With more than 8 million different species of living creatures on this planet, it only makes sense that we may not know exactly what all of them are.
In fact, humans are discovering new animals each and every year, meaning that we do not even know about all the life-forms on earth.
We will discuss weird and unique animal species that you probably have not heard of. We will also mention a few of their impressive characteristics that help them stand out from the rest.
The Venezuelan Poodle Moth
When looking at this creature, it is easy to see where the name came from.
This moth has a distinctive coat that makes it appear almost fluffy – like a poodle.
Discovered in Venezuela in 2009, this new species is relatively rare. They are mostly found in moist rain forests and rocky areas.
The Glaucus Atlanticus
For obvious reasons, the Glaucus Atlanticus is also known as the blue dragon. This creature is actually a species of sea slug, meaning that it can be found in warm ocean waters.
Interestingly, these creatures often float to the surface of the ocean due to the fact that they contain lots of air.
If you are ever swimming in warm ocean waters, be sure to look out for these beautiful slugs.
The Dumbo Octopus
The Dumbo octopus is a type of umbrella octopus that can be found anywhere in the world.
The name of this unique species comes from the popular Disney movie Dumbo.
This is due to the fact that it has large ears, similar to the main character in the movie.
The Macropinna Microstoma
The Macropinna Microstoma is a very rare species of fish that can be found between 600m and 800m below the ocean surface.
These creatures tend to hang motionless in the water for very long periods of time.
This unique fish has a transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, making it very easy to identify. You can also see the lens of the fish’s eye through this dome.
The Irrawaddy Dolphin
Dolphins are usually easy to identify because of their long beak.
However, this species of dolphin does not have this feature, making them incredibly unique.
The Irrawaddy dolphin can be found in Southeast Asia and the Bay Of Bengal.
The Lowland Streaked Tenrec
The Lowland Streaked Tenrec can be found in the southern regions of Africa and Madagascar.
They have an extremely unique appearance and somewhat resemble a porcupine.
This tenrec species is the only known mammal to use stridulation to generate sound. This technique is mostly used by snakes and other reptiles.
The Red-Lipped Batfish
Even though this creature is technically a fish, it is a bad swimmer.
In fact, it usually uses its pectoral fins to walk across the bottom of the seafloor.
This red-lipped sea creature can be found on the Galapagos Islands. With that being said, it is very rare and hardly seen by locals.
The Sunda Colugo
The Sunda Colugo, otherwise known as the Sunda flying lemur, is native to East Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Even though it is sometimes called a flying lemur, it does not fly.
This creature is active at night and only eats plants.
The Blue Parrotfish
This bright blue fish can be found in the subtropical and tropical parts of the Caribbean and the Atlantic ocean.
This creature spends much of its life searching for food.
This fish eats small animals found in the sand and algae.
The Glass Frog
The glass frog is found solely in South America.
This creature forms a part of a family of amphibians that are identified by their transparent bodies.
If viewed from below, you will be able to see their internal organs, including their beating heart.
The Fossa
This cat-like animal can be found in Madagascar.
While many of its features suggest that this species is a feline, many traits actually relate the fossa to viverrids.
However, after genetic research was performed, scientists eventually classed these animals as an entirely separate species.
The Panda Ant
Again, it is clear to see why this creature is called the panda ant.
Thanks to its black and white coat, scientists decided to name this ant after the Chinese bear.
Even though it is called an ant, it is actually a type of wingless wasp. On average, this creature lives no longer than 2 years.
The Tufted Deer
The tufted deer can be found in areas of central China. Also, this creature is characterized by an obvious tuft of black hair on the forehead.
The tufted deer is extremely timid and tends to live in solitude.
It also enjoys sheltered areas, such as forests, that can protect them from the harsh weather.
The Honduran White Bat
The Honduran white bat has an extremely distinctive coat of white fur. Also, their leaf-shaped nose and ears make them very easy to identify.
As the name suggests, the white bat can be found in Honduras.
These creatures build leaf houses and tend to live in groups of four or five.
The Japanese Spider Crab
The Japanese spider crab is an extremely large crustacean that lives in the waters of Japan.
Even though this creature is so large and scary-looking, many scientists claim that it actually has a gentle disposition.
