Lists about some of the most beautiful, dangerous, and otherwordly creatures that thrive in our very own oceans.

Our Neighbors in the Sea

Cute

Otters. They were your favorite exhibit at the zoo, but maybe you grew up and forgot just how playful and adorable these little guys and gals really are. A member of the weasel family Mustedlidae, they are related to badgers, martens, ferrets, and even wolverines. Wolverines! Otters are just the cutest, and as it turns out, are quite interesting little animals as well. What are the most fascinating weasel facts?There are 13 species of otter, all of which are either aquatic or at least semi-aquatic. Some of them play basketball, some of them have numerous tricks to keep themselves from floating away, and all of them are cute beyond belief.Some of these adorable otter facts came from <a href="http://animals.io9.com/you-otter-know-its-sea-otter-awareness-week-1637795782/+katharinetrendacosta">here</a>, while others are courtesy of <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Awwducational">r/Awwducational</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Otters">r/Otters</a>. Get your fix of otter facts below and celebrate their craftiness, cuteness, and playful attitudes by voting on the list of otter facts below.

20 Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love with Otters

General

Otter Facts | List of Interesting Things About Otters

Amy Boal

Interesting

There are many factual inaccuracies when people talk about redheads. Stereotypes&nbsp;have been perpetuated about redheads throughout history: they are fiery and aggressive,&nbsp;they are unlucky, they are practitioners&nbsp;of witchcraft.&nbsp;Ultimately, they are unfounded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-historical-myths-and-beliefs-about-redheads/erin-mccann" target="_blank">myths about people with red hair.</a>&nbsp;These myths have often ostracized people, but, more recently, some scientific misunderstandings have led to a more positive misunderstanding: the idea that red hair comes with <a href="https://nypost.com/2017/12/02/science-shows-redheads-have-genetic-superpowers/" target="_blank">&quot;genetic superpowers.&quot;</a>&nbsp;People with naturally auburn or ginger hair can boast certain characteristic distinctions, but according to scientific research, redheads can&#39;t exactly run out and join the X-Men.

While theirs&nbsp;is the rarest of all&nbsp;hair colors, redheads still&nbsp;make up a significant portion of the world&rsquo;s population, so let&#39;s take a minute to run through some ways being a redhead is more complex than simply having incarnadine hair. These are interesting notes, many of which have been oversimplified or misunderstood to create the impression that the color is tied to remarkable abilities.

*Editor&#39;s Note: We&#39;ve corrected a previous version of this article, which incorrectly claimed redheads have genetic superpowers. Read the updated version below.

No, Redheaded People Don't Have 'Genetic Superpowers'

No, Redheaded People Don't Have "Genetic Superpowers"

Nathan Gibson

Stories, pics, trivia, and interesting tidbits about all creatures, great and small.

Enter the Animal Kingdom

Whoa Facts

You know how sometimes we tend to assume that most animals live the good life and spend all day hanging out in nature, mating at random, and laying around eating in the sun? Well, if you’ve ever been jealous of the furry, the feathered, or the many-legged, you might think again after getting a load of some of these sad animal facts from&nbsp;<a href="http://sadanimalfacts.com/" target="_blank">sadanimalfacts.com</a>&nbsp;Here we’ve gathered a collection of both weird animal facts and cool facts about animals that will make you realize that life isn't always roses, no matter what your species you come from.Despite the impression you might get from the multitude of adorable memes of cats and dogs that regularly flood the Internet, in some regards our animal pals kinda got the short end of the stick. Here you’ll learn random animal facts that will make your last pregnancy, set of braces, or abandonment issues look like child’s play. You’ll learn what sea creature is really the most heartless in the ocean and find out what breed of pooch was used as a nanny dog for centuries before being stereotyped by Hollywood.So the next time <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-wish-you-were-better-at/lauren-slocum?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">you wish you</a> could redecorate your house, take a look at what the average dwarf lemur is dealing with. Wish you weren’t so dependent on your significant other? We’ve got lady ferrets with a tale that’ll make you cry. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed with your own plight or are just out to learn some interesting animal facts, it's time to meet a group of creatures whose sad facts about animals will put things in perspective.

Weird Animal Facts That Will Make You Sad

Weird Animal Facts That Will Make You Sad | Cool Things About Animals

Ashley Reign

Bees are industrious little suckers, looking to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/thatsucks-home-15-june-2022/andrew-greenblatt">build their home anyplace</a> and anywhere, humans be damned. Here are a few examples of beehives in slightly inconvenient places, such as cars, kitchens, bathrooms, and pretty much anyplace where humans share space. Vote up the strangest locations for a beehive.&nbsp;

Beehives Where There Shouldn't Be Hives

Beehives Discovered Where There Shouldn't Be Hives

Erin Maxwell

Fascinating conditions, devastating disorders, and nightmarish syndromes that affect human bodies. 

