Top 20 Most Unusual Animals In The World!
The world is full of all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures, but some animals really stand out from the rest. Here are the strangest creatures we have found from all corners of the globe!
20. Coconut crab aka the robber crab
If you have ever been to a pet store you may be familiar with the adorable little hermit crabs you can see in white sandy tanks. It turns out not every hermit crab would be welcome in the family home!
Introducing the king of all hermit crabs, the Coconut crab! First described by Charles Darwin as “Monstrous” these bird and coconut eating giants can weight up to a whopping 4kg and have a width of over a meter. But don’t worry you are unlikely to encounter this threatened species unless you live on Cook Island or Christmas Island in the warm blue waters off the Australian coast.
19. Okapi aka the African Unicorn
If you ever came across an Okapi in the wild, you might be excused for thinking you have found a mystical creature! But in fact the Okapi is actually a living relative of the African Giraffe and is considered quite ancient! Surviving relatively unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years this wonderful animal bears unique stripes on its haunches and a pattern as unique as fingerprints to camouflage themselves in the treelines.
The Okapi is humungous standing 4.9 Foot tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 350kg or the same as 4 people. One of the strangest features of the Okapi is actually their large prehensile tongue which can stretch out over half a metre to reach fruit and edible leaves which would make them quite a kisser! These wonderful animals are protected in the National parks of the Congo.
18. Flying squid
Could you ever imagine a squid could fly? Neither did we until we came across the Pacific flying squid! These slippery cephalopods use jet propelled aerial locomotion to launch themselves and glide above the ocean waves for up to 30 Meters! First thought to be a mechanism to escape predators it is now thought they also use this unique ability to rest as they travel huge distances of water to breed and hunt.
Travelling in large groups or squads, these creatures grow up to 50 cm have 8 tentacles and 3 hearts! Imagine being a fisherman at night and being bombarded with a thousand squid squad missiles!
17. Giraffe weevil
We could make a joke about the Giraffe weevils neck but it is far too long to tell!
This strange little beetle is a member of the weevil family and is known for its extremely long neck, bright red carapace hiding its tiny wings and its unusual breeding habits.
Strangely enough, the reason for this little critters extreme rostrum is that it is wielded as a weapon in combat by the male of the species while battling competing males for the right to breed.
The Giraffe weevil female will lay her eggs in the leaf of a giraffe beetle tree, roll it up into a parcel, snip it and drop it to the forest floor. The hatching larvae will tunnel into the wood of the tree and can lay dormant there for up to 2 years!
16. Leafy Sea dragon
Is it seaweed? Is it a seahorse? Where did it go?
The Leafy Sea dragon is actually a relative of the Sea Horse and is a master of camouflage! Hiding among the swaying kelp forests of the South East coast of Australia this weird and wonderful animal was a highly sought after pet for aquariums across the country until they were listed as a protected species.
The Leafy Sea dragon can grow up to 2 feet long, uses its long tube like snout to slurp up its prey and has no known natural predators.
The Leafy Sea Dragon is surprisingly a type of fish, and has a barely noticeable set of fins on its back and two ear like fins attached to its head which it uses to gently glide itself along with the current.
15. Alligator Gar
This prehistoric looking monster dates back more than 100 Million years in the fossil records making it one of the most ancient fish on the planet! Its long lasting characteristics gives it the ability to breath in both air and water.
The most notable features of the Alligator gar is its large jaws filled with razor sharp teeth and its tough heavy armor. Not only is it tough, but grows to a whopping 10 feet and a weight of over 350 pounds! It uses its weight to its advantage feeding on many other species including small alligators!
The Gars scales are so strong they were even used as arrowheads by the original Americans.
The biggest Alligator Gar on record caught was found in Mississippi’s Lake Chotard.
14. Goblin Shark
If you ever needed another reason not to swim in the ocean this is it. The Goblin Shark was first named in Japan the Tengu Zame, after the local demon the Tengu.
This species is actually a deep water creature rarely seen unless caught, growing up to 12.6 feet long and weighing up to 463 pounds.
It’s most remarkable feature is its unique jaw build, which it uses to thrust forward in what is called ‘Slingshot Feeding’. The Goblin shark can open its jaws to a remarkable 111 degree angle.
