Have you ever wondered what might be the strangest creature on our planet? Look no further – we will show you the eight strangest and most ridiculous animals we can find!
It is human nature to make immediate assumptions simply by observing someone or something.
Whether it's a new person we've just met, or a movie we want to see, we mainly use our eyes to detect and identify. This is the case when it comes to the animal kingdom.
Everyone loves lions, pandas, koalas – they seem to attract a lot of attention and are often used to push philanthropy forward.
It would be weird to have a strange-looking insect on a huge poster to save the rainforest, wouldn't it?
In that sense, we're simple, and we prefer to look at something cute and pleasing to the eye.
It's clear that we're attracted to mammals that share similar traits to ours — warm-blooded and binocular mammals.
We tend to have more protection for creatures or animals that look innocent that may help us. So it doesn't necessarily depend on appearance, it's more about which species we find correlated in any way.
However, when it comes to conservation, this shouldn't be an issue – every animal as a species matters, whether they're cute or not!
In any case, nature is beautiful and all life is precious. Let's admire these strange creatures together!
Spotted fish – strange inhabitants of the deep sea
Looking at this photo, the name seems surprisingly appropriate. It's like a bunch of puddings, with eyes, a huge nose, a mouth with a frown!
This guy is an endangered fish that originated in the deep sea near Australia. It lives at an astonishing depth, which explains the spotted appearance when he takes it out of the water.
They do not have a significant skeletal structure, which explains that they can have a permanent sad expression. Their gelatinous flesh makes them float instead of swimming bladders.
The species was a victim of massive fishing, caught in nets targeting lobsters, which is why it is endangered.
Spotted fish are harmless creatures because of their high-pressure habitat, they have an interesting structure. When they stay at the optimal depth of the ocean, they look like completely normal fish!
Star-nosed mole rat – the fastest forager in the world
No, this creature isn't from the set of the next Alien sequel – in fact, the Star-nosed Mole is the Guinness Book of Records holder!
They are the fastest to eat, thanks to their strange nose appendages, and their main food choice is insects. The meat whiskers on their noses help them find their prey, otherwise they are blind.
So, technically, their "stars" are not only their noses, but also their eyes!
The speed at which they absorbed the odor was breathtaking — and scientists were puzzled when they couldn't determine the minimum input needed to activate their complex organs.
They use shovel-like claws to move around the ground, but they are also excellent swimmers due to their waterproof fur. They are native to certain parts of Canada and the United States.
Sure, they don't look so creepy anymore, right?
Naked mole rats – resistant to cancer
These little animals are so ugly, they are almost cute!
This peculiar mammal has some extraordinary features, although its appearance is frail. They are cold-blooded in nature, can live in extremely harsh environments, and due to their genetic settings, they cannot record pain!
They are bald because their natural habitat does not require them to regulate their body temperature.
They were also the first recorded true social mammal species – they live in broods, much like bees!
Naked mole rats have a naturally long lifespan for rodents – they can live for more than 30 years if undisturbed.
This is due to their ability to slow down metabolism and even thrive in low-oxygen environments.
But the most exciting detail about them is that they seem to be almost immune to cancerous tumors! This is due to the fact that they have specific genes in their bodies that prevent the uncontrolled growth of cells.
Overall, we conclude that, despite its appearance, the naked mole is a fascinating creature!
Aye-Aye – Endangered by superstition
When it comes to this list, aye-aye is debatable. Some would say it's absolutely cute!
As a distant cousin of lemurs, aye-aye is a nocturnal primate and one of the largest primates in the world. It is a foraging omnivore, using its long, bone-length fingers as a tool to knock on tree trunks and find hollow spots inhabited by maggots and insects.
Sadly, due to its unusual appearance, aye-aye was almost hunted to extinction. It is native to the island of Madagascar, where people superstitiously believe that it will bring bad luck. Villagers killed them at the scene, even though they were completely harmless.
Let's hope that conservation efforts will eventually make this creepy but cute little animal come alive as a species!
Baird's tapir - a gentle herbivore of Belize
The only reason this peaceful mammal is on this list is because of its interesting nose shape!
The Baird tapir is an endangered species. It is the largest mammal in Central America and the national animal of Belize, affectionately referring to them as the "mountain cow".
This gentle giant has a closer relationship with a horse than an elephant or a pig — a guess for some. They are very agile and are excellent swimmers!
This herbivore is mainly nocturnal, but not entirely harmless.
Its foraging methods contribute to the fertilization of the surrounding ground, so the Baird tapir is an important part of its local ecosystem.
However, if you see them, it's best to avoid approaching them because they can easily be irritated around humans!
Low birth rates and habitat loss are the main reasons for the decline in the number of this species.
Little Sulfur Cockatoo – The parrot's ugly duckling
Don't worry too much – this rather unattractive phase only lasts about 12 weeks for parrots!
As one of Australia's national treasures, the yellow sulphur cockatoo is one of the most intelligent birds.
They are as friendly and curious as possible, and they roam freely throughout the continent, even in urban areas.
They sometimes wreak havoc by rummaging through bins, uprooting plants, and often by making loud noises.
Their juvenile form is very fragile and ugly, if you will.
But most birds go through this awkward phase before they grow beautiful and spectacular plumes.
This particular parrot subspecies is characterized by its bright white feathers, pale orbital area around the eyes and a charming yellow crown on the top of the head.
These birds have a very long lifespan, especially in captivity – they can live up to 70 years old!
Venomous snakefish – prehistoric marine predators
This deep-sea fish is not something you want to see during your beach vacation, for sure!
Viper fish has cool abilities that can make it look glowing.
It uses this skill to attract prey, piercing small marine animals with its fangs. It can comfortably live in deep water, more than 1 km below the waterline, which is known as the deep-sea buoy area.
It is also worth mentioning that the viperfish is a relatively small animal that can only grow to 60 cm long.
It can last for days without food, sometimes seemingly hanging motionless in the water, waiting for prey animals. It has natural enemies in the shape of dolphins and sharks.
As creepy as it may seem, you probably won't come across one of any common water feature locations!
Chinese giant salamander – antique amphibian
This slimy-looking creature was almost hunted to extinction because it was eaten as a delicacy in some parts of the world!
The Chinese giant salamander is one of the largest amphibians in the world and is capable of being completely aquatic.
As the name suggests, it is native to China and has also been introduced to certain parts of Japan.
Its skin secretes a sticky residue to drive away its predators, so it looks shiny and sticky!
Chinese believe that these salamanders have medicinal value when eaten.
Hunting them in the wild is illegal and they are farmed in some areas for their meat.
This particular salamander branch is a critically endangered species.
The Chinese government has taken protective measures to protect them, but the penalties for killing them are so low that people still poach or sell them for breeding purposes or their meat.
Hopefully, in the future, they will stay in their natural habitat and live peacefully!
Rescue dogs
Dan Tillery and his girlfriend adopted a rescue dog from a local shelter in Detroit, Michigan.
It's like a dream come true.
They soon become a loving and happy family with Diggy, a dog who is always smiling.
Dan often took pictures of him living with them, but he wouldn't have thought in his wildest dreams that a smiling face selfie would cause the police to knock on his door. What happened? What might have caught the attention of the police in that selfie?
The story begins with a 2-year-old dog wandering the streets of Detroit completely alone.
He was soon picked up by the Detroit Animal Control Center, which handed him over to a local shelter, the Detroit Rescue Organization.
The only problem was that he wasn't fit to drive their van as it was already full of 12 other dogs. He sat alone in the cage.