Nature contains approximately 8.7 million species of living organisms – with 6.5 million species on land and 2.2 million in the oceans – according to the census of marine life, although many scientists say the true number could be millions higher. Despite this massive number, some end up being a bit stranger than the rest of the animal and marine kingdom.
Double-necked Lizard
The double-necked lizard is distinguished by its frightening appearance with its giant neck, native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Despite its threatening look, these friendly and calm creatures are only interested in insects. However, there are many animals that the lizard is concerned about, so it has adapted its body to fend off potential enemies and has the ability to run very quickly and can run on its hind legs when it increases its speed.
Blobfish
The blobfish is a deep-sea fish that lives in the waters above the sea floor at depths ranging from 600 to 1200 meters, off the coasts of mainland Australia and New Zealand and Tasmania. The blobfish looks bizarre out of water, but this is due to the strange adaptations to the pressures of the waters it lives in. While many fish use gas bladders to create buoyancy, the blobfish does so by being made of a gelatinous mass that is slightly less dense than water. The blobfish also lacks muscles, so it spends much of its time floating with the current and eats anything that floats in front of it.
Goblin Shark
The goblin shark is a rare species of deep-sea shark and the only representative of the Mitsukurinidae family, a lineage dating back nearly 125 million years. These pink-skinned animals are characterized by a long, sharp snout and nail-like, curved teeth, allowing them to move with incredible speed. They typically measure between 3 and 4 meters when mature, although they can grow as large as a shark caught in 2000 that was believed to be 6 meters long.
Komondor Dog
The Komondor, also known as the Hungarian sheepdog, is a large breed of white guard dog distinguished by its prominent, corded white coat that resembles dreadlocks or a mop. The hair is soft and fluffy. However, the hair is corded and tends to mat as the puppy grows. The mature hair is naturally formed from fine undercoat hair and coarser outer hair to create the cords.
Echidna
The echidna, also known as the spiny anteater, is one of the Australian animals on this list and is one of the members of the monotreme order, meaning it does not give birth to live young but instead lays eggs. It is covered in spines, has long noses lined with electroreceptors, a feature found only on land in echidnas and the platypus.
Aye-aye
With bulging eyes, giant ears, and wiry hair, the aye-aye is a type of lemur with long fingers, a species of large nocturnal primate found in Madagascar, characterized by rodent-like teeth that continuously grow and a special slender middle finger. It is the largest nocturnal lemur in the world. It has an unusual way of finding food: it taps on trees to locate larvae, then gnaws holes in the wood using its forward-curved incisors to create a small hole into which its thin middle finger enters to extract the larvae.
Axolotl
Also known as the Mexican walking fish, the axolotl is one of the most unique amphibians in the world. In addition to its friendly appearance, this amphibian is neotenic, meaning adults remain aquatic and have gills rather than undergoing metamorphosis upon reaching adulthood. They also have the ability to regenerate almost any part of their body. While the axolotl is nearly extinct in its native Mexico, it has thrived in captivity and has become beloved in the scientific world as well as among civilians as a pet.
Platypus
The platypus,
Also known as the platypus, it is an egg-laying mammal that is semi-aquatic, nocturnal, and venomous, native to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus has evolved electro-sensory capabilities to help locate prey, much like bats and sharks, but it has nearly 40,000 electrical receptors, providing incredible precision. This small creature – growing only to about 50 cm in length – is one of the only organisms in the world representing the sole family and genus of scientific classification.
Dumbo Octopus
Thanks to its resemblance to the main character in the 1941 Disney film “Dumbo,” where it has a fin resembling an ear that extends from the mantle over each eye, it is clear how this species got its name. It lives at depths of up to 13,100 feet (4,000 meters) below sea level. The largest Dumbo octopus recorded was 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters) long and weighed 13 pounds (5.9 kilograms). Life at such great depths requires the ability to live in very cold waters and in complete darkness. Dumbo octopuses move by slowly undulating their ear-like fins and use their arms for steering.
Sloth
Sloths are mammals found in Central and South America and are generally considered to be omnivorous, eating plants and insects, but their diet typically consists of buds and leaves. Sloths have made remarkable adaptations for their tree-dwelling lifestyle. They have a massive, slow-moving stomach that contains multiple sections where cooperative bacteria coexist with the coarse leaves.
Turritopsis nutricula
Turritopsis nutricula is a jellyfish from the family Oceanidae, originally from the Caribbean Sea, but now found in all warm and tropical seas around the world. Since its discovery in Colombia, it has also been spotted near Japan and in the Mediterranean Sea. It is long with transparent, jelly-like skin. Young organisms have eight tentacles, while adult organisms can have 80-90 tentacles. It has a large red stomach inside and can glow in the dark.
These strange-looking and behaving animals may seem peculiar, but they reflect the immense diversity in the world of life and remind us that nature never ceases to create and renew.
Source: Al Arabiya Net
Source: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2021/07/28/Top-ten-strangest-animals-in-the-world
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