It gets a little stranger as this sharks skin is actually translucent and will change color from a whitish pink color to a grayish purple.
Two movies have been based on this fearsome creatures appearance, Knifehead from Pacific Rim and the terrifying Neomorph from Alien: Covenant.
13. Saiga antelope
Could this be the nosiest animal on the planet? The Saiga antelope, a gentle being from the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains has been hunted nearly to extinction by people falsely believing their horns to have special healing powers. This weird and wonderful animals most striking feature is its floppy nose and long spiraling horns. While they cannot smell or hear well, their eyesight is acute! They can spot predators up to 1 Km away!
They live as a migratory animal travelling hundreds of miles across mountains and planes grazing on herbs and grasses. It is because of the large distances they travel they have developed their thick noses to help filter out dust which is kicked up by their comrades.
12. Pink fairy Armadillo
This is the adorable albeit unusual Pink Fairy Armadillo, named for its rosy colored scales. The pink coloration that can be seen is due to the translucent nature of its scales showcasing the teeny blood vessels underneath. It uses this shell to curl up into a hard impenetrable ball when approached or attacked by predators protecting its soft underbelly.
This Armadillo is unique in that its Shell is not actually separate from its body, simply connected by a thin membrane. This also helps it with thermal regulation in hot and cold weather as it absorbs or loses body heat.
Also notable is its huge front and back claws. It is this feature that gives it the nickname ‘The sand swimmer’ as it can very quickly dig burrows and almost ‘swim’ through the soil.
Because they are such good hiders it is hard to know the conservation status of this animal.
11. Atretochoana aka the Penis Snake
The Atretochoana is neither a snake nor a penis but we can see why it earned its name. This very odd amphibians appearance could make anyone blush!
It is a lung-less animal found in the Madeira and Amazon rivers, only discovered as recently as 2011 in warm slow moving water. They are a relative species to the salamander, and like the salamander is a remarkable swimmer. Although it does have poor eyesight it is thought that the penis snake has an extremely good sense of smell.
Thought to be very rare and existed as a unbelievable myth for many years, much is still to be learned about this strange creature.
10. Aye-Aye
The absurdly ugly and yet strangely cute Aye-Aye is one of the most superstitiously feared creatures on the face of the Earth! Found in the forests of Madagascar the Aye-Aye was suspected as a bad omen, causing instant death to anyone who it pointed its long claw towards!
Because of this extreme superstition it has been known that entire villages have permanently vacated an area the moment one runs close to the huts build nestled along the forest.
In truth this animal is harmless and a member of the lemur family. It is famous for its extremely long middle finger which it uses for tapping and digging while foraging for food like grubs and beetles. Its finger can bend a full 360 degrees making it a very useful tool. They spend most of their time in trees high up in the canopies, sleeping during the day and coming out at night.
9. Red lipped Batfish
Fabulous darling! The pouting Red lipped Batfish from the Galapagos Island and the waters of Peru stands out in a crowd. Named for its vibrant red lips and bat-like appearance this 8 Inch fish looks ready for a night out on the town.
They feed on tiny crustaceans such as mollusks and shrimps as well as small fish and worms.
While they are not good swimmers, they make up for it by strutting their stuff around 400m deep on the ocean floor utilizing their pectoral fins which are adapted to walk. You go, Red lipped batfish!
8. Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Another amazing creature from the forests of Madagascar is the Lowland Streaked Tenrec. Their messy appearance looks like a bad hair day, and is made up of barbed quills used as an effective defense. While they are only little at 4.8 - 6.5 inches, they are not afraid to stand out with vibrant color.
The Tenrec is active day and night eating earthworms and insects, while hibernating in the cold winters to conserve energy. They are social animals, usually sharing burrows with their families of 20 others and communicate with each other by rubbing their special back quills together to make a low pitched vibratory noise.
They are the only mammal known to have the ability to communicate this way.
7. Peacock Spider
At first glance you might think you are looking at a lovely flower, or a strange fruit, until it begins to dance! The Australian Peacock spider is famous for a strange mating ritual that involves this striking pose and a shimmy that sends the ladies crazy.
At about the size of a grain of rice the Peacock spider can sometimes be hard to spot but are naturals in front of the camera. There are a wide variety of Peacock spiders of all shapes and sizes, many of which are yet to be discovered.
