WEIRDEST ANIMALS in the World
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00:00Hey guys, today we're counting down the top 15 weirdest animals on Earth. Creatures that defy expectations with their adaptations and appearances.
00:08These animals often hidden away in remote corners of the earth or deep beneath the ocean surface,
00:13showcasing credible diversity. Let's start with number 15,
00:17Kantor's giant softshell turtle.
00:19Kantor's giant softshell turtle is a fascinating species native to Cambodia and Vietnam.
00:24This turtle, which has recently been classified as endangered, stands out as one of the largest and strangest looking turtles.
00:31Unlike most turtles that have a hard exterior shell formed by ribs protruding from their bodies,
00:36this giant softshell turtle has no exterior shell. Instead, its ribs form a protective plating over its back.
00:43But this plating is still beneath the skin, giving the turtle its distinctive appearance.
00:48These turtles spend most of their lives buried underground, with only its eyes and nose protruding above the surface.
00:53Now, this behavior makes it a powerful ambush predator, feeding primarily on fish and crustaceans.
00:59Its bite is incredibly strong, capable of crushing bones, and it's considered one of the fastest striking animals in the world.
01:06Breeding typically happens around February or March, when the giant softshell turtle lays between 20 to 30 eggs, and
01:12various conservation projects are currently underway to help save this magnificent creature from extinction.
01:17Living in freshwater streams and rivers,
01:19this turtle was found in significant numbers along the banks of the Mekong River in Cambodia in 2007.
01:25This discovery provided wildlife officials with an opportunity to implement conservation efforts to prevent this species from becoming extinct.
01:34Number 14. Wood Frog
01:37Lithobates sylvaticus, commonly known as the wood frog, is a species of frog with a broad distribution across North America.
01:45It's garnered attention from biologists because of its freeze tolerance.
01:49The most remarkable thing about wood frogs happens not in the summer when they transform from tadpoles to frogs,
01:55but in the winter when they hibernate. The northern forests in Alaska and Canada have some of the most dramatic temperature ranges in the world.
02:02Summer days stretch to 24 hours and temperatures can climb into the 90s. Winter brings some of the Earth's coldest temperatures.
02:09It's not too unusual to have temperatures of minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
02:13Prospect Creek, just south of Brooks Range, is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Alaska, minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
02:20Almost certainly, there were hibernating wood frogs near Prospect Creek when that record was set.
02:25Researchers have found that these wood frogs spend the winter frozen.
02:29This strategy allows these frogs to become very active in early spring, and when the land thaws, it warms more quickly than the ice-covered lakes.
02:37By contrast, frogs that hibernate underwater take longer to become active, so they must breed later.
02:43These frogs need permanent water that won't dry out.
02:46At the beginning of winter, the ice quickly fills the wood frog's abdominal cavity and encases its internal organs.
02:52Ice crystals form between the layers of skin and muscle. The ice turned white because the lens freezes.
02:59At the same time, the frog's liver produces large amounts of glucose that flushes into every cell in its body.
03:05This syrupy, sugary solution prevents the cells from freezing solid and binds the water molecules inside the cells to prevent dehydration.
03:13It's awesome.
03:15Number 13. The superb lyrebird.
03:18The superb lyrebird is an Australian songbird, one of only two species from the family Menuridae.
03:24It's one of the world's largest songbirds, and it's renowned for its elaborate tail, courtship displays, and exceptional mimicry.
03:32The species is endemic to Australia, and it's found in forests in the southeast of the country.
03:37And while it may have looks, it displays one of the most sophisticated voice skills within the animal kingdom.
03:43So what does that mean?
03:44Well, the suburb lyrebird is celebrated for its remarkable vocal mimicry, with an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the male's
03:51vocalizations consisting of imitations of other species.
03:55Females also sing, regularly producing both lyrebird-specific songs and vocal mimicry.
04:00Both sexes can intersperse vocal mimicry with the lyrebird-specific ones, including songs and alarm calls.
04:06The quality of these memetic songs increase with age, with adult superb lyrebirds having both greater accuracy and a more diverse
04:14repertoire of memetic songs compared to sub-adult birds.
04:18Sub-adult ones produce recognizable imitations,
04:21which do fall short of the adult versions in terms of frequency range, consistency, and acoustic purity.
04:27For example, in imitations of the complex whip-bird call, like many passerine species,
04:32these are significant differences in lyrebird songs across its geographic range.
04:37Number 12. The Malagasy leaf-nosed snake.
04:40This snake is a medium-sized, non-venomous, highly cryptic arboreal species.
04:46It's endemic to Madagascar. Its snake is found in deciduous dry forests and rainforests, often in vegetation about seven feet above the ground.
