Nature has always found a way to surprise us. Sometimes we go “aww”, especially when we come across cute and fluffy animals, and other times we’re equal parts disgusted and disturbed. Regardless of how they make us react, these weird animals have a purpose in the animal world so they make the most of what they have.
Are you comfortable and ready to get into our Ultimate list of the Weirdest Animals in the World?
Resident to the Galapagos Islands, this little guy is a mix of “Look at me, I’m glamorous” and “Don’t you dareeee touch me”.
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2. Sunda Colugo
The eyes, the nose, the little round ears, this looks like a cartoon character and we’re here for all of it. For the record, you’re looking at a flying lemur.
3. Lyrebird
Yeah, sure, this is not what you might have in mind when you’re thinking about weird birds but here’s the catch: it can mimic almost every sound it hears. From chainsaws and drills, when we’re talking about a lyrebird in captivity to prey animals in the wild, there’s no end to what this Houdini can pull out of its hat.
4. Umbonia Spinosa
The little South African bug that could! Aka the treehopper or thorn bug native, you gotta hand it to him for being one odd fellow. The dorsal pin? To pierce plants in order to reach the yummy sap. The coloring? To better blend in the environment.
5. Glass Frog
Perhaps you might have eyed this transparent Central America frog until now, it’s a frequent mention on weird animals lists and you can easily see why. Come on, what better way to study anatomy than this? Circulatory system? Check. Digestive system? Check.
6. Bombyx Mori Moth
A mix of fluff and angry looks, just like a raging fluffy doggo. It’s an insect that both asks you to come in for a look and to keep your distance.
7. Star-Nosed Mole
A semiaquatic mole from North America, Fun fact: apparently thai guy is the world’s fastest eater. His diet includes anything from small earthworms and whatever insects he may find in the water to snails, crayfish and fish.
8. Dumbo Octopus
Guuuuuys, he even got his name from the Disney cartoon! The fact that you could only bump into him at over 13,000 feet below the surface is a huge bummer. Also, his scientific name is even funnier than its looks, Grimpoteuthis.
9. Blobfish
No surprise here, of course Australia had to check this guy on the list of indigenous species, it goes just perfect with its reputation of being the continent with the world’s deadliest and creepiest animals.
10. Shoebill
An African bird that is usually referred to as the most terrifying bird in the world. Its pet names include “Monsterface” and even “Death Pelican.” #surreal
11. Ghost Shark
It’s like the underwater creatures are doing their best to keep people at bay. The fish itself is scary rough but if you wanna see something really scary, see how its baby looks.
12. Halitrephes Jelly
Appropriately named firework jellyfish, we wouldn’t mind seeing one in its natural habitat, it would make for a surreal view.
13. Panda Ant
It may look adorable but its sting could lead to much pain and quite possibly an allergic reaction so take a picture and leave it be.
14. Pacu Fish
Yes, we have a fish with almost human teeth. It may be related to piranhas but they’re the “vegetarian” type, all those teeth are just for show. It survives on vegetation, insects and random seeds that end up in the water.
15. Tufted Deer
From a certain angle you would give it a second glimpse but from the right one you will check your prescription for sure. A deer sporting 1 inch (2.54 cm) fangs is surely not a common sight.
16. Sea Lamprey
A jawless fish that looks okish until it opens its mouth and you are left with that horror show view. Found in the Northern Hemisphere, you could refer to them as “vampire fish” because that’s what they do, they attach themselves to their prey and feed on it.
17. Dugong
A marine mammal that you have very few chances of meeting in real life, the dugong is vulnerable to extinction. Descended from land mammals, they’re more closely related to elephants than whales.
18. Blue Parrotfish
The fish that was blessed in the teeth department, being the proud owner of no less than 1,000 teeth. However, neither its color or number of teeth are the reason we decided to feature this blue guy. Some blue parrotfishes have the ability to create a transparent mucus cocoon every night before going to bed, as a way to keep predators at bay.
19. Echidnas
The male echidna has a bright pink penis with four heads – trust us, you have to google it. There, we said it. The weirdness doesn’t stop here, echidnas look like it was put together by a child: spines like a hedgehog, a pouch like a kangaroo, a beak like a bird, and claws that allow them to dig in order to take cover from predators.
20. Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Or how most of us look when we get out of bed after a long night of tossing and turning. Found in Madagascar, we have a feeling this might be a great starting point for a new fun Pokemon.
21. Glaucus Atlanticus
A sea slug or how a lot of tattoos looked in the early and mid 90’s. The kicker? If they eat a poisonous animal they store the poison for their own defensive purposes.
