Da Daily Dank

Hatchet Fish



This denizen of the abyss is very small (the largest species known is
only 12 cms), and completely harmless, but its face is the stuff of
nightmares.

The hatchetfish is the living proof that you don’t need long sharp
teeth or red glowing eyes to be creepy. These fish are found in
tropical and subtropical waters around the world, and feed on smaller
creatures of the abyss, such as copepods (a kind of crustacean).

Tube Nosed Bat



Found in the rain forests of the Philippines, this endangered bat has
one of the strangest faces among mammals. Its dark ears covered in
yellow spots, crazy orange eyes and, especially, it’s tubular nostrils,
give it an almost cartoonish appearance. This bat feeds mostly on figs
and other fruit, but has been known to eat insects on occasion.

Axolotl



A species exclusive to lake Xochimilco, in Mexico, the axolotl (meaning
“water monster” in nahuatl, the language of the Aztec) is actually a
kind of salamander. Not only does it have a funny looking face but also
a bizarre “hairdo” of red, feather-like gills. Indeed, this species of
salamander usually retains its juvenile features its whole life (this
is called neotheny). Unfortunately, this rare amphibian is endangered
due to encroaching pollution of its habitat… and is also considered a
delicacy in some parts of Mexico.


Aye Aye



Arguably the weirdest primate around (not counting humans, of course),
the aye-aye has huge bat-like ears, crazy yellow eyes and, generally
speaking, would not look out of place in a Gremlins remake. It actually
inspired a Gremlin-like monster in the sci-fi series Primeval, where
its proposed evolutionary descendant haunts an abandoned house. The aye
aye is found in Madagascar and is greatly endangered due to habitat
destruction; and the fact that people in that country are not very fond
of the creature, for they consider it to be a bringer of disgrace.

Snub Nosed Monkey



The snub nosed monkey looks like it had a nose job with the same
surgeon who did Michael Jackson. Once again, this is an endangered
species, found only in China (including Tibet) and Vietnam. They live
in mountain forests up to 4000m, being among the few primates adapted
to cold environments. They are threatened mainly by habitat loss.


Star Nosed Mole



This mole gets its name for the fleshy appendages on its nose, which
are covered in sensory receptors that increase its sense of touch,
making up for the animal’s extremely poor eyesight. The star nosed mole
is noted for being a skilled swimmer and diver, as well as a digger.
Like other moles, it feeds on earthworms, grubs and whatever slimy
creepy crawlies it finds on its way. It is found in Canada and the
northern US.

Naked Mole Rat



Even avid cartoon watchers may have trouble to recognize this as Rufus,
Ron’s cute sidekick in Kim Possible. The real life naked mole rat
(found in Africa) is among the least “cuddly” of mammals, being almost
completely hairless and having very small eyes, almost like a mole. Its
most unusual facial feature is, of course, those huge teeth which
actually grow through the lips, so that the rodent doesn’t have to open
its mouth when chewing its way underground. These teeth are so powerful
that captive naked mole rats have been known to burrow through
concrete! There’s much more to be said about this critter but we are
only talking about faces here.


Leaf Tailed Gecko



The leaf tailed gecko is one of those animals that seem to have been
designed by a cartoon artist. It has perhaps the craziest eyes of any
animal alive, and when it opens its mouth it always looks like an
exaggerated smile. Possibly the happiest looking reptile around, even
though its existence may be threatened by the loss of the Malagasy rain
forests it calls home. Again, there are many interesting bits of info
about this lizard that have nothing to do with its crazy face so we
shall reserve them for a future list.

Potoo



This amazing bird is found in Mexico, Central and South America, and is
best known (relatively, anyway) for its incredible camouflage skills.
However, it also has a crazy face, with a wide “smiling” mouth, very
short beak and huge yellow eyes that look as if they belonged to an
animated character. It is completely harmless to humans, but flying
insects and even bats should fear this voracious nocturnal predator.

Red-lipped Bat Fish



This fish has such a weird face that one can only wonder why it isn’t
more famous. It is practically flat, has a long, pointy nose and looks
like it has been using a lot of lipstick. This oddity of nature is
found in the Galapagos and has a close relative in Central American
waters. It is a slow swimmer and prefers to drag itself in the sea
bottom using its fins as “hands”.