Uncommon Afflictions

Human Body

Both humans and animals can have <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-with-heterochromia/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">different colored eyes</a>. Not many people know why this trait happens, though.&nbsp;Usually a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/rare-genetic-features/nathan-gibson" target="_blank">genetic mutation</a> called heterochromia&nbsp;causes the unique coloring.&nbsp;Sometimes the eyes will only vary slightly; other times the eyes will look completely different.A rare abnormality, heterochromia&nbsp;can be caused by several different things, and most people are born with it. However, certain people develop the mutation later in life because of medical or&nbsp;chemical body changes. Unfortunately, heterochromia can also be an indicator of serious medical issues.Shockingly, this trait is a lot more common than you might think.

Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Heterochromia

Laura Allan

Think you know your favorite animals? Study up on fun facts and fascinating trivia to drop at your next cocktail party.

Up Close with Awesome Animals

Animals

The great apes—gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans—are humans' closest living relatives. They share about 98 percent of our DNA. Great apes are remarkable creatures that show profound intelligence and capacity for emotion and this list is full of cool ape facts that you've probably never heard before. Get to know your ape pals!These fun facts about apes will make you realize that these animals are profoundly similar to us. Vote up the ape facts you think are the most interesting, and get inspired to help save the great apes.

Fun Facts You Should Know About Apes

Ape Trivia | 20 Interesting Facts About Apes

Katherine Ripley

All birds, great and small, from the freaking enormous ostrich to the itty bitty hummingbird and every feathered flapper in between.

Avian Aficionados

Yes, the great potoo is an actual, genuine creature in the real world. No, the Universe isn't playing a joke. These wide-eyed, gape-mouthed clowns with one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/funny-bird-names/amylindorff" target="_blank">funniest bird names</a> around&nbsp;are the things amazing memes are made from—and they've taken the Internet by storm. Once you get a few facts about these birds under your belt, you'll realize that these hilarious birds not&nbsp;only look awesome, they are&nbsp;awesome. Well, awesome and kinda weird.Despite the goofy looks, the funny-looking great potoo bird is a creature that is actually kind of creepy.&nbsp;Between their ominous, heartbreaking cries, and the fact that they eat other birds, potoos are a force to be reckoned with. These nocturnal creatures love to hang out on their perches and stealthily hunt their prey. They are the strangest birds in the rainforest—not just because of their look, but because of their strange behaviors. Read on to discover more about the amazing great&nbsp;potoo!

10 Facts Most Don't Know About The Great Potoo, &quot;The Cartoon Bird&quot;

10 Interesting Facts About The Great Potoo, A Truly Cartoonish Bird

Mariel Loveland

The fear of spiders is one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-common-phobias/desertrat89" target="_blank">most common phobias </a>in the world, so chances are you know someone who has it. Or maybe you yourself <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/what-dying-from-a-spider-bite-is-like/laura-allan" target="_blank">are terrified of long-legged arachnids</a>, which would be unfortunate, because you're about to learn about&nbsp;a creature that will likely send you running for the hills.&nbsp;It'd called the&nbsp;Japanese spider crab. And while it's not actually a spider, this crab has long spider-like legs, scuttles across the ocean floor, and can get monstrously huge in size. If this knowledge isn't enough to give you the chills, then these Japanese spider crab facts and photos will definitely do the trick.You might think that <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/scary-coconut-crab-facts/jen-jeffers" target="_blank">crabs aren't really that scary</a> - after all, they taste pretty amazing, right? Well, Japanese spider crabs are in a class of their own. They are not only the largest crab known to&nbsp;exist, but they can live longer than humans -&nbsp;and are carnivorous. They've even been known to chop off human fingers with their claws!Even if you don't find these big guys terrifying, that doesn't make them any less fascinating. Read on to learn more about this&nbsp;creepy but very interesting undersea giant.

11 Facts About Japanese Spider Crabs That Will Keep You Up At Night

11 Creepy Facts About Japanese Spider Crabs

Photography

Not&nbsp;too often does&nbsp;one&nbsp;see fruits and veggies in the wild, and if you did you might not recognize the undomesticated fruits or vegetables that form the basis of the polished produce in&nbsp;grocery stores (yes, apples are even waxed). Undomesticated fruits and vegetables look a whole lot different -&nbsp;and, in some cases, are nowhere near as sweet as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-delicious-fruits/analise.dubner" target="_blank">delicious domesticated&nbsp;fruits</a>. Nowadays,&nbsp;grapes&nbsp;taste like cotton candy and apples&nbsp;take forever to brown. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-shower-rat-is-a-hoax/beth-elias?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Sorry to break it to you</a>, but that comes from&nbsp;genetic modification and selective breeding. Most wild fruits do not look or taste like that. Period. So, what did fruits look like before domestication?

