Aliens on Earth or Name that Creature 2 :: Answers

by Ziya Tong     Department: Earth

1. Okapi

Mother Nature was either drunk or having a "kooky" day with Photoshop when she designed the Okapi.  With the head of an ass and the butt of a zebra, the Okapi's closest living relative is actually the Giraffe.  Standing at about 5 feet tall, this Congo-dweller may have gotten the short end of the DNA stick, but then it is one of the few animals on earth that can lick its own ears. Take that, survival of the fittest!

2. Oar Fish

Check out a few of these photos and see what you think.  If I were to guess, I'd say the Loch Ness Monster and the Ogopogo have a good chance of being dramatized sightings of the Oar Fish.  These fish - part of the Regalacidae family - are the longest bony fish alive. They grow to about 60 feet in length, weigh up to 600 pounds, and make their homes in the mystery deep. Best part about running into one of these guys underwater? They have no teeth.

3. Lesser Jerboa

This is the Lesser Jerboa or the Jaculus jaculus (my favorite scientific name so far); a "mouse-sized kangaroo" that is found in Africa and the Middle East. Believe it or not, a jerboa can hop faster than a person can run, and can leap over 6 ft in a single bound!  They're found primarily in the desert, and have adapted so that they do not drink liquids at all, but rather acquire moisture directly from their source of food. This little guy - the Long Eared jerboa - is so ridiculously cute I just wanna eat him. (Sorry. That's probably the Chinese in me, and...probably why you won't find any jerboas in Asia ;>).

4. Pygmy Marmoset

If I'd posted this picture, then I'm sure you would have been able to guess right away. Affectionately, and unofficially, they're known on the interwebs as "finger monkeys".  Officially, and scientifically, they're called Pygmy Marmosets, or Callithrix pygmaea. Found in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia & Peru, Pygmy Marmosets are known for being the smallest monkeys in the world, but there's an even more unusual aspect to their biology. Scientists recently discovered that about one third of marmosets are genetic chimeras, meaning that a male marmoset can actually be the father of his brother's son. So there you go, Bob's your uncle...or, something like that.

5. Male superb Bird of Paradise

This pretty guy on our left was the freebee on the list if you've watched Planet Earth. The Male Superb Bird of Paradise or the Lophorina superba is native to the forests of New Guinea and known for its over-the-top courtship display. It flips its feathers into an ellipse-like cape around its head and transforms into a dazzling dancing machine. Click here to see a clip of the choreography in action, and here if you ever feel equally inspired to attract the ladies.

6. Tripod Fish

Lastly, the Bathypterois grallator, also known as the Tripod Fish, is found at depths of up to 3500 meters at the bottom of the sea floor. Unfortunately, not much happens down there. In fact, it gets pretty lonely. Which might explain why the Tripod Fish has grown to become its own little foot stool. And, since potential mates hardly ever pass by, it also has both male and female sex organs so that it can reproduce hermaphroditically.  Basically, if you've ever wondered which animal lost the reincarnation lotto - you're lookin at it.

Tags: animals, answers, bizarre, creatures, fish, game, weird, Ziya Tong, zoology