Some animals on Earth are so bizarre and alien-like that they seem to belong to another planet. They have strange shapes, colors, behaviors, or abilities that defy our expectations and challenge our imagination. Here are some examples of animals that look like it came from outer space.
1. Tardigrade
Tardigrades are microscopic animals that can survive in extreme conditions that would kill most other life forms. They can withstand temperatures from near absolute zero to above boiling point, pressures from the deepest ocean trenches to outer space, radiation, dehydration, starvation, and even the vacuum of space1. They do this by entering a state of cryptobiosis, where they curl up into a dry ball and reduce their metabolic activity to near zero. They can remain in this state for years or even decades until they encounter favorable conditions again. Tardigrades have eight legs with claws or suction disks, a mouth with stylets for piercing plant cells or animal tissues, and a body covered with cuticle that molts as they grow. They are also known as water bears or moss piglets because they are often found in moist habitats like mosses and lichens.
2. Axolotl
Axolotls are a type of salamander that can regenerate almost any part of their body, including limbs, tail, spinal cord, heart, and brain. They can also accept transplants from other individuals without rejection. Axolotls have the ability to undergo metamorphosis and become terrestrial adults, but they usually remain in their larval form throughout their lives. This is called neoteny, and it allows them to retain their gills and aquatic lifestyle. Axolotls have a wide range of colors, from albino to black, and some have spots or stripes. They are native to Mexico, where they are endangered due to habitat loss and pollution.
3. Blobfish
Blobfish are deep-sea fish that live at depths of 600 to 1,200 meters (2,000 to 3,900 ft), where the pressure is 60 to 120 times higher than at sea level. They have no bones or muscles and their flesh is mostly a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water. This allows them to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. Blobfish have a large head with a drooping nose, small eyes, and a frowning mouth. They feed on crustaceans and other edible matter that drifts in front of them. Blobfish rarely encounter humans, but when they do, they look very different from their normal appearance. This is because the sudden change in pressure causes their bodies to collapse and lose their shape.
4. Aye-aye
Aye-ayes are a type of lemur that have a unique way of finding and extracting food. They use echolocation to tap on tree branches and trunks with their long middle finger and listen for hollow sounds that indicate the presence of insects or grubs inside. Then they use their sharp teeth to gnaw a hole in the wood and insert their finger to scoop out the prey. Aye-ayes have large ears, bushy tails, yellow eyes, and black or dark brown fur. They are nocturnal and solitary animals that live in the rainforests of Madagascar. They are considered a bad omen by some locals who believe they can curse people by pointing their finger at them.
5. Star-nosed mole
Star-nosed moles are moles that have a distinctive star-shaped organ on their snout that contains 22 fleshy tentacles. This organ is used for touch and smell and is one of the most sensitive in the animal kingdom. It can detect seismic vibrations, electric fields, temperature changes, and chemical gradients in the soil or water. Star-nosed moles use this organ to find their food, which consists of worms, insects, mollusks, and small vertebrates. They can identify and eat their prey in less than a quarter of a second, making them one of the fastest foragers on Earth. Star-nosed moles have dark brown fur, small eyes, large claws, and a thick tail. They live in wetlands and moist forests of eastern North America.
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