The Earth is home to a myriad of creatures, from humans to Fishes, Primates, and Insects. And with every new species discovered, it seems that animals are becoming more and more unusual in their appearance.
Today, we look at animals on Earth who seem like they’re out of this world.
AYE-AYE Daubentonia madagascariensis
Many things about the Aye-aye capture one’s attention. From their wide eyes to their large and bushy tail, you would not think that they’re actually related to primates.
According to the National Geographic website, there’s a superstition in Madagascar about how the Aye-aye is an omen of bad luck. Thus, whenever someone sees an Aye- aye, they are immediately killed.
This is one of the reasons why the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed them as “Endangered.” Another factor is loss of habitat. Aye-ayes are nocturnal creatures who live in the forest, and they mostly sleep during the day.
HERE’S A MIDDLE FINGER
The one unique feature this animal has is their hands, more specifically their long and narrow middle finger.
In a 2016 article by Kirstin Fearnley in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the reason they have a long middle finger is so that they can tap on trees to find insects inside the tree, also known as percussive foraging.
PURPLE FROG Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis
Also known as the Pignose Frog, the species was discovered by S.D. Biju in Idukki, India in 2003. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, scientists recently discovered the Purple Frog because of their habitat. For most of the year, the Frogs live underground, except during monsoon season. During that time, they come up to the surface to mate.
The IUCN also lists the Purple Frog as “Endangered” because of deforestation.
LOOKS LIKE A TURTLE, ALMOST
The Frog is easily recognized by their purplish color, pointed snout, and inflated body, the latter of which, according to the indigenous people of Idukki, makes them look like a Turtle without a shell.
PINK FAIRY ARMADILLO Chlamyphorus truncatus
This seemingly cute-looking Armadillo is the smallest in the world, growing at around six inches, or the equivalent of a dollar bill. Their pink shell (or carapace) and fur-covered body easily distinguish them from other species of Armadillos.
Native to Argentina, the Pink Fairy Armadillos are nocturnal and spend most of their time underground, so scientists have difficulty studying their habits. Unfortunately, the Pink Fairy Armadillo does not survive very long if they are removed from their habitat.
According to the WWF, roughly 98% of Armadillos die within eight days if they are taken from their habitat.
COLOR ME PINK
Surprisingly, the Pink Fairy Armadillo shells are not for protection; they are for temperature regulation. But what makes them pink exactly?
It’s the blood vessels located near the carapace that give these Armadillos their pink hue. They fill with blood to help the Armadillo stay warm.
SEA SAPPHIRES Sapphirina
They may look like literal rocks, but these Sea Sapphires are parasitic Copepods found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. They are tiny and transparent, which makes seeing them seem magical and beautiful.
The caveat is that only the male Sea Sapphires can shimmer like sapphires.
According to the website The Common Naturalist, Sea Sapphire males have layers of guanine hexagonal plates around their bodies that reflect when light hits the plates.
SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A SAPPHIRE
According to a 2015 study led by Dvir Gur published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they measured the reflectance of the Sea Sapphires and the distance of the layers of plates. They found that reflectance shifts out of visible light range at a certain angle, making the Copepod seem invisible.
Stefan Siebert
ARMADILLO GIRDLED LIZARD Ouroborus cataphractus
This South African Lizard is found in the rocky crevices of the mountainous region. Their most distinctive feature is their body, as if they’re covered in armor. But the reason they’re called Armadillo Girdled Lizard is their defense mechanism.
According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, when the Lizard is in danger, they curl up into a ball by biting their tail and letting their armor-like scales protect them.
In 2022, the IUCN categorized the Armadillo Girdled Lizards as “Near Endangered” because they’re being captured as pets. But, in an article by Willem van der Merwe and Megan Loftie-Eaton in the Biodiversity and Development Institute, there are now laws in South Africa that prohibit the people from hunting these Lizards.
OURO-WHAT?
Remember how these Lizards bite their tails and ball up for protection? Interestingly enough, they got their Latin name because of the Greek symbol Ouroborus, which shows a Snake eating their tail.
