With more than 8.7 million species of animals on Earth, it should come as no surprise that some will appear strange. From wrinkly pink naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber), which live underground colonies, to red-lipped batfish with its red pout and spikey snout – there are numerous strange-looking creatures out there to admire!
The Gerenuk is an unusual mammal found only in Kenya and Tanzania, famed for its distinctive ears. To learn more about it visit our Weird Animals page.
Aye-aye
Aye-ayes stand out among primates by their distinctive combination of physical characteristics that distinguishe them. From large eyes with bat-like pupils and mobile ears that can percussively forage trees for food to long tails that resemble squirrel tails – not forgetting their unusual skeletal middle finger that rotates 360 degrees and extends in an unusual fashion – Aye-ayes stand out among their species by having such unique features that set them apart morphologically.
Aye-ayes have developed the ability to use their middle fingers as fishing rods to locate beetle grubs from decaying tree bark, where they then use this finger to fish them out for food – about 90% of their diet consists of beetle grubs.
Contrary to most primates, the aye-aye is nocturnal and uses echolocation to find prey. Additionally, they’re expert climbers, sleeping in spherical nests made out of branches, vines and leaves they construct for shelter.
Aye-ayes have inspired regional folklore in Madagascar that associates them with bad luck and misfortune, prompting some people to avoid talking about them out of fear that mentioning them will bring bad fortune. Not surprising given that aye-ayes are endangered due to habitat loss in their native homeland as well as hunting and predator threats; nonetheless they remain social creatures, marking their territory using scent marks while females spend up to one hour mating during each oestrus cycle.
Babirusa
The Babirusa is an animal native to Indonesian island Sulawesi that resembles domestic pigs in both appearance and behavior, with two sets of tusks that curve over its body before meeting between its eyes. Sometimes referred to as deer boar or hog deer due to its round body that lacks hair but its peculiar tusks that resemble deer antlers, male Babirusas possess two tusks that meet between their eyes resemblance between domestic pigs and antlers; hence its common nickname of Deer Boar or Hog Deer.
Lower tusks of male elephants resemble daggers but are delicate and easily broken, serving not as weapons but to deter rivals during mating season and shield their eyes from fighting, an activity common for these species as they compete for females.
Babirusas stand out from other pig species by having small nose discs that are smaller than most and virtually hairless, in addition to possessing strong senses of smell and long ears which help navigate dense forests.
Babirusas are rare and endangered mammals that do not have natural predators; as a result, their population numbers have been drastically reduced due to habitat destruction caused by logging and mining activity. Babirusas can often be seen at zoos within enclosures that recreate their natural environments in the wild.
Sloth
A sloth is an arboreal tropical American omnivore with long claws used to grip tree branches, similar to monkeys, anteaters and armadillos; they can reach lengths up to 2.5 feet.
These solitary animals typically spend most of their time in the rainforest canopy sleeping, resting, and searching for leafy vegetation as sustenance. Their slow movement helps them avoid predators that hunt by sight while saving energy as it eliminates shivering to stay warm.
There are two primary types of sloth: two-toed and three-toed. Two-toed sloths feature two claws on their front limbs while three-toed versions possess three claws across all four limbs and tend to be larger.
Female solitary snails become pregnant by emitting a nighttime “scream”, alerting any interested males. After months of slow courtship, two males will fight until only one remains, after which time the pair copulate and give birth to only one offspring.
Fox
Foxes are predators that prey upon any available food sources, from berries and insects to mice and birds. Additionally, they scavenge rubbish left out by humans for recycling purposes. Their cunning has earned them a place in many cultures such as mythology and folklore, hence why the phrase “sly as a fox” can be used to refer to someone as being clever or resourceful.
Foxes can be easily distinguished in the wild, typically having triangular ears that point upward, pointed muzzles with upturned corners, long bushy tails, digitigrade walking habits and black whiskers (known as mystacial vibrissae ) on their muzzle that average between 100-110 millimeters (3+7/8-4+3/8 in) long pointing downward and backward.
Fur colors for foxes vary from light tan to red or grey depending on their species, with some species sporting lighter tones than others. Certain specialized species look very different from the classic “storybook fox”, such as the Tibetan Sand Fox (Vulpes ferrilata), with large ears designed to detect burrowing insects and small mammals as well as a broad, narrow muzzle for survival in desert climates. Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis) also features unusually large ears for hunting harvester termite harvester termite harvester termites, ants and other insects in North African desert conditions.
Bearded Pig
The bearded pig is one of our more peculiar looking animals, known for the long, frizzed hairs that protrude from its head and face like beard-like protrusions, giving it its name. Native to Southeast Asia such as Sumatra, Borneo and Malay Peninsula; inhabits rainforests, mangroves, coastal areas and mountain forests; it feeds on roots, earthworms, fruits seedlings etc. These social animals live together in family groups; young ones being known as piglets while adult males as boars.
Pigs migrate over long distances at night in search of fruiting events in forests; their migration is greatly influenced by habitat loss and human activities; however, African Swine Fever outbreaks threaten their population dramatically and thus impede migration patterns.
The Potamochere Red River Hog (tassel-eared red river hog) is another strange species native to central Africa that boasts unique traits: protrusions of hair from its ears that scientists believe signal danger and it has the ability to shake off its tufts to scare predators away.
Pangolin
Think pinecone with legs, artichoke or tiny dinosaur — or all three — and you may get close to understanding what a pangolin looks like. Its scales provide it with an eye-catching appearance that forces your brain to recall other bizarre-looking animals from its Rolodex; but these hard, sharp scales don’t just add visual interest; they’re also effective defense mechanisms against predators such as big cats such as lions.
Pangolins are solitary nocturnal mammals unique in that they feature protective scales made of keratin that cover their entire bodies – similar to fingernails and toenails – similar to fingernails and toenails. With long and heavy tails that can roll up into balls for self-defense purposes, pangolins make for unique predators in terms of protection from harm.
Though they superficially resemble armadillos and anteaters, they’re actually unrelated creatures resulting from convergent evolution. Instead they rely heavily on smell to find food; their tongues can even reach into termite tunnels to scoop insects for feasting within their stomachs.
Though rare and misunderstood, pangolins play an essential role in their habitats. But their unique features also make them highly stressed when taken away from their natural homes, making readjusting difficult. Furthermore, traditional Asian medicine views them as strengthening hearts, treating diabetes, and increasing breast milk supply – leading to near extinction rates for these unique animals. WWF works closely with partners to stop illegal trade of pangolins so they may return back into wild habitats.
Madagascar
Madagascar, a landmass the size of California that’s separated from Africa by the Indian Ocean, boasts unique wildlife not found elsewhere on Earth. These evolutionary oddities include lemurs – tree-dwelling primates; vividly colored lizards such as geckos and chameleons; spiny hedgehog-like insectivores called Tenrecs; and fossas (carnivorous mammals related to cats and mongooses).
Madagascar boasts more than half of all known chameleon species with approximately 260 types spanning from large Parson’s chameleons (two feet or 68 cm) to diminutive stump-tailed ones that measure no longer than a fingernail. Madagascar also is home to its very own hissing cockroach, an unusual reptile that mimics mammal behavior when fighting rival roaches by using its horn-like structures to hiss and inflate its abdomen while hissing at them both!
Tsingy de Bemaraha, an incredible natural stone forest of razor-sharp limestone spires and canyons that creates an enchanting natural setting, is also located here and should not be missed by nature enthusiasts. UNESCO has listed this as a World Heritage Site to ensure future generations enjoy a quality visit experience!