22. Markhor
The national animal of Pakistan is all shades of cool. You’re looking at a wild goat with drill-like horns, horns that could reach up to 60 inches (160 cm), an inch taller than Kevin Hart.
23. Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko
A gecko from Madagascar that looks just like its name implies, an angry leaf creature. But the danger ends here, this little guy poses no threat and he knows it, that’s why he relies on having a mad scientist look.
24. Saiga Antelope
An antelope with a built-in air filter, so necessary in the dry open grasslands and semi-arid deserts where it resides. The males have ridged, carrot-shaped horns that unfortunately are very popular with Amazon poachers.
25. Japanese Spider Crab
Here we have the stuff nightmares are made of and it’s all due to its insanely long and freakish legs that can go as high as 12 feet (3.8 meters).
26. Turritopsis Nutricula
The Benjamin Button of the water world. Why so? This amazing creature can revert back to its earlier stage, sometimes even its juvenile colonial stage. An awesome party trick if you ask us!
27. Sea Pen
It may look like your old fashioned quill but this is a real life, soft coral that feeds on plankton.
28. Pangolin
Here we have the only mammal covered in scales, top to bottom. Its name literally means ‘one who rolls up’ because that’s what they do when they sense danger, they roll up like a ball.
29. Macropinna Microstoma
This is the kind of fish you expect to be fake news, an AI-generated image that makes the internet go wild but rest assured, this is a real, living, and breathing fish. With a transparent head and weird, lazy eyes, this fish resides in dark ocean waters.
30. Irrawaddy Dolphin
Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) jumping from the water. Captive, Thailand.
They might look like a baby beluga whale but it has nothing in common with it. With short noises and an appetite to spit water into the air when they’re socializing or fishing.
31. Dik-Dik
This is more than just a small and cute antelope. However, it has one kick-ass ability: it marks its territory with a black liquid secreted by the glands near its eyes.
32. Buff-Tip Moth
It may look like a birch twig but it’s a regular, simple moth. A moth that causes insane damage to the tree it lands on, ravaging the green leaves and leaving disasters behind.
33. Komondor Dog
Part of the world’s most recognizable breeds, the Komondor is quite a stand-out animal with long, white strands that make up his coat.
34. Axolotl
A tiny salamander that can easily regroup, it can regrow each limb up to 5 times. And those feather-like head accessories? The gills.
35. Indian Purple Frog
If you were to travel to India and then came face to face with this fella, would you say right away that this was a frog? It looks like a tortoise without a shell and it could scare everyone it meets.
36. Bird-Dropping Spider
Who knew that mimicking bird drooping might keep you safe from predators? It appears that this spider, found both in Australia and New Zealand, patented this defense strategy and it seems to work well for him so far.
37. Great Potoo
They have excellent night vision, which explains the beady, big eyes. Another notable mention is their ability to stay completely still, with closed eyes, thus totally blending in their surroundings.
38. Mata Mata
A strange creature indeed! With warts and ridges all over his body, you might have the impression this is the outlook of a devious spell.
39. Gerenuk
A long-necked antelope that prefers to enjoy its dinner standing up, a sight that is quite rare in the animal world. Another fun fact: no water needed, the antelope gets all the fluids it needs from plants.
40. Pink Fairy Armadillo
Found only in central Argentina, this looks like an animal that’s ready for battle, on one side. On the other hand, you feel like a kid dressed up as his pet. The color pink is due to blood vessels being very close to the shell’s surface.
41. Leafy Seadragon
You could easily confuse this fish – yes, this is considered a fish – with plant waste floating in the water. Add the ability to change color and to sway just like plants and you will understand why this one is a master of disguise.
42. Bilby
Also called rabbit-eared bandicoots, these Australian marsupials are all that, and more. With long ears borrowed from rabbits, kangaroo legs, and bandicoot snouts, that is a very cuddleable animal.
43. Magnificent Frigatebird
This bright red pouch is a magnet for the females of this species because yes, it has just one purpose: to attract females during mating season.
44. Vietnamese Long-Nosed Snake
Rhinoceros rat snake by its original name, you will see it from northern Vietnam to southern China.
45. Scotoplanes
The deep-sea sea cucumber looks like it’s constantly vacuuming or looking for stuff on the ocean floor. Be cautious though: their near-transparent bodies will disintegrate if taken out of water.
46. Sarcastic Fringehead
Sarcastic eyes and oh-so-scary mouths are used very often to keep predators at bay. It’s an aggressive and fearless fish, so no joke here.
47. Maned Wolf
Despite having a wolf in its name, it’s not a wolf, nor a fox, as its coloring implies. A shy creature by default, it usually flees when it gets a glimpse of a human being.