04:54These leaf-nosed snakes can grow up to three feet in length and exhibit significant sexual dimorphism.
05:00Males are dorsally brown and ventrally yellow, with a long, tapering snout, while females are mottled gray with a flattened, leaf-shaped snout.
05:08They have unusually slender bodies and can be identified by their long, pointy snouts.
05:13Their main diet consists of frogs and lizards, making them primarily a sit-and-wait predator.
05:18This species is known for its curious resting behavior, often hanging straight down from a branch,
05:24which, along with its cryptic coloration and hooding behavior, might allow it to mimic a vine swaying in the wind.
05:30This mimicry also helps it to avoid predators and enhances its efficiency.
05:34The snake exhibits hooding and swaying behaviors while stalking prey, which includes both arboreal and terrestrial lizards.
05:41These snakes are oviparous, with clutch sizes ranging from 5 to 11 eggs, and generally,
05:47they're calm and reluctant to bite unless provoked. These snakes add to the unique and diverse wildlife of Madagascar,
05:53standing out due to their extraordinary appearance and specialized behaviors.
05:58Number 11. The Elf Owl.
06:01The Elf Owl, as the name would suggest, their diminutive size and unique behaviors set them apart in the avian world.
06:09It holds the title of the world's lightest and smallest owl, with an average body weight of just 40 grams.
06:17Measuring really only about 5 inches in length and having a wingspan of about 10 inches,
06:21these tiny owls are a remarkable contrast to their larger relatives. One of this owl's notable adaptations
06:27is its ability to feign death when handled, a behavior that encourages a predator to relax its grip,
06:33allowing the owl to escape. During the breeding season, Elf Owls are monogamous and remain in breeding pairs,
06:39but they can be found in small groups during migration and when mobbing predators.
06:44Their diet consists of arthropods, including moths, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, and beetles.
06:49They forage in agaves and octilos, where insects can be found in the flowers.
06:53And in urban areas, Elf Owls utilize outdoor lights that attract bugs as hunting grounds.
06:59They're often seen chasing after flying insects with a flight pattern similar to that of a tyrant fly catcher.
07:04These Elf Owls also feed on scorpions by removing the stinger before consumption, and they appear to be unaffected by these scorpion stings.
07:12Occasionally, they'll even prey on small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
07:16Number 10. Dung Beetle.
07:19Well, the name says it all. The Dung Beetle is known for its unique relationship with animal droppings.
07:25The group of Dung Beetles isn't strictly taxonomic. It encompasses various sub-families and even different families.
07:31The sub-family, Scarabaenae, is often referred to as true Dung Beetles, is the most associated with that famous behavior.
07:39They're typically categorized based on their processing behaviors into three types. Rollers, Tunnelers, and Dwellers.
07:46Rollers are perhaps the most famous. They're known for their ability to gather animal waste and form it into round balls.
07:52These balls are then rolled along the ground to a preferred location, and either buried or used as brood-feeding medium by injecting them with eggs.
07:59The rolling behavior of Dung Beetles might be why the ancient Egyptians were fascinated by them, as it resembled the sun god Kephri,
08:07rolling the sun across the sky.
08:09Now, Tunnelers create elaborate tunnels beneath dung piles, carrying small dung balls into these tunnels as a nutrient source for their brood.
08:16These Dung Beetles have evolved physical adaptations for their work.
08:19Their head is flattened and shovel-like for digging, and their legs are enormous and muscular,
08:24equipped with armored spines and powerful rear legs to push and carve out the dung balls.
08:29Their strength is extraordinary.
08:32Some Dung Beetles can pull weights up to 1,100 times their own body weight.
08:37That's equivalent to a human pulling six double-decker buses full of people.
08:41Their antenna is highly specialized. They often feather to detect the faintest scent of dung from a distance.
08:47They've also got keen eyesight, allowing them to navigate using celestial cues. The nocturnal African Dung Beetle Scarabaeus satyrus,
08:55for instance, uses the Milky Way's stripe to chart a straight path from the dung pile to its breeding ground,
09:01a discovery that highlights how nocturnal insects navigate their environment.
09:06Number 9. Fossa
09:09The Fossa is a unique and elusive cat-like carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar.
09:14Despite its feline appearance, it belongs to the family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family.
09:20The Fossa is a medium-sized slender creature with both feline and canine features.
09:25It's got a sleek body, short strong legs, large cat-like paws with sharp claws,
09:31round ears, a canine-like snout, and a very, very long tail.
09:35Despite that slender look, though, the Fossa is the island's top predator.
