There are some animals that some people call “ugly.” But guess what? There’s more to these creatures than what meets the eye. Let’s get into the true stories behind the so-called ugly animals’ funny looks and discover the amazing things that make them special.
List of Ugly Animals
Following is the list of the most ugly animals that will amaze you and add more to your knowledge about the animal kingdom.
Anglerfish
Let’s talk about the Anglerfish, a really weird creature living in the deep, dark sea. It has a bright light on its head, like a glowing fishing lure, to catch its prey in the dark. The girl anglerfish is much bigger than the boy, and their way of getting together is pretty strange – the little male sticks to the female, kind of like a permanent hitchhiker.
Scientifically, they’re called Lophiiformes, and they’re fish that eat other animals. They move around in groups called schools, and in size, they can be anywhere from 8 to 40 inches, with some even weighing as much as 110 pounds. If you picture an anglerfish next to a teacup, you’ll see how they measure up.
Over 200 types of anglerfish live in really deep parts of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans, super far below the surface, and some even chill in warmer, shallow waters. They usually look dark gray or brown, have big heads, and mouths shaped like crescents with clear, sharp teeth. While some get as big as 3.3 feet, most are much smaller, often less than a foot long.
In the tough world of the deep sea, the anglerfish is like the oddball with its strange looks and interesting ways of surviving. It’s a cool character in the not-so-friendly home of the ocean floor.
Blobfish
Let’s talk about the blobfish, a creature that might seem a bit weird at first glance. But guess what? It’s actually pretty cool, especially when you understand where it lives.
Blobfish hang out really deep in the ocean, where the pressure is crazy high. Their squishy, pudding-like bodies might look strange, but it’s like their superpower. It helps them stay floating in the deep sea where other fish would struggle.
Before the blobfish became famous for being “ugly,” scientists were curious about it. It’s part of the Psychrolutidae family, sometimes called a sculpin or fathead. The blobfish doesn’t really look like the memes when it’s in its home. Those funny pictures are of blobfish out of water, and that’s not fair!
Living really deep, like 600 to 1,200 meters down, means facing super strong pressures. Blobfish handle it with their soft bodies, gentle bones, and not a lot of muscles. It’s their way of being tough in the deep sea.
When blobfish come out of the water, they don’t look great. The change in pressure makes them swell up, and their jelly-like parts can’t hold their shape. So, those “ugly” pictures are of blobfish that aren’t alive and well in their ocean home.
Underwater, blobfish just look like regular fish. They’ve got a bit of a big head, black eyes, and some feathery fins. Their bodies are pinkish-gray, kind of like tadpoles. They’re not big either, usually less than a ruler in length and lighter than a bag of sugar.
Aye Aye
Aye-Aye is a special lemur from Madagascar. It’s got a funny-looking long, bony middle finger that it uses like a tool. At night, this lemur taps on trees with its finger. If it hears a hollow sound, it chews through the wood to find insect larvae, which is a big part of its diet.
The Aye-Aye has other strange things going on too. Its teeth keep growing, unlike other primates. And it’s got big ears that help it listen while it’s looking for food. As it walks on branches, it taps them with its finger and listens for echoes. When it hears something, it uses its big teeth to tear off tree parts and get to the insects inside.
Unfortunately, the Aye-Aye is in trouble. People cutting down their home and hunting are big problems. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it’s endangered, meaning there aren’t many left. We need to pay attention to save this unique lemur from disappearing.
Naked Mole Rat
Naked mole rats live underground and do some cool stuff that scientists find super interesting. These apparently ugly animals look strange with no hair, wrinkly skin, tiny eyes, and big teeth. They live underground, so they don’t need fur to protect them from the sun.
Even though their eyes are tiny, they’re almost blind, but these rodents are smart. They use their noses and touch to get around. They also have long whiskers to feel vibrations and tiny hairs on their toes to help build tunnels.
Despite the name, naked mole rats aren’t like moles or rats. They’re more like porcupines, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. They live in big groups—up to 295 pals! These rodents talk to each other with special sounds, kind of like having their own language. Being social helps them stay warm because their skin is super thin and doesn’t keep them cozy.
Even though they’re small, naked mole rats are like the superheroes of rodents. They can live for almost 30 years! That’s longer than many other animals their size.
