Animals come in all shapes and sizes, some of which are so strange-looking we can’t help but wonder how they evolved. From blobfish to star-nosed moles, the animal kingdom is full of unusual creatures that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Here are 7 of the weirdest-looking animals in the world.
Axolotl
The Axolotl is undeniably one of the weirdest-looking animals on the planet. Its large, googly eyes and thick, slimy skin give it an alien-like appearance. Its long, feathery gills and wide, flat feet make it look like a cross between a salamander and a tadpole. Axolotl’s unique coloring, ranging from yellow to dark brown, also adds to its bizarre appearance. Its small size and timid nature make it an easy target for predators, yet its resilient nature allows it to thrive in the wild.
Naked Mole Rat
The Naked Mole Rat is one of the weirdest-looking animals in the world. It has a long, wrinkly snout, small eyes, and no fur. Its skin is wrinkled and pink and is translucent in some areas. Its front legs are short, while its hind legs are longer and more powerful. It has large, protruding teeth and its tail is short and thin. The Naked Mole Rat lives underground in large burrows and nests.
It spends most of its time tunneling and digging its underground home. It is active during the day and sleeps in its burrow at night. A naked mole rat has very poor eyesight and relies on its sense of smell and feel to navigate. It feeds on roots, tubers, and insects, which it finds in the soil. Its lifespan is unusually long, up to 28 years in captivity.
The Dugong
The fascinating Dugong is one of the weirdest-looking animals. It has a large, heavy body, with a large head and a flattened tail. Its body is covered with a thick layer of grey-brown fur. Its face is round with a snout-like nose and round, dark eyes. Their flippers are paddle-like, and it has a large, fleshy fin running along the length of its back. They have thick, leathery skin, which helps it to move quickly through the water. It is an excellent swimmer and can dive up to 30 meters.
Proboscis Monkey
The Proboscis Monkey is an odd-looking creature. It has a very large, protruding nose, long shaggy fur, and pot-bellied body. Its arms and legs are unusually long, too. This primate can be found in the mangrove forests of Borneo and parts of Sumatra. Its diet mostly consists of leaves, unripe fruits, and seeds. This monkey is an agile climber, often found in the tree-tops looking for food. It spends most of its time on the trees, rarely descending to the ground. Its large nose is used for producing loud honks during mating season.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
The Pink Fairy Armadillo is a small, pink armadillo that is native to Argentina. It has a soft, pink shell that covers its head, back, and tail. Its body is covered with silky, white fur. This creature has small, beady eyes and a long snout that helps it to dig for food. Its extremely long claws make it look even weirder. It is a species of armadillo that only lives in certain areas of Argentina. It is nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for food at night.
Shoebill
The Shoebill is a large bird that is native to Africa. It is an incredible-looking creature, with its long bill and large, blue-grey body. It is easily recognizable among the world’s weirdest-looking animals. Its large bill is tipped with a nail-like hook, making it look like a shoe. Their size is impressive, reaching up to five feet in height. Its wingspan can be up to six feet, too. The Shoebill is mainly found in the wetlands of eastern Africa.
Star-Nosed Mole
The Star-Nosed Mole is one of the weirdest-looking animals on the planet. With its distinctive star-shaped nose, this animal looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Its snout is covered in thousands of highly sensitive tactile receptors called Eimer’s organs, which it uses to locate prey in its underground environment. The mole can detect prey in as little as 8 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest predators in the animal kingdom.