48. Giant Isopod
Going as high as 16 inches (40 cm), it has 14 legs and reflective eyes but zero aggressivity.
49. Gobi Jerboa
A miniature kangaroo just landed! For us, the tiny arms take it to level 1000 on the cuteness scale. Bonus trivia: they can leap up to 3m!
50. Aye-aye
Aye aye, this is one scared munchkin. A long-fingered monkey with a tail longer than its body, a very unusual look, we can all agree on that.
51. Nudibranchs
A funky, bright-colored mollusk. Some are poisonous, and some just faking it. All brightly colored and weirdly shaped.
52. Proboscis Monkey
Endemic to Borneo, this monkey has quite a trademark nose but what you don’t see are its 9 stomachs. And get this: they are unable to eat a ripe banana. If they do so, they could die of bloat.
53. Goblin shark
Cuz the ocean is weird. And scary. And full of unpredictable creatures that are sure to make an impact on you.
54. Fossa
Closely related to the mongoose, the fossa looks and acts more like a cat. You wouldn’t believe it, but you’re looking at Madagascar’s top predator.
55. Long-Wattled Umbrellabird
The male of this species has a memorable look: a strand of feathers that hang all the way over its bill giving him quite the hairdo. Yes, this is for mating purposes only and seems to work rather well.
56. Atretochoana Eiselti
We all know why this animal, also known as Penis Snake, made its way on this list. It looks just like its nickname and it’s quite a good swimmer considering the fact the Amazon River is his home.
57. Honduran White Bat
You might have seen these gold ball-sized fluffy bats around the Internet somewhere, most likely squeezed together on a leaf. That’s because that’s how they spend most of their time, snuggled up together.
58. Tarsier
The only primate that has a 100% carnivorous diet, the tarsier will eat anything from the smallest of the smalls, like insects, going up to lizards and even snakes. Those bug eyes make it impossible to rotate them so tarsiers have to move their heads just like owls do.
59. Gharial
An off snout that gets the job done for this fish-eating crocodile. He might look like a deadly predator but when it comes to humans he usually avoids any kind of contact.
60. Mantis Shrimp
A googly eye shrimp that sees the world as psychedelic as its coloring, all due to its 12 photoreceptors found in each eye. We only have 3 so scientists find it hard to pinpoint how these guys actually see the world.
61. Naked Mole Rat
A rather weird fellow with an even weirder pet name: Sand Puppy. They can barely see, they can barely hear but somehow they thrive on the African continent.
62. Patagonian Mara
A rabbit-like animal from Argentina that you could swear is a deer. It can walk like both animals, jumping like a rabbit or on all fours like a deer. This little guy also reminds us of a cute capybara.
63. Yeti Crab
2H8PBJW Yeti crab – Kiwa hirsuta. Realistic details. White crab with hairy body. Deep sea creature.
Nature seems to be quite fond of putting fur and fluff on animals you might not expect to have fur and fluff, like this crab. Discovered only in 2005, he makes us wonder what other undiscovered weird creatures lie beneath the ocean’s surface.
64. Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle
Rarely spotted in the wilderness of Southeast Asia due to its fondness for spending days buried in the sand, this turtle has a grim future, and is almost on the brink of extinction.
65. Flying Fish
No, they don’t go high up in the sky. Their torpedo-like body allows them to have a massive speed while under the water, more than 35 miles (56 kilometers) at times which allows them to glide above water for up to 650 feet (200 meters).
66. Orchid Mantis
We know, this looks like it came straight from a child’s imagination but it’s a real thing, trust us. Referred to as looking like an orchid, there’s very little evidence pointing in that direction since there are very few Orchid Mantis out there.
We had our fair share of ocean weirdness, and land and air craziness, and we even have some favorites. And if nature taught us something, it’s this: as years go by this list will include tens and tens of other weird animals that are on their way to being discovered.
I’m a passionate writer with an insatiable curiosity for history, obscure facts, and the weird corners of the internet. When I’m not fact-checking bizarre stories or diving into historical mysteries, I’m exploring the strange and unusual to bring you the most fascinating tales.
A self-proclaimed weirdness enthusiast, who loves turning the odd, the quirky, and the unbelievable into engaging stories for curious minds.
My kids sometimes call me the walking Wikipedia, which can get very annoying sometimes.
The eyes, the nose, the little round ears, this looks like a cartoon character and we’re here for all of it. For the record, you’re looking at a flying lemur.
