I was bumming around the Internet last week when I ran across this:
That's an axolotl. What, you've never heard of an axolotl? (And if you have, I commend you.) They hail from Mexico, and although they are commonly kept as pets, axolotls are actually near extinction in their natural habitat. Cute, isn't he?
But the axolotl made me wonder, what other crazy species are out there that we've never heard of, much less seen? Nature is one big, curious place, after all. Here are a few of those bizarre animals that you may have never known existed, and I'm pretty darn sure you'll never encounter in real life...
The Star-Nosed Mole
You can find this fun guy in eastern Canada and the north-eastern US. His nose is made up of 22 mobile, fleshy tentacles that are used to identify food by touch. These tentacles are covered with about 25,000 minute touch receptors called Eimer's organs. That's a lot of touch receptors.
The Blobfish
When I first saw this, I thought it was a fake photo. I mean, really? But the blobfish does in fact exist. It inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Its gelatinous build is only slightly less dense than water, so it can remain buoyant in the high pressures of the deep. It reminds me of Jabba the Hut.
Duck-billed Platypus
OK, I'm sure most of us have heard of and seen the duck-billed platypus before. But for some reason, when I came across this photo, my first thought was, "I thought those were extinct!" Nope. The platypus is still swimming around near Australia. What's crazy about this animal - besides the fact that it's got a duck's bill, an otter's feet, and a beaver's tail - is that it is one of very few mammals to lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
Aye-aye
I mean no disrespect to the aye-aye, but he looks to me a bit like a cracked-out monkey. What's unique about him (besides his, um, interesting looks) is his method of finding food. The aye-aye taps on trees to find grubs, and when he does, gnaws holes in the wood. He then uses his elongated middle finger to reach in and pull the grubs out. He's only one of two known animals (the other being the striped possum) known to find his food this way.
Viperfish
A deep-sea dweller, the viperfish is found in tropical and temperate waters. Despite his harrowing appearance, the viperfish only grows to be about 12" long. His super-cool characteristic is the long dorsal spine that has a photophore, or light-producing organ, on top. It is believed that the glow produced by this organ attracts prey like crustaceans and small fish. I don't care if he's only a foot long, the viperfish scares the bejeezus out of me.
