There are countless animals that most people have not even heard of. With that being said, have you ever thought about what the strangest animals are on this planet? If you have thought about it, then this is just the article you should be reading. Continue to read on to find out about the top 5 strangest animals ever.
1. Coelacanth
The coelacanth is number 1on the list of strangest animals. It is actually known to be the oldest living line of jawed fish. It is closely related to tetrapods, and lungfishes which were thought to be extinct since the Cretaceous period’s end. There was a specimen that was found on South Africa’s east coast in 1938. This animal has also been found in Kenya, Comoros, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
The coelacanths are known to be lobe-finned fish with its anal and pectoral fins on fleshy stalks sustained by bones.
2. Yeti Crab
Number 2 on the list of top 5 strangest animals is the Yeti crab. Also known as the Kiwa hirsute, this crustacean was discovered back in 2005 in the South Pacific Ocean. It is 6 inches long and known for the quantity of its silky blond setae which looks a lot like fur on its legs and claws. Based on molecular data and morphology, the yeti crab was believed to form a new family and genus called the Kiwaidae.
It feeds on bacteria and also on small shrimps and green algae.
3. Narwhal
Number 5 on our list is the narwhal. Most people have not heard about this animal, but if you have you know that it is one strange species. The Narwhal is an Arctic animal of cetacean and it is one of the two species of the white whale. One very significant characteristic fact about male narwhal is that they have a single long tusk that comes out of their left side of their upper jaw and forms a left-handed helix. Their long tusk could be up to 10 feet long and weigh around 22 pounds.
There are a few males that might even have two tusks and the purpose of the tusk is still unknown.
4. Anglerfish
If you know what the anglerfish looks like, then you know where the name really came from. This aquatic animal has spines that protrude from their head which move in all different directions. The deep-sea anglerfish commonly live in the ocean s’ aphotic zones where the water is deeper so that the sun can penetrate.
The anglerfish has a fleshy growth from its head which is easy to act as a lure.
5. Leafy Sea-Dragon
This animal was named after the dragons from Chinese mythology and is similar to a piece of drifting seaweed because they float in Seawood-filled water. The leafy sea-dragon has orange, green, and gold tones along its body and is covered with leaf-like limbs which is great for camouflaging itself.
They have no teeth or stomach and they feed on mysidopsis shrimp.
They are also known as Australian seahorses and located in Australia in which they are found in calm and cold water.