By Diego Campbell Our planet is home to millions of animals. From high in the sky to deep under the sea, our world is filled with all types of species. It's common to see dogs or squirrels in the typical neighborhood, and wildlife reserves and zoos give people the chance to see exotic animals from all around the world in semi-natural environments. But in terms of weirdness, what are some of the Earth's greatest animals? These are some of the strangest, but interesting, creatures the world has to offer. The Golden Crowned Flying Fox- Acerodon Jubatus The Golden Crowned Flying Fox is a long name for a long animal. It’s especially fitting when you realize that this creature is the largest bat in the world. A member of the Pteropodidae family (which is made up of different types of megabats), Golden Crowned Flying Foxes have been measured with a wingspan of over 5 feet with a body length of 16 inches. For reference, five feet is about as long as your common couch. Despite their size advantage, Flying Foxes are not aggressive, and typically prefer being away from humans. They are perfectly content flying over Philippine forests, feasting on fruits like the fruit bat herbivores they are. They are only found in the Philippines, and are currently endangered. This is a shame, as not only would it mean a massively interesting animal would disappear, but it would also mean missing out on an epic Halloween. The Panda Ant- Euspinolia Militaris Do not be deceived by its misnomer of a name; the Panda Ant is not actually a panda. Surprisingly, it’s not even an ant. It’s a type of wasp belonging to the family Mutillidae. These animals do not live in colonies; rather, they are nonaggressive, solitary creatures. Female wasps have these black and white colors in order to warn/repel predators, a trick called aposematic coloration. Females have no wings, but are equipped with a deadly stinger that has led them to be called “cow-killers” (This title refers to red velvet ants, who are also in the Mutillidae family, whose stingers cause varying amounts of pain. Panda Ant stings are painful, but not as deadly) The species was discovered in sclerophyll forests in Chile, 1938, making it the second greatest thing to come out of Chile, next to the handsome, humble, half-Chilean writer of this article. The Malabar Giant Squirrel- Ratufa Indica
Never fear! Super Squirrel is here! Full Disclaimer: No, this is not a superhero, and No, you aren’t going colorblind. This is a photo of a genuine, multicolored member of the Sciuridae family. The Malabar Giant Squirrel, also known as the Indian Giant Squirrel or Rainbow Squirrel, is native to the Malabar Region of India. At first glance, it’s hard to believe that this is a real deal animal. Indeed, it was certainly a strange and unbelievable sight when Kaushik Vijayan, a photographer navigating through southern Indian forests, discovered, photographed, and uploaded the Rainbow Squirrel to Instagram. One would assume this animal’s eye popping colors make it an easy find. But interestingly enough, its crazy colors still let the squirrel find a way to camouflage. Specifically, its dominant purple/maroon color allows it to blend into the dark, shaded areas in the broadleaf forests that it calls home. So if you are ever visiting India, and want a look at the unique fruit, flower, and bird egg-eating cousin of your nutty neighbor, look hard. Because even if you do manage to see it, you still may not believe it. The Earth is like a hotel. It hosts a vast majority of groups who are all crammed together in the seven available rooms we call continents (hey, at least the pool is big enough for all of us.) We have seen some of these “groups” so many times that it’s possible to become numb to the wonders this hotel has to offer. But don’t be afraid to check in every once in a while; you never know what fantastic guest you might meet next.
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