The world is filled with a myriad of animals that you never knew were real. Or, even thought couldn’t be real. Some of the creatures in our list are rather daunting and even creepy, and that’s just why would love them! Although, after seeing these creepy-crawly specimens, you may question if it may have been better to just stay oblivious.
Number Ten: The Giant Chinese Salamander. From the looks of this guy, it makes me glad that I’ve never encountered him on an unlucky day. This oversized species of salamander is native to mountain streams and lakes. It has the potential to grow to an astonishing length of 180 centimeters- nine times the size of the normal, 20-centimeter salamanders we are used to! Weighing in at an average of 66 pounds of slimy, dark, wrinkly skin, this sure is an intimidating beast. However, the Giant Chinese Salamander is close to extinction due to polluted waters and hunters.
Number Nine: The Blue Sea Dragon. This peculiar little creature is a small sea slug, nicknamed “sea dragon” because of the majestic shades of blue that decorate its body. The Blue Sea Dragon definitely has an odd nature, as it is often seen with its body coiled up, on the surface of warm seas. The beautiful sea slug has a talent for floating, due to its odd body which has a gas-filled sac in its stomach.
Number Eight: The Saiga Antelope. Although close to extinction, the Saiga Antelope is quite the unique beast. In only a few regions of the world, such as Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan, the rare antelope can still be observed. The most diverse aspect of this species of antelope is its large, almost snout-like nose. During cold, winter months, this big nose heats the air before it gets to the antelope’s lungs. Also during winter, the Saiga Antelope’s coat changes from brown to snow white.
Number Seven: The Dumbo Octopus. For once, an animal’s name sounds exactly what you might expect. This unique species of octopus gained its name from- you guessed it- Disney’s Dumbo. The large, spanning fins of the Dumbo octopus caused the name, as they are said to resemble the little elephant’s iconic ears. This species is known to change from red to green to orange and it lives in most oceans at the darkest depths.
Number Six: The Giant Soft-Shelled Turtle. The Giant Soft-Shelled Turtle is unlike any other species of turtle. Instead of a shell, like other turtles, this turtle has a flat rubber back. Its appearance has been described as “melted”, and looks like what you might expect if you flattened out a naked turtle. It inhabits the ocean floor, burying itself in the sand, and surfaces for air only twice a day.
