Saturday, February 14, 2015
7 of the Strangest Looking Animals on Earth
Not all animals end up as extravagant and colorful as peacocks or as cute and cuddly as giant pandas. Some of them look very strange and sometimes even scary. However, even if these animals are a bit of a fright to look at, most of them are actually pretty harmless.
Below are 7 of the strangest looking animals on earth.
California condor
A very rare bird that’s found in North America, the California condor shows a lot of grace when it glides above the deserts and canyons of North America’s west coast. Up close, however, this giant bird definitely isn’t photogenic. Its head is bald, adapting to its nature as a scavenger. Feathers on the head might become bothersome and clotted with blood as it feeds on carrions.
Blobfish
This fish looks more like a ball of goo with a face. It’s slimy, gelatinous appearance actually helps it survive its natural habitat. Blobfishes live in very deep parts of the world’s oceans, so its pudding-like body helps it endure the high pressure and stay buoyant.
Naked mole rat
Life’s very difficult when you can’t see. However this isn’t an issue for naked mole rats. These hairless rodents spend most of their time underground, dinging for insects and worms in colonies. Their furless bodies help them adapt to the underground environment and they have very little need for sight. For an animal its size, they have a pretty long lifespan, reaching about 30 years.
Proboscis monkey
We humans might think that a giant nose is embarrassing, but for these monkeys, the bigger their nose is, the better it helps with looking for a mate. Proboscis monkey live in groups composed of a male and multiple females and their young. Some all-male groups also exist, composing of juvenile males. Their big nose also helps them make loud warning calls.
Warthog
A wild member of the pig family, these animals are characterized by their snout, medium sized tusk that protrudes from their mouth, and a curvature that looks like a wart on their face, hence their name. They also have a mane that runs down their backside. Commonly seen in the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, these pigs are well adapted to surviving the harsh heat of their environment.
Star-nosed mole
These moles look like any other regular mole, except for their noses. They have a bizarre star shaped nose which they actually use to help them find their way around their habitat. Star-nosed moles have 22 small, fleshy appendages on their snout that function more like sensitive fingers. Their snouts contain 25,000 sensory receptors that the more uses to guide itself though their underground lair.
Aye-aye
This creature, which looks more like a gremlin, is actually related to monkeys. Not only do they look unusual, they also have strange traits like tapping on tree branches and trunks with their long, bony fingers to looks for grub and insects. Found in Madagascar, many locals say that this animal brings bad luck, but it’s actually just a harmless creature of the night.
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