Unique Animals Which Defy One's Imagination

Pacu are a species of omnivorus south american fish, which closely relate to the piranha. Unlike piranha which has pointed razor sharp teeth, pacu is said to have squarer, sturdier and straighter teeth which closely resemble human teeth in their appearance.

Unlike piranha, they usually attack tough aquatic foods and/or floating fruits and nuts that drop from the trees in the Amazon.

This exotic fish, which migrate upstream in order to spawn, can weigh up to 55 pounds and grow up to 3 or 4 feet in length.

Dumbo octopus derives its name from the Walt Disney character Dumbo the elephant owing to its ear-like fins.

These are deep sea animals, that live on the ocean floor, at the extreme depths of 9,800 to 13,000 feet.

Most species of dumbo octopi are small in size, usually upto 8 inches in length. The largest Dumbo octopus ever recorded was said to be 6 feet (1.8 m) in length and 13 pounds (5.9 kg) in weight.

Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle also known as Common Snake-Necked Turtle or Eastern Long Neck Tortoise, derives its name from the fact that, it has a long neck, which is usually about half the length of its carapace (shell). Its shell is usually brown in color with black edges measuring up to 30 cms in length.

It lives upto 50 years in freshwater environments, feeding on aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles and small fishes.

Also known as “the stinker”, when disturbed or in danger it emits a fowl smell from its glands, that can be sprayed up to three feet to repel its predators.

The saiga is a very distinctive looking antelope, with a large, proboscis-like nose which hangs down over its mouth.The nose is flexible and inflatable, helping it to breathe clean air during dusty summers and warm air during cold winters.

It measures upto 108 - 150cm in length, 60 - 80cm in shoulder height, 30 - 50kg (males) and 21 - 40kg (females) in weight.

It feeds on grasses, steppe lichens, herbs and shrubs, with a short lifespan of 6-10 years.

The water deer is also known as the vampire deer owing to its prominent canines, which range from 5.5 cm / 2.1 inches to 8 cm / 3.2 inches in length.

These canines are held loosely in their sockets and can be drawn backwards by them, while eating.

In aggressive encounters, they thrusts their canines out and use them as a two-pronged weapon against other rival males.

They are mostly found in east central China and Korea, inhabiting lands alongside rivers, where they are protected from sight by the tall reeds and rushes.

The Proboscis monkey or Nasalis Larvatus, has one of the most unusual appearances of any of the leaf-eating monkeys of the family Cercopithecidae. They are found exclusively on the island of Borneo in south east Asia.

It gets its name from, the large pendulous nose that hangs down over the male proboscis monkeys mouth. The male proboscis monkey uses these noses to attract females, as the females prefer males with large noses possibly as these enhance their vocalisations.

These monkeys feed mainly on leaves, shoots, seeds and unripe fruit. They are proficient swimmers and appear to spend a large amount of time in the water.

The coconut crab is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world. It gets its name from the fact that it feeds on coconuts, and is actually able to climb coconut trees,when they are not already available on the ground. However opportunistically, it is also said to feed on the moulted exoskeletons of other crustacean species, which are thought to provide calcium for its own carapace growth.

These crabs are found across a broad geographical range in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, with reports stretching from the Aldabras Islands in the Indian ocean to the Pitcairn group and Easter Island in the Pacific ocean.

They have a total lifespan of over 60 yrs. They grow upto 1 m (3 ft) in length from leg to leg, and weigh of upto 3 to 4 kgs in weight.

Native to the deep waters of the Galapogos Islands, this species belongs to the family Ogcocephalidae, known as the batfish, for their slight resemblance to the bats. They possess ruby-red lips, which scientists think, are used by the fish to attract their mates.

Adding further to its bizzare appearance, the fish has a unicorn-like horn protruding from its head. This rostrum protects a thin, retractable appendage that the batfish deploys to lure small edible fishes.

Also being a bad swimmer, it prefers walking on the ocean floor, than swimming, by using its modified pectoral and pelvic fins to crawl over the ocean floor.

The gerenuk, which means “giraffe-necked” in the Somali language, derives its name from its exceptionally long-neck. It is found throughout the Horn of Africa, from southern Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia, southward through Kenya to northeastern Tanzania.

It feeds at higher reaches than most other gazelles and antelopes, by standing erect on its hind legs, with its long neck extending, to browse on tall bushes.

The tender leaves and shoots of prickly bushes make up most of its diet, along with a nutritious mix of buds, flowers, fruit, and climbing plants. It does not eat grass and does not require water as it attains, enough moisture from the plant life it eats.

Birds of paradise are one of the most spectacular and colourful groups of birds in the world, and the blue bird of paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) with its stunning plumage is no exception.

Endemic to Papua New Guinea, these blue birds of paradise are found to the east of the Central Ranges.

They have blue feathers on their wings, back and tail; with an ivory coloured bill and a white ring around their eyes. The males use their beautiful and decorative plumes to attract and court females.

They feed on fruits and insects and often grow upto 30 cms in length.