74 Most Exotic and Amazing Animal Species

Scientists have documented over 20,000 species of fish, 6,000 species of reptiles, 9,000 birds, 1,000 amphibians, 15,000 species of mammals and over a million species of insect – here are some of the strangest, most amazing and most threatened species in the world. Some of these animals may appear harmless but are all too deadly, while others look vicious and are simply rare and endangered.

20 of the World’s Weirdest Endangered Species (BONUS: 20 More of the Strangest Endangered Species)  From overweight parrots and lesbian lizards to the cute kiwi and the bumblebee bat, some of the most interesting animals on the planet are also endangered. Many are remarkably beautiful and others just the opposite but all have a compelling story as a species.

10 of the Strangest Animal Self-Defense Mechanisms: Did you know that a certain type of frog can break its own legs and use the bones as claws to fend off an attacker? Or that a particular kind of tiny ant explodes as a defense mechanism and a hefty fish that slimes its opponents.

6 Seemingly Innocent Assassins of the Animal Kingdom (BONUS: 12 Unassuming but Vicious Natural Predators) What do a cute red frog, a colorful octopus and a simple looking shell all have in common? They can all kill you – and quite painfully. Some freeze your respiratory system and slowly paralyze you completely while others do far worse and more quickly too.

6 Extraordinary Examples of Animal Camouflage: From the mimic octopus that can adopt virtually any color or pattern to animals that blend in with leafs and change colors with the seasons, here are some of the most creatively camouflaged creatures that might be lurking right behind you – and you’d never know.

Bonus – 32 Exotic Endangered Mammals, Fish, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians: There are many exotic animals in the world but some of these are critically threatened and may disappear soon.

Related WebEcoist Articles & Galleries:

15 Rare, Exotic & Amazing Plant Species

From a man-sized flower that smells like rotting corpses to a pitcher plant that eats rats, these 15 plant species are among the most unusual in the world.

Nature's Wild Nurses: 5 Caring Animal Species

When it comes to lending a helping hand, some surprising animals truly go above and beyond, not only for family but even humans and potential enemies.

Nature's Exotic Athletes: 12 Strange Animal Sports

Plenty of college and pro sports teams are named after animals, so how are animals as athletes? You'll be pleasantly surprised by these strange animal sports.

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  • geekboxx
    November 25th, 2008 at 1:07 am

    Animals go extinct over a period of time. Articles like this give good updates on our wildlife. Great work. Good Writing.

  • web
    December 5th, 2008 at 7:37 am

    those are some weird looking animals or whatever the heck they are…..I still have a lot to learn about the animal kingdom, dang it

  • Savanna Walker
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    this website is wicked awsom i love hornd toads though

  • wow... people can be weird
    February 2nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    GO STEELERS!!!
    whoever goes for the cardinals im sorry for your loss…
    whoever goes for the steelers…
    WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  • Landon
    February 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    O-o-o-o-oh my goodness! The camera man HAD to be terrified!!!

  • sofware management
    February 10th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    this really helpful site.thanks for sharing this articles..thumbs up!

  • Rajasekarn
    February 26th, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    this site really useful resources

  • Spurwing Plover
    March 5th, 2009 at 8:18 am

    I heard of this speices of birds that secreate a deadly poison on their feathers when their disturbed or frightened their venom is very simular to that of the doison dart frogs

  • Loofer Lagasseni
    March 12th, 2009 at 7:24 am

    Dead seriously guys….THESE ARE AWESOME!!!! Can you say ECOSYSTEM???? I mean look at this wildlife…In honor of these awesome pictures, im kinda yearning to make a socratic seminar on these so I will start off with a couple q’s for EVeryone. (Soulja Boyyy can dead seriously just not join in)
    Do we all believe that it is safe to put a flash in an animals eye?
    When do we know how to stop?
    Do the animals have feelings like us, how would you feel if they were snapping at us like that?
    dead seriously, I don’t exactly have an opinion on the matter, im just trying to start up a hardcore discussion!

  • chablan
    March 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    amazing blog…. I am trying to do with flying machines….

  • Martin Miazga
    April 1st, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    It sucks

  • Stupid
    April 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    Cool website for 14+

  • My Name Is Owen Tam
    April 8th, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    I really like this website!! I apoligize about the name. My sister did that

  • ram
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:37 am

    very intresting……………….

  • Octo-pi
    April 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    WOW!!!! im in love with octopuses and thats amazing i knew about the “blue ringed octopus” but not the grey one btw the blue ringed octopus has enough posion to kill 24 men

  • LILY CULLEN
    May 6th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    THIS SITE IS KINDA COOL. BUT IT COULD B BETTER. I THINK IT COULD HAV MORE STUFF LIK MORE!!!!!CRAZYER AND WEIRDER ANIMALS!!!!!

  • Ceejay, & Larissa..
    May 19th, 2009 at 8:01 am

    Go animals!!!!!!!
    Lulz.

  • ANIMAL BOY CORY
    June 30th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Animals is one of my favorite things in the world. It is sad to see pictures of what we have lost because of us but, we did not kill all the animals that gone extinct. Like for example the dinsoaurs: We weren’t on earth yet. Mammoth: Well this one is mostly our fault…..:( Xiphactinus Audax: That got screwed by getting eaten by other fish that were bigger than 17 feet, And it was in the Late Createous. And on and on and on and ON.

  • ANIMAL BOY CORY
    June 30th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

    Animals RULES. They could be nothing if we don’t do ANYTHING TO HELP THEM!

  • Jaime
    July 28th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    I don’t understand this article. It states at the top that there are 74 strange animals. I see pictures of very few and really no articles about any one particular. It is almost as if you started this idea but never finished it. Great pictures though.

  • Ryan @ recycling education
    July 30th, 2009 at 11:21 am

    This is a good start to a good article, there are some great pictures. It would be good if there were captions with each of the pictures giving a little synopsis of the creature. I know there are also many other endangered and fascinating animals than what is shown here. Keep up the good work though!

    Cool Site!

    Ryan

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