weirdest animal part 2

Weirdest Animal - Part 2

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Axolotl

The Axolotl (or ajolote) (Ambystoma mexicanum) is the best-known of

the Mexican neotenic mole salamanders belonging to the Tiger

Salamander complex. Larvae of this species fail to undergo

metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. The species

originates from the lake underlying Mexico City . Axolotls are used

extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate

most body parts, ease of breeding, and large embryos. They are

commonly kept as pets in the United States , Great Britain , Australia

, Japan (where they are sold under the name Wooper Rooper, and other

countries. Axolotls should not be confused with waterdogs, the larval

stage of the closely related Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum and

Ambystoma mavortium), which is widespread in much of North America

which also occasionally become neotenic, nor with mudpuppies (Necturus

spp.), fully aquatic salamanders which are unrelated to the axolotl

but which bear a superficial resemblance.

Aye-aye

The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a strepsirrhine native

to Madagascar that combines rodent-like teeth with a long, thin middle

finger to fill the same ecological niche as a woodpecker. It is the

world's largest nocturnal primate, and is characterized by its unique

method of finding food; it taps on trees to find grubs, then gnaws

holes in the wood and inserts its elongated middle finger to pull the

grubs out. Daubentonia is the only genus in the family Daubentoniidae

and infraorder Chiromyiformes. The Aye-aye is the only extant member

of the genus (although it is currently an endangered species); a

second species (Daubentonia robusta) was exterminated over the last

few centuries.

Alpaca

The Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American

camelid developed from the wild alpacas. It resembles a sheep in

appearance, but is larger and has a long erect neck as well as coming

in many colors, whereas sheep are generally bred to be white and

black.

Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes

of Ecuador, southern Peru , northern Bolivia , and northern Chile at

an altitude of 3500 to 5000 meters above sea-level, throughout the

year. Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike them

are not used as beasts of burden but are valued only for their fiber.

Alpacas only have fleece fibers, not woolen fibers, used for making

knitted and woven items much as sheeps wool is. These items include

blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles

and ponchos in South America , and sweaters, socks and coats in other

parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as

classified in Peru , 12 as classified in Australia and 22 as

classified in America .

Tarsier

Tarsiers are prosimian primates of the genus Tarsius, a monotypic

genus in the family Tarsiidae, which is itself the lone extant family

within the infraorder Tarsiiformes. The phylogenetic position of

extant tarsiers within the order Primates has been debated for much of

the past century, and tarsiers have alternately been classified with

strepsirrhine primates in the suborder Prosimii, or as the sister

group to the simians (=Anthropoidea) in the infraorder Haplorrhini.

Analysis of SINE insertions, a type of macromutation to the DNA, is

argued to offer very persuasive evidence for the monophyly of

Haplorrhini, where other lines of evidence, such as DNA sequence data,

had remained ambiguous. Thus, some systematists argue that the debate

is conclusively settled in favor of a monophyletic Haplorrhini.

Tarsiers have enormous eyes and long feet. Their feet have extremely

elongated tarsus bones, which is how they got their name. They are

primarily insectivorous, and catch insects by jumping at them. They

are also known to prey on birds and snakes. As they jump from tree to

tree, tarsiers can catch even birds in motion. Gestation takes about

six months, and tarsiers give birth to single offspring. All tarsier

species are nocturnal in their habits, but like many nocturnal

organisms some individuals may show more or less activity during the

daytime. Unlike many nocturnal animals, however, tarsiers lack a

light-reflecting area (tapetum lucidum) of the eye.

Dumbo Octopus

The octopuses of the genus Grimpoteuthis are sometimes nicknamed

"Dumbo octopuses" from the ear-like fins protruding from the top of

their "heads" (actually bodies), resembling the ears of Walt Disney's

flying elephant. They are benthic creatures, living at extreme depths,

and are some of the rarest of the Octopoda species.

Frill-necked Lizard

The Frill-necked Lizard, or Frilled Lizard also known as the Frilled

Dragon, (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is so called because of the large ruff

of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. The

neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage, and when the

lizard is frightened, it gapes its mouth showing a bright pink or

yellow lining, and the frill flares out, displaying bright orange and

red scales. The frill may also aid in thermoregulation.

They may grow up to one metre in total length. They often walk

quadrupedally when on the ground. When frightened they begin to run on

all-fours and then accelerate onto the hind-legs. In Australia , the

frill-necked lizard is also known as the "bicycle lizard" because of

this behaviour. Males are significantly larger than females both as

juveniles and when mature. The frill of the Australian frilled dragon

is used to frighten off potential predators - as well as hissing and

lunging. If this fails to ward off the threat, the lizard flees

bipedally to a nearby tree where it climbs to the top and relies on

camouflage to keep it hidden.

