8 weird and wonderful animals you’ve probably never heard of

The world is full of amazing animals, some of which are so strange and unique that they seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to 8 weird and wonderful animals you’ve probably never heard of before. These animals have fascinating features and behaviours that make them stand out from the rest of the animal kingdom. Read on and discover some of the coolest creatures on the planet!

Blobfish

The blobfish is a deep-sea fish that lives in the waters just off Australia and New Zealand. It has a gelatinous body that allows it to withstand the high pressure of the ocean depths. However, when it’s brought to the surface, it loses its shape and becomes a blob. Which is why, in 2013, the blobfish was voted the world’s ugliest animal. Shame, hey?

Axolotl

The axolotl is a type of salamander that lives in the lakes of Mexico. It’s also known as the Mexican walking fish, even though it’s not a fish but an amphibian. What makes the axolotl weird is that it never grows up. It stays in its larval stage for its entire life, retaining its gills and living in water. The axolotl can also regenerate its limbs, tail, and even parts of its brain and heart. How cool!

Dugong

The dugong is a marine mammal that’s related to the manatee. It has a thick, grey body, a dolphin-like tail, and a downward-facing snout. It feeds on seagrass and can stay underwater for up to 6 minutes. The dugong is also known as the sea cow, and it’s the inspiration for the myth of the mermaid.

Colugo

The colugo is a tree-dwelling mammal that lives in Southeast Asia. What makes it special is that it has a membrane of skin that stretches from its neck to its feet, which allows it to glide from tree to tree. In fact, the colugo can glide up to 200m in a single leap!

Barreleye

The barreleye is a small fish that lives in the deep sea. It has a transparent, dome-shaped head that contains its eyes, which are tubular and can rotate in any direction. The eyes are green because they have a filter that helps them see bioluminescent prey. The barreleye also has a mouth that can open very wide, and a long, slender body that’s dark brown or black.

Babirusa

The babirusa is a type of wild pig that lives in the forests of Indonesia. It has a distinctive appearance, with long, curved tusks that grow from its upper and lower jaws. The upper tusks can pierce through the skin of the snout and curve backwards towards the forehead. The babirusa uses its tusks for fighting and digging. It’s omnivorous, eating roots, fruits, insects, and small animals.

Pangolin

The pangolin is a scaly mammal that lives in Africa and Asia. It’s also known as the scaly anteater, because it feeds on ants and termites, using its long, sticky tongue. It has a protective armour of keratin scales, which are the same material as human fingernails. When threatened, it can roll into a ball and use its sharp scales as a defence. The pangolin is the most trafficked animal in the world, due to the illegal demand for its scales and meat. It’s critically endangered and needs urgent conservation action.