Well, nearly every fruit and vegetable you see in the grocery store weighs in at&nbsp;about three times larger than their wild counterparts. They barely bruise, take way longer to rot, and are brightly colored to appeal to human tendencies toward shiny objects. Basically, domesticated fruits and veggies are often the opposite of a genuine, wild fruit or veggie. Some people argue&nbsp;the genetic modification of human&nbsp;food supply is really dangerous, but others think it&#39;s no big deal. Seriously, who wouldn&#39;t want to eat a strawberry the size of an apple? The comparisons may be a bit alarming, but remember that when left in the wild, all sorts of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-looking-fruit/chwang" target="_blank">weird fruit</a>&nbsp;and veggies can grow.

17 Pics Of Common Fruits And Vegetables As You Know Them Compared To Their Undomesticated Forms

Food

20 Common Fruits Vs Their Undomesticated Forms (Photos)

Reddit

Animal facts! Cute gifs and photos! Get 'em while they're hot! Are you subscribed to&nbsp;<a href="http://reddit.com/r/awwducational">/r/awwducational</a>? This subreddit presents adorable and interesting animal facts along with gifs and pictures that will both educate you and provide your daily dose of cuteness. What more could you want from the Internet?Not just your average <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historic-photos-of-cats/ashley-reign?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">cute cat pictures</a>, awwducational both teaches you something and is a sources for the cutest animal pics and gifs around. Did you know that seahorses hold tails during courtship? Or that crows return home to visit aging relatives. Make your mom's day with a phone call to tell her all the adorable new facts you'll learn about the earth's creatures.One marine mammal can even zip up its tongue into a straw! Vote up the most interesting facts from the awwducational subreddit below, all accompanied by the adorable animals themselves. Can't get enough animal cuteness? Take a look at these <a href="/list/cute-animals-yawning/amylindorff">adorably sleepy animals</a> and some of the most <a href="/list/cute-animal-parents-babies/bunny-brinkman">precious animal parenting moments</a> ever.

The Best of Awwducational: Fun Facts About Adorable Animals

The Best of the Awwducational Subreddit, Ranked

Carly Kiel

Lists of creatures around the world that are simply beautiful (or, at least, very interesting).

Cool-Looking Animals

Ever wish you could turn invisible? These creatures almost can. There are plenty of see through animals in the world, from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/see-through-ocean-animals/robert-desalvo">transparent undersea creatures</a> with visible guts to these land-based critters with nearly invisible skin. Some are found in extreme places like deep caves and exotic rainforests, while others, like the amazing glasswinged butterfly, you might find in your own backyard. These transparent animal pictures give you a glimpse into this rare, beautiful facet of the natural world. It's pretty cool that you can see their inner organs as well.From slugs and snails to frogs and butterflies, the sheer number of these sheer animals might surprise you. These nearly see through animals aren't as well known as <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/animals-that-can-change-color/katherine-ripley">animals that can change color</a>, like the famous chameleon, and that's a shame – as the see through animal photos below reveal, it's a pretty magical trait. Scroll through the images, and prepare to be amazed.

10 Real Transparent Animals That Let You Take a Peek at Their Insides

Animal/Plant

10 Real Transparent Animals You Can Literally See Inside

Kellen Perry

Hair

Most of us go through a lot to get perfect hair -&nbsp;from expensive dyes and products to hours spent styling in front&nbsp;of the mirror. Yet, these <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dogs-hairstyles/ashley-reign?utm_expid=16418821-310.smDnXTH_QT6V93qtvQFoXw.0&amp;utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ranker.com%2Fapp%2Fsearch.htm%3Fq%3Dhair%2Bcut" target="_blank">animals with amazing hair</a> don't&nbsp;have to put in a single stitch of effort. There's no straightening needed to get those glorious Cher-like locks and no curling&nbsp;for perfect beachy-waves. There's no need to lather&nbsp;scalps in frizz-fighting products, and no burning&nbsp;with bleach and dye. These animals truly have <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cats-with-funny-hair/ashley-reign?utm_expid=16418821-310.smDnXTH_QT6V93qtvQFoXw.0&amp;utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ranker.com%2Fapp%2Fsearch.htm%3Fq%3Dhair%2Bstyles" target="_blank">some great hair</a>, and it's a gift from the heavens above. In most cases, these animals literally woke up like this.Crazy animal hair comes naturally for these&nbsp;beautiful creatures -&nbsp;from the Selkirk Rex's adorable ringlets to the endangered Mary River Turtle who fashions a pretty punk rock wig. No matter what the texture, length, or style, these hairy animals really know how to rock the&nbsp;perfect do. So, go ahead and&nbsp;express yourselves - you are all wonderful.

Just 12 Animals With Insanely Amazing Hair

12 Animals With the Most Amazing Hair You've Ever Seen

Camouflage is pretty common in the animal kingdom, but animals that can change their colors are much less common. This list is full of animals that have the spectacular evolutionary gift of being able to change their colors. Some of them can change to blend into a new background in less than a second.The reasons animals change their colors do vary, as do the methods they use to change colors, and scientists still do not completely understand the ways in which some animals change. But the mystery just makes them all the more awesome to look at.

Animals That Can Change Their Color (And How They Do It)

Animals That Can Change Their Color (And How They Do It!)

Psst! Hey, kid: wanna see something cool? Check out these lists of neato facts, pics, and vids of science working around you, all day in every way.

That's Just Science

Human eyesight is pretty advanced. We can see red, blue, and yellow, and all the possible combinations of those colors. We can see in the daytime and at night, and we can focus on things that are close and far away. Many animals don't have all of those visual abilities, but they might also have other abilities which humans do not have, like seeing ultraviolet light or seeing heat.This series of animal vision videos gives you an idea of how animals see the world. For some, it's more blurry and muted; for others it's sharper or brighter. For still others, human vision would be an extremely disappointing downgrade. Take a look at how animals see, and think about which species you'd rather be.

Look Through the Eyes of Animals: A Video Journey

How Animals See the World

Lists about weird and fascinating corporeal forms in the animal kingdom.

Animal Anatomy

List of weird animal tongues. The weirdest animal tongues are ranked here in order of weirdness. Here is a collection of close ups so that you can see the ins and outs of the mouths of mammals and reptiles alike. We're all familiar with cat tongues being especially special with their hairbrush-like bristles used to clean their bodies. But what other animal tongues are beyond cool? From frog tongues to fly tongues, these are the most outrageous tongues you'll find in the environment.The chameleon's prehensile tongue is one of the most fascinating. However, it's hard to top anteater tongues, which can reach two feet to slurp up their prey. There are also birds with unusual tongues, as seen in our close-up photo of the hummingbird, which is renowned for its tongue. However, a snake might take the cake, both literally and figuratively, since its tongues often split off like a fork and extends such a distance that Gene Simmons would twist his tongue in jealousy. Vote up the weird animal tongue that you think is the most outrageous.

The Most Outrageous Animal Tongues of All Time

Animal Tongues | Gallery of Weird Tongue Pics of Animals

Ranker Science

Nature can be both weird and beautiful at the same time, and nothing exemplifies this like the leucistic&nbsp;creatures of the world. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism" target="_blank">Leucism</a> is a genetic disorder that is incredibly similar to albinism, where an animal is born with a lack of certain pigments. Creatures with leucism often look like half albino animals, but there are some big differences. Unlike albino animals, leucistic creatures often keep some of their coloration.&nbsp;

Thus, animals that are half albino are actually not albino at all! Leucistic animals still retain some of their pigments, which results in beautiful piebald patterns. Even though they aren&#39;t technically albino, the colloquial name &quot;half albino&quot; rolls off the tongue a bit smoother than &quot;leucistic.&quot; <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/albino-animal-pictures/ranker-science" target="_blank">Pictures of albino animals</a> may be common on the internet, but who knows how many of them are actually leucistic?&nbsp;Check out&nbsp;these truly unique creatures and vote up the photos of the most beautiful half albino animals!&nbsp;

18 Mind-Blowing Photos Of Half Albino (AKA Leucistic) Animals

Photos Of Half Albino Animals

Eric Luis

Weird Nature lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Weird Nature lists on Ranker

Weird Nature lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Weird Nature lists and rankings.

A look at some of the oldest known, recorded, and/or existing things on earth.

Old School Cool

Ancient Flora / Fauna

This list of the oldest living things on Earth, including the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/longest-living-animals/robert-desalvo" target="_blank">oldest animals</a>, species, and organisms, will definitely make you feel young. You could probably nitpick some of these life forms within a million years here, a million years there... but the fact remains that these animals have been around a loooong time. What are the oldest living organisms on earth? And more importantly how have they stuck around this long?