09:39It preys on a wide variety of animals ranging from mice to wild boar.
09:43But its primary prey is the lemur, of which there are about 30 species on the island.
09:48But unlike the mongoose relatives it has, the Fossa has a slender cat-like body with retractable claws,
09:54allowing it to walk silently and creep up on prey.
09:57Its agility and speed make it a formidable predator, capable of outmaneuvering even the quickest lemurs.
10:04It certainly is a strange beast. Despite its reclusive behavior, though,
10:07it's inspired numerous legends in Madagascar, with some locals believing that a single lick from a Fossa can put a person into a deep
10:15sleep or a trance. As the dominant carnivore in Madagascar, the Fossa has no natural predators.
10:21However, it faces significant threats from deforestation and habitat degradation.
10:26Number 8. Patagonian Mara
10:29The Patagonian Mara is a large desert rodent native to the steppes of Argentina,
10:34and distinguished by its unique appearance and remarkable adaptations.
10:38Resembling a cross between a rabbit and a guinea pig, the Mara has the cuteness of a large South American rodent while being closely
10:45related to the Capybara.
10:47It's also known as the Patagonian Cavi, the Patagonian Hare, and Dillaby.
10:52The Mara is the fourth largest rodent in the world, just bigger than a porcupine and smaller than a muskrat.
10:57And it's about as cute as it could be. Well, for a rodent, that is.
11:01Maras are primarily herbivores, feeding on green vegetation, seeds, flowers, and fruit.
11:07They are diurnal, meaning they're active during the day. And one of the most notable features here is their exceptional agility.
11:13They have specialized bones in their legs that enable them to handle heavy impacts and channel energy into impressive jumps.
11:20Their elongated limbs make them more nimble than they appear. And in terms of speed, Maras are record-holding rodents.
11:27They've been observed running alongside a researcher's car at about 28 miles per hour for a half a mile,
11:32with literature claiming speeds of up to about 37 miles an hour.
11:36Another fascinating behavior of this Mara is pronking.
11:40Pronking involves springing into the air with all four limbs straight up, much like a trampoline bounce.
11:46This behavior, also seen in gazelles and springboks, is thought to confuse predators and signal alarm to other members of their group.
11:54Pronking is also referred to as stotting, but the term pronking is more whimsical.
11:59Now, oddly enough, the Maras typically give birth to twins, with 5% being triplets and occasionally single children.
12:06Mara clans can be as large as 70 members, containing up to 33 pups at a time.
12:12In these busy households, mothers take shifts in the den to feed their young. It really does take a village to raise a Mara.
12:19Moving on to number seven, a Yeti Crab.
12:23At the bottom of our ocean, more than 7,000 feet below the surface, lie mid-ocean ridges.
12:29These are underwater mountains formed by tectonic plates splitting apart and hot lava rising beneath the seafloor.
12:35These regions are home to some of the thinnest points in the Earth's crust and the hottest temperatures.
12:41Here, new seafloor is continuously created and hydrothermal vents spew unimaginably hot, mineral-rich water into the frigid deep-sea environment.
12:50Amid this extreme habitat, one of the ocean's most bizarre and unique creatures thrive, the Yeti Crab.
12:57Discovered in 2005 by researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the Yeti Crab,
13:04scientifically known as Kiwahertsuta, stands out due to its peculiar appearance and extraordinary adaptations.
13:11The most defining characteristic of this crustacean is its furry claws.
13:16These pincers are covered in blonde setae, bristle-like structures that give the crab its characteristic Yeti-like appearance.
13:24The setae enable it to harvest its main food source, bacteria.
13:28In a fascinating display, these crabs perform a sort of dance, waving their claws around in the water.
13:33This movement ensures a constant flow of oxygen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, which are essential for the bacteria to grow.
13:40The discovery of this crab also led to the identification of a new family of squat lobsters,
13:46the Kawide.
13:47While the name Yeti Crab conjures images of the mythical abominable snowman, the scientific name Kiwahertsuta has a more grounded origin.
13:55Kiwa refers to a Polynesian deity who's considered a guardian of the ocean, and hertsuta means hairy in Latin,
14:02aptly describing the crab's distinctive appearance. The habitable zone for crabs is perilously small.
14:08Venture too close to the vents and they risk being cooked alive by the intense heat.
14:12Stray too far and face the deadly cold of the deep sea.
14:16Number six, black and white snub-nosed monkey.
14:20The black and white snub-nosed monkey, also known as the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, is a remarkable primate native to the southern Chinese province of Yunnan.
14:29Known locally as the Yunnan golden hair monkey, this species is one of the most striking and odd-looking primates in the world.
