The animal world is always rich and diverse with many different species. Below are 10 animals that are said to have the strangest appearances.

1. Duck-billed platypus

Duck-billed platypus

The platypus is a species that combines many features of other species such as the flat tail of a beaver, webbed feet like a seal and an oversized duck bill. The platypus and the porcupine are the only two mammals on the planet that lay eggs. Both species are native to Australia. The rivers and lakes of Southeast Australia are ideal places to see platypus. Platypuses are very shy and nocturnal.

2. Malaysian tapir (Malayan tapir)

Malaysian tapir (Malayan tapir)

Related to the rhinoceros, tapirs have short fur, black and white stripes and a long nose that acts as a snorkel when swimming. Piglets have many different coat styles, but they all gradually turn black and white like adults when they are 6 months old. The tropical forests of southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra are places where Malaysian tapirs can be found, but it is very difficult to see them in the wild.

3. Magnificent frigate bird

Magnificent frigate bird

The male warbird has a fleshy pouch in front of the neck that covers both the chest and neck. Every year, during the mating season around March-April, this meat bag turns red and the male bird uses the gas stored in the bag to attract the female. Because the air sacs are inflated, the male bird cannot fly, only stands still or moves slowly through low branches, waving his wings waiting to be noticed by the female. The best place to observe warbird mating season is the Galapagos islands.

4. American pygmy marmoset (Pygmy marmoset)

American pygmy marmoset (Pygmy marmoset)

With its long tail and yellow fur, the American marmoset looks like a small lion. They are the smallest monkey species in the world, adult males only weigh about 150-170 grams. The calls of pygmy marmoset monkeys are very diverse, sounding like birds, squirrels and even ultrasonic sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear. Pygmy marmosets are found in the Amazon jungle, including Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.

5. Sea slugs

Sea slug

Sea slugs have colorful colors and diverse shapes with a total of over 3,000 species, so they become the number one “model” for scuba diving tourists when taking photos. Sea slugs eat poisonous coral and microorganisms, so they are quite toxic. You can find sea slugs all over the world, from coral waters in Australia to the Red Sea in the Middle East or San Miguel Island in California.

6. Aye-Aye Monkey

Aye-Aye Monkey

The Aye-Aye monkey is the strangest and rarest of all monkeys. Their large, wide eyes, bat ears and long fingers make the natives of Madagascar consider them a bad omen. Aye-Aye monkeys especially have very long middle finger claws, which help them cling to tree branches to find food and catch prey. Aye-Aye monkeys are also only found in the eastern forests of Madagascar.

7. Jackson’s chameleon (Jackson’s chameleon)

Jackson’s chameleon (Jackson’s chameleon)

Three strange, brightly colored horns create a particularly interesting feature for this type of gecko. Like other types of geckos, Jackson’s three-horned gecko has wide-angle eyes, a long, super-sensitive, super-sticky tongue and the ability to change color to blend into the environment and hide from enemies. Male geckos are especially… violent towards others when their territory is violated. Today, Jackson’s geckos are almost exclusively found in the jungles of Kenya and a few in Tanzania.

8. Proboscis monkey

Proboscis monkey

The long-nosed monkey has reddish-brown fur, eats leaves, and stands out with its oversized and long nose. They are classified as extinct and need to be protected. Male monkeys sometimes have to lift their noses to one side when eating because their noses are… too snotty. Long-nosed monkeys are also excellent swimmers thanks to their webbed toes. Long-nosed monkeys are now only found in the jungles and swamps of Borneo.

9. Narwhal

Narwhal

The narwhal is a swimming mammal with the longest horn in the world. The horn, which is essentially a narwhal’s tooth, can be up to 2.7 meters long in males. This horn is used by narwhals in the mating dance and as a weapon to fight back against other males.

Occasionally, people find narwhal skulls with another animal’s horn embedded in them. If you want to admire narwhal, you can go to the Eastern and Western waters of the Arctic, where you can see narwhal swimming in clear water between ice floes.

10. Giant anteater

Giant anteater

Anteaters can digest about 35,000 termites and ants a day. Its 10cm long claws are strong enough to dig through the strongest termite nests. The large tail helps keep the body balanced when digging.

A long nose and super sticky tongue help anteaters enjoy delicious termites and ants. Anteaters walk mainly on their front legs, clutching their claws to the ground. This position helps it easily dig termite nests. Anteaters are abundant in the Pantanal region – Western Brazil in Central and South America.