what is the most unussual animals in the world?

Question

THE ANIMALS THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OFTEN AND THEIR UNUSSUAL CHARACTERISTICS

Answer 1

I think a pangolin is more unusual than a platypus, though if you want rarity, javan rhinos will provide a real challenge, there may be about 60 left (2005)
leafy see dragon and angler fish are weired among the fish world, though lampreys are a very ancient life form.
A lot of parasites have extremely complex life cycles, just look at the life cycle of liver flukes, it makes ants bite the grass literally...
the osedax worm lives on whale bones and several microscopic males live inside the female body, if you can beat that for strangeness.
On the other hand you could say humans are the most unusual animal, but then they are easy to find.
I think there are a lot of unusual animals in this world and each is unique in its own way, which one you find most unusual will be up to your taste.

Answer 2

As far as mammals go, it's pretty hard to beat the platypus. Others have already mentioned many of its unusual characteristics, but there are a few other even weirder ones.

The male platypus actually has poisonous spurs on its hind legs. The poison is potent enough to seriously harm a human.

The duck-like bill of the platypus is actually leathery, and studded with numerous specialized receptors that allow the platypus to detect electrical fields. They use this to detect the firing of muscles in the small invertebrates like worms and snails living in the muck of ponds and streams where they hunt.

They have no teeth, but grind their food up between hard, horn-like plates in their mouth. Fossil species of platypus did have teeth, but they've lost them over their evolutionary history.

All in all, a pretty bizarre critter.

But for true weirdness, it's hard to beat the insects. From bombardier beetles that fire explosive chemicals from their butts, to dragonfly nymphs that breathe and get jet propulsion through their butts. From parasitic wasps that completely devour the internal organs of their still living (and even mobile) hosts to cold-adapted rock crawlers that will die if exposed to the extreme heat of the palm of your hand. There is much strangeness in the insect world.

One of the strangest things I find in the insect world is the partial metamorphosis of many aquatic insect larvae into terrestrial insect adults. Dragonflies, stoneflies, and the mayflies BEETLE mentioned above all do this. As nymphs, they live underwater and breathe water. Then, one day, they simply crawl out of the water, moult their skin, and *poof* they are now instantly air-breathing, flying adult insects.

They don't even go through a transformative pupal stage like beetles or butterflies. They just step out of their skin, expand their wings and fly away. The water that was their home all their lives now has become an almost certain death sentence if they return.

That's just weird.

Answer 3

. The Sea Wasp

The Sea Wasp or the box jellyfish is one of the most deadly stinging animals in the sea. The sea wasp has a large transparent body shaped like a box or a bell, that can be as large as a bucket, and can weigh as much as five pounds. A cluster of 16 long semi-transparent tentacles stream out from under the bell of the box jellyfish. Millions of stinging capsules cover each of the tentacles. The stinging capsules discharge lethal poison into the skin of any creature that touches them. Children who have been stung by the sea wasp have died within minutes of being stung.

Answer 4

Well in the human views of the term unusual I would have to say insects. I am personally fascinated by them, but many people find them simply bizarre.
One aspect of insect life that is truly astonishing is the fact that they must molt in order to grow to the next stage or instar. Insects literally pull themselves out of their own skin after a certain growth period, fully equiped with new tools and body parts that will aid them in the next stage. It is quite phenomenal! Yet at the same time weird for many people as well.

Just look at mayflies, they emerge every year in the months of june and july (ignore the common name). The nymphs live in the water from a year up to several years, and emerge as winged pre-adults. These pre adults have wings which is only characteristic of adult insects, but they dont have any genitals yet, so they will molt again into fully funtioning adults. Once they reach this stage they will soemtimes only live for a day or so, some species only live a couple hours, and in this time, they must find a mate, fertilize, and then lay the eggs back into the water..... pretty amazing creatures.

this is an image of a cricket molting, it is emerging from its old skin. The one hanging upside down is the new, fresh cricket.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/61267

Answer 5

Most definitely the platypus. In addition to factors mentioned by others the platypus has a totally unique and weird chromosome structure: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1226827.htm

Answer 6

Humans

you don't see them often, only their clothes, make-up or cars etc, which is a very unusual characteristic, a sort of camoflage so other humans won't attack them for looking different.

another unusual charactristic is they have no instinct for self-preservation or understanding that they depend on a heathly environment for their own health, and are intent on destroying all other animals, even those they think are cute & fluffy or dngerous & exciting.

Answer 7

I agree with jasonalwaysr. The duck-billed platypus.

Answer 8

anything that's a native of Australia, but I will agree with the duck-billed platypus

Answer 9

Capybara, found in South America , is the world's largest rodent (ROUS, anyone?!).

Answer 10

a duck billed platypus

that thing is screwed up, its got a duck bill, is a mammal, swims around with a beaver tail, and lays eggs.

its crazy!