This article will change your understanding of the world we live in... All creatures listetd below really deserve your attention.
WARNING: SOME OF THE PICTURES BELOW MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS.
#1 Sea Pig
Thriving on the deepest ocean floors, the Sea Pig behaves much like slugs do on land. They scavange the ocean floor for any organic material using their tube feet to move them along and using their tentacles to push food into their mouth. The Sea Pig is not an endangered species, but rare to see due to the depths of ocean in which they live. Though they appear to be some sort of slug/pig combination, sea pigs are scotoplanes or sea cucumbers belonging to the genus of the deep sea Holothurians.
The Geoduck (pronounced gooey duck) is a very, very large species of saltwater clam. The shells can reach 15 to 20 centimeters in diameter, and the siphon, or neck reaching as long as 3 1/2 feet. Native to the Northwest coast of North America and Southwestern Canada, the average specimen weights between 1 and 3 pounds, though some reports have them weighing in at over 15 lbs, and have been commercially harvested since 1989. And most sales go to Asia where it is considered a delicacy and sells for about $30 a pound. The Geoduck trade today is an $80 million dollar a year US industry.
They also earn the title of one of the longest living animals on the planet with a life expectancy of about 145 years (The oldest recorded at 160 years old).The Geoduck is the official mascot of The Evergreen State College located in Olympia Washington. The School's Latin motto, Omina Extares means "let it all hang out". I wonder what they're referring to?
#3 Giraffe Weevil
Native to Madagascar, the Trachelophorus giraffa gets its name from its jointed extended neck that is similar to a Giraffe. The majority of the body is black with distinctive red patterns covering the wings. The extended neck assist with nest building and fighting. The Giraffe Weevil is the longest weevil in the world at around 2.5 cm.
#4 Tapir
Pronounced ta-pier appears to be a cross between a pig and an anteater. Tapirs, found in the jungles of South and Central America are actually mammals and are more closely related to horses and rhinos. Adult males can weigh up to 700 lbs, and though the four species vary in color and fur, they all have oval, white-tipped ears, rounded rumps, stubby tails, and can possess as many as 44 teeth. Tapirs diet consists mainly of fruit, berries, and leaves, though they have a tendency to eat soft foliage underwater if they live near a water source. They have been observed consuming upwards of 85 pounds of vegetation in a single day. Their size and remarkable speed keeps them free from most predators. Despite this, and mainly due to loss of habitat, two of the four species of Tapir are on the endangered species list.
#5
Monkfish
The Monkfish, or Headfish is native to the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean. They can grow upwards of three feet in length, and the largest recorded specimen was 219 lbs. They are in the genus Squatina, the angel shark family. They are not widely consumed throughout the world, although there are regions such as Spain and Velencia that it can be commonly found. It is thought that the reason they are endangered is because they are caught as bycatch by trawlers (caught accidentally and later used as bait)
#6 The Giant Coconut Crab
With the exalted title of the largest land based arthropod in the world, it's a wonder that the Giant Coconut Crab doesn't get more press than it does. These animals are generally nocturnal and live in many coastal and forest regions of Indo-Pacific islands. Including the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, The Indian Ocean and the seas in the area of Indonesia. Some of it's "island names" are the Robber Crab or Palm Thief because of it's reported habit of taking anything it can use, specifically shiny items. But they get their common name from their ability to climb Coconut Palm trees, clip off the Coconuts, return to the ground, peel the husk fromt he coconut, and hammer them open by dropping it repeatedly on rocks, or banging them open with their large claws. The rest of their diet is primarily fleshy fruits, nuts and seeds. Though they are Omnivores and will consume other items as well.
Coconut crabs have a body length of about 16 inches, a leg span of 3 feet, and can weigh up to 9 pounds. Though there are accounts of them reaching upwards of 6 feet across and weighing up to 30 pounds. They can also live more than 30 years.Coconut Crabs can't swim, even smaller crabs drown in water, though they require water to survive. They have an organ called a branchiostegal lung, that is explained to be something in between gills and lungs. This organ allows the crab to take oxygen out of the air, but also has to be kept moist to function. So it is more likely to see them in daylight during a rain storm as the moisture allows them to breathe more easily.Though an adolescent has many predators, the only danger to a fully grown Coconut Crab are Human Beings. As the crab is a delicacy as well as an aphrodisiac in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Particularly if the eggs can be harvested from inside the female Coconut Crab.
#7 Stick Bug (or Stick Insect)
The Phasmatodea (or Phasmida), are known around the world as walking sticks, stick bugs, stick insects, and ghost insects. Their adaptation of natural camouflage make them exceptionally difficult to spot (as you probably noticed from the first picture). There are over 3000 known species around the world, but are most abundantly found in tropical areas.