The Saiga Antelope
The saiga antelope can be found in areas of Europe and Asia.
This animal has an over-sized nose that is actually incredibly flexible.
Sadly, this antelope is critically endangered.
The Spiny Bush Viper
This venomous viper can be found in regions of Central Africa.
The snake is just about as scary to look at as it is dangerous.
Named after the rough spikes found all over its body, this snake is very easy to identify.
The Leafy Sea Dragon
The leafy sea dragon can be found in regions along the southern and western coasts of Australia.
This species of seahorse uses its leafy protrusions as a form of camouflage.
This marine creature is also extremely rare.
The Atretochoana Eiselti
The atretochoana eiselti is a recently discovered species of snake found in South America.
This snake is identifiable by its lack of eyes and scales.
It also has a tail that can be used for swimming.
The Dik-Dik
The dik-dik can be found in the bushlands of southern Africa.
They are known for being an incredibly small species of antelope.
These herbivores can tolerate extremely high temperatures.
The Lilac-Breasted Roller
The lilac-breasted roller is mostly found in regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula.
This bird is identifiable by its brightly colored chest and wings.
They tend to perch on very high branches and other vantage points.
The Mata Mata
The Mata Mata is a type of freshwater turtle that can be found in South America.
These creatures are characterized by their triangular and flattened heads.
They also have a distinctive ‘horn’ on their snout.
The Sea Pig
Sea pigs are a type of sea cucumber that can be found on the ocean floor.
In fact, these creatures generally live more than 1,000m below the ocean’s surface.
Like other sea slugs, they obtain their food by extracting organic matter from the mud.
The Superb Bird Of Paradise
This bird species is one of the most incredible in the world.
The male birds have a distinctive teal crown that is used to impress females during courtship.
These tiny birds can be found in areas of Papua New Guinea.
The Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko
This species of gecko is distinctive due to its insane camouflage abilities.
Found in Madagascar, it is extremely difficult to separate this creature from surrounding leaves.
The Halitrephes Jelly
The halitrephes jelly is a type of jellyfish that can be found up to 2,000m below the ocean’s surface.
This incredible species has unique colors and tentacles.
In fact, it sometimes resembles a firework from above.
The Pink Fairy Armadillo
Found in Argentina, this species of armadillo is the smallest on earth.
With extremely small eyes and silky yellow fur, this creature is very rare.
The animal gets its name from the slight pink tinge found on its shell.
The Okapi
This animal is native to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Even though it has zebra stripes, the Okapi is actually more closely related to the giraffe.
If you ask us, it looks like it got the best of both worlds.
The Maned Wolf
The maned wolf is the largest species of canid found in South America.
Even though it resembles a fox, it is actually a wolf.
This creature is very shy around humans and participates in symbiotic relationships with other species.
The Star-Nosed Mole
The star-nosed mole can be found in the low areas of North America.
These creatures are easy to identify because of their snout.
Interestingly, this snout is great at detecting seismic waves.
The Blobfish
The blobfish is a deep-sea fish that can be found off the coast of Australia.
Made from mostly gelatinous mass, these creatures can easily float in water without using too much energy.
All we can say is that it certainly is the thing nightmares are made of…
The Pacu
The pacu is a type of fish that is very easy to identify because of its human-like teeth.
Unlike the piranha, these fish feed mostly on plants and algae.
They are also native to areas in South America.
The Golden Tortoise Beetle
The golden tortoise beetle is native to areas in both North and South America.
Although it can vary in color, most creatures feature different shades of gold, brown, and black.
This tiny creature can actually change its colors based on the type of environment it is in.
The Gobi Jerboa
The Gobi jerboa is native to areas of China and Mongolia.
The creature is a type of rodent that lives in desert regions and steppe habitats.
They are easily identifiable by their long tail and large ears.
The Sea Pen
The sea pen is a colony animal that roots itself into the sand or mud.
Their main purpose in life is to catch plankton or algae that passes by.
When touched, this creature emits a bright green light. The sea pen can be found in tropical waters all over the world.
Summary
There are millions of creatures all over the world that most people will never see in their lives.
A few rare and unique creatures include the okapi, blobfish, pacu, Gobi jerboa, and Dumbo octopus.