Johann H
Imagine creatures with faces only Picasso could dream up and bodies straight out of a sci-fi movie. This gallery presents 10 of the strangest-looking animals that roam our planet. Each of these animals challenges our notions of what “normal” in the animal kingdom looks like. Swipe to find out more.
Bornean Bearded Pig
Ever heard of a pig with a beard? Meet the Bornean Bearded pig, a quirky member of the pig family known for their distinctive facial hair and sometimes even sport tassels on their tails. Living in family groups, these pigs are all about that social life. They start young, with reproduction kicking off as early as 18 months old.
Gerenuk
The gerenuk, or giraffe gazelle, found in East Africa, stands out for its long, slender neck and limbs, flat, wedge-like head, and large eyes. Unlike other gazelles, it’s a skilled browser, reaching higher branches by standing on its hind legs and elongating its neck. This unique adaptation helps it access foliage and fruits others can’t, making it a captivating example of nature’s creativity.
Red-lipped Batfish
Found near the Galápagos Islands and Peru, the red-lipped batfish is famous for its stunning red pout. But here’s the twist: it doesn’t swim well. Instead, it walks along the floor of the ocean using its special fins. As it grows up, its dorsal fin turns into a spine-like projection that acts like a lure to the prey.
Naked Mole-Rat
The naked mole rat is uniquely adapted to thrive underground. It has small eyes, poor vision, and thin legs, yet moves skillfully both forward and backward in tunnels. Their large teeth are perfect for digging, with lips that seal to prevent soil from entering their mouths.
Pangolin
Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are covered in large, hard scales made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails! These scales act like a suit of armor, protecting them from predators. Pangolins are shy and nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and come out at night. Despite their tough exterior, pangolins have a sweet tooth! They use their long, sticky tongues to snatch ants and termites with impressive speed and accuracy.
Kinkajou
The kinkajou, also called the ‘honey bear,’ is a secretive mammal of the tropical rainforests in Mexico, Central and South America. With its round head, big eyes, and short snout, it looks almost like a blend of a bear and a monkey. What sets it apart is its long, gripping tail that helps it swing effortlessly through the treetops. Mostly dining on fruits, this nocturnal creature remains elusive to humans despite being hunted for pets, leather goods, and even food.
Glass Frog
Known for its translucent belly that reveals its internal organs, the glass frog is a marvel of nature’s camouflage. Sporting a lime green hue across its body, it blends seamlessly into leafy habitats. These arboreal creatures spend their days in treetops, dining on tiny insects, and emerge only during mating season. When asleep, their liver hides most of their blood, making them nearly invisible on green leaves—a true master of disguise in the rainforest canopy.
Honduran White Bat
This unique creature stands out with its entirely white fur, a rarity among the 1,300 bat species known. What makes it even more fascinating is its crafty behavior—using its teeth, it cuts plant leaves to create makeshift tents in the forest understory. During the day, it roosts in these leafy shelters. This bat has a sweet tooth for fig fruits, making it a specialized frugivore.
Dik-Dik
Dik-dik is a pint-sized antelope known for its adorable appearance and surprising behaviors. These tiny creatures are named after the females’ distinctive alarm calls, which resemble a shrill whistle. Interestingly, female dik-diks are slightly larger than males. Males sport small, backward-slanting horns adorned with an upright tuft of hair on the crown. These unique features help them blend into their African savanna habitats while alerting others to potential predators.
Okapi
The okapi, also called the forest giraffe, is a truly unique creature native to the dense rainforests of the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Despite its striking appearance, it shares a surprising genetic link with the giraffe, making them the only living members of the family Giraffidae. Resembling a mix between a horse and a zebra, the okapi stands out with its velvety chocolate to reddish-brown coat, which provides excellent camouflage in its forest habitat.
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