22 Unknown Animals That Will Surprise You With Their Unusualness
There are many amazing animals in the world that few people know about. In this selection, we will tell you about the most unusual creatures that will surprise you with their appearance. Find out about the babirusa with its strange fangs, the shaggy markhor with spiral horns, the sad snub-nosed rhinopithecus, and other unusual animals. Are you ready to meet the strangest inhabitants of the planet? Scroll on!
Red wolf - lives in the mountainous and forested areas of South and Southeast Asia. At first glance, it resembles a hybrid of a fox and a wolf, which makes its appearance truly unique. Red wolves are afraid of people, although they are brave enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, buffalo and even a tiger. These animals live in packs, which makes their behavior similar to that of wolves, but their unusual coloring and graceful movements give them a special charm.
The babirusa or "pig-deer" is a member of the pig family and is found only on the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togiyan, Sula, and Buru. Babirusas constantly wear down their "horns" because they grow non-stop. If they did not, the horns would grow into the skull and pierce it.
This species of armadillo, native to Argentina, is only 10 centimeters long. The body of this tiny creature is covered in pink armor that resembles a shell, and its back is decorated with a kind of "cloak" that helps it move underground. Unlike other armadillos, the frilled armadillo is active at night and spends most of its time digging passages in search of food. This miniature "knight in armor" impresses not only with its appearance, but also with its ability to quickly disappear underground, leaving observers perplexed.
The fossa is an unusual predator that lives on the island of Madagascar. Outwardly, it resembles a cross between a cat and a mongoose, which makes its appearance completely unique. At the same time, the fossa is the largest predator on the island. Its slender body, long tail and flexible paws allow it to deftly climb trees and chase prey. This animal is a real acrobat among the trees. Semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles allow the fossa to climb trees upside down and upside down.
The gerenuk, also known as the Waller's gazelle, is an antelope that lives in the arid regions of East Africa. Its long neck and slender body make it look like a miniature living giraffe. Thanks to its unusual anatomy, the gerenuk can easily reach high tree branches to feast on leaves and shoots that are inaccessible to other animals. The gerenuk's head is adorned with large expressive eyes and graceful horns. This graceful creature moves with ease and grace, reminiscent of a savannah ballerina.
The naked mole rat is one of the most unusual animals on the planet. It looks like a small pink sausage without hair, with wrinkled skin and large teeth that dig tunnels in the ground. This rodent lives in underground colonies in East Africa and leads an ant-like life. Despite its strange appearance, the naked mole rat is incredibly important to science. It is resistant to cancer and can live up to 28 years, remaining healthy and vigorous. Scientists study these amazing creatures to find ways to treat cancer and stop aging in humans.
The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in the rivers and coastal waters of Southeast Asia. Unlike other dolphins, it has a round head and a short nose, which makes it look like a cartoon character. These dolphins are light gray in color and are very agile, so they can swim quickly and play in the water. Irrawaddy dolphins are known for their friendly nature and their ability to live in both salt and fresh water, which makes them unique. Irrawaddy dolphins often actively interact with fishermen and help them catch fish by driving them into nets.
The Markhor is an unusual wild goat that lives in the mountainous regions of northeastern Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is famous for its long, twisted horns, which can reach up to five feet in length. The Markhor is the national symbol of Pakistan, but sadly there are only about 2,500 left. Interestingly, the Markhor is not as simple as it seems. When it chews its food, it produces foam, which locals believe helps against poisonous snake bites.
The Yeti crab, also called Kiwaydae, is covered in long white bristles that resemble fur, which is how it got its name, "Yeti", after the famous snowman. These bristles help it get food, because they contain bacteria that the crab eats. The Yeti crab lives near hot underwater springs, where conditions are very harsh. Its strange appearance and unusual adaptations for life make it a real mystery of the underwater world.
Snub-nosed monkeys or rhinopithecus live in various parts of Asia and get their name from their short nose and round face. Snub-nosed monkeys inhabit mountain forests and come down in winter. They spend most of their lives in trees and live in groups of up to 600 individuals. They have a large vocal repertoire and enjoy performing solos.
