allow the Mole to identify and eat prey in less than a second. It is like they are the Quicksilver of the mammal world.

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Sudden Death Shrimp

The Mantis Shrimp possesses one of the fastest and most powerful punches in the animal kingdom. Their club-like appendages can accelerate faster than a bullet. This punch breaks open the shells of prey, creating cavitation bubbles. When the bubbles collapse, they produce a shock wave that can kill nearby prey.

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Echolocation Masters: Dolphins

Dolphins are generally known for their intelligence. However, they have a unique ability of echolocation. Dolphins emit sound waves and thus produce echoes. By listening to these echoes, they can navigate towards their prey and communicate with other dolphin members.

Kim Reisenbichler – Wikipedia

Transparent Head of the Barreleye Fish

The Barreleye Fish is known for its special eyes. It has a transparent head, which is basically its eyes. When in danger, the Barreleye Fish can rotate its eyes to find the predator. They are generally found in the Pacific Ocean and are rare. We know of owls who can rotate their heads 270-degrees; the Barreleye Fish is a step ahead with its 360-degree view of the world.

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Shape-Shifting Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish are known not only for their vibrant color but also for their shape-shifting. They have special cells called chromatophores, which help them to expand or contract the textures on their body to appear as something else, like a kelp or a rock. This ability helps them to camouflage or scare away the predators.

Photo by Patho – Wikipedia

Odd Copulatory Mechanism of Bedbugs

Male Bedbugs have a unique ability to reproduce. They pierce into the female body with their organ to deposit sperm. Their sperm receptacles break through the exoskeleton of the female, reach the ovaries, and fertilize the egg. By using this method, they ensure that there is a high chance of fertilizing the eggs.

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Regenerating Axolotl

The Axolotl is a salamander found in Mexico. They possess a unique ability to regenerate body parts. If an Axolotl loses a limb, it can completely regrow it. This includes bones, muscles, and nerves. Many scientists study the regenerative power of the Axolotl with the desire to replicate it for other purposes.

Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim – Wikipedia

Ant That Explodes

When under attack, the Camponotini Ant dramatically defends its colony; How you ask? They explode. This act is known as autothysis. This involves the ant rupturing its abdomen and releasing toxic chemicals that can kill predators. While it may seem extreme, this self-sacrificial behavior benefits the colony by deterring threats.

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Walking Fish: Mudskippers

Mudskippers are unique fishes that have a special ability to walk on land. They do this using their pectoral fins. These fishes escape the water and spend time on land when in danger. This improves their survival by escaping from predators and also in search of food. Who would have thought that fish could walk?!

Photo by Jürgen Otto – Wikipedia

Dancing Peacock Spider

The Dancing Peacock Spider is known for its complex dance. They are small in size but have an amazing way to mate. They show their colored flap-like extension attached to their abdomen while dancing to attract female spiders. And if the female approves of their dance, they both can mate.

Photo by Wouter Naert – Unsplash

Electric Eel’s Shocking Abilities

The electric eel is not just any usual eel; it is like a living battery. They have unique cells called electrolytes. To defend themselves, these eels can generate electric shocks of up to 600 volts. When these electrolytes are activated, they produce electrical impulses. The impulses can put anyone into a state of momentary shock.

Photo by François Michonneau – Wikipedia

Sea Cucumber’s Unconventional Defense Mechanism

Sea Cucumbers are marine animals related to sea urchins and starfish. When threatened, they throw out their internal organs to distract the predators. Moreover, Sea Cucumbers have another ability, that is, to regenerate their organs. By using this ability, they can regenerate the thrown out organs and secure their survival.