The Indian gharial is a unique crocodile that looks a lot more like a duck than an alligator. It reaches up to 20 feet in length and is mostly recognized by its unique snout, which makes it look like it might quack at any moment. This ancient beast is believed to have evolved more than 40 million years ago but is currently in critically endangered condition.
While we’re poking a bit of fun at its appearance, it’s important to note that this crocodile can easily hunt and kill a human if it wants to. You can find these carnivores mostly around the northern Indian subcontinent. Its main reason for being near extinction is a loss of habitat and food supply, and humans are rushing to fix this before it goes fully extinct.
Marabou Stork
When parents tell their children how babies are delivered by storks in a neat and comfortable blanket, we have a hard time believing they have the marabou stork in mind. This bizarre creature sports a massive appendage on its throat, which makes it seem like it has a really bad case of inflammation.
These storks can be found in the areas of Africa south of the Sahara. Their name is derived from the Arabic word 'murabit', which signifies quiet and hermit-like behavior. They are quite large birds and can reach up to 5 feet three inches in height, and weigh up to 20 pounds. You should probably avoid the urge to give them inflammation relief medication, as they are quite unfavorable to humans.
Silkie Chicken
Silkie chickens are like the ultimate combination of chickens and dogs. They are fluffy, furry, and friendly birds that could easily work as pets. Despite being covered almost entirely in a white fur-like coating, silkie chickens actually have either black or dark-blue skin. Breeders have managed to make these birds grow various different colors of plumage just for fun.
These beautiful birds originate from Asia, particularly China, and were referenced by the iconic Marco Polo sometime during the 13th century. Silkie chickens are known for being very calm and tempered. If you're looking for a bird as your next pet, these Chinese beauties are great potential friends.
Spike-nosed Tree Frog
The spike-nosed tree frog, also unofficially known as the Pinocchio frog, often looks like a frog with the face of a mosquito. It can be found mostly in the Foja Mountains of Indonesia and proved to be a massive shock to the biologists who found it.
These frogs were discovered back in 2008, but there is still much we don't know about them. Their unusually long noses can inflate and deflate when calling, much like other frog species and the skin pocket on their lower jaw.
Eastern Long-Necked Turtle
The eastern long-necked turtle almost looks like something straight out of a mythological story. For the most part, it's a regular turtle, except that its long neck and incredibly alluring eyes make it look like a hybrid between a snake and a turtle. It's able to bend its neck in various angles and is speculated as being able to bend and look 180 degrees backward.
You can mostly find these in east Australia, although they have also been imported to various other countries. These reptiles are generally black in color and eat mostly insects and small animals. They are able to emit a foul-smelling fluid from their musk glands when threatened, which gave them the nickname "stinkers".