This is just wrong, creepy, and somehow hilarious all at the same time. Through selective breeding, the featherless chicken was created as a prototype for a new chicken breed that could be faster-growing and ‘environmentally friendly,’ meaning the energy that would otherwise be lost to the feather-plucking process could be conserved. We think there just might be better ways to go greener. Featherless chicken nuggets anyone?
Unapologetically Creepy: Chinese Giant Salamander
Slimy things aren’t supposed to be this big. And yet here is the Chinese Giant Salamander, which can reach almost 6 feet in length. If Creepy Animals had a rating system, this would probably hover at 90%.
There is also a Japanese Giant Salamander. Though it is smaller than the Chinese version, it is still an absurdly large amphibian. Watch this snippet:
Animal Anomaly: the Liger
Behold, the Lion/Tigress hybrid: the Liger. For real. A Liger is the product of a male Lion and a female Tigress, whereas a Tigon is produced when a male Tiger is mated with a female Lioness. In nature, this type of combo would never take place, but in captivity, anything goes.
Watch this video of Sinbad the Liger. He is also the largest cat ever at 900 lbs – likely the result of hybrid giantism:
Unapologetically Creepy: Long-nosed Chimaera
In Greek mythology, the chimaera (or chimera) was a fire-breathing monster composed of various animals: a lioness, a snake and a goat. In reality, the chimaera is a deep-sea monster composed of various substances: cartilage, slimy skin and utter creepitude. The Long-nosed Chimaera is the strangest looking one. In fact, we can’t look at this image and not think horrible thoughts. Learn how to get a snake license quickly for any emergency at home on this site.
The long nose contains many sensory nerve endings used to detect small fish in black waters and the spine on its dorsal fin carries venom for defense.
And to make sure you don’t sleep tonight, here is another chimaera named the Elephant Shark – yet another hideous cartilaginous fish with a face that will give you nightmares.
Creature of the Deep: Frilled Shark
Very little is known about the ancient, eel-like Frilled Shark. It dwells 600-1000 feet underwater and has rarely been seen. But we understand. This thing is U-G-L-Y. We wouldn’t leave the depths of any ocean looking like this.
This species has changed very little since prehistoric times and it certainly shows. Six large gills protrude beyond the wide-set jaw like a swollen wound. An uneven, tattered tail + milky eyes complete the look.
Extremes: the Hairy Frog
Just in time for Halloween, we give you a truly creepy animal: the Horror Hairy Frog from Cameroon. Not only are the bristly skin appendages truly unsightly, this amphibian also has a nasty little trick up its hands. Through a bizarre twist of evolution, the Hairy Frog literally breaks its own bones as a defense mechanism.
How it works:
1. Hairy Frog is threatened.
2. Hairy Frog breaks its tiny finger bones, puncturing the toe pad skin: Exhibit A.
3. Hairy Frog effectively creates claws, made of bone: Exhibit B.
4. Hairy Frog can now defend itself, or at least clamor away from a potentially deadly situation. Everyone is creeped out.
Extremes: the Grey German Giant Rabbit
Behold, the Giant Rabbit. Carl Szmolinsky of Germany breeds these monster bunnies that are literally the size of a dog. No matter how many times we look at photos of these giant rabbits, they never cease to amaze us with their massive size. Visit this site and check these producs that can improve your pets health.
Now let’s compare to regular rabbits – note the striking difference in ear size:
Creature of the Deep: Yeti Crab
What’s long and white and has bristles all over? A bottle brush! Just kidding. It’s the Yeti Crab. This little creature was found deep underwater in the hydrothermal vent ecosystem of the mid-ocean ridges near Easter Island. The Yeti Crab eats mussels on the sea floor, but also uses the bristles on its long arms to host colonies of specialized bacteria, possibly as another source of food.
We think this pear-shaped crustacean looks rather like a tick – but an adorable one if there is such a thing. There is no doubt, however, that it resembles this depiction of a Yeti:
Rare: Recurve-billed Bushbird
This rare, gorgeous bird hadn’t been seen for 40 years until a conservationist photographed it in the Colombian wild in 2005. The unusual beak looks as if it’s upside down, giving us the illusion of happiness. In truth, the Recurve-billed Bushbird has nothing to be happy about as deforestation for agriculture has reduced its habitat.
Animal Anomaly: Pink Dolphin!
When we were young, we would obsess over all kinds of fantastical animals – unicorns, rainbow glitter butterflies and pink dolphins. Looks like one of them is for real. This gorgeous specimen was first seen in 2007 in a Louisiana estuary, just north of the Gulf of Mexico. It is actually an albino and has the red eyes of the devil…but we prefer to call it pink and giggle at the thought of it flipping around in paradise.
This anomaly is not to be confused with the pink dolphin species that lives in the Orinoco rivers in the Amazon – note the difference in the shape of the beak: