These Ten Animals Are Simply Incredible

In the fascinating world of animals, there are plenty of curiosities that sometimes seem so absurd that they're hard to believe. We take you on a journey around the world and introduce you to curious creatures and facts from the animal kingdom that will make you shine at your next small talk.

Water Deer

Vampire deer? No, water deer. These bizarre ungulates are native to East-Central China and the Korean Peninsula. In males, the upper canines are elongated into tusks that can grow up to 6.4 centimeters long. And it's not just for show: these animals can inflict serious injuries on each other during territorial fights.

Peacock Spider

It's easy to see where the peacock spider, native to Australia, gets its name from. During courtship, the male displays its brightly colored abdomen and the third pair of legs in an impressive manner. In this pose, it becomes almost unrecognizable as a spider to the human eye.

Snapping Shrimp

Snapping, or pistol, shrimp are astonishing in two ways: Firstly, they can produce an ear-splitting snap with their claws, which they use to stun prey and impress their fellow shrimp—hence the name. Secondly, this crustacean possesses a less obvious but equally remarkable ability: snapping shrimp have faster vision than any vertebrate. In experiments, these animals were able to detect flickering at frequencies of up to 160 Hertz.

Blue Sea Slug

What looks like a creature from a science fiction work is actually a snail—the Blue Sea Slug, to be precise. This animal feeds on cnidarians and lives attached to drifting seaweed on the surface of waters along the eastern and southern coasts of South Africa, Europe, the eastern coast of Australia, and Mozambique.

Devil's Flower Mantis

The Devil's Flower Mantis is not a flower but a praying mantis. It's hardly recognizable as a predator by its prey: brownish body appendages make it appear like withered foliage, a camouflage strategy scientifically known as mimesis. The image shows the threatening posture of this predatory insect.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

In the Antalya region in southern Turkey, one of the largest nesting areas of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean is located. The hatching of the small marine creatures, which takes place from mid-July onwards, is a unique spectacle. Thousands of baby turtles emerge from the sand and crawl towards the Mediterranean. To witness this natural phenomenon, simply book a flight to Antalya with SunExpress.

Tardigrades

Tardigrades bear some resemblance to a stuffed vacuum cleaner bag. In fact, they can be found almost everywhere in the sea and in moist environments on land, such as moss. They are capable of surviving for long periods under extreme conditions—in a state between life and death known as cryptobiosis. Some of these tiny creatures even survived a trip to space outside the spacecraft.

Paradise Tree Snake

The paradise tree snake or green vine snake is not only well adapted to life and hunting in the heights, but it can also fly. Well, at least to some extent: when in danger, it drops from the branches, flattens its body to twice its width, and uses undulating movements in the air to maximize air resistance.

Star-nosed Mole

The star-nosed mole, found in Eastern America, has a distinctive feature: 22 finger-like skin appendages on its nose. These serve as highly sensitive touch organs that allow the mole to even perceive electrical stimuli. With this ability, the mole can sense the weak electric fields generated by the movement of its prey.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed godwits are long-distance flyers among migratory birds. In 2022, a juvenile bird flew nonstop for eleven days, covering 13,500 kilometers from Alaska to Tasmania. In the Wadden Sea, the bar-tailed godwit is a regular and frequent migratory visitor and winter guest.

By learning about these incredible animals, you'll have fascinating facts to share and impress others during your next small talk!

Ultra500.com

Table of Content

10 Incredible Animals: Water Deer, Peacock Spider, Snapping Shrimp, and More