40 Bizarre Creatures That Actually Exist​

40 Bizarre Creatures That Actually Exist​

Here's further proof that it's a wild and wonderful world. Prepare to be blown away. Bergamasco Shepherd StumbleUpon Source: These herding dogs were bred for the freezing Alps and have evolved to possess thick dreaded coats. Ankole-Watusi StumbleUpon Source: Ankole longhorns and their massive horns have survived in Africa for thousands of years. Their horns are used in defense and cooling and can weigh up to 100 pounds each and reach 8 feet from tip to tip. Dumbo Octopus StumbleUpon Source: StumbleUpon Source: The ear-like fins of this octopus have earned it the name Dumbo. The octopus lives at extreme depths of 10,000 to 11,000 feet, searching for worms and other crustaceans at the seafloor. Irrawaddy Dolphin StumbleUpon Source: StumbleUpon Source: Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia. These animals are known for their bulging forehead and short beak, giving them a far stranger appearance than other dolphins. Saiga Antelope StumbleUpon Source:naturepl.com StumbleUpon Source:sospecies.org The saiga is a critically endangered antelope that inhabits the Eurasian steppe, including Dzungaria and Mongolia. Its strange nose is extremely flexible and helps to filter out dust kicked up by the migrating herd. Source:wikipedia.org Red-Lipped Batfish StumbleUpon Source: Batfish are found in the waters around the Galapagos Islands, but are terrible swimmers. Instead, the fish have learned to walk the ocean floor on their fins. Chinese Water Deer StumbleUpon Source:flickr.com Chinese Water Deer have earned the nickname Vampire Deer for their prominent tusks, which are used in territorial battles. Pyura Chilensis (The Living Rock) StumbleUpon Source:realmonstrosities.com StumbleUpon Source:realmonstrosities.com It can be difficult to believe, but these rocks are living, breathing organisms. Their appearance allows them to blend into Chilean beaches and avoid predators. Interestingly, these creatures have both male and female organs and can breed individually. Pacu Fish StumbleUpon Source: The Pacu Fish, native to South America, is nicknamed the ball cutter by local male fishermen, who fear swimming in the water because of the animals human-like smile. Glaucus Atlanticus StumbleUpon Source:mostbeautifulpages.com Called the blue dragon, this fantastical creature is actually a one inch long sea slug. Commonly found off the East and South Coast of South Africa and Australia, divers should beware the powerful sting of this beast. Source:wikipedia.org Bearded Vulture StumbleUpon Source:i.imgur.com These beautiful birds inhabit Everest, the Himalayas and other mountainous regions in Europe and Asia. They were nearly eradicated because people used to fear that bearded vultures would attack lambs and children, and now, the WWF estimates only 10,000 are left. Source:panda.org Eastern Long-Necked Turtle StumbleUpon Source: These turtles with a rather literal name can be found throughout Australia. Their remarkable necks can reach the same length as their shells, or around 10 inches. Surinam Toad StumbleUpon Source:Daniel Heuclin Native to South America, the leaf-like appearance of the surinam is a natural defense against predators. The toads have a unique breeding method, where the male plants fertilized eggs into the back of the female who carries them until they emerge from pockets in her skin. Sarcastic Fringeheads StumbleUpon Source:i.imgur.com StumbleUpon Source:Richard Herrmann While the name would have you think otherwise, these fish are far more vicious than they are sarcastic. Found in the waters off the West Coast of America, fringeheads can grow 12 inches long and have eerily large mouths, which they press up against each others, as if kissing, to assert authority. Source:en.wikipedia.org Chrysopelea (The Flying Snake) StumbleUpon Source:Jake Socha / National Geographic In what is many people's worst nightmare, this serpent climbs trees and then jumps down. By flattening its body and flaring out its ribs, the snake can glide through the air. Source:en.wikipedia.org Ring-tailed Cat StumbleUpon Source:en.wikipedia.org Ring-tailed cats are a member of the raccoon family, native only to arid regions of North America. The ringtail is said to be so easy to domesticate that miners and settlers once kept them in their cabins as companions and vermin hunters, earning the name miners cat. Source:en.wikipedia.org Blobfish StumbleUpon Source: Deep in the waters off the coast of Australia and Tasmania is the unique blobfish. The flesh of a blobfish is a gelatinous mass thats less dense than water, giving the fish its unique look, and allowing it to float above the seafloor without swimming. Source:en.wikipedia.org Lowland Streaked Tenrec StumbleUpon Source:Arto Hakola Found only in the rainforests of Madagascar, this strange creature is somewhat similar to a porcupine. The barbs on the animals back act as both a defensive measure and a complex communication system. The quills produce a faint chattering sound when vibrated and families learn to talk through this sound. Source:en.wikipedia.org Enypniastes StumbleUpon Source: Enypniastes is a deep sea cucumber which leaves nothing to the imagination and lives at depths of up to 16,400 feet. The red area is the animals mouth. Around it are tentacles, which scoop up edible mud from the seafloor. From there, it enters the creatures gut. Gobi Jerboa StumbleUpon Source: StumbleUpon Source: