It’s a brave beast that bites this tail. The spiky appendage belongs to an armadillo girdled lizard, as does the mouth that’s biting it. The reptile is the sole member of the genus Ouroborus, named after the mythical serpent that ate its own tail – a symbol of continuity, eternity, rebirth and cycles of life. […]
Tag: armadillo
“It can run across water at speeds of 5 feet per second. That’s pretty nippy…” 9 weirdest reptiles in the world, including a devil with two heads
Reptiles are a diverse group of animals, and some of them have truly bizarre and fascinating characteristics – here are a few of the weirdest reptiles on the planet. Weirdest reptiles in the world Green basilisk A lizard that can run on water? Meet the Green basilisk – also known as the ‘Jesus Christ lizard’ […]
Is it an otter or a cat? Long-bodied, short-legged and weasel-headed, this is one of the most bizarre felines on the planet
The jaguarundi is one of the strangest-looking cats in the Americas. Long-bodied, short-legged and sleek, it has more than a hint of otter or weasel about it, which explains why it is sometimes called the otter cat. Yet this elusive hunter is very much a felid, and a close relative of the puma. Found from […]
“It looks like a porcupine, but has a bird-like beak, a pouch like a kangaroo and lays eggs like a reptile.” 10 weirdest, bizarrest mammals on the planet
Nature defies expectation, with animals boasting strange body parts or survival techniques. From the four-headed penis of the echidna to the pink shell of the pink fairy armadillo, there’s plenty to raise an eyebrow at. Here are some of the weirdest mammals on the planet. Weirdest mammals Echidna (Tachyglossidae) At first glance, the echidna might look like […]
Nature’s weirdest defenders: From blood-shooting lizards to slime-spewing fish, 10 creatures that fight back dirty if attacked
Nature isn’t just red in tooth and claw – sometimes it’s downright bizarre. Across the animal kingdom, evolution has equipped creatures with an astonishing armoury of unconventional, often outrageous defence strategies. Some wrap themselves in mucus sleeping bags, others weaponise their own skeletons or bodily fluids – and a few simply out-slime anything that dares […]
Sloth selfies are feeding a booming wildlife trafficking trade
It’s not easy to find a sloth in the middle of the forest. They spend most of their time in the tree canopy and are masters of camouflage, thanks to their slow movements and the algae attached to their fur, which makes them blend in with the color of the leaves. Once identified high up, […]
7 weirdest lizards on the planet: These reptiles are so strange they could be from a sci-fi movie – except every one of them is 100% real
Think lizards are boring sunbathers with scales? Think again. From colour-changing chameleons with swivelling eyes to a real-life ‘flying dragon‘ that glides through the air, these bizarre reptiles rewrite the rulebook on weird. One can even squirt toxic blood from its eyeballs with sniper-like precision. Dive into the world of lizards so strange they could […]
The US government’s war on wildlife, explained in 3 charts
An obscure arm of the federal government killed almost 2 million wild animals last year using a variety of methods, including firearms, poisons, and traps that ensnare an animal’s neck, feet, or entire body. Carried out by the US Department of Agriculture’s euphemistically named Wildlife Services department, the 2024 body count included over 2,000 green […]