14:36Although initially described in the 1800s, it was not well studied until the 1990s due to its remote habitat and elusive nature.
14:44The fact that no zoo outside China has ever kept the black and white snub-nosed monkey in captivity adds to its status.
14:50While its nose, or almost lack of, is the monkey's standout feature,
14:54one of the most unique aspects of this monkey is its habitat.
14:58It lives at the highest altitude of any known non-human primate.
15:03Surviving in such an extreme environment is due to a mutation in the primate's DNA that allows increased resistance to oxygen deprivation.
15:11This adaptation is crucial for enduring the low-oxygen environment of the high-altitude forests in which they reside.
15:18There's a unique diet to this monkey that allows them to thrive in their harsh environment.
15:22Although they'll also eat bamboos and other seasonal plants when available,
15:26the availability of food items can vary depending on the location of each troop, with some, for instance, consuming rhododendron flower nectar in the spring.
15:34This monkey's distribution is highly restricted to an alpine conifer and mixed forest of the Yun range,
15:40part of the greater Hengduan Mountains.
15:42Only about 17 groups, totaling fewer than 1,700 individuals, survive in northwest Yunnan and neighboring regions.
15:50As of 2006, the population of these monkeys was estimated at fewer than 2,000 individuals.
16:00Despite its name, the Sunda Flying Lemur is neither a lemur nor capable of true flight.
16:06However, aside from bats, it is one of the most adept gliders among mammals.
16:10Native to the forests of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore,
16:16this flying lemur can glide for distances of up to 300 feet while losing only about 33 feet of elevation.
16:23Remarkably, one individual was recorded gliding over 450 feet.
16:27The key to that gliding prowess lies in its enormous flap of leathery skin that stretches from its face to the tips of its fingers
16:34and down to the end of its tail.
16:36This extensive surface area allows it to maintain lift during its glides.
16:41Their skeletons, too, are incredibly light and thin, making their reasonably sized bodies, up to 38 centimeters long and weighing just over a kilogram,
16:48light enough to glide even with a joey clinging to their backs.
16:52So, if the Sunda Flying Lemur isn't a lemur, well, what is it?
16:55Well, the species is classified as a Colugo, with only two known species in the world.
17:01Its slightly larger cousin, the Philippine Flying Lemur, is found exclusively there in the Philippines,
17:06but the Sunda Flying ones are either solitary or in small loosely connected groups.
17:11They cling to tree trunks or branch undersides with all four feet and move by stretching out their front legs and then bringing up their back legs.
17:18They are quite helpless on the forest floor, which highlights their adaptation to an arboreal lifestyle.
17:26Number four, the Bald Uakari.
17:29The Bald Uakari,
17:30it's also known as the Bald-Headed Uakari, is a distinctive species of monkey found in the western Amazon of Brazil and Peru.
17:37It's instantly recognizable by its long, shaggy, ginger coat and its striking feature, a bright red hairless face and head.
17:45Both males and females exhibit this crimson facial coloration,
17:49which is due to lack of skin pigments and a highly concentration of capillaries under the face tissue.
17:53This redness is believed to be a sign of health, with brighter red faces indicating stronger individuals,
17:59and conversely, paler faces may signal illness.
18:02Now, these Uakaris are highly social primates, often living in large groups that can reach up over 200 individuals,
18:08though troops of around 30 are more common.
18:10The facial redness plays a role in mate selection, with intensity correlating to hormone levels, or estrogen in females and testosterone in males,
18:18making it a factor in choosing mates.
18:20Unlike many other monkey species, the Bald Uakari has a short tail and an average of just 15 centimeters long,
18:26meaning that it's way too short for gripping branches.
18:29Instead, they rely on their strong, long arms and legs to move through the canopy.
18:33They do exhibit intelligence and peaceful behavior within their groups. Troop dynamics are fluid, with individuals sometimes leaving and rejoining at different times.
18:41While dominance isn't predominantly displayed, elder members often lead foraging expeditions and determine feeding times.
18:48They have few natural predators due to their large group sizes,
18:51but they are vulnerable to large eagles, snakes, and carnivorous mammals such as ocelots.
18:57They mitigate these risks, though, by foraging in mixed species groups, often alongside other primates like spider monkeys, which provide added protection.
19:05Number 3. The Hammer-Headed Bat
19:08The Hammer-Headed Bat is a type of megabat akin to flying foxes, and it's the largest bat in mainland Africa,
19:14ranking as the third largest bat in the world.
19:17Males have wingspans that are up to three feet and forearms exceeding four inches.
