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Animals

Perhaps because we humans lost our tails long ago, many people find the tails of other animals to be fascinating. How much joy do you get when your dog&#39;s big, animated tail gets to wagging when they see you? That fascination extends to some animals around the world whose tails are unusually long, strong, prehensile, or just plain weird. Throughout the animal kingdom, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/story-of-winter-the-dolphin-and-her-prosthetic-tail/anna-lindwasser" target="_blank">most animals have a tail</a> of one sort or another, but the animals with the longest tails are some of the most magnificent.

Even if their tail no longer serves a purpose, some animals have evolved to display the biggest extravagant tails the likes of which humans can only look upon with envy. Long tails can be found from the smallest mammal to the largest reptiles, but not all are as long as you might think. For this list, an animal&#39;s tail needs to either break records or have a ratio longer than their body-length to the point it is obvious and strange.

Wonderful Animals With The Longest Tails In The World

Animal/Plant

10 Animals With The Longest Tails, Ranked By Tail-To-Body Ratio

Ranker Science

Frog

Most of the time, when people picture frogs, they are thinking of small hoppers you can easily hold in your hand. Sure, there are plenty of little frogs like tree frogs and even the famed poison dart frog is rather tiny, but the animal kingdom&nbsp;is full of variations and not all frogs are small. There exist many types of frogs (and some toads) that are exceptionally huge and many might be called giant!

Big frogs and toads aren&#39;t just fat versions of smaller critters, there are some frogs like the African Bullfrog or the Goliath frog you might mistake for a cat in the wrong light. The&nbsp;largest frog species are legitimately that big. Forget about holding some of these heavy hoppers in your hand, you&#39;ll need a double-handed grip to hold on to the biggest pals on this list.&nbsp; Arranged from the smaller big frogs on up to the largest, this list highlights the largest of all the frogs with the very biggest bouncing much higher than you ever thought possible.

The Most Wonderful &amp; Biggest Frogs In The World

The Biggest Frogs In The World And The Largest Toads on Planet Earth

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

Enter the Animal Kingdom

When it comes to the animal kingdom, some critters hit the jackpot when it comes to ear size. Whether you are talking about a large animal like the African Elephant or the much smaller Bush Baby, there are plenty of animals with the biggest ear to body ratio, which makes them the critters with the biggest ears in the world. Granted, an elephant&#39;s ears are significantly bigger than other animals, but compared to their body-size, some smaller critters&#39; ears are considerably <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/long-eared-jerboa-facts/mariel-loveland">longer</a> and larger than you might think.

While they may also look cuter than other animals with smaller ears, many animals with big ears have them for very good reasons. Often, they are used to aid in cooling or even warding off pests. Other animals with long ears are capable of positioning them to hear sounds from specific directions or even pick up sounds at frequencies humans can&#39;t even hear. Whatever their reason for evolving large, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cute-animal-bilby/laura-allan">adorable ears</a>, these animals are the ones with the biggest of them all.

Wonderful Animals With The Biggest Ears In The World

The 12 Animals With The Biggest Ears, Ranked By Ear-To-Body Ratio

Exploring plagues and pandemics throughout history.

It's an Epidemic

Disease Outbreaks

Spikes in cancer, or cancer clusters, occur when a high number of people in a small geographical area experience similar ailments over a short period of time. Some&nbsp;cancer clusters have possible causes, although investigating and discovering those&nbsp;causes can take years. Current cancer clusters are breaking out everywhere from small Canadian towns to booming cities like San Francisco. Given different places so frequently have radically different cancer rates, the outbreaks below have been subject to a heavy amount of research, investigation, and public scrutiny.&nbsp;How do cancer clusters form? Unfortunately, investigations rarely lead to a clearer understanding of what causes cancer in certain areas. While researches sometimes uncover a lack of corporate oversight, the scientific community still has a&nbsp;limited understanding of cancer itself.&nbsp;This means,&nbsp;despite the myriad theories about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/surprising-things-that-could-give-you-cancer/michael-darling" target="_blank">what causes cancer</a>, causes often remain ambiguous especially due to&nbsp;the lack of common factors between&nbsp;clusters. Many places where cancer is common are positioned near&nbsp;plants or factories that produce harmful chemicals, but other areas are desolate and isolated. Unfortunately, pending major breakthroughs in cancer research, how and why high cancer rates occur in specific areas will largely remain a mystery.&nbsp;

