The world is a wild and wonderful place, filled with millions of different species most of us have never even heard of. nothing fascinates tourists more like the unusual sight of amazing animals and insects. In some parts of the world, there are creatures so odd and rare that many people don’t even know they exit.
Below are some of the strangest and weird animals on the planet.
Pangolin
If an anteater and an armadillo had a baby, it might look something like the pangolin, an odd-looking mammal found throughout parts of Asia and Africa. The pangolin has a long, specially adapted tongue for eating ants and termites and wears a protective keratin shell — it is the only mammal known to have this adaptation. Sadly, its unique characteristics also make it the most trafficked mammal in the world, as it is highly sought-after for its meat and armor. The pangolin is currently listed as a threatened species.
Chinese Giant Salamander
The largest amphibian in the world, this critically endangered salamander can reach lengths of up to 5’9” and weigh up to 65 pounds.
Fully aquatic, they’re primarily found in the rocky mountain streams and lakes of China, but have been introduced in Japan and Taiwan.
They have crazy vocalizations– from barking and hissing to whining and crying– which has earned it the Chinese nickname “the infant fish.” Unfortunately the Chinese also consider it a delicacy, and use it in traditional medicine.
Glass Frogs
Commonly known as Glass Frogs, members of the amphibian family Centrolenidae all share a similar small size and lime green background colors.
What makes them strange animals is the fact that certain species have translucent abdominal skin that allows you to see their insides, including heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and (in the case of females) eggs!.
Axolotl, aka Mexican Walking Fish
The axolotl is a small salamander that can be found in various lakes around Mexico City, although it is currently listed as an endangered species. This amphibian can regenerate limbs, has lidless eyes, and can be black or albino.
Clawed Frog
The Xenopus genus includes 20 species of aquatic frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. What makes them weird is the fact that they cannot hop, so they have to crawl long distances in order to get from one pond to another.
The frogs have eyes on top of their flattened heads, but no eyelids or eardrums. They also cannot move their tongue, so they use small fore limbs to help during feeding.
When the lakes, ponds, and potholes they tend to favor dry up, the frogs may lie dormant for a year awaiting rain.
Saiga Antelope
The Saiga antelope can be found around Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan and is easily recognized because its large and flexible nose. In reality, its gigantic schnoz helps to filter out dust and regulate its blood temperature. In May 2015, more than 120,000 Saiga antelope were found dead. Scientists believe they were victims of a suspected epizootic illness that infected the herd.
Gharial
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill crocodile. This skinny-snouted croc is called a gharial, and it can only be found swimming in the waterways of India. Its long nose is filled with 110 teeth, making it well adapted to catching fish. Scientists estimate that there are only 235 gharials in existence.
Mata Mata Turtle
It’s an unusual, ancient-looking creature that’s clearly made for camouflage. This South American freshwater turtle is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, primarily in slow-moving streams and swamps where it can stand in shallow water and stretch its nose to the surface to breathe.
It has a horny snout and flattened, triangle-shaped head that looks like fallen leaves, and a brown/black shell said to resemble bark. Measuring up to 18 inches long and weighing some 30 pounds, it’s a large, triply-looking turtle.
Long-Wattled Umbrellabird
Primarily found in the humid forests of Colombia and Ecuador, the Long-wattled Umbrellabird’s features are as bizarre as their name.
The males have a magnificent coif-like crest Elvis would kill for, with hair-like feathers that extend out over their bill. Their wattle is even weirder: It’s long, black, and hangs down 16 to 17 inches from the middle of their chest. They can inflate it during courtship rituals to draw attention, or retract it against their chest during flight.
Markhor
This large wild goat grazes on grass and lives in mountain ranges from Afghanistan to northern India, but it’s the national animal of Pakistan. The male Markhor can grow to over 200 pounds, has a huge amount of hair on their chin and chest, and boasts spectacular spiraling horns atop their heads.
The world’s population got down to around 2,500, but has rebounded by 20% in the last decade.
Its Persian name translates as “snake eater,” and locals believe the foam they release while chewing cud can extract snakebite venom.