Narwhal

The Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is an Arctic species of cetacean. It

is a creature rarely found south of latitude 70�N. It is one of two

species of white whale in the Monodontidae family (the other is the

beluga whale). It is possibly also related to the Irrawaddy dolphin.

The English name narwhal is derived from the Dutch name narwal which

in turn comes from the Danish narhval which is based on the Old Norse

word nar, meaning "corpse." This is a reference to the animal's

colour. The narwhal is also commonly known as the Moon Whale. In some

parts of the world, the Narwhal is colloquially referred to as a

"reamfish."

Sucker-footed Bat

The Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat, Old World Sucker-footed Bat, or

Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita and Myzopoda schliemanni) is a

species of bat in the Myzopodidae family.

Pygmy Marmoset

The Pygmy Marmoset (Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea) is a monkey native

to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil , southeastern Colombia ,

eastern Ecuador , and eastern Peru . It is one of the smallest

primates, with its body length ranging from 14-16 cm (excluding the

15-20 cm tail) and the smallest monkey. Males weigh around 140 g (5

ounces), and females only 120 g ( 4.2 ounces).

TDespite its name, the Pygmy Marmoset is somewhat different from the

typical marmosets classified in genus Callithrix. As such, it is

accorded its own subgenus, which was formerly recognized as its own

genus, Cebuella.

TThe Pygmy Marmoset has a tawny coat, and a ringed tail that can be as

long as its body. Their claws are specially adapted for climbing

trees, a trait unique to the species. They are omnivorous, feeding on

fruit, leaves, insects, and sometimes even small reptiles. Much of

their diet, however, comes from tapping trees for sap. Up to

two-thirds of their time is spent gouging tree bark to reach the gummy

sap. The Pygmy Marmoset has specialized incisors for gouging holes in

bark. Unfortunately, because of its small size, and its swift

movements, it is very hard to observe in the wild. In captivity, the

Pygmy Marmoset can live up to 11 years.

Blobfish

The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a fish that inhabits the deep

waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania . Due to the

inaccessibility of its habitat, it is rarely seen by humans.

Blobfish are found at depths where the pressure is several dozens of

times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders

inefficient. To remain buoyant, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily

a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows

the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on

swimming.. The relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it

primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front it.

Platypus

The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal

endemic to eastern Australia , including Tasmania . Together with the

four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of

monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to

live young. It is the sole living representative of its family

(Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of

related species have been found in the fossil record.

The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed mammal baffled

naturalists when it was first discovered, with some considering it an

elaborate fraud. It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male

Platypus has a spur on the hind foot which delivers a poison capable

of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the Platypus

make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and

a recognizable and iconic symbol of Australia ; it has appeared as a

mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of the

Australian 20 cent coin.

Until the early 20th century it was hunted for its fur, but it is now

protected throughout its range. Although captive breeding programs

have had only limited success and the Platypus is vulnerable to the

effects of pollution, it is not under any immediate threat.

Shoebill

The Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex also known as Whalehead is a very large

bird related to the storks. It derives its name from its massive

shoe-shaped bill.

The Shoebill is a very large bird, averaging 1.2 m (4 ft) tall, 5..6

kg (12.3 lbs) and 2.33 m (7.7 ft) across the wings. The adult is

mainly grey, the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east

Africa, in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia .

The Shoebill was added rather recently to the ornithological lists;

the species was only discovered in the 19th century when some skins

were brought to Europe . It was not until years later that live

specimens reached the scientific community. The bird was known to both

ancient Egyptians and Arabs however. There exist Egyptian images

depicting the Shoebill while the Arabs referred to the bird as abu

markub, which means one with a shoe. Clearly, this refers to the

striking bill.

Yeti Crab

Kiwa hirsuta is a crustacean discovered in 2005 in the South Pacific

Ocean . This decapod, which is approximately 15 cm (6 inches) long, is

notable for the quantity of silky blond setae (resembling fur)

covering its pereiopods (thoracic legs, including claws). Its

discoverers dubbed it the "yeti lobster" or "yeti crab"[2].

K. hirsuta was discovered in March 2005 by a group organised by Robert

Vrijenhoek of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Monterey

, California , using the submarine DSV Alvin, operating from RV

Atlantis[3]. The discovery was announced on the 7th of March, 2006. It

was found 1,500 km (900 miles) south of Easter Island in the South

Pacific, at a depth of 2,200 m (7,200 feet), living on hydrothermal

vents along the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge[4]. Based on both morphology

and molecular data, the species was deemed to form a new genus and

family (Kiwaidae). The animal has strongly reduced eyes that lack

pigment, and is thought to be blind.

The 'hairy' pincers contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature

may use to detoxify poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the

hydrothermal vents where it lives. Alternatively, it may feed on the

bacteria, although it is thought to be a general carnivore[2]. Its

diet also consists of green algae and small shrimp.