19:22The pronounced dimorphism in this species means males are up to twice as heavy as the females,
19:26with males averaging about 15 ounces compared to females 8 ounces.
19:30The bat's name comes from the large, oddly-shaped head of the males, which is designed to amplify their loud honking calls.
19:38Their larynx is so large it displaces other organs like the heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.
19:44Females, on the other hand, have a more typical megabat appearance without the pronounced head shape.
19:49Their tongues have specialized papillae that act like a straw, allowing them to suck out the juices from their favorite fruits.
19:55The bats mate through a lek system, where males gather in groups to perform courtship rituals and attract females with their distinctive calls.
20:03The loud calls, likened to croaking frogs, are unique features that set them apart from other bats.
20:09During the day, these bats roost in trees, either alone or in small groups of about four to five. At night,
20:14they forage for food, and despite being considered pests due to their loud calls and fruit consumption,
20:19they play an essential role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds.
20:23These bats also exhibit noticeable personalities, which researchers observe when tagging them for tracking.
20:28Some bats are docile and patient, while others are more rebellious and prone to biting, necessitating the use of thick leather gloves by the scientists.
20:37Number two, babirusa.
20:39The babirusa is often referred to as the deer pig, is a fascinating creature with a distinct prehistoric
20:46appearance that made it the subject of legends and ancient art.
20:49Native to the swamps and forests of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi,
20:53babirusas are a unique species within the swine family, which includes pigs, hogs, boars, and warthogs.
20:59Their stocky bodies and unusually curved tusks give them an ancient, almost mythical look.
21:05They have been depicted in cave drawings that are more than 35,000 years old, highlighting their long-standing significance to humans.
21:12These depictions underscore the unique place in both natural history and human culture.
21:16Their appearance has not significantly changed over the millennia, earning them the nickname prehistoric pigs.
21:22Their tusks can grow so long that they sometimes puncture the roof of the babirusa's mouth and protrude at the top of their snouts.
21:30These tusks do not seem to cause the babirusa any pain, and in contrast, the females typically lack those distinctive large tusks.
21:37If they do develop, they are much smaller and don't grow through the snout.
21:40Males are generally solitary, coming together with other males primarily to fight over mates and resources.
21:46Those fights involve charging at each other and attempting to stab their opponent with their sharp tusks.
21:51The upper tusks serve a defensive role, while the lower tusks are often used offensively.
21:55Without regular grinding through their activities, a male's tusks can continue to grow to the point of penetrating its own skull.
22:02These groups can occasionally number up to 84 individuals, though they usually contain no adult males.
22:07Their social behavior helps protect the young and ensures the survival of their species in the dense forests and swamps.
22:141. The Shoebill
22:17The Shoebill, also known as the Whalehead, is truly a remarkable bird that captivates with its bizarre and almost prehistoric appearance.
22:27Its oversized, shoe-shaped beak is the most defining feature, contributing to that otherworldly look.
22:34They inhabit freshwater swamps and marshes of East Africa, including countries such as Uganda, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Kenya,
22:42Ethiopia, Botswana, and Tanzania.
22:45They are particularly associated with areas rich in papyrus vegetation and lungfish, which form a significant part of their diet.
22:52The immense beak, one of the largest among birds, is a versatile tool for hunting.
22:56It can measure up to 10 inches in length and another 8 in width,
23:00and it's adapted to capture large prey such as fish and frogs, and even baby crocodiles.
23:06The edges of the beak are razor sharp, enabling the Shoebill to swiftly decapitate its prey.
23:11This impressive predatory adaptation, combined with the bird's stately posture and slow, deliberate movements,
23:18gives it a distinctly prehistoric aura.
23:21While generally silent, Shoebills engage in intriguing vocalizations during the nesting season.
23:26They perform bill clattering displays at the nest, a sound akin to machine gun fire.
23:32Adult birds have been noticed to produce cow-like moos and high-pitched whines, while nestlings beg for food with sounds that resemble human hiccups.
23:40These vocalizations, along with bill clattering, serve as a crucial communication method for them when they're young.
23:46In their environments, fish frequently surface to breathe, presenting ideal hunting opportunities for this patient bird.
23:52Shoebills also benefit from the presence of hippos, which disturb fish and create paths through the swamps, inadvertently aiding the Shoebill's hunting.
24:01Their methodical and slow flapping when in fight, at approximately 150 flaps per minute, is one of the slowest among birds,
24:08contributing to their distinctive and, frankly, eerie presence. This slow, deliberate movement underscores their methodical nature,
24:16both in flight and on the ground. And besides, they're awesome.
24:20Thanks for watching everyone. I'll see you next time.
24:24Thank you to our channel members.