The Cutest, Weirdest Animals You’ve Ever Seen… or Haven’t

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… whatever this thing is!

Maybe it’s in the zoo. Maybe it’s your friend’s pet or a picture in a magazine. Many different types of animals look… well, a bit strange. For example, take the Japanese Weasel. The Japanese Weasel looks a bit odd, considering the fact that it looks a little like a regular weasel, just pure white. Also, their bodies look incredibly long, like a slinky. Or a wiener dog. At first, these wacky species may scare you- but when you take the time to look a bit closer, is it possible that some of them seem… cute?

First up, we have a scientific phenomenon: the Axolotl. Axolotls may be nicknamed “lizard-dragon walking fish hybrid,” and while axolotls do resemble those creatures: Many people find them adorable! Axolotls are also called “Mexican walking fish” due to their fish-like attributes and their native home of Lake Xochimilco, Mexico. Axolotls breathe the oxygen found in water through their mouths, and the excess water filters out through their gills. Yes, gills- not ears, or horns, or fins. But the craziest thing about them is that they have the natural ability to regenerate body parts. Imagine that- if someone cut off your arm or part of your brain, you’d just regrow it! Scientists are studying axolotls to see if they can mimic this process for healthcare. However, axolotls are extremely endangered- while many are domesticated and bred to be pets, less than 50 axolotls remain in the wild. Fertilizer and pesticide runoff pollutes the water they live in. And if, perhaps, your family is looking into getting a new pet and you’re willing to work on keeping their water just right… maybe look into getting an axolotl!

Second, the Pangolin. No, not “Penguin.” Pangolins are often called “Scaly Anteaters” due to the similarities in the diets of Pangolins and Anteaters. Both are carnivores, meaning that they eat other animals, specifically insects. Pangolins also like to eat bugs such as crickets and worms. Pangolins live in parts of Asia and Africa. One fun fact about pangolins is that they are the only mammals on Earth covered completely in scales! Many fish and reptiles have scales, but mammals usually have fur or feathers. There are eight different types of pangolins, and many of them are severely endangered. They are often killed for food, jewelry, etc. Fortunately, organizations are working to protect this unique species by reducing the supply-demand of their scales to decrease poaching.

Next up, is the pink fairy armadillo. Pink fairy armadillos live in South America. At first, these cute little guys might strike as “walking sushi.” They have soft, white fur and pink shells on their backs. The shells are made of 24 different parts so that they can bend easily, allowing the pink fairy armadillo to curl up into a ball. They are the smallest type of armadillo, averaging only about four inches in length! But not only do these tiny creatures look adorable: They have a hidden talent, too! Many types of armadillos can swim- they can hold their breath for up to six minutes! Armadillos can swim at the water’s surface or crawl along at the bottom of a body of water. However, pink fairy armadillos are very endangered. Scientists have estimated that there are only about 100 of them left in the wild. This may be due to an increase in natural predators, such as pet cats and dogs. While there isn’t much going on to help them, one thing you can do to save pink fairy armadillos is… not adopt one! Pink fairy armadillos desperately need the wild and are simply incapable of life in captivity.

Last but not least, the pygmy jerboa. Pygmy jerboas look like the result of someone combining a mouse and a chick. They have long tails, averaging about 8 centimeters in length, just like mice. In fact, most of the upper half of their bodies look just like a mouse’s body. But instead of mice legs, pygmy jerboas have… hard, three-toed legs that highly resemble a chicken’s legs. What? Pygmy jerboas are herbivorous and native to southeastern Pakistan. They were actually banned from the U.S. in 2003 because of their relation to Monkeypox, so, no, you can’t get one for a pet. However, other than the fact that they can carry monkeypox, pygmy jerboas aren’t that dangerous. They do not often bite, and they are not poisonous. However, they are known to kick if given a reason to. Pygmy jerboas are very much endangered, and although scientists know that their population is very low, it has been known to change frequently, so no one is quite sure how many are left or how endangered they are.

There are many different types of seemingly strange animals, but many of them turn out to be quite fascinating, breathtaking, or even… cute once you get to know them. So, next time you encounter a creature that suprises you, try seeing it from a different perspective- you may just be pleasantly surprised!