The Biggest Cancer Clusters In History

General

The 17 Biggest Cancer Clusters In History

A look at the best, most important, most influential, most memorable, and unforgettable things of 2018, ranked by  hundreds of thousands of votes.

2018: A Year in Review

The Best of 2018

Scientific breakthroughs happen across the globe each year as the world&#39;s top researchers make innovative discoveries that alter life on earth and change our perception of reality.&nbsp;The greatest scientific discoveries are an inspiring testament to the profound capabilities of the human mind. Each year, scientists make incredible discoveries.

In <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-breakthroughs-of-2017/ranker-science" target="_blank">2017</a>, scientists learned how to pull water out of thin air and edit a human embryo. The&nbsp;latest breakthroughs from 2018&nbsp;are just as impressive. If you haven&#39;t already learned about these recent scientific advances, now is the time.&nbsp;

This list of 2018&nbsp;scientific discoveries&nbsp;features informative works that span a wide range of disciplines. Some discoveries brought about a more rich understanding of our past. The last wild horses may not&nbsp;truly&nbsp;have wild ancestors and a lost Native American tribe&nbsp;gave us a more complex look at our earliest ancestors. Other discoveries may mean huge leaps for medical science. From blood tests to detect&nbsp;cancer to the potential to grow human organs for donations, these breakthroughs will give you hope for the future even in bleak times.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The latest in science news is inspirational&nbsp;for a new&nbsp;generation of thinkers who will continue to push the boundaries of human capability. What were the biggest discoveries of 2018? How about scientific advancements?&nbsp;Read on to find out, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-breakthroughs-of-2019/ranker-science" target="_blank">then see the scientific breakthroughs of 2019</a>.

Scientists Have Unlocked The Origins Of The "Ghost Particle"

The Greatest Scientific Breakthroughs of 2018

2018 Scientific Breakthroughs & Science News

Hot on the tail of what many called "the worst year in all of recorded history," 2017 arrived to bring some changes. But did it?

2017: Peace Out

Science

Every year, the brilliant minds of science are making new discoveries that inspire us to learn more about our natural surroundings from everything microscopic to outer space. Thanks to the world's best scientists and researchers, these scientific breakthroughs of 2017 push the boundaries of what we thought we already knew about life on Earth. If you're curious about our progress in science, check out the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-scientific-breakthroughs-2016/amylindorff">list of scientific breakthroughs in 2016</a>&nbsp;and this <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-breakthroughs-of-2018/ranker-science" target="_blank">list of 2018 scientific breakthroughs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scientific-breakthroughs-of-2019/ranker-science" target="_blank">the scientific breakthroughs of 2019</a>.These 2017 scientific discoveries are not only educational and informative, but they are also surprisingly amazing! If you want to catch up with this year's breakthroughs in science, this list has it all, including photos, videos, and other detailed info.&nbsp;Ready to fill your brain with the latest science news? Start reading this list of the biggest discoveries in science and tech of 2017!&nbsp;