The maned wolf is the largest canine mammal in South America, but despite its name, this animal looks more like a fox with long legs than a wolf. It lives in South America, where its long legs help it move through the tall grass of the savannahs. The maned wolf has reddish fur and a fluffy mane that stands on end when it is scared or wants to appear larger. Its special feature is its unusual bark, which is more like a loud howl.
The Indian muntjac is a small deer that lives in the forests of South and Southeast Asia. It has small antlers and sharp fangs like a vampire, which help it defend itself from predators. The muntjac is omnivorous: it eats grass, fruits, shoots, seeds, bird eggs, and even small animals and carrion. Because of its strange appearance and unusual behavior, the Indian muntjac is sometimes called the "barking deer." When the muntjac sees a predator, it barks like a dog.
At first glance, the hyrax may seem like an ordinary rodent, but in fact, it is a close relative of elephants! Despite its small size, only about 30-50 cm in length, the hyrax is armed with sharp fangs and strong paws that help it climb rocks. These creatures lead a daytime lifestyle, gathering in groups and feeding on grass, leaves and fruits. Interestingly, the hyrax can make different sounds that resemble a squeak or even a bark when it senses danger. This small but strong animal is a real master of survival in harsh conditions.
Also known as the Sunda flying lemur, it is not actually a lemur and it certainly does not fly. Instead, it hops and glides among the trees. It lives only in trees, is active at night, and feeds on soft plant parts such as young leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruits. It can be found throughout Southeast Asia, specifically in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The tufted deer is another owner of pronounced fangs. It is a close relative of the muntjac, but it lives a little further north, mainly in China. It is easily recognized by a small "cap" of long black hairs on its head, which resembles a crest. The tufted deer is quite timid and prefers to remain in the shade of the forest, where its dark fur helps it hide from predators. But if it feels threatened, it can become aggressive and defend itself with sharp fangs, like the muntjac. Despite its outward modesty, the tufted deer is a real fighter and an excellent master of camouflage.
The lamprey is a type of jawless fish that lives mainly in coastal and fresh waters. Adults are characterized by a toothed funnel-shaped mouth. They attach themselves to fish and suck their blood. The lamprey appeared on Earth more than 300 million years ago.
The raccoon dog, or Tanuki, is a native canine species of East Asia. The raccoon dog is so named because of its strong resemblance to the raccoon, to which it is not related. Tanuki are omnivores: they feed on berries, fruits, small animals, and insects. In Japanese culture, the tanuki is not just an animal, but also a character in myths and legends. The tanuki is believed to be a cunning and cheerful trickster who can transform into various objects and even people to play tricks on his victims.
The Patagonian mara is an unusual rodent that lives on the plains of Argentina. At first glance, the mara resembles a cross between a hare and a small antelope. It has long legs and large ears, which helps it run fast and hear well. The Patagonian mara is diurnal and feeds mainly on grass and other plants. These animals are very attached to their partners and often travel together, forming close family groups.
This small but very impressive bird, as you might guess, lives in the tropical forests of Amazonia. It can be recognized by the bright crest on its head, which resembles a crown. When the king flycatcher spreads this crest, it looks especially impressive, as if it were putting on a bright headdress. The Amazon king flycatcher is a real master of catching insects: it catches prey in flight with lightning speed. This bird is not only beautiful, but also useful, as it helps control the number of insects in the forest.
Zebra duikers are small antelopes from the Ivory Coast. They have golden or reddish-brown fur with the characteristic zebra stripes. Hence the name. The zebra duiker is secretive, hiding in dense vegetation and feeding on fruits, leaves and small plants. It often remains unnoticed, which helps it avoid predators. Its unique striped coloring and ability to quickly hide make the zebra duiker a true master of disguise.
The star-nosed mole is a small mole that lives in damp areas of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Instead of a normal nose, the star-nosed mole has 22 flexible, fleshy tentacles that help it feel and explore its environment. These tentacles are so sensitive that the star-nosed mole can detect and eat prey in just a fraction of a second.
The Belt-Tailed Lizard lives in the deserts of South Africa and resembles a miniature dragon. The body of this unusual lizard is covered with sharp scales that protect it from predators. But the most interesting thing is its tail. When the Belt-Tailed Lizard senses danger, it curls up into a ball and bites its own tail, turning into an impregnable ball of spikes.