A Look at the Worlds Strangest Creatures

Animals are intriguing to me. I've had this fascination since I was very young,and with good reason. Every day there are amazing new species of animals being discovered. A lot of them are on the brink of extinction,and many others will be extinct before we ever find a live specimen. In a perfect world,we would all be able to live amongst each other.But unfortunately, this is a far from perfect world that we live in. Man has taken over as ruler,and the animals are dying because of our selfish needs and desires.

As much as all of that upsets me,this article is more about celebrating some of the more unique animals that inhabit the earth. So sit back,and take a look at what the world has to offer. They may look strange,but they all have a purpose. They have evolved to use different tricks to catch prey,and also to avoid becoming prey. If you think about it,it is absolutely amazing the way these animals work. Here you will find a detailed explanation of some of the worlds strangest,(yet beautiful) animals.

The Large Ocean Sunfish

This wonderful creature makes its home in tropical waters throughout many different parts of the world. They are extremely large,averaging at a weight of 2,200 lbs. as a full grown adult. Their size alone is outstanding,but you will also notice that this particlur fish is flat,giving it a very unique look. They are also born with a back fin that never fully develops,making it look much different from your average fish. They often are seen close to the surface of the water,just enjoying the sun,which is why they are referred to as Sunfish. The population of The Large Ocean Sunfish is considered to be quite stable,although they are thought of as a tasty treat in some parts of the world,such as Japan,and Taiwan.

Pink Fairy Armadillo

These little guys are the babies of the armadillo family. They are only 3/12 to 4 inches long,without including the tail. They live only in certain areas of Argentina,and in 1996,were close to being wiped out due to habitat destruction,and domesticated dogs. They have since been taken off of the endangered species list,due to insufficient data. An interesting fact about this creature is that it can seemingly swim through the sand. They have very strong front legs,with large claws,that allow them to move through the sand much like a fish through water.

Mexican Walking Fish (axolotl)

The Mexican Walking Fish is not really a fish at all! It is a salamander. They come in a wide assortment of colors variations,such as brown,black,spotted,and also albino. One very unusual thing about this creature is that it has the ability to regenerate lost body parts. They are currently near extinction,mainly due to polluted waters,and non-native fish that prey on their young.

Three-Toed Sloth

This animal is very bizarre looking,and I personally am somewhat fearful of them. Silly,I know! But in all honesty,they are quite interesting. They have a small head,with round eyes,and an otherworldly look to them. They are equipped with long,sharp,claws that help them get around in the trees. After all,that is where they are happiest. The life of a sloth consists mostly of sleeping and eating,and they are very slow getting around. Oddly enough though,they are very agile swimmers. Their long fur often takes on a greenish tint,because of algae growth. This works out well for them,as this makes the sloth blend right in with its surroundings.

Leafy Seadragon

I had the opportunity to view these guys at The Pittsburgh Zoo,and let me tell you,they are beautiful! Their home is in Australia,which contains some of the most interesting creatures that you will find anywhere in the world. The fins are transparent,making it very difficult to notice any movement from the seadragon itself. This helps it to avoid predators,because it looks a lot like a floating bit of seaweed. They are endangered,in part because of industrial runoff,and also polluted habitat.

Angler Fish

What an amazing animal! They survive only in the deepest areas of the Atlantic and Antarctic Oceans. The females use a sort of built in fishing lure,that is attached near the top of the head. In some Angler Fish,the lure even has a glowing effect,due to bacteria growth. This attracts prey,and helps the angler fish in finding an easy dinner. The males only have one goal in life,and that is to reproduce. They are very small in comparison to the female,and will attach themselves to the female by biting. This is how they reproduce,and he will live attached to the female,completely dependent on her for his entire life.

Blobfish

The Blobfish is found only off the coast of Australia and Tasmania. They are a rare sight,because they live in very deep water,mostly inaccessible to humans. They float along the sea floor,just waiting for a meal to pass by. They have no need,nor the ability to swim. Their body is made to allow it to float,without expanding needed energy. They live amongst crabs,and lobsters,causing these poor creatures to be accidently caught by trawler fishermen. They are considered inedible,and therefore the fishermen have no use for them. It is likely that they are facing extinction due to this fact.

Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)

This crab was discovered very recently,in the year 2005,to be exact. There is not yet a whole lot known about this crustacean. It is speculated that it is probably blind,due to having very small eyes without pigment. It was found to the South of Easter Island,in the South Pacific. The hairy pinchers of this creature serve a purpose,and it is thought that it uses them to rid poisonous materials from the water in which it lives.

Whorl Tooth Shark (Helicoprion)

This particular shark has long been extinct,but is worth mentioning,because this shark was not your ordinary shark that you would find today. It had a set of teeth which resembled a circular saw. There has never been a complete skull found,and therefore the exact placement of these teeth is only speculated. The popular theory is that they were positioned either near the very front of the jaw,or possibly deeper in the mouth,towards the throat area. It is thought that they probably preyed on ammonites,and used this alignment of teeth to easily break into the shell.

Long-Eared Jerboa

These adorable big eared rodents are found in Mongolia,and even some have been found to exist in China. They are very tiny,and have a small tuft of fur at the tip of the tail,and large hind feet that it uses to help it jump,as they get around with a hop comparable to that of a Kangaroo. Its exact population is unknown at this time,but it is thought to be endangered due to human disturbances and drought. They prefer to be out and about at night time,and spend much of the day fast asleep in their burrows.

Let's all hope that these,and other beautiful animals around the world, will all be with us for many years to come. It is such a shame to lose species of which we have not even discovered.