Animals come in all shapes and sizes. They live on land, in the skies, or underwater. We decided to compile a list of 5 bizarre real animals that could very well be from a mythological story.
5. Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
This unique animal looks like a cross-over between a hummingbird and a giant moth. Despite what you might think, this is actually just a very big moth. The unique animal gets its name from having very similar qualities as a hummingbird.
Despite looking like the bird, this moth flaps its wings rapidly to hover in place while it feeds on flowers with its long proboscis, and due to its size can even be mistaken for the minuscule birds. They have a huge range, living from Portugal in the west all the way to Japan in the east, preferring areas with warmer climates.
4. Blue Dragon
We couldn’t have this list and not include a dragon. Despite its name, the Blue Dragon is actually a very tiny sea creature.
These tiny creatures can be deceiving. Despite their small stature, they hold a potent poison to defend themselves from predators. One sting from this little guy can lead to nausea, pain, vomiting, acute allergic contact dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
3. Saiga Antelope
This unique-looking antelope is surely one-of-a-kind. The mammal seems to have a resemblance of an elephant with its trunk-like nose.
This species is critically endangered, and while it used to have a wide range, stretching across Eurasia, today is found only in one place in Russia and three spots in Kazakhstan.
2. Chinese Water Deer
What can be more mythological than a deer with big fangs? Not much. The Chinese Water Deer is a unique-looking animal with just as unique qualities.
They can look pretty typical until you take a closer look at their mouths. Those odd fangs, however, are anything but the usual and have earned them the nickname “vampire deer” in the west. Even so, they’re herbivores, primarily feeding on reeds, grasses and root vegetables.
1. Panda Ant
The following animal isn’t a Panda nor an Ant. The fuzzy-looking creature is actually a wingless wasp that lives in the Chilean forests.
Though its coloration is quite cute, the black and white markings on its body serve as a warning to predators, telling them that they have a dangerous and painful sting.