The pressure is on for these tiny lads, if he doesn’t impress he may end up as a lady's lunch as the female peacock spider might just be hungry.
6. Tufted Deer
I vunt to svuck your bluuud…!
This is the fanged Tufted Deer, an odd member of the Deer family found in parts of Asia. This 50kg animal is often seen hiding in the foliage remaining camouflage against the forest backdrops. Despite its arsenal of protruding fangs it remains a shy and elusive herbivore. When disturbed the deer will often bark like a canine!
The Tufted Deer use its fangs to defend its territory, striking at opponents in battle. The adaptation replacing the need for long and obtuse antlers.
Although well equipped to fight they tend to remain solitary or in bonded pairs to avoid conflict.
They are currently considered a near-threatened species due to habitat loss.
5. Football fish
The Football fish is not something you would want to see served up in a fish and chip store. This hideous monstrosity is a member of the deep-sea Angler-fish family. The Angler-fish got its name from the action of the rod attached to the front of its body which dangles a lure capable of large bursts of phosphorescent light! Like an angler or fisherman, it will move the lure through the water hoping to draw in a curious meal which it then strikes and swallows whole.
The Football fish is black in color, hiding in the deep dark ocean as far as 3’000 feet down far past where light can reach. The females grow up to 24 Inches while the males remain very small.
The mating ritual is highly bizarre, as the male upon finding the female will latch itself to her and become a part of her body - sharing blood and nutrients while supplying her with a continual amount of sperm which fertilizes her eggs as they are released.
4. Pink dragon millipede
In the top 4 we have the Pink Dragon Millipede, one of the most toxic animals in the world. Its stark Pink coloration serving as a warning to potential predators which says ‘Stay away!’.
Found in the provinces of Thailand this millipede was not discovered until 2008 and was named one of the top ten new species by the International Institute for Species Exploration.
You can find these millipedes deep in leaf litter coming out into the open after rain showers. It has glands that secrete hydrogen cyanide, making them smell just like almonds. If you see one on your journey it is advised to look but not touch.
3. Frilled Shark
Here we have a true living fossil. A shark, barely adapted from the earliest shark species has somehow survived in its primitive form for almost 80 Million years! Unlike most sharks, this species is not very agile, its sight is poor and its sense of smell barely competes in comparison to other evolved species so how this grandaddy has gotten this far is a bit of a mystery.
One reason may be its formidable teeth. Sporting 25 rows of backwards facing teeth similar to the Great white, it has quite a bite! It is found that these sharks use their pearlescent white teeth to lure in prey which it then catches before they realize they were looking at the teeth of a predator! Not afraid to eat large prey they have been known to chomp down on fish half as long as its own body.
The frilled shark has specialized gills which mostly sit on the outside of its body absorbing oxygen giving it that unique look. Extremely rare to see in the wild, it was filmed once in 2004 hovering in the water by a very surprised diver.
2. Immortal Jellyfish
The second strangest animal in the world is the Immortal jellyfish, aptly named for its ability to revert from an old sick jellyfish back into a small brand new baby jellyfish! If only it could tell us its secrets!
No bigger than a human pinky, this seemingly common jellyfish didn’t have its superpowers recognized until the 1990’s and was discovered by a scientist named Shin Kutota.
They are known to be ‘hitchhikers’ often becoming trapped in the bast water in the bilge of ships travelling large distances and finding themselves in distant oceans. Because of this they have quickly spread worldwide. Scientists today are studying the Immortal Jellyfish hoping to find cures to disease and perhaps a way to reinvigorate human cells!
- Hairy frog
Finally the strangest creature on the planet today, the Hairy Frog. It’s bizarre appearance is only equaled by its even more bizarre behaviors. The Hairy frog is like a real-life X-Man Wolverine, actively it breaks its own bones when threatened to create cat-like extendable claws which it uses to fend off its attacker! This gruesome defense mechanism makes this frog extremely ‘metal’.
The Hairy frog got its name from the long hair-like strands of skin and arteries that enable them to absorb high amounts of oxygen during breeding season.
They can be found in Cameroon, and are often hunted as food by the locals. They make sure to use spears and machetes while hunting to avoid being injured by this frogs impressive weaponry.