Weird and wonderful animals
![A Platypus (Image © AP Photo/Rob Griffith)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/ed/dcda7c6caf8962eca5b5bbc171ebf/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A Platypus (Image © AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)")
![Elephant shrew (Image © AP Photo/National Zoo, Jessie Cohen)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/c8/8f11af36228c455c7d2667813a4f1/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Elephant shrew (Image © AP Photo/National Zoo, Jessie Cohen) (AP Photo/National Zoo, Jessie Cohen)")
![A camel spider (Image © Getty Images)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/d1/d8ce4bb2326907794ed76cb45b55a/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A camel spider (Image © Getty Images) (Getty Images)")
![A dugong (Image © Getty Images)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/f8/7ddbf72c697c850884095914e1363/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A dugong (Image © Getty Images) (Getty Images)")
![A long-eared jerboa (Image © Press Association)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/82/f077d4257a8aed59a1f2d86d961fc/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A long-eared jerboa (Image © Press Association) (PA images)")
![A Megamouth shark (Image © Press Association)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/b2/38fb56f112c0adc260fbade23368cc/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A Megamouth shark (Image © Press Association) (PA Images)")
![A Slender loris (Image © Press Association)]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7f/7459418eee821d63a392a9336c8cd/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A Slender loris (Image © Press Association) (PA Images)")
“Barreleye” Fish
The Barreleye, spookfish or just 'the fish with the transparent head' is one of the more unusual deep-water species. It gets its name from its barrel-shaped, tubular eyes. Marine biologists initially thought they could only provide a tunnel-vision view of whatever was above the fish's head. However they have since found out that its eyes can rotate within the transparent shield that covers the fish's head. This allows the spooky-looking fish to stare upwards at potential prey or switch to looking straight ahead.
Platypus
One of nature's strangest-looking animals, the water-dwelling Platypus has the beak of a duck, the fur of a mammal and the venom of a snake. Also, it is one of only two egg-laying mammals in the world. It is so weird that it was initially taken for a hoax when sent to Europe in the 19th Century. If you want to see if for yourself, it can be found living in and around streams and rivers in the eastern states of Australia.
Elephant shrew
It may be called an elephant shrew but it is not actually an elephant or a shrew. It is a strange mammal that was only discovered for the first time in 2008 in the mountains of Tanzania. Upon its discovery, scientists told the BBC that it is more closely related to African mammals like sea cows, aardvarks and hyraxes. It is most active in the daytime and usually on forest floors, when it uses its long snout to hover up insects.
Camel spider
Among the fastest animals of its kind, the camel spider can reach speeds of 10mph which, despite not being up with the Lewis Hamiltons of the world, isn’t half bad for an eight-legged sand-dweller. With a long-held reputation as one of the most fearsome creatures in the Middle East, it has achieved infamy amongst US Forces in the region, with rumours spreading that it attacks humans by chasing them at great speeds before leaving a nasty bite. However in most cases the spiders have in fact been quickly scurrying towards the shade cast by their ‘victims’, and have only attacked after being provoked by the understandably terrified humans.
Dugong
In the 19th Century, dugongs were known as ‘mermaids’. Sailors were said to have mistaken dugongs for half-human, half-fish creatures having glimpsed them swimming from a distance, causing the myth to begin.
Amorous seamen in search of watery lovelies will no doubt have been disappointed upon taking a closer look as, gentle as they may be, it’s difficult to see them as a potential bedfellow. The dugong, like its close cousin the manatee, is a relative of the elephant and has a fluked tail much like a whale. It is a herbivore and spends much of its time in warm coastal waters grazing for underwater grasses using its sensitive, bristled snout and rough lips.
Long-eared jerboa
You're unlikely ever to see this little creature: it's unusual and endangered. As a nocturnal mammal, it spends most of the daylight hours in underground tunnels and has so far only been found in the deserts of Mongolia and China. Scientists from the Zoological Society of London who have studied it say as well as having extremely large ears in proportion to its body, it also hops across the desert sand just like a kangaroo.
Megamouth shark
Little is known about the elusive Megamouth shark. Less than 50 are believed to have been found in the 30 years since its discovery in 1976. Contrary to what you might fear, its most distinguishing feature, its massive mouth, is not used to swallow humans swimming in the sea. It uses it to eat plankton and jelly fish and keeps it constantly open as it slowly swims along the upper part of the ocean.
Slender loris
The Slender Loris, so-called because of its long, thin limbs, is very much a nocturnal animal. It spends most of the day sleeping in a tight ball up in a tree before foraging in its forest habitat for food at nightfall. Although it mostly eats insects it does also eat fruits, eggs and even small mammals, birds and reptiles. They are found across Sri Lanka and Southern India.