These ancient organisms have been around for millions, or ever billions of years and have achieved apparent perfection in their environment. Millennia have passed, and they keep on keeping on. Sure, a tail might shorten, an extra tentacle might grow, or they might develop a more streamlined coat of armor... but, like that guy you know with the haircut he&#39;s had since high school, these animals have asked themselves the question: Why change it if it&#39;s working?

These are the oldest living things on the planet, and they just might still be here long after we are nothing more than fossils found buried in a pile of styrofoam take-out boxes.

The 10 Oldest Living Things On Earth

The Oldest Animal on Earth (and the Oldest Living Things)

analise.dubner

Smarts

List of the world's smartest animals, in order of their animal intelligence ranking. When putting this list of the smartest animals in the world together, I had to give myself criteria to follow. A complex brain is not a factor so much as the ability to use creative thinking. Sure, these are my own standards, and some might complain that this list is decidedly anthropomorphic– seeing as how I'm judging these smart animals by obvious human criteria. For example, why should creative thinking mean one animal is smarter than another animal that can remember the location of 2,200 individual nuts it buried over 2 years? That's just how I decided to do it. To me, creative thinking makes an animal smart, not memorization. I couldn't limit myself to a list of just the top 10 smartest animals because that would have eliminated some incredibly smart and creative creatures. What is the smartest animal in the world? Check out this list of nerdy mammals to find out which of our pets will ultimately rule the planet when humans go extinct!

Out Of All The Animals On Earth, These 15 Are The Smartest

Smartest Animals: List of Most Intelligent Animal Ranking

Lists about phobias: the things we're scared of and why we are afraid of them.

What Are You So Afraid Of?

We're all more scared of one thing than another. Maybe it's the idea of being mauled by a Grizzly or having spiders crawl in your ear while you're sleeping. Maybe it's just the IDEA that a snake might be nearby. Whatever it is, vote on the animal that scares you the most, and of course, feel free to add any of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/frightening-facts-about-the-world-s-scariest-animals/aaron-edwards?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">scariest animals in the world</a> that might be missing from this list.Any list of the scariest animals in the world will likely include sharks, spiders, and snakes. But what terrifies one person might not scare another at all. It's interesting to look at why certain animals strike fear, and others don't. Is it because many of the animals listed here are potentially deadly? Some spiders' bites can be horrible, but <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/10-amazing-things-about-spiders/analise.dubner" target="_blank">spiders can also be pretty amazing.</a> Sure, but that doesn't explain why cockroaches freak people out (if you don't believe me, just check the list, and see the votes for yourself). It's highly unlikely that you'll be done in by a killer cockroach – so what gives? Well, they're creepy, they're crawly and (depending on where you live) they *can* fly. That qualifies as scary.And yes, some of the scariest animals listed here, we'll never ever encounter in real life. Oh, we might see a great white shark in an aquarium or on TV during <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-shark-week-episodes/reference" target="_blank">Shark Week</a>, but really? The odds of us actually coming face to face with a great white are pretty slim. Still, we've all seen Jaws, so that sucker shoots to the top of the list. And bats: Yes, some believe they are scary, but there are a lot of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-untrue-myths-about-animals/analise.dubner" target="_blank">myths surrounding these and other animals</a> that, if you knew more, might make them a bit less terrifying.Which animals scare you the most? Are they insects? Reptiles? Mammals (and yes, this includes man)? Time to vote!

Animals You Should Hope to Never See in the Wild

The Scariest Animals in the World

Ranker Community

Lists of bizarre real headlines and 100% true actual news stories from the physical world in which we all really live that are stranger, scarier, and more depressing than any fiction writer could ever dream.

Unbelievable News

Take the kids out for a fun day at the zoo! See wild animals in tiny recreations of their natural habitats! Watch as they suffer stress, indignity, unnatural climates, and public mating! ...Ooh, a monkey!!!

Locked Up: Animals Behind Bars

Mockery

Nothing good is going to come of a situation that involves being in a cage with a wild&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cute-dangerous-animals/ranker-science" target="_blank">animal</a> at the zoo. And yet, people keep putting themselves in situations where &mdash;&nbsp;despite warnings from the zoo and others around them &mdash;&nbsp;they come face-to-face with lions, tigers, and bears. Some of these people were taken out by&nbsp;a caged animal; others were merely assaulted by a captive wild beast.&nbsp;

These are the tales of the outlandish&nbsp;and sometimes most inebriated people to ever jump the fence at a zoo.&nbsp;