Red-lipped Batfish
The expression may be, “to put lipstick on a pig,” but in this case it looks like someone put bright red lipstick on a, you guessed it, fish. The lipstick, however, is not making this fish look happier or more friendly. Somehow, it only makes it seem a little like someone who works at the DMV.
As if the big red mouth wasn’t strange enough, the red-lipped batfish is also not a great swimmer and uses its fins like legs to stand on the ocean floor. The funny-looking horn on its forehead, is not ornamental, the fish actually uses it to attract prey.
Spike-nosed Tree Frog
This little guy looks like he’s ready to attend a masked ball, and his look is so extraordinary that the biologists who first discovered it in 2008 couldn’t believe their eyes. Therefore, it is no surprise that this creature is also known as the “Pinocchio frog.”
Not only does the nose look adorable, it also grows and shrinks according to the frog’s needs. During mating season, the nose expands when the frog is calling to females, and scientists speculate that it acts as an amplification chamber.
Portuguese Man o’ War
Not only is the Portuguese man o’ war a strange looking creature, it is biologically strange as well. It is what is known as an aggregate animal, which is made up of numerous smaller organisms working together. The organisms are so entwined that they no longer have the ability to survive without each other.
And although its otherworldly appearance may be intriguing, make sure to keep your distance. The man o’ war’s long tentacles can deliver a painful sting which is also extremely poisonous. Fish are no match for it, but humans are also at risk, so keep an eye out if you ever find yourself hitting the beach in Florida.
Indian Gharial
The gharial is a species of fish-eating crocodile, which looks like what would happen if a crocodile and a dragon had a baby. Its long, flat snout, which according to Indian natives resembles an earthenware pot called ghara, has 100 sharp interlocking teeth, and is ideally suited for hunting fish. Gharials are quite large, with males growing to up to 20 feet in length.
Sadly, these majestic and slightly frightening creatures are on the critically endangered list. Gharials are threatened by the loss of their riverine habitat, a depletion in the number of fish and entanglement in fishing nets. Today, the species only lives in 2% of the historic range they once frequented.
Hoatzin
This colorful and punky-looking tropical bird is also known as a skunk or stinkbird. It earned the nicknames from the smell of the fruit it eats, which ferments inside its digestive system.
The Hoatzin has a mohawk on its head which is either used to frighten its enemies or to attract mates. Adding to its wild image, the bird is also extremely loud. It is known for its groans, calls, hisses and grunts. We’re sure that if we put one of these in a hotel room, it would definitely trash it as part of its rock n’ roll legacy.