Some Of The Weirdest Animals In The World

The natural world is full of surprises, so it’s no wonder the planet’s animals are a strange bunch too! From South East Asia to Australia, there are so many odd creatures to stumble (or swim) across – some scary, some incredibly cute, that it makes our canine companions and moggies look even tamer than they already are!

Some of the weirdest and wonderful include:

The Sun Bear
Found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, this diminutive creature stands approximately 4 ft (1.2 m) in length, making it the smallest member in the bear family. It is often called the dog bear because of its small stature – but perhaps the teddy bear might be more apt!

The Red Panda
This cute and colourful version of China’s much larger national treasure, is a mostly herbivorous mammal, slightly larger than a domestic cat. Like the Giant Panda, the Red Panda has a ‘false thumb’ which is really an extension of the wrist bone. The Red Panda is native to the Himalayas in Nepal and southern China.

The Kagu
A rare New Zealand bird, not much is known about the enigmatic Kagu. It is flightless, though its wings are large; it is a forest-dweller, though its markings are oddly light in colour. Very few remain and scientists know little about it. We do know that for reasons unknown, the Kagu also has one-third the red blood count of other birds, resulting in scientists having a difficult time classifying this rare and unusual bird.

The Frill-necked Lizard
This flamboyant reptile gets its name because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. When the lizard is startled, angry (or too hot), it gapes its mouth showing a bright pink or yellow lining, and the frill flares out, displaying bright orange and red scales. When frightened they begin to run on all-fours and then accelerate onto the hind-legs, giving it its nickname in Australia as the ‘bicycle lizard’!

The Blobfish
This fish inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania. Due to the inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans – which isn’t such a bad thing, as it has an incredibly ugly, gelatinous body which allows it to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming – no wonder it’s so fat!

The Platypus
A semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, the Platypus is one of the only mammals that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young. What’s more, this bizarre, duck-billed creature is a venomous mammal

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