#8 Giant Isopod
Isopod, meaning crustacean, this behemoth is actually related to shrimp and crabs. First discovered in 1879 by French zoologist Alphonse Milne Edwards, it was the first proof of life at the azoic (deep ocean) level. They are of little interest to commercial fisheries as there numbers are too scarce to market, and are "scavenged beyond marketability" before they are recovered. They are also related and bare resemblance to the Pill Bug, or as we know them around here, the Roly-Poly. Mature adults reaching as long as 14 inches, and weighing nearly 4 pounds, they are formidable scavengers of the deep sea. They live in areas over five hundred and fifty feet below the surface in pitch darkness, they scavenge the carcasses of dead whales, fish and squid. Due to the lack of food at the depth they live in, they have adapted to long periods of famine. They are known to survive up to two months without any food.
While their genaral color is green/lime green like most frogs. The abdominal side is transparent. The Internal organs, and gastrointestianl tract are visible through the skin. First discovered in 1872, they were first placed with tree frogs in the genera Hyella. It wasn't until 1951 that the family Centrolenidae was created. That family is now host to over 50 species of glass frogs. Found primarily along rivers and streams in Central and South America, Glass frogs are small, between 1.2 and 3.0 inches in length.
#10 Mata Mata
Classification Chelus fimbriatus,these freshwater turtles are found in South America. Distinctive due to it's large flattened head with many flaps of skin. These turtles grow to a length of about 18-20 inches as an adult and weigh around 30 pounds. Each foot has five webbed claws which is uses along with it's natural camouflage to catch fish and other food. The Mata Mata while lying still in the water would resemble a piece of wood or a gathering of leaves.
#11 Giant Weta
Native to New Zealand, the Giant weta, genus Deinacrida, family Anostostomatidae, can grow over 4 inches in length. It is documented that one captive female grew to a mass of 70 g (2.5 oz) making it one of the heaviest insects inthe world. It's genus name is Greek for Terrible Grasshopper.
#12 Wrinkle-Faced Bat
The Centurio senex, or Wrinkle-Faced bat is found in several South and Central America countries. Distinctive because of their hairless face with numerous outgrowths of skin that are more pronounced in males of the species. Though they are mainly fruit eating bats, they are not classified as a fruit bat.
#13 Leaf Insect
Also from the family Phyliidae, the Walking Leaf, or Leaf Insect is native to South Asia and Australia. It's amazing natural camouflage make them virtually invisible in wooded areas. Which not only protects them from predators, but lets prey come to them. Similarly to Mantis' and Stick Bugs, the Leaf Insect has a tendency to sway back and forth to mimic a real leaf blowing in the wind. Some sources state that these insects may have been in existence 47 million years ago.
#14 Blobfish
Native to the deep waters of Australia and Tasmania, the rare Psycholutes Marcidusis a gelatinous mass with a density slightly lower than water. This allows the Blobfish to swim without expending much energy. The Blobfish will consume any organic matter that passes in front of it.
Though the Blobfish has few natural predators, it is facing extinction due to deep sea fishing.
#15 Spiney Orbweaver Spider
TheGasteracantha cancriformis, or Spiney Orbweaver Spider is also known in some areas as a Crab Spider has a very distinctive and colorful "shell" looking back with several "spines" usually bright in color protruding out. It is thought that this is mainly a development of protection from predators as it looks dangerous. They are small in size, the larger of the species only about 10 - 13 mm in length. A bite from these spider is known to "have serious effects on humans".
#16 Rosey Lipped Batfish
Common in the waters of Costa Rica, the Rosey Lipped Batfish, or Ogcocephalus porrectus, are poor swimmers despite the distinction of a fish. Their oddly shaped pectoral fins, that look more like legs, allow them to walk along the ocean floor where they feed on small fish and crustacians.
#17 Mantis Shrimp
These giant crustaceans have been known to reach up to 15 inches in lengh, averaging around 12. Underwater they appear to have bright and vibrant colors that are used to disguise themselves in bright coral areas. The most remarkable thing about these shrimp, besides their abnormally powerful claws, is their eyes, formed in four rows they have extreme sensitivity
The (Condylura cristata) or Star Nosed Mole is found all along the Eastern seaboard of the United States, across the Northeast United states from about Wisconsin over to New Hampshire. It is also found along Southeastern areas of Canada. It is the sole member of the genus Condylura. These unique creatures have the unmistakable trait of having eleven pairs of pink fleshy appendages sprouting from their snout. These appendages are used for their sense of touch, and contain more than 25,000 sensory receptors.
The Star Nosed Mole is functionally blind, and is smaller than an average Mole (only about the size of a Hamster). A report in the journal Nature attributed the Star Nosed Mole as being the fastest eating mammal, taking as little as 120 milliseconds to identify and consume foot items, deciding in only 8 milliseconds on weather or not something is edible. These moles also possess the rare ability to smell underwater by exhaling air bubbles onto objects and then inhaling the bubbles to carry scents back through the nose.
#19 Camel Spider
Known as Camel Spiders, Wind Scorpions, or Sun Spiders, and containing over 1000 described species, most live in deserts and feed on numerous types of small animals, although they are omnivores. Larger species have been known to feed on small snakes, lizards, and rodents. They can grow up to 5-6 inches in length (including the legs)
