The Internet was made for cooing over adorable animals. But why not pay tribute to the most unsightly ones -- a look at seven of the world's ugliest animals.
Though most of us have browsed the web cooing at pictures of baby giraffes and have visited the zoo to gawk at the regality of lions and tigers, not all animals are cute and cuddly. Take, for instance, this list of the world’s seven ugliest animals, which ranges from sea creatures to bugs to domesticated pets:
Ugliest Animals: The Naked Mole Rat
Naked mole rats had their fifteen minutes of fame when one was featured as Rufus, a beloved pet in Disney’s cartoon series, Kim Possible. Since then, this wrinkly, hairless creature hasn’t spent much time in the spotlight, aside from topping a number of “ugliest animal” lists like these.
Source: Photo Shelter
The naked mole rat is one of nearly 30 different species of mole rats. These rodents live in large communities led by a queen, whose main purpose is to give birth and raise young. Blind naked mole rats use their sensitive hairs to navigate underground passageways.
Source: Live Science
The Shoebill
Source: Sudan Wildlife
The shoebill is a solitary bird that’s characterized by its bulky, large bill. Shoebills are stork-like birds that reside in Africa’s tropical swamps and marshes. Preferring solitary lifestyles, the birds only come together when food is scarce or during mating season. Little is known about these birds, as they prefer to live in areas uninhabited by humans.
Source: National Geographic
The shoebill’s awkwardly large bill makes the animal look both prehistoric and ugly. Still, shoebills are swift and feed easily in poorly-oxygenated waters, preferring to hunt at night. These birds are also referred to as whaleheads or whale-headed storks. Baby shoebills are very dependent on their parents’ help, and are unable to hunt until they are a few months old.
Source: National Geographic
Ugliest Animals: The Woolly Bat
Source: US National Parks
Known by a slew of names including the common woolly bat and Hardwicke’s forest bat, Hardwicke’s woolly bat looks like it belongs in a horror film. This bat, which resides in parts of Asia and China, usually lives in the forest understory, building its home in hollow trees and piles of dead leaves.
While little is known about the Hardwicke woolly bat, scientists have recently noticed these creatures roosting above the digestive fluids within carnivorous plants.
Source: Flickr
While it’s easy to see why the Hardwicke woolly bat made our list, this creature’s ugliness might actually be a family trait! Other woolly bat species like the big eared woolly bat boast similarly odd appearances.
Source: Project Noah
Ugliest Animals: The Blobfish
Source: Stunning Interesting Facts
The blobfish got its name from, well, looking more like a blob than a fish. This ugly ocean dweller lives in deep waters off the coasts of Australia and surrounding areas. Since the blobfish’s body is made up of a gelatinous substance that’s slightly less dense than water, the fish is able to float above the sea floor without using much energy.
Source: Business Insider
In 2013, the blobfish was formally named the “World’s Ugliest Animal” by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. In the wild, the blobfish feeds by opening its mouth, floating and simply swallowing edible matter like crabs and sea pens that float nearby. Though rarely seen by humans, the blobfish is now facing extinction due to deep sea fishing.
Source: iAnimal
Ugliest Animals: The Giant Water Bug
While there are a number of unsightly bugs that probably could have made this list, the water bug is particularly unpleasant looking, especially when it’s carrying its eggs. Giant water bugs, known as belostomatidae, are also referred to as toe-biters and alligator ticks. These massive water bugs can grow to nearly five inches long, and are one of the largest beetles in the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Giant water bugs are carnivores that hunt and feast on fish, crustaceans and amphibians. These giant bugs are known to chomp on unsuspecting humans (hence the “toe biter” moniker) and have one of the most painful bites of all insects. Many photos show male water bugs carrying their eggs upon their wings, which is why many consider these bugs pretty hands-on parents. Preferring their taste to their appearance, in some countries giant water bugs are considered a delicacy.
Source: Flickr
Source: Flickr
The Star-Nosed Mole
Source: WordPress
Though weird and downright unattractive, the star-nosed mole is an intelligent little creature that uses air bubbles to smell. These moles are found in the eastern edge of the United States and Canada in marshes and wetlands. They have a peculiar appearance due to their noses, which are made up of 11 pairs of tentacles that form a circular star.
Source: WordPress
The star-nosed mole can detect seismic wave vibrations via its nose tentacles, each used as a touch organ containing more than 25,000 tiny sensory receptors known as Eimer’s organs. These nasal tentacles also help the star-nosed mole identify food like worms and crustaceans by touch. These moles enjoy water and often dig their shallow surface tunnels underwater.
Ugliest Animals: The Proboscis Monkey
Source: Discover Wildlife
The proboscis monkey is an endangered mammal that lives on the island of Borneo. While most people find their large, bulbous noses laughably ugly, the animals make good use of their fleshy schnozes in courtship. Male proboscis monkeys utilize their bulbous snouts to attract females while scaring off potential males. These monkeys subsist on nuts, leaves and unripe fruit (the sugars in ripe fruit can make them sick!).
Source: Live Science
Proboscis monkeys travel in groups, called harems, and prefer to stay in the trees, only coming to land to eat occasionally. These monkeys love water, and are best known for comically jumping from tree limbs to belly flop into lakes and streams. Since proboscis monkeys only live on Borneo, their numbers have rapidly declined in the past few years as the island’s landscapes are transformed by human development.
Source: Wikipedia
If you enjoyed this post on the world’s ugliest animals, be sure to see our other articles on the world’s most bizarre animals, deadly animals, and interesting facts about the world! Finally, check out some of humanity’s most truly weird pets.
