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    21 Curious Animals You Never Knew Existed

    It's a weird world, my friends.

    Maddi Lewis
    by Maddi Lewis

    Community Contributor

    1. Maned Wolf

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Also known as the winner of "Nature's Next Top Model."

    Native to: South America (mainly Brazil)

    Defining characteristic: From foot to shoulder, they stand between two to about four feet tall. It's also smelly.

    2. Tufted Deer

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Eastern Asia (mainly China)

    Defining characteristic: I mean, the 1+ inch long fangs come to mind.

    3. Dumbo Octopus

    Via Flickr: ditzywolf

    Also known as the stunt double for the octopus from Finding Nemo.

    Native to: 9,800 - 23,000 feet below sea level

    Defining characteristic: Protruding "ears" which give it its name.

    4. Gerenuk (Waller's Gazelle)

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Eastern Africa

    Defining characteristic: ... dat NECK.

    5. Sunda Flying Lemur

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Also known as the cutest thing I have ever seen.

    Native to: Southeastern Asia

    Defining characteristic: It is not a lemur and it does not fly. It is a colugo, and it glides due to a membrane that connects its limbs. Also (in case you hadn't noticed), its eyes are massive.

    6. Lowland Streaked Tenrec

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Madagascar

    Defining characteristic: It's striped and spiny.

    7. Glaucus Atlanticus

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Temperate and tropical waters

    Defining characteristic: It's blue. It stings people. It's only 1.2 inches long.

    8. Pacu Fish

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Rivers in the vicinity of the Amazon.

    Characteristics: IT HAS TEETH OH MY GOD. Also, it likes biting testicles.

    9. Eastern Long-Necked Turtle

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Australia

    Defining characteristic: It's basically a giraffe-turtle. Again, dat NECK.

    10. Costa Rican Variable Harlequin Toad

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Costa Rica

    Defining characteristic: It's very brightly colored. And the pattern varies.

    11. Megalopyge Opercularis Caterpillar

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via Flickr: hghjim

    Native to: The southern US; Mexico; and Central America.

    Defining characteristic: It's wearing a fur coat 24/7.

    12. Nyctimene Tube-Nosed Fruit Bat

    SWNS / Via metro.co.uk

    Native to: Oceania

    Defining characteristic: It's all in the name.

    13. Axolotl

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Also known as REAL LIFE NEOPET.

    Native to: Central Mexico

    Defining characteristic: They're weird as hell. And they're smiling.

    14. Yeti Crab (Kiwa hirsuta)

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Southern Pacific Ocean

    Defining characteristic: It's got furry appendages, y'all. It looks like freakin' yeti.

    15. Tarsier

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Southeastern Asia

    Defining characteristic: HOLY EYES, BATMAN.

    Want to hear a Morgan Freeman impersonator tell you about the tarsier? HINT: Yes. Yes, you do. Watch this video NOW.

    16. Hispaniolan Solenodon

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Hispaniola

    Defining characteristic: It's a venomous mammal that apparently smells like a goat. What even?

    17. Glass Lizard

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Aka Fakey Snakey

    Native to: Asia; Northern Africa; Southeastern USA

    Defining characteristic: They're lizards that don't have legs. But they aren't snakes.

    18. Antarctic Icefish

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Also known as Ghostfish Killah

    Native to: Waters around Antarctica

    Defining characteristic: They're see-through and they have antifreeze in their blood.

    19. Aye Aye

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Madagascar

    Defining characteristic: It's basically the mammal version of a woodpecker. And its tail is as long as its body.

    20. Gharial

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Also known as living needle-nosed pliers

    Native to: Indian subcontinent

    Defining characteristic: Long-ass snout with 110 teeth.

    21. Tapir

    upload.wikimedia.org / Via en.wikipedia.org

    Native to: Central and South America; Southeast Asia

    Defining characteristic: Junior elephant trunk.

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