11 Totally Bizarre Creatures You Never Knew Existed
The Animal Kingdom is vast beyond belief. There are constantly new species being discovered, not to mention new things about species we already know about being discovered as well.
But of the animals biologists have known about for years - most of which we probably haven't even heard of - here are some of the most unique and bizarre ones out there.
Sometimes called the "living fossil", this terrifying creature is the only existing representative of the family Mitsukurinidae, a lineage dating back to nearly 125 million years ago.
With over 400 species discovered worldwide, Mantis Shrimp, called "sea locusts" by Ancient Assyrians, are one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. Their claws, or "smashers," can strike with up to 10,400 g and up to speeds of 23 m/s - that's enough force to break glass.
They also have some of the most complex eyes known to man. Where humans have three types of color receptive cones that
The sole species of genus Moloch, the Thorny Dragon can grow up to 8 inches in length, and can live for up to 20 years. A Thorny Dragon's spikes are incredibly sharp, and make it one of the least attacked animals in the desert food-chain system.
It also has a "false head" on its upper back, which it presents to predators that dare to trifle with it by rolling up into a tight ball in self defense.
Although the Okapi bear's (yes, they're bizarrely referred to as bears) striped markings are reminiscent of zebras, it's most closely related to the giraffe. The okapi and the giraffe are actually the only living members of the family Giraffidae.
The Eatern Long-Necked Turtle inhabits a diverse array of bodies of water, and is a vigorous feeder - for a turtle anyway. It's also considered a "side-necked" turtle, which means that it bends its head sideways into its shell rather than retracting straight back, to protect itself from predators.
Inhabiting some of the deeper parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, these oversized lobsters can grow to be over 2 feet long and weigh up to 5 lbs. Their discovery in 1879 by French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards marked a pivotal movement in marine biology, as it refuted the popular belief that life didn't exist in deep ocean habitats.
A vibrant and rather adorable little creature, the Blue Sea Slug isn't to be trifled with. A relative of the Portuguese Man o' War, they inflict a very painful and potentially dangerous venomous sting when held or threatened.
Found primarily off the coast of Costa Rica, and perhaps the most glamorous fish of the sea, Red-Lipped Batfish's crimson lips serve as a tactical attraction for prey. As a relative to the anglerfish, they too have structures on their head known as illicium, which are yet another means of enticing prey.
The bizarre and oily Indian Purple Frog was only officially recognized as a discovered animal in 2003, although locals of southwestern India knew of its existence well before, without formally documenting it. It spends almost all of its time underground, surfacing for roughly two weeks of the year, during monsoon season, to mate.
The Blue Parrotfish's comical grin is a result of its well developed "beak," that they use to scrape algae and small organisms from tough surfaces. They also have pharyngeal teeth that grind the rocks they inadvertently ingest into sand for easier digestion.
In the same family as opossums, shrews, and yes, hedgehogs, the Lowland streaked Tenrec is covered in barbed quills just like its cousin. But unlike hedgehogs, who merely curl in defense, when threatened, the aggressive tenrec will erect its quills and actually charge the predator, making it one animal you do not want to catch off guard.