{"id":2190579,"date":"2026-03-30T06:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T04:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2190579"},"modified":"2026-03-27T09:56:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T08:56:52","slug":"their-real-super-power-is-their-ability-to-shoot-blood-from-their-eyes-the-23-weirdest-strangest-animals-on-the-planet-including-the-striped-pyjama-squid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/their-real-super-power-is-their-ability-to-shoot-blood-from-their-eyes-the-23-weirdest-strangest-animals-on-the-planet-including-the-striped-pyjama-squid\/","title":{"rendered":"“Their real super-power is their ability to shoot blood from their eyes.” The 23 weirdest, strangest animals on the planet – including the striped pyjama squid"},"content":{"rendered":"

With over 8.7 million species of animals in the world, it\u2019s perhaps no surprise that\u00a0evolution\u00a0has produced some particularly peculiar-looking ones.<\/p>\n

Ugly as some of them may be, these so-called weird animals often become some of the most loved and well know (especially in the age of the internet meme – looking at you\u00a0blobfish!).<\/p>\n

There will be some on this list that you have probably never heard of, however, and you are sure to learn some new fun facts about your favourite.<\/p>\n

23 weirdest animals<\/h2>\n

So, from the outlandish and awesome to the frankly funny-looking, here are our top 21 weirdest animals.<\/p>\n

Patagonian mara<\/h3>\n
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David & Micha Sheldon \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum<\/em>), a large herbivorous rodent that can run up to 37mph (60kmph).<\/p>\n

It is a rabbit-like rodent, with long ears and clawed feet. They run at great speeds, but they also hop like\u00a0rabbits\u00a0\u2013 using their front limbs for digging burrows and their strong, hind legs to run fast. They are one of the tallest rodents, after the likes of the\u00a0capybara.<\/p>\n

Hopping mouse<\/h3>\n
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Dusky Hopping-Mouse. Credit: Boyd Essex, CC BY 4.0 https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Why walk when you can hop?\u00a0Australia is famous for its hopping kangaroos but did you know it had other species that can hop too? There\u2019s\u00a0kangaroo rat\u00a0and six species of hopping mice.\u00a0These mice have long, narrow strong hind legs that allows them to hop quickly away from danger.\u00a0In fact they are far better at hopping than walking.<\/p>\n

Striped pyjama squid<\/h3>\n
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\"Striped
Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Sometimes it\u2019s nice to spend the day in your pyjamas \u2013 but your whole life?<\/p>\n

This squat, rotund little cephalopod is a striped pyjama squid, says\u00a0Stuart Blackman. It grows to only about 5cm in length, and also goes by the name of striped dumpling squid.<\/p>\n

Native to shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific, it spends its days in bed \u2013\u00a0seagrass\u00a0beds to be precise \u2013 buried in sand with only its eyes protruding. It emerges only at night to hunt small crustaceans and fish.<\/p>\n

Pyrenean desman<\/h3>\n

Webbed feet, a flexible snout and waterproof fur \u2013 the curious\u00a0Pyrenean desman\u00a0is surely one of Europe’s oddest mammals.<\/p>\n

Found only in the fast-flowing mountain streams of the Iberian Peninsula and southern France, this small insectivore leads a secretive, nocturnal life. With a flexible trunk-like snout, webbed feet and waterproof fur, it\u2019s perfectly adapted to life underwater.<\/p>\n

Harp sponge<\/h3>\n
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