10 UNIQUE ANIMALS YOU WON’T BELIEVE EXIST
In this article, we have prepared for you a selection of 10 strange animals you will be surprised exist on planet earth.
Number ten on our list is the Mangalitsa pig, aka a pig in sheep’s clothing; this curly-haired pig originated from Hungary and was discovered in the mid-19th century. The fleece covering this animal makes it resembles a sheep. The fleece can be black or red, but these cuties are most commonly blond. Tragically, it was nearly extinct in the 1990s all because of their extraordinarily tasty lard.
Rhinopithecus or golden snub-nosed monkey makes number nine on our list. The name of this species is roxellana, and there is a story behind it. It is believed that they were called this way after the supposedly snub-nosed courtesan of Suleiman the Magnificent, a 16th century Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Another exciting thing is the difference between male and female monkeys. The males are twice heavier than the females and have a different color.
Number eight on our list is Emperor Tamarin. This animal looks like an emperor or a wise old man with its fabulous mustache. They got the name because of the resemblance of their mustache to that of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Their size is about 10 inches or 26 centimeters, but their tail can be up to 16 inches, or 40 centimeters long. They live in groups of between 4 to 20 animals, and often give birth to twins. They are not entirely vegetarian; the tamarins can feast on frogs, snails, and even small birds.
Number seven is the Patagonian Mara. If you are wondering if this animal is a cross between a kangaroo and a hare, think again. Patagonian Mara is the fourth largest rodent on our planet. There are several interesting facts about them. Females have creches, where they place their offspring for safety. Males help to guard their babies. They grunt when they try to threaten, and also they squeal like guinea pigs. If these animals are startled, they can leap up to 6 feet or 182 centimeters in the air.
Number six is the fluffy cow. The fluffy cow is not a new breed; it belongs to the breeds already known. They are cared for by special people whose duty it is to wash, dry and use the product to style the animals, so they look as fluffy as they do. It is done mostly for shows, and it typically takes about two hours to bring them into form before a performance. Hair sprays are used to fix their fuzz, and natural oils are applied to make their fur look shiny.
Number five is the Markhor goat. This animal looks as if it’s trying to catch an alien radio signal from space. They can grow as long as six feet or 180 centimeters from head to tail. Another surprising feature is that their horns can grow up to 5.2 feet or 1.6 meters long, but that’s only true for males. During mating season, they use their horns for fighting. Female horns grow only up to ten inches or 25 centimeters long. They are strict vegans.
The raccoon dog is number four on the list. If you find it challenging to select either a dog or a raccoon as a pet, then the raccoon dog may be what you need. Despite having raccoon-like markings on their fur, they are more related to domestic dogs, wolves, and foxes than raccoons. Raccoon dogs are unique creatures and are monogamous, which means they mate for life, and a pair of them works together raising and bringing up their kids. The male provides food for the female when she is pregnant. They are the only mammals of the dog family which go into short periods of hibernation. Another amazing feature is that they choose to bed down in pairs, and their voices are just so cute!
Third, on the list is the blue-footed booby. These charismatic birds are sure to catch your eye if you ever visited Galapagos Islands. They can look a bit clumsy and comical on land, but they are excellent at flying and swimming. The birds have funny and complicated mating rituals. To attract a female, males perform some dance with the elements of high-stepping, stamping their feet, and sky pointing, raising their bill up into the air accompanied by high-pitched whistling. If a female is impressed enough, she may come up to the male, touch him with her bill and join the dance. And their blue feet have an actual scientific explanation. It comes from the bird’s fish diet and indicates their healthy immune system.
Second, on the list is the Malayan colugo. The Malayan colugo, also known as the flying lemur does not fly, and it is not a lemur. So why such a name? Colugo has a large gliding membrane, like a flying squirrel, and they can glide for long distances between trees standing far apart. The paradox with these small animals which typically weigh between two and a half to four and a half pounds is that though they live in trees, they are awkward climbers and not very strong.
First on the list is the Venezuelan poodle moth. This moth was only discovered in 2009 and looks as if it lives in Antarctica with all this fur, but it is from Venezuela, a tropical country. Its hairs don’t serve for heating as seen with other mammals. Most insects have hairs for protection or smelling and sensing the environment. Perhaps, it’s true about the poodle moth as well. But as it is a very new discovery, not much is known about this insect yet.