Fire-bellied Toad, English Lop, Emperor Newt, Sling-jaw Wrasse, Quokka: the most unusual animals

The animal world of our planet amazes with its diversity and beauty. Among the millions of species of living creatures, there are those that stand out for their uniqueness and peculiarity. They may have extraordinary shapes, colors, behaviors, or abilities that evoke amazement and admiration.

In this article, we will tell you about some of the most unusual animals in the world, which you may have never seen before. These creatures prove that nature knows no bounds in its creativity.

 

Fire-bellied Toad

Fire-bellied toads have brightly colored red-black or yellow-black patterns on their belly, which is where their name comes from.

When threatened, the fire-bellied toad first stands up and takes a defensive pose, showing off its “fiery” belly. If this display doesn't work, it fully flips onto its back, showing the predator its bright coloring. The display of bright body parts warns the attacker that its skin is toxic.

More interesting facts about the fire-bellied toad can be found in our article "Fire-bellied Toad: Secrets of Poisonous Camouflage and Amazing Behavior."

 

English Lop

English Lop is a quirky breed of domestic rabbit, bred in England in the 19th century. These rabbits have the longest ears of any rabbit breed.

It is believed to be the first breed of lop-eared rabbits bred by humans, and possibly one of the oldest domestic rabbit breeds. The English Lop is large and weighs an average of 5.5 kg.

Read more about this unusual breed of rabbit in our article "English Lop: The Adorable Giant with Velvet Ears."

 

Emperor Newt

This colorful creature goes by several names: Tylototriton shanjing, emperor newt, mandarin newt, or mandarin salamander. It is a highly toxic newt native to China. The rows of orange warts along its back are poison glands.

Moreover, when the newt is grabbed, the tips of its ribs squeeze the poison out of the glands on its back. Emperor newts have enough toxin to kill about 7,500 mice.

Read more in our article "Emperor Dragon from China: Interesting Facts about the Mandarin Newt."

 

Sling-jaw Wrasse

Sling-jaw wrasse catches small fish and crustaceans using its highly protruding jaw, which can rapidly extend up to half the length of its body, forming a tubular shape.

The sling-jaw wrasse has the largest jaw extension of any fish. The speed and length of jaw extension allow this fish to catch small fish and crustaceans.

More interesting facts can be found in our article "Sling-jaw Wrasse: The Fish with an Extendable Jaw, Changing Colors, and Hermaphroditism."

 

Quokka

Quokka resembles a kangaroo or wallaby. This animal is about the size of a house cat or medium-sized dog. Quokkas are known as the happiest animals on Earth.

Quokkas are very curious and unafraid of people, often letting them come close. However, several dozen cases are recorded annually where quokkas bite people, especially children.

A distinctive feature is the "smile" on their face, which appears when the jaw muscles relax after the animal stops chewing.

Quokka Selfie

In the mid-2010s, quokkas earned a reputation online as the “happiest animals in the world” and symbols of positivity. Many photos of smiling quokkas have since gone viral, and “quokka selfies” became a popular trend on social media among celebrities like Chris Hemsworth, Shawn Mendes, Margot Robbie, Roger Federer, and Kim Dong-hyuk from iKON. As a result, the number of tourists on Rottnest Island increased significantly.

More interesting facts, funny stories, and common myths about quokkas can be found in our article "Quokka — The Happiest Animal on Earth."