The Greatest Scientific Breakthroughs Of 2017

2017 Scientific Breakthroughs & Science News

Weird

Have you ever measured something using a household item when you're lacking a ruler or measuring tape? Maybe you needed to measure the size of your dinner table and you used your hand. Or you needed to know the size of your bookshelf and you measured it in &quot;Apple TV remotes.&quot; Well,at least one of those funny measurements is actually real, despite sounding made up by you on a Saturday afternoon. To find out which is which check out this list of the weirdest (but real) units of measurement below.This list of funny, strange, and weird units of measurement is both crazy and sometimes confusing. Who would think to use animals like cows, oxen, and sheep to measure something? How about using concert halls, sports arenas, and harbors as a super easy way to measure. Sounds pretty convenient! Or, what about using the time it takes a beard to grow as a way to measure time! These all may sound absurd and totally made up but rest assured these are all real units of measurement that some very strange or too smart for their own good humans use daily (or made use of back in the good old days of donkey power).&nbsp;Take a look at this weird list of real units to measure and vote for which one you think is the coolest or funniest. If you happen to use any of these regularly please let us know in the comments!

The Weirdest (Real) Units of Measurement

29 Weird Units of Measurement That Are Actually Real

Adorable animals playing, posing, helping, hiding, eating, and waiting for you to pet them.

All Creatures, Great and Small

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

Animal Anatomy

Cute

Animal lovers know the need to cuddle can be overwhelming, especially when there are big-eyed or adorably furry creatures nearby. Unfortunately, mother nature sometimes has other plans, as you’ll find below in this list of cute animals that are dangerous. Hard as it may be to imagine, there are predators out there who seek to harm the world's most adorable creatures, so these little guys have learned to equip themselves with features designed to deliver some no-so-cute pain.Though many of the cute, vicious animals on this list aren’t the type to go looking for trouble, if trouble happens to find them, they aren’t shy about returning the favor. Other cute animals you shouldn't touch are on this list for less painful (but still terrifying) reasons. For instance, some of these cute little fur balls have awkward habits, including but not limited to: regularly self-bathing in their own urine and committing suicide if approached by an unfamiliar human. Regardless, by the time you’re done reading the fine print that comes along with these adorable little dudes, something tells us that your will to hug will be greatly diminished.That said, there’s no reason not to enjoy the cuteness overload that this unique group of creatures. Though they may be better filed under “look but don’t touch,” the animals you’ll find here are definitely interesting.

Beavers

Animals So Cute You Almost Forget How Dangerous They Are

28 Cute Animals That You Don't Want To Mess With

28 Cute Animals That Are Actually Violent and Dangerous

Lists about the gazillions of things spinning around the whole infinite universe.

Space: The Final Frontier

The Space Page

With the launch of the world&#39;s first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, the modern space age began, and countless space firsts followed. By the end of the next decade, the first manned space flight and the first <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/space-travelers-list-of-all-people-who-have-been-to-space/doug-frezman?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">people in space</a> were already old news, and Russia and the United States had both developed space programs, launching&nbsp;a tense space race to be the first to land a man on the moon. The United States won that one with &quot;one giant leap for mankind&quot; in July 1969.

Since the historic Moon landing, there have been many more interstellar &quot;firsts,&quot; as space travel and exploration have continued to push&nbsp;boundaries. Among the landmarks are the first reusable spacecraft, the first Mars landing, the first space telescope, the first space station, and, in July 2015, the first flyby of dwarf planet Pluto.

The space race may be over, and the first space flight is just another moment in&nbsp;history, but that doesn&#39;t mean mankind has stopped searching the skies. Peruse some of history&#39;s most notable space firsts below and let your imagination wander... perhaps to &quot;a galaxy far, far away.&quot;

Famous Firsts in Space Travel and Exploration

Space Exploration Firsts: A Primer in the History of Space Travel

Darling, it's better down where it's wetter.

Under the Sea

Weird Nature

We all wonder what alien life might look like, but there are some strange creatures swimming in our oceans that are more bizarre than anything Hollywood has imagined. About 71 percent of the surface of the Earth is covered in water and we are still only beginning to discover the incredible biodiversity and unusual denizens of the oceans. Ocean life and sea animals are full of surprises, and there are all kinds of cool fish (and a few <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-fish-list/ranker-science" target="_blank">scary ones</a>) living in the ocean.What fascinating fish facts should you know about the many creatures of the ocean depths? Did you know that until 2013, no one had ever recorded a video of a giant squid alive? The coelacanth was thought to be extinct for millions of years until one was caught alive in 1938. There are also an array of alien-like jellyfish and terrifying deep-sea monsters that look like something out of a horror movie.So what is the weirdest, wildest ocean creature alive? Believe it or not, all the ocean animals and fish below are 100% real. Vote up the most interesting and maybe slightly scary facts about ocean life below!

Pretty Cool And Kind Of Scary Facts About Ocean Creatures

Cool Fish Facts | Sea Animals & Ocean Life Trivia

The birds do it. The bees do it. Every animal species does it! Study up to learn how.

Like on the Discovery Channel 

Interesting

Do you want some dating advice? You could learn a thing or two from the monogamous animals on this list, as they all mate for life. Whereas over half of marriages end in divorce, the animal pairs in the following photos usually stay together for the long haul. If certain birds, rodents, fish and even microscopic worms can remain faithful for life, do you think you can keep off Tinder and focus on your significant other? Swans are notoriously known to mate for life, but I bet some of the other animals on this list will surprise you.&nbsp;Take a look at the animal couples in the following photos that are a true testament to monogamy. Maybe some of them will inspire you to do the same.

13 Monogamous Animals That Mate For Life

Monogamous Animals | List of Animals That Mate For Life

What is the fastest animal on Earth? To answer that question, you have to be more specific. Are you talking about running on the ground, diving in the air in free fall, flapping through the air, or swimming through the water? Also, you might want to judge speed based on a creature's body size and how many body lengths it can achieve per second. This list includes the fastest birds, land mammals, fish, and even insects.&nbsp;You probably learned that the fastest animal on land is the cheetah, which is arguably correct... at least over short distances. But when you compare its top speed to that of a diving peregrine falcon or a black marlin in water, the cheetah's reputation for being the &quot;fastest animal on Earth&quot; seems a bit undeserved.Take a look at our list of speedy critters that can all fly, swim or run circles around you. Some of them may surprise you.

The Fastest Animals in the World

The Fastest Animals In The World

Sometimes the best way to deal with winter is to just say &quot;forget it&quot; and sleep through it. That's what many of our animal friends do when the weather gets too cold and food becomes scarce, but which animals actually hibernate? Some animals go into true hibernation: their heart rates and metabolisms slow down, and they pretty much don't wake up until spring. Other animals go into something called &quot;torpor,&quot; or a light hibernation, and might sleep for days or weeks at a time, but they get up occasionally if disturbed or if they want a midnight snack. One animal even freezes, develops ice crystals in its blood and appears dead, but still thaws out in the spring like nothing happened.Scroll through this list of the animal world's champion sleepers and find out which critters have woken up from a long winter's nap. The next time you feel guilty about sleeping in, rest easy knowing that you have nothing on these guys.

13 Fascinating Animals That Hibernate

Animals That Hibernate | Interesting Facts About Hibernation

Did dinosaurs have feathers? Scales? Deep voices or shrill, piercing squawks? Australian accents? Sarcastic lilts? Check out these lists about the many bird-like reptiles that roamed and ruled over Planet Earth between 66 and 230 million years ago.

Raaaarrr!!

We love dinosaurs. As kids, we learned facts about them in science class, marveled at their skeletons in museums, and played out epic dino battles with our plastic toys. But how much of what we were taught about them is actually true? You might be shocked to know that a majority of what we learned about dinosaurs in our youth was actually not true at all.&nbsp;

The truth is that the more we learn about these <a href="http://www.idistracted.net/12-prehistoric-animals-that-were-glad-are-extinct-photos/" target="_blank">prehistoric animals</a> that roamed the Earth for 150 million years, the more their story is being rewritten. A lot of the things we were taught about dinosaurs or saw in movies are just flat-out wrong. Did you know that dinosaurs were around for a couple hundred thousand years after that meteor impact you read about that supposedly wiped&nbsp;them out? How about that dinosaurs were not the first reptiles to rule the Earth? Or that dinosaurs had feathers? There are even some scientists that believe&nbsp;dinosaurs are still among us right now. You might have even eaten one of these ancient, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scariest-dinosaurs-list/ranker-science" target="_blank">scary animals</a> for dinner last night with a side of mashed potatoes.

Intrigued? We were too. Read on and find out which dinosaur myths you believed all your life are not true at all.

21 Myths You Were Taught About Dinosaurs

Debunking Dinosaur Facts That Aren't True

What&#39;s a nudibranch, you ask? Only one of the most colorful sea creatures in the earth&#39;s vast oceans. These soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusks display some of the most <a href="https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/collage-nudibranch-colors" target="_blank">unique shapes and colors</a> in the sea. A diverse group of creatures, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/group/nudibranchs/" target="_blank">nudibranchs</a> (NOO-di-branks) have a habitable range that spans everything from the tropics to Antarctica. There are many different types of nudibranchs found all over the world, and this list and photo gallery will help you appreciate the many different kinds.

In Latin, nudibranch means &quot;naked gills,&quot; an appropriate name as many nudibranchs breathe through an actual naked gill, located on its back.&nbsp;Nudibranchs are also hermaphroditic, but they cannot fertilize themselves, and they lay their eggs within a gelatinous spiral.

Much more exciting than say, a sea cucumber, these colorful little guys are sometimes called &quot;<a href="https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/a-colorful-defense/" target="_blank">sea slugs</a>&quot; - though the name hardly does justice to their beauty, and most sea slugs aren&#39;t actually related to nudibranchs. Nudibranchs vary in size from less than an inch to as long as almost two feet. They have many exciting defense mechanisms including <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-poisonous-sea-creatures/eric-vega" target="_blank">toxic</a> appendages, camouflage, and the ability to produce their own chemicals.

How many types of nudibranchs are there? What is the most beautiful nudibranch? This list features the most gorgeous nudibranchs types in the ocean.

The Coolest Sea Animal You've Never Heard Of: The Nudibranch

Nudibranch Types | Gallery of Colorful Nudibranchs

Animals of all shapes and sizes have different kinds of strengths. Deciding which animals are the strongest really depends on how you define strength. Do you define strength as the sheer power of an animal, how much they can carry pound-for-pound, or the strength of their bite? This list includes land mammals, marine animals, and insects, all of which are ridiculously strong, in one way or another.Some animals can carry large amounts of weight, up to several times their own body mass, while others have really strong and ferocious bites. Do you think you know what the strongest animal is? You might be shocked to find out that some of the smallest animals are actually the strongest pound-for-pound.The top two strongest living things are beetles (yes—beetles!) and the strongest mammal is a gorilla. Which other animals are the strongest on Earth? Take a look at this list, and consider which creatures you would not want to go head to head with.

21 Animals Who Are So Strong It's Kind Of Scary

The Strongest Animals in the World

Strongest Animals in the World | List of Most Powerful Creatures on Earth

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

Cool-Looking Animals

Albino animals have a genetic mutation that causes an absence of tyrosinase in their pigment cells, which means they don't produce melanin pigments. While true albinos are thought to be rare in the wild, a number of animals have a similar genetic abnormality called leucism that also manifests in white fur, feathers, scales, or skin. This albino animals photo gallery includes several leucistic animals. How do you tell them apart? It's all in the color of the eye. As you may know, true albinos have red or pink eyes, but leucistic animals may have black, brown, or even blue eyes.&nbsp;However these animals are classified, they're all super cool to look at. After all, what's a giraffe without its spots? How about a cardinal that isn't the traditional bright red? But while we may often see albino mice or albino rabbits, it's not often that we catch glimpses of many other albino animals. This is, in part, because bright white animals are very vulnerable to predators. A zebra's black stripes aren't just for show - they're protective camouflage that conceal it from lions, leopards, hyenas, etc. The life expectancy of an albino baby animal born in the wild is very short.&nbsp;For more pics of cool animals, check out these lists of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/marine-invertebrates-photos/ranker-science">marine invertebrates photos</a>, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/worlds-most-beautiful-animals">most beautiful animals</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/cutest-baby-animals">animals with the cutest babies</a>.

35 Animals You Didn't Know Could Be Albino

38 Incredible Albino (and Leucistic) Animals

Albino Animal Pictures | Photo Gallery of Cute Leucistic Animals

An estimated 71% of planet Earth is ocean, home to more than 230,000 species of fauna and flora. This photo gallery includes impressive pics of over 75 marine invertebrates, including cephalopods, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and more cool animals. Octopuses, crabs, jellyfish, and starfish may be the main attractions at public aquariums, but there is much, much more to the deep blue sea. For example, there are more than 3,000 unique species of nudibranch (NOO-dee-brank) sea slugs, many in impossibly bright colors that warn predators that they are poisonous. On the other end of the spectrum, the predatory flamboyant cuttlefish and peacock mantis shrimp boast bold colors to distract prey while they use unique tactics to stun and kill them. It's all very ghastly. Enjoy these fascinating photos of sea creatures you never knew existed, and never forget that the ocean is a dangerous place!

75 Stunning Oceanic Invertebrates That Deserve A Closer Look

Lists of pics, vids, and facts about spiders and other arachnids for the masochist in you.

Eight-Legged Freaks

Bugs

The Brown Recluse (Loxosceles Reclusa) or Violin Spider is one of the most venomous spiders in the world. They usually range from about 6-20mm (1/4-3/4 of an inch) long, but can grow larger, and have a wide range of colors from light brown to cream to blackish grey.Though the violin patterning is iconic, a few other spiders share it. So the most efficient way to identify a recluse is to examine it's eyes. Most spiders have eight, the recluse has six. Arranged in pairs they posses one median pair and two lateral pairs. No other clearly unique markings exist as they have fairly common coloring on their abdomen and legs.What else to look out for if you're living in Recluse Territory (Southeastern Nebraska through Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana or Central Texas to Western Georgia) are its asymmetrical webs in garages, cellars and wood piles. They are also quite fond of cardboard as it mimics their natural rotting tree bark habitat.If you've had the personal displeasure of being bitten by one of these, you know that the bite doesn't hurt at first then it grows itchy and bothersome and eventually spreads. It's no joke. Contact a doctor immediately as these little guys can be fatal, (but to be honest usually keep to themselves) and take a look at these pics so you know what to look out for.

The Best Pictures Of The Brown Recluse Spider

Wholesome

Who knew such disgusting rodents and such could look so huggable? Petting a naked mole rat is never a good idea, but depending on the facial expression and camera angle, it doesn't look to bad. From things that fly to things that could kill us, these ugly yet adorable animals prove that we should always look for the best in the worst.All ugly human beings should hire whoever these photographers are, because suddenly the nastiest-looking mammals look photogenic with the right lens. As it turns out, even the occasional bat can even be adorable. Smelly animals like skunk pigs, as well as scary animals like sharks, all have adorable photographs ranked here. Yucky insects, like the jumping spider and Jerusalem cricket, must be posing with their hearts rather than their faces. Who would've thought a wombat could look endearing?

Japanese Macaque

The Cutest Pics of Gross-Looking Animals

20 Cute Pictures of Ugly Animals

List of animals that have the most unusual, unique abilities. Animals have evolved in the smartest and strangest ways. This list ranks the craziest, most bizarre adaptations of all time. The animals on this list take evolutionary traits to a whole new level with intense defense mechanisms to avoid becoming prey. The result is this page's compilation of Mother Nature's freakiest inhabitants, courtesy of their unusual evolutionary qualities. &nbsp; Many on the list of crazy animal adaptations have outrageous tools to hide from predators. Cuttlefish and leaf bugs, for instance, are absolutely unparalleled when it comes to camouflage and mimicry, while many young white-tailed deer essentially pretend to die in order to dissuade hungry killers. Others go a bit more extreme to piss off their enemies, such as Northern Fulmars, who vomit a disgusting liquid, and Pistol Shrimp, whose claw snaps and ignites a collapsing bubble of epic proportions. Other wacky adaptations found in animals range from the mere existence of an electric eel, as well as hooded seals who inflate a pink balloon from their noses to attract a mate.

Pistol Shrimp Will Shoot You

The Coolest Animals That Have the Most Unusual Abilities

Animal Adaptations | Pictures of Weird Natural Adaptations 

List of the most horrifying defense mechanisms of adorable animals. It turns out, some of the most adorable creatures on the planet also have <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-things-seen-heard/amandasedlakhevener?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the most terrifying</a> adaptations. It appears as though mother nature has blessed our cutest and most cuddly animals with the most heinous of defenses. It makes sense, after all, since it's all about natural selection and survival of the cutest. &nbsp;Who wouldn't want the blue ringed octopus to stay alive when attacked by predators? When those rings turn blue, you'll know it's ready to snap your butt off. If only humans were able to communicate this kind of thing without speaking. Same goes for the mantis shrimp, which is one of the cooler shellfish out there. But this guy ain't kosher – its appendages will slam into an enemy at the speed of a car on the highway. We see this with other members of the animal kingdom, like pottos and platypuses and porcupines alike. Don't be fooled by their fuzzy appearances and cute little faces... the animals on this list have some killer ways of, well, killing other animals.

Pottos

The Most Horrifying Defense Mechanisms of Adorable Animals

Animal Defenses | List of Cute Defense Adaptations

The strangest penises on earth are located within the confines of this marvelous list. Peruse the penises of animals from all walks of life to see how unique their units are. You will not believe the shapes and sizes you will read about&nbsp;and the uses you will learn about. As if sex on &quot;Animal Planet&quot; wasn't crazy enough, these animal penises are the craziest and most cartoonish packages that a female counterpart could ever ask (or not ask) for.Dolphin penis might sound like the name of a dinner in a foreign country, but they are in fact insanely retractable monsters that grope fellow dolphins (and the occasional sea <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/frisky-dolphin-tries-to-get-busy-divers_n_1862148.html" target="_blank">diver</a>) left and right. If that's too normal, then perhaps a tortoise penis will be amusing enough. These tubes are in the shape of a cylinder that, as a female tortoise seduces him, will result in a puffed up package that is twice its original size. And maybe you should check out your pet at home, since &quot;red rocket&quot; dog and &quot;genitally-barbed&quot; cat penises are some of the most unusual <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/largest-animal-penis-to-body-ratios/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">peckers</a> out there.

The Weirdest Animal Penises of All Time

Animal Penises | Weird Pics of Animal Phalluses 

Biology

Animals have plenty of cool attributes, but one of the most striking things about them can be their eyes. Sometimes they use their cool animal eyes as a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/crazy-animal-sixth-sense/jonathan-sherman" target="_blank">crazy sixth sense</a>. These close up animal eye photos show you just how cool these animals really are. From mammals to amphibians, these animals use their sense of sight to mesmerize&nbsp;us humans.&nbsp;Animal eyes have long fascinated us and have served specific animals in a variety of purposes. However, thanks to this collection, the only purpose they serve is blowing our minds.&nbsp;But if you're looking closely enough, you can see frog eyes are unusual colors and sizes. Lemur eyes might be the craziest animal eyes out there, though gecko eyes certainly give them a run for their money. And whether it's a white tiger or a pink flamingo, the animal eyes on this list are the most unique in the entire animal kingdom.

21 Animals With Utterly Unique, Mesmerizing Eyes

Animal Eyes | Close Up Pics of Animal Eyes

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.

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