Life on Earth abounds comprehension. There are a seemingly infinite variety of species and when added to the millennia it has existed for, evolution yields some extraordinary animals. From unicorns to Bigfoot, humans fantasize some pretty odd creatures too, so much so that we often miss the truly unique ones living around us.
Out of the 8.7 million estimated animal species living on Earth, we have only discovered a measly 1.2 million of them. Many are so foreign to us that they might seem unbelievable or unreal, though I can assure you, all of these animals are truly alive in nature. Here are some of the strangest creatures we have discovered so far:
Lamprey – Native to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, they are a jawless fish that has a heavily toothed funnel-shaped mouth.
Jerboa – A desert hopping rodent that lives in Africa. This little guy can run up to 15 miles per hour!
Harpy Eagle – With a wingspan of seven feet, these giant birds fly with great agility through the rain forests of Central America.
Red Lipped Batfish – Appearing to have a thick coating of red lipstick, this trait is used to attract a female mate.
Moschus or Musk Deer – Native to southern Asia, this deer naturally produces a chemical used to treat strokes and seizures.
Geoduck – Pronounced “Gooey Duck” is an exceedingly large edible mollusk. It is explained to taste like a very sweet, delicate, and crunchy clam.
Axolotl – an amphibious salamander native to Mexico. They are extremely endangered due to pollution in their habitat.
Okapi – Half Zebra? Not at all. Surprisingly, its closest relative is the giraffe.
Bearing Treehopper – How evolution came up with this, no one is sure, but its eyes are the green balls near its front legs.
Star Nose Mole – Commonly found in North America, its nose has more than 25,000 sensory receptors.
Maned Wolf – This pups controls a territory of over 12 square miles and stands at just over three feet tall.
Blobfish – Most likely the ugliest thing to ever come out of the sea, this fish lives at a depth of around 3,000 feet.
Atretochoana – Do not worry, it is just a rare species of amphibian. Not much is known about them other than they do not have lungs and breath through their skin.
Long-Watteled Umbrellabird – The wattle that males carry on their necks can extend to the full length of its body.
Hickory Horned Devil – This terrifying caterpillar turns into a surprisingly beautiful moth later in its life.
Saiga Antelope – Native to Europe and Asia, over the last 15 years more than 95% of this strange antelope’s population has declined.
Tarsier – The hilariously large eyes of this lemur-like animal grant it stellar night vision.
Deep Sea Viperfish – Putting the Blobfish to shame, this gold and clear fish lives at 9,000 feet deep.
Water Opossum – Native to Central and South America, this big footed creature enjoys living on river banks eating shrimp and fish.
Venezuelan Poodle Moth – Only recently discovered, it is fluffy and soft like a poodle!
Glaucus Atlanticus – This beautiful slug floats upside-down through the worlds oceans.
Japanese Spider Crab – With a leg span of 13 feet, it is sure to feed one large family.
Sea Pen – Closely related to coral, there are over 450 species that scatter the sea floor.
Blue-Footed Booby – Named after its vibrant blue feet, this eye catching bird is native to the Eastern Pacific./Source: Buzznicked
Out of the 1.2 million discovered species so far, there certainly are some funky and unique animals in this world. Imagine what is to come of the 7.5 million waiting to be discovered! Most of these animals seem unreal party due to the fact that we are not often exposed to them. Only through a lot of exposure does an animal become familiar and ordinary appearing to us. What animal in this list was your favorite?