8 Astonishing Creatures That Perplex Even Scientists

This creature could easily be a character in a horror movie. Here are 5 reasons why:

• The main feature of honey badgers is that they don’t care who they attack: a porcupine, a leopard, a lion, or a buffalo — whatever! They don’t even care about their number of rivals. And if they attack, the other animal is unlikely to survive. The thing is, they have hard, thick skin that neither predators’ teeth nor several types of weapon (arrows, spears, machetes) can pierce.
• What’s more, is their skin is elastic and it allows them to dodge. Sσ it’s not recommended to lift a honey badger as it’ll manage to release itself and attack.
• Honey badgers also have sharp teeth, claws and powerful jaws that allow them to eat their prey complete with bones, shells, and sσ on.
• They also have a strong immune system. Scientists can’t understand how the honey badgers’ body neutralizes poisons. For example, if this creature gets bitten by a cobra, it experiences convulsions and dies, but revives 40 minutes later and continues its fight or gets back to its normal life.
• Though the honey badger is an omnivorous predator, it really loves honey. Badgers have an interesting method of finding it. They use honeyguides, small birds. These birds find a beehive and lead honey badgers to it by whistling. Predators eat the honey and the birds get bee larvae.

7. The spiny mouse

The spiny mouse’s superpower is regeneration. They’re capable of releasing their skin upon being captured by a predator. They can completely regenerate their fur, skin, cartilage, and sweat glands. Scientists assume that all mammals, as well as reptiles, actually have self-healing genes, but this feature is currently “available” for spiny mice only.

6. The Tarbagan marmot

This cute creature is cooler than a camel. Tarbagans don’t drink water: the liquid they get from their food is enough for them. For example, during an experiment, a Tarbagan marmot managed to live 3 years without water, eating only dry grains.

5. The platypus

The platypus’ appearance causes questions even among scientists. It seems that when nature was creating this animal, it couldn’t decide what it was going to be! It has a duck nose, webbing on its feet, a beaver’s tail, and the fluffy body of a small animal. What’s more, is it also produces toxic saliva, lays eggs, produces milk, and lives in Australia only.

4. The Port Jackson shark

Though the Port Jackson shark looks rather scary, it’s pretty kind. Here are some of its features.

• Lots of sharp teeth are needed to deal with fish and other sea creatures with a soft body. Big and flat teeth are needed to chew shells, sea urchins, crabs, and creatures who always carry their houses with them.
• The shark is poisonous, but it uses this feature only in case of danger. Long, venomous spines on 2 dorsal fins help them escape from bigger predators. By the way, their poison isn’t deadly, it’s just paralyzing.
• Port Jackson shark pups grow up late. Males become adults at age 10 and females become sexually mature at age 14. By the way, their average lifespan is 30 years — really infantile creatures.
• People don’t attract them. They can bite a person only if they’re too annoying. And conversely, people aren’t really interested in these sharks either: their meat isn’t that tasty.

3. The long-tailed slug (Ibycus rachelae)

If scientists could transplant animal body features to people, these slugs (Ibycus rachelae) would have saved lots of broken hearts. The thing is, this unusual species makes use of so-called “love darts” in courtship. Made of calcium carbonate, the love dart is harpoon-like which pierces and injects a hormone into another slug, and may play a role in increasing the chances of romantic adventures.

2. The immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis)

The secret of immortality is hidden in the ocean by jellyfish. Turritopsis nutricula can start their life all over again. For example, after a severe injury, they reach the bottom, turn into a polyp, and transform themselves back to jellyfish. The process of growing up usually lasts for 2 months and, apparently, the process of resurrection isn’t limited. Thus, scientists have studied a jellyfish that transformed 12 times.

1. The sperm whale

The sperm whale is the first on our list of the most unusual animals.

• Sperm whales can dive deeper and stay underwater longer than any other animals that breathe air. Scientists claim that there were sperm whales that dove 2.5 miles (4,000 m) deep. It’s unknown how their lungs deal with such incredible pressure.
• These animals possess a material that is extremely precious for perfume makers: ambergris. It sounds nice, but it’s a solid grey substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales that they burp.
• Another useful material is spermaceti. It’s well-known for its amazing healing properties.
• Sperm whales need only 15-minutes of sleep a day. If needed (or in case of tight deadlines), they can live without sleep up to 3 months.
• Sperm whales are creatures with the thickest skin: up to 19 inches thick, to be exact!
• They eat giant squid even if they try to resist. Once, a sperm whale got in a fight with a 440-lb squid and swallowed it.

Which animal impressed you the most? If you know of other incredible animals that live on this planet with us, share them in the comments!