Monkfish
Monkfish are kind of funny-looking sea creatures, often called the “poor man’s lobster” or “sea-devils.” They have big, flat heads, wide mouths, and bodies that might look a bit strange. Their small, beady eyes and slimy appearance make them not so cute.
But guess what? Monkfish don’t care about looking good because their unique appearance helps them hide in the deep sea. Being able to stay hidden is more important for them than being good-looking!
In the past, people didn’t want to eat monkfish because they thought it was too ugly. But clever chefs realized that its looks were deceiving. Now, you can find monkfish on fancy restaurant menus.
Monkfish may not win a beauty contest with their odd skin, overbite, and weird shape. Their big heads with sharp teeth might make them seem a bit mean. But here’s the twist – these features help them survive in the deep ocean.
So, monkfish teach us a lesson: sometimes, things that don’t look great on the outside can be super tasty on the inside. These “sea-devils” might not be pretty, but they’ve become a delicious treat for those who give them a chance!
Southern Elephant Seal
Southern Elephant Seal is the biggest seal around! These incredible sea creatures, with the fancy name Mirounga leonina, are like the giants of the ocean. The guys can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh more than a car! What makes them extra special is their huge, trunk-like snouts that look like a mix of an elephant’s trunk and a toucan’s beak.
These big fellas mostly hang out in the open ocean but swing by the coast when it’s time for some romance or a wardrobe change (molting). Good news is, they’re doing well in terms of numbers, and scientists say they’re at the “Least Concern” level for conservation – meaning they’re doing just fine.
Now, here’s the cool part – these seals are not just quiet neighbors. When it’s time for a date, the male seals get a bit bossy. They use their massive noses, or proboscises, to make super deep sounds that can be heard over a mile away! It’s like having a built-in loudspeaker to impress the ladies and show who’s in charge.
To sum it up, Southern Elephant Seals are like ocean superstars with their huge size, cool looks, and even cooler way of talking to each other. As they keep hanging out in the open sea, they add a splash of awesomeness to our big blue world!
Chinese Giant Salamander
Let’s talk about the Chinese Giant Salamander which also comes in the list of ugly animals. It might not win a beauty contest, but it’s been around for a super long time – over 170 million years! At first, people thought there was only one type, but now they believe there are 5-8 kinds of these big salamanders.
This salamander lives in China’s mountains, hanging out in rocky streams, rivers, and lakes. It’s called “giant” because it can grow almost 6 feet long and weigh up to 110 pounds – the biggest amphibian in the world! In places like zoos, it can live for more than 60 years.
The Chinese Giant Salamander has tiny, hard-to-see eyes and wrinkly skin. It’s really good at living underwater and even breathes through its skin! Instead of using its eyes to hunt, it feels vibrations in the water with special sensors on its body.
This big salamander is most active at night and takes a nap in underwater hideouts during the day. It eats almost anything it can catch, like fish, snails, crayfish, and even smaller salamanders. In the summer, they make baby salamanders – up to 500 eggs at a time!
Even though these salamanders have been around forever, they’re facing some problems. Changes to where they live, pollution, and too many people catching them are making life hard for them. We need to be careful to keep them safe!
Hammer Headed Fruit Bat
Meet the cool Hypsignathus monstrosus, also known as the hammer-headed fruit bat. This apparently ugly animal is the biggest one in mainland Africa and stands out as the world’s most different-looking bat when it comes to boys and girls.
The guys are way bigger than the girls and have a funny face that looks like a camel. The girls, though, have a slim face more like a fox.
People call them one of the “ugliest” animals, but don’t let looks fool you. These bats are fruit fans, munching on wild fruits found in western and central Africa. Good news – they’re not scary to humans or other animals.
The hammer-headed bat is a big deal in size too. It has wings that can stretch up to 38 inches and weighs around a pound. That’s huge! And here’s the fun part – the boys are even bigger than the girls. Their faces, with big noses and lips, might look funny, but it’s all for a reason. They use their special faces to make loud honking noises that help them find girlfriends.
So, even though these bats might seem a bit strange, they’re a crucial part of Africa’s wildlife, adding a dash of uniqueness to our planet.
Conclusion
And there you have it, our journey through the land of the “ugly” animals. What we found? A bunch of cool animals with their own stories and reasons for looking the way they do. Each one plays a big part in keeping our planet buzzing with life.
Also Read: