5 Weird Species You Did Not Know About - Part 1

By Glenn Williams (National Institute of Standards and Technology) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

THE NARWHAL: UNICORN OF THE SEA


Scientific name: Monodon monoceros
Conservation status: Near Threatened

A porpoise found in the cold waters of the Arctic coast and rivers, the pale coloured male Narwhal  will fascinate you with its prominent swordlike, spiral tusk. Male narwhals have two teeth and the prominent one among them grows right through their upper lip up to about a length 8.8 feet. Scientists are not quite sure about the purpose of this tusk but consider that it may help the male Narwhals search for mates or fight a rival during mating. Females may also have small tusks of their own but they are not as pronounced as the male's.

Narwhals swim in groups of 15 to 20 and feed on fish, shrimps and other aquatic food. However, the sad news for you is that these creatures are near threatened today due to human activities like hunting. Inuit people are allowed to hunt Narwhals for subsistence and almost all parts of a Narwhal are consumed. However, Narwhals are also hunted for their ivory tusks and are also suffering from the effects of global warming.

By IronChris (Wikipedia. See other versions) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH: BAFFLING NATURE

Scientific name: Macroglossum stellatarum
Nature often baffles our eyes with species bearing close resemblance to each other. One of the best examples of this fact is the hummingbird hawk moth. It is very difficult to distinguish a hummingbird hawk moth from a Hummingbird due to the uncanny resemblance of the former in both appearance and behaviour with the latter.


So every time you spot a hummingbird, think twice. The Hummingbird hawk moth flits around flowers just like the bird and also appears to have feathers and a tail like a hummingbird which are actually extended hairs of this creature. The Hummingbird hawk moth feeds on the nectar of flowers with its long proboscis which is coiled up tightly when not in use. Tulipa, Jasmina, Viola, Echium, etc. are some of the favourite flowers of the Hummingbird hawk moth. 

By Aaron Logan (from http://www.lightmatter.net/gallery/albums.php) [CC BY 1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A DEER? A BABY GIRAFFE? NO, IT'S A GERENUK!!!!

Scientific name: Litocranius walleri
Conservation status: Near Threatened

Gerenuks are  actually a species of antelope found in the African forests. The Gerenuks make great use of their long neck and legs to feed from tall desert trees. They are very well adapted for the harsh desert conditions where they live and can go without water for as long as their lifetime! The population of Gerenuks is on the decline due to habitat fragmentation induced by human activities. 

By Rein Ketelaars (Flickr: DSCN1938.jpg) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 RED-LIPPED BATFISH: THE KISSABLE FISH

Scientific name:  Ogcocephalus darwini

These strange looking fish look like they have painted their lips bright red with lipstick. Only difference from humans are that it is the males of this species that have bright, red lips to attract the females. Found in the tropical seas, the Red-lipped Batfish are horrible swimmers. Instead, they prefer walking on the sea floor using their fins as legs. These fish are carnivores and feed on invertebrates like shrimps, molluscs and crabs. Very little is known about these fish due to their remote habitats on the ocean floor and hence these creatures are also less threatened by human activities than other sea creatures. 

                                 By Seilov (www.ulytautour.kz) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

THE HUMP NOSED SAIGA ANTELOPE

Scientific name: Saiga tatarica

Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Designed for withstanding extremes of temperature, the Saiga Antelope's humped nose (its most distinguishing characteristic) is both flexible and inflatable allowing the creature to breathe clean air during dusty summers and warm air during harsh winters. The Saiga Antelope adorns a sparse, cinnamon coloured coat during summers which is replaced by a white, wooly coat during the winters. The largest populations of these animals are found in Kazakhstan. Saiga Antelopes are now facing extinction due to hunting for meat and Chinese medicines and habitat loss and need to be saved before they are lost completely.