10 UNIQUE STRANGE ANIMALS YOU WON’T BELIEVE EXIST

Scientists have estimated that there are about 8.7 million species of animals on the earth. Out of these, there are only a few that we have seen and heard of. In the deepest corners of the Earth are animals we can never even imagine of. While some of them are different and unique species of otters, rabbits, or deer, some of them are what you might call a really strange animals. Across the globe, there are truly remarkable animals with weird features and characteristics.  Take a look at these 10 bizarre animals whose existence will shock you.

Shoebill

The shoe shoebill stork is a weird animal whose bill is shaped like a shoe. For an animal, these are abnormally tall, reaching a height of over 4 feet. Contrary to birds who live in a marsh environment, shoebills are very effective predators. Their long legs can easily get on shallow water and make reptiles, fishes, and rodents their quick prey.

These fierce animals are even known to prey on young crocodiles. Their habitat is concentrated in the East of Africa, away from human civilization. With their strong and sturdy beaks, these birds can grasp and strangle just about anything. However, there is no need for you to worry as they don’t prey on humans.

Prickly Stick insect

Finding a stick insect is a very challenging task. As the name suggests, these creatures greatly resemble sticks, which makes them hard to spot. Their appearance combined with their ability to stretch really long to a stick benefits as one of the best camouflages in the world.

There are many varieties of stick insects and the rarest one of them is the prickly stick insect found in Australia. This insect has an added feature of thorn-like spikes all over its body which helps them hide more accurately. These insects can stretch up to 21 inches as is one of the longest insects in the world.

Glass frog

A glass frog is one of the rarest frogs in the world. The most exciting thing about this peculiar animal is that it is completely see-through. Some of them have light green skin, while some have slight discoloration which appears as no colors. Their underpart is transparent and completely see-through. You can directly look at the organs of this weird animal.

Their spotted backs resemble eggs, so when predators try to catch them, they get confused. The best place where you can find this amazing frog is either Costa Rica or Panama. Costa Rica’s Tortuguero National Park is a promising place to see this animal in its all transparent glory.

Wombat

A wombat is a furry little marsupial with a friendly face, keen eyes, and a calm nature. You can say that if you see this wonderful animal, your immediate reaction would be hugging it. However, don’t get threatened by its cute appearance. Wombats have rodent-like teeth and can get very aggressive when they feel threatened.

Wombats are different in other ways as well. Unlike other marsupials, their pouches are backward and they have unique cone-shaped poop. They protect the tunnels where they live by diving into it headfirst and thwarting potential predators with their extremely tough rump.

Axolotl

An axolotl is a kind of salamander that is extremely adorable and disturbing at the same time. It has the nickname of walking fish. It has legs but it never reaches the land. The salamander spends time strolling the underwater surface. This strange animal ranges from colors creamy white to olive. It is only native to Mexico.

If you are extremely lucky. You might to able to spot one near Mexico city in the lakes of Xochimilco. Their population is decreasing by the day because of their loss of habitat and recently, they are considered a culinary delicacy.

Aye Aye

Head to Madagascar to focus all your energy on searching for an Aye-aye after sunsets. These are nocturnal lemurs with a very unusual build, having large ears and rat-like teeth. They tap on trees to locate insects based on percussion feedback, then they make a hole with their teeth and extract the insects with their long middle fingers to eat them.

They have similar behavior as a woodpecker and an appearance of a primate mixed with a rodent. The aye-aye is indeed one strange yet wonderful animal.

Markhor

Markhor is an exotic wild goat also known as the screw thorn goat, which has a head attached with long corkscrew-shaped thorns. Markhors are majestic goats with long thorns and beards, which clearly explains their wisdom. These species were once endangered but thankfully, now their population has increased by 20 percent.

Markhors are found in the mountains of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, the Himalayas, and Uzbekistan. If you wish to see one in the wild, go hiking to high elevations in remote ranges, where it’s most likely to roam.

Mantis Shrimp

Mantis Shrimp are fierce little weird animals that are also ancient. These creatures are found in various species and have been around for 400 million years. They are not like ordinary shrimps. Mantis shrimp are extremely strong, because of which their appendages are called clubs. These clubs are strong enough to crush crab shells and burst open clams. These clubs can dish out up to 500 punches in a second which is strong enough to break the glass.

These shrimps have extremely good eyesight and can see in two directions at once. They also have pinpoint accuracy, so it is unlikely that they miss prey. These creatures are available in 400 different species. Among them, the most dazzling and beautiful one is the peacock mantis shrimp. If you even go diving in the waters of Bali or Costa Rica, there is a high chance that you may spot a few of these animals.

Proboscis Monkey

The probosci’s monkey is quite a distinctive species. The male monkeys grow long noses that hang over their mouth. It is believed that the noses are an attribute of sexual selection. The larger the nose, the more attracted the female monkey will be to its counterpart. The noses don’t grow as large but are larger and longer than other primates among the females and juvenile monkeys.  These monkeys live in social groups.

Generally, there is one mature male and a harem of female monkeys, other times with a group of females with a group of bachelors. Females compete to mate with males and swap their harems several times throughout their lives. They are found on large scales in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and the Lower Kinabatangan floodplains.

Atretochoana

This small amphibian species was first discovered in an expedition to the Brazilian rainforests in the 1800s. they are one of the most bizarre creatures found in the wild. These create resemble very much to a human penis, that is why it is commonly called a penis snake.

They are limbless with a snake-like body and earthworm-like rings, which cover their entire body. Their head is like a part of the male anatomy which results in their name. if you ever get the chance to visit the Amazon and its tributary, the Madeira river, you might be able to see this peculiar animal.

Conclusion

There is a lot more to see in this world than what we see. In this article, we have discussed 10 very strange animals that are located in various parts of the world.

All Images are from en.wikipedia.org