Yeah, sure, this is not what you might have in mind when you’re thinking about weird birds but here’s the catch: it can mimic almost every sound it hears. From chainsaws and drills, when we’re talking about a lyrebird in captivity to prey animals in the wild, there’s no end to what this Houdini can pull out of its hat.
The little South African bug that could! Aka the treehopper or thorn bug native, you gotta hand it to him for being one odd fellow. The dorsal pin? To pierce plants in order to reach the yummy sap. The coloring? To better blend in the environment.
Perhaps you might have eyed this transparent Central America frog until now, it’s a frequent mention on weird animals lists and you can easily see why. Come on, what better way to study anatomy than this? Circulatory system? Check. Digestive system? Check.
A semiaquatic mole from North America, Fun fact: apparently thai guy is the world’s fastest eater. His diet includes anything from small earthworms and whatever insects he may find in the water to snails, crayfish and fish.
Guuuuuys, he even got his name from the Disney cartoon! The fact that you could only bump into him at over 13,000 feet below the surface is a huge bummer. Also, his scientific name is even funnier than its looks, Grimpoteuthis.
An African bird that is usually referred to as the most terrifying bird in the world. Its pet names include “Monsterface” and even “Death Pelican.” #surreal
Yes, we have a fish with almost human teeth. It may be related to piranhas but they’re the “vegetarian” type, all those teeth are just for show. It survives on vegetation, insects and random seeds that end up in the water.
From a certain angle you would give it a second glimpse but from the right one you will check your prescription for sure. A deer sporting 1 inch (2.54 cm) fangs is surely not a common sight.
A jawless fish that looks okish until it opens its mouth and you are left with that horror show view. Found in the Northern Hemisphere, you could refer to them as “vampire fish” because that’s what they do, they attach themselves to their prey and feed on it.
A sea slug or how a lot of tattoos looked in the early and mid 90’s. The kicker? If they eat a poisonous animal they store the poison for their own defensive purposes.
The national animal of Pakistan is all shades of cool. You’re looking at a wild goat with drill-like horns, horns that could reach up to 60 inches (160 cm), an inch taller than Kevin Hart.
It may look like your old fashioned quill but this is a real life, soft coral that feeds on plankton.
Here we have the only mammal covered in scales, top to bottom. Its name literally means ‘one who rolls up’ because that’s what they do when they sense danger, they roll up like a ball.
If you were to travel to India and then came face to face with this fella, would you say right away that this was a frog? It looks like a tortoise without a shell and it could scare everyone it meets.
They have excellent night vision, which explains the beady, big eyes. Another notable mention is their ability to stay completely still, with closed eyes, thus totally blending in their surroundings.
This bright red pouch is a magnet for the females of this species because yes, it has just one purpose: to attract females during mating season.
The deep-sea sea cucumber looks like it’s constantly vacuuming or looking for stuff on the ocean floor. Be cautious though: their near-transparent bodies will disintegrate if taken out of water.
Despite having a wolf in its name, it’s not a wolf, nor a fox, as its coloring implies. A shy creature by default, it usually flees when it gets a glimpse of a human being.
A miniature kangaroo just landed! For us, the tiny arms take it to level 1000 on the cuteness scale. Bonus trivia: they can leap up to 3m!
Aye aye, this is one scared munchkin. A long-fingered monkey with a tail longer than its body, a very unusual look, we can all agree on that.
A funky, bright-colored mollusk. Some are poisonous, and some just faking it. All brightly colored and weirdly shaped.
Closely related to the mongoose, the fossa looks and acts more like a cat. You wouldn’t believe it, but you’re looking at Madagascar’s top predator.
The male of this species has a memorable look: a strand of feathers that hang all the way over its bill giving him quite the hairdo. Yes, this is for mating purposes only and seems to work rather well.
You might have seen these gold ball-sized fluffy bats around the Internet somewhere, most likely squeezed together on a leaf. That’s because that’s how they spend most of their time, snuggled up together.
The only primate that has a 100% carnivorous diet, the tarsier will eat anything from the smallest of the smalls, like insects, going up to lizards and even snakes. Those bug eyes make it impossible to rotate them so tarsiers have to move their heads just like owls do.
An off snout that gets the job done for this fish-eating crocodile. He might look like a deadly predator but when it comes to humans he usually avoids any kind of contact.
A googly eye shrimp that sees the world as psychedelic as its coloring, all due to its 12 photoreceptors found in each eye. We only have 3 so scientists find it hard to pinpoint how these guys actually see the world.
We know, this looks like it came straight from a child’s imagination but it’s a real thing, trust us. Referred to as looking like an orchid, there’s very little evidence pointing in that direction since there are very few Orchid Mantis out there.
