Animals You've Never Seen
We all know our planet is covered with nooks and crannies that have yet to be explored, but did you know there's more to learn about the areas we've already uncovered? When it comes to animals, you may think you know all there is roaming the Earth, but in reality, there's so much you don't know. To prove that, here are 20 of the world's weirdest creatures you won't be able to believe exist.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer on Wikimedia
1. Leafy Seadragon
You might think you're simply looking at some kelp at the bottom of the ocean, but this plant-like thing is actually an animal! The leafy seadragon, more commonly called 'leafies,' are excellent camouflagers, as you'd probably guess. Found along the coasts of Australia, you may just mistake this underwater animal from the Syngnathidae family as a plant!
2. Dumbo Octopus
Now that's not a very nice name is it! Until you realize this fascinating underwater animal has ears as big as well, Dumbo the elephant! Said to be the deepest-living species of octopus, you sadly won't be likely to see this creature during your snorkeling adventures.
NOAA Okeanos Explorer on Wikimedia
3. Japanese Spider Crab
We know seeing the word 'spider' is enough to make you recoil in fear, and unfortunately, seeing this Japanese spider crab won't make you feel any more relaxed. Looking like the perfect blend of spider and crab, this gigantic crustacean isn't just scary to look at, they also have one of the longest leg spans of their kind. They sit at just under 4 meters long!
4. Star-Nosed Mole
A bit unsettling to look at, the star-nosed mole sounds a lot nicer than it looks. With its unique tentacle-like snout, called Eimer's organs, this hamster-sized mole relies on using them as sensory tools to feel their way around. So though this creature does have an impressive sense of smell, its unique nose is used more for touch.
5. Siphonophore
Yes, that strange string-looking thing on your screen is in fact an animal. The Siphonophore has a name as complicated as itself! A type of marine animal, or better yet, organism, they are closely related to the jellyfish family which might explain their fluid-moving bodies. The most impressive fact though? Siphonophores can grow up to 150 ft, which is actually even longer than the blue whale!
6. Uakari
Looking like something out of your nightmares, the Uakari's red face and unique body shape make it a terrifying creature you've never seen before. Their weirdest feature is that though their bodies are covered in thick, long hairs, their face is entirely bald (not to mention the color)! They are generally found in the Amazon or forests in Brazil, Columbia, and Peru, meaning there's a very small chance you'll ever come face to face with one in real life.
Evgenia Kononova, upload on en:wiki by user Ipaat on en.wikipedia on Wikimedia
7. Pink River Dolphin
Think you know everything about dolphins? Turns out they don't only come in grey, they come in pink too! At least for pink river dolphins (or Amazon river dolphins), they acquire this unique color as they grow into adults. Sadly though, this species has been deemed endangered, meaning efforts are being made to preserve this interesting animal.
8. Sarcastic Fringehead
With their buggy eyes and terrifyingly wide open mouth, the sarcastic fringehead sounds like a funny creature, but we're pretty sure it's not one you'd want to encounter while going on a swim. Only growing up to a ruler's length in size, don't underestimate how small they are - they're said to be very aggressive.
9. Aye-Aye
This unique-looking lemur found in Madagascar has a bunch of strange traits that make it different from anything you've ever seen. Not only do they have incredibly long fingers with the middle one being the most notable, they also have rodent-like teeth and big round ears. These creatures also happen to be the biggest nocturnal primates on the planet!
10. Blobfish
You might be thinking this is some weird AI-generated image of a fish with a face printed on it, but no, the blobfish is very real and looks just like that. Arguably one of the most confusing and interesting-looking animals on the planet, this deep-sea fish has a squishy, gelatinous body and is primarily found off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania.
11. Red-Lipped Batfish
Looking like an animal that put red lipstick on, the red-lipped batfish is an extraordinarily strange creature living in our waters. Typically found around the Galapagos Islands and Peru, this fish is weirdly not very good at swimming; instead, it uses its unique limbs and fins to essentially stroll across the ocean bed. Sounds like they just weren't meant for the sea!
12. Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Found in Madagascar, the lowland streaked tenrec looks a little like it's been hit with electricity thanks to its spiky quills and yellow colors. But these quills aren't just there for appearance, they're the tenrec's defensive mechanism for when predators start getting too close. After all, they're a rather small creature which means they have to find other means to protect themselves.
13. Potoo
Potoos are very distinctive looking birds that are also known as "poor-me-ones" due to their creepy-sounding bird calls. Found almost exclusively in Central and South America, this nocturnal, insect-loving bird is best known for having a rather large head in comparison to its body.
14. Pacific Barreleye Fish
Yes, that's a skull you're looking at! This deep-sea creature called the barreleye fish is an awfully wacky one. Not only does it have eyes that shift upward, the top half of its head is completely transparent, allowing you to see inside its body. As a result of its creepiness, its been given the nickname spook fish.
15. Florida Softshell Turtle
Though you've always associated turtles as defensive creatures with a rock solid exterior, the Florida softshell turtle is a different story. Their shells aren't the usual scaly kinds you'll find, but instead have a soft, smooth, and leathery feel to them. It also tends to have a much flatter shape compared to the usual domed sort! You can find these slow creatures generally in the water of marshes, swamps, and lakes.
16. Glass Frog
Found in the rainforests of Columbia or countries in Central America, the glass frog is a unique specimen that's most known for its bright shade of lime green. However, there's a fascinating transparent quality to their skin that allows you to see some of its internal organs! Generally found in the trees, their small size and unique coloring allow them to hide from plain sight, blending in with their leafy surroundings.
Mauricio Rivera Correa on Wikimedia
17. Maned Wolf
Despite looking like a cross between a wolf and a fox, the maned wolf is actually neither! This large canine found in South America actually belongs to its own species, which when translated to English, means 'golden dog.' But just as many imagine wolves to be, this omnivorous creature tends to live on its own in classic lone wolf fashion.
18. Naked Mole Rat
You might think you're looking at a newborn baby rat, but nope, that's just what the naked mole rat looks for the rest of its life. This unusual creature goes against what we think of animals: it has no fur or scales and is simply pink and bald! These animals are very social though, living in large colonies underground similar to that of bees.
19. Goblin shark
Sharks are already terrifying enough, but have you ever heard of the deep-sea Goblin shark? With its incredibly long snout paired with a protruding jaw of sharp teeth, this creature has been swimming the depths of our oceans for millions of years. In fact, they've been around for so long, they've been granted the nickname "living fossil."
20. Water Deer
Who knew innocent deer could look so terrifying? Though they're small in size and found in China and South Korea, one look at this species will give you a shock. Giving it the nickname vampire deer, water deer have two very prominent tusks that hang visibly below its mouth. Though every other aspect of this animal looks familiar to what we know, those tusks stand out like a sore thumb.
