Internet Moment

Ugly Dog

This Chinese crested pooch was spotted at the International Dogs exhibition in Moscow. Sorry, dog, no tongue is big enough to cover that ugly face.

Hairless Cat

Some things to look for on this cat: fox snout, shaved belly, awkward pose, rat tail. So much to see…

Matamata Turtle

The matamata turtle is one of the ugliest animals on the planet. Though they are soft-shelled, they are accomplished hunters. That smile is so misleading. Good camouflage

Hairless Dogs

This photo is getting us one step closer to rounding out our Sam collection. Look at the sidebar categories for more.

Long-beaked echidna

The Long-beaked echidna a species closely related to Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna from the Foja mountains in New Guinea.

Primates

Of the roughly 125 species of monkey out there, most are known for being mischievous and naughty, not for being evil. Any primatologists know what this fello is? I think this species will provide for a few more posts, and a few more nightmares.

A Frilled Shark

What you’re looking at is a frilled shark. This fish is rarely seen alive because they live at a depth of around 600 meters or more. That’s pretty deep. This particular specimen was accidentally caught by a Japanese fisherman, who then called the authorities. I can’t imagine what went though his head as he brought this eel-like shark to the surface. Frilled sharks, like many of its cousins, give live birth. It is estimated that they are pregnant for one to two years, which would give them the longest gestatation of any vertebrate – even longer than elephants. That is a claim to fame I’m sure no mother wants.

Baby Slenderloris

Perhaps, the most evolutionarily unique and endangered animals on the planet. Such animals include this slender loris, the pygmy hippo, and the bumblebee bat. Each of the species targeted have been identified as ‘one-of-a-kind,’ meaning, they are very distinct, evolution-wise. This uniqueness is being combined with their numbers in the wild (or lack thereof) to create a better plan to preserve them. I like the effort. I’m behind it. The world is full of kittens and puppies. We could use more bats and loris’ and pygmy animals.

Hatchet Fish Scales

This fish is colored dark on top, pale on the bottom, and silver on the sides. That makes it very difficult to see from any direction, at least underwater. I’m thinking of devising my own clothing line based on this camouflage principle. I’m just afraid it’s going to take a lot of hatchet fish scales to make even a simple trench coat – could be expensive.

Ribbon Eel

You’re looking into the face of the ribbon eel. This subset of the moray eel clan leads a very interesting life. For one, they are known to be the most sociable and peaceful of the morays. But get this: they start out blue and male. But as they mature, they become yellow and female.

Coconut Crab

I try to take my garbage cans to the curb during the daylight hours. That way I can see any spiders that might be lurking on the handles (and I’ve found quite a few, so my fears are warranted!).
But I would have to add a kevlar vest, a welder’s shield, and butcher’s gloves to my routine if I had to contend with the coconut crab. I can’t get enough of these monsters. I wonder if they make for good guard crabs. I’m sure they need less attention than a dog.

Chupacabra

I can just imagine myself going for a swim in a Mexican river, a nice carne asada taco in my belly. I’m cruising along and enjoying myself when I stick my head underwater and see this staring back at me. I would assume that I had encountered the aquatic version of Chupacabra. I’d then prepare for my trip to the Underworld.

Blobfish

Axolotl

Hagfish

Aye-aye

Pygmy marmoset

 

Tarsier