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Among them are the keystone species such as elephants and rhinos, as well as plenty of animals most people have never heard of. My colleague.
In the animal kingdom, people tend to think of the cheetah as the fastest creature around. But, when speed is measured relative to body size, there are several faster creatures—all of them arthropods. And now a new winner has emerged. A mite from Southern California just left the previous speediest animal world-record holders in the dust.
Researchers clocked Paratarsotomus macropalpis--a tiny arthropod about the size of a sesame seed—covering distances of up to 322 times its body length per second, the Christian Sciene Monitor reports. Adjusted relative to the mite and its competitors' sizes, that's much faster than the previous record holder, the Australian tiger beetle, which can run up to 122 body lengths per second.
Whether the mite will hold the record for long could come down either to chance or to physics and biology. It could be that faster creatures exist and simply have not been studied in enough detail to have their speed clocked. On the other hand, researchers think that there must be some absolute limit on the speed an organism—even the fastest on the planet—can achieve. But what that upper limit is, the Christian Science Monitor says, physicists still do not know.
As for humans, our fastest runner, Usain Bolt, clocks in at just six body lengths per second, or about 28 miles per hour. If he were to run as fast as the mite, Discovery News points out, he would be sprinting at 1,300 miles per hour. Clearly, we won't be pushing the upper limits of physics any time soon.
Nothing makes tourists whip out their cameras faster than seeing an animal on vacation. Whether searching for the big five on an African safari or combing the beach for sea lions in the Galápagos, getting up close and personal with our furry friends is always a highlight.
But what if we told you that lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my) were just scratching the surface? What if we told you that in some parts of the world, there are creatures so odd and rare that many people don’t even know they exist?
Here is a list of some of the strangest animals around the world.
1. Glowing sea turtle
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Just last week, divers in the Solomon Islands discovered a glowing sea turtle under the waves. While other animals are known to be bioluminescent, this is the first documented case of a glowing reptile in the wild. According to diver David Gruber, an associate professor of biology at Baruch College, the hawksbill sea turtle’s shell glowed both red and green, but it’s likely that the red came from biofluorescent algae.
“It could be a way for them to communicate, for them to see each other better, [or] to blend into the reefs,” which are also biofluorescent, Gruber told Live Science. “It adds visual texture into the world that’s primarily blue.
![Top 10 weirdest animals Top 10 weirdest animals](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125737065/935392910.jpg)
2. Pangolin
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If an anteater and an armadillo had a baby, it might look something like the pangolin, an odd-looking mammal found throughout parts of Asia and Africa. The pangolin has a long, specially adapted tongue for eating ants and termites and wears a protective keratin shell — it is the only mammal known to have this adaptation. Sadly, its unique characteristics also make it the most trafficked mammal in the world, as it is highly sought-after for its meat and armor. The pangolin is currently listed as a threatened species.
3. Diane’s bare-hearted glass frog
A tiny spotted emerald glass frog (Hyla punctata) on glass with its organs visible through its body. These frogs inhabit central and south america. (iStock)
Is it just us, or does this frog look like Kermit? There are many different species of glass frogs, but this little guy is a new discovery — the first in Costa Rica since 1973. While its bright green coloring might grab your attention, the coolest part about this frog is that it is see-through. That’s right — the underside is translucent, providing a stunning view of the amphibian’s internal organs. If you want to see one, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled — these tiny jumpers are less than an inch long.
4. Axolotl, aka Mexican walking fish
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Is it just us, or does this fish look like a Pokemon? The axolotl is a small salamander that can be found in various lakes around Mexico City, although it is currently listed as an endangered species. This amphibian can regenerate limbs, has lidless eyes, and can be black or albino.
5. Sun fish
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) in captivity, Ameland, Holland (iStock)
The sun fish has the distinction of being the heaviest bony fish in the world — with an adult maxing out at 2 tons. This odd-looking creature (it kind of resembles Sloth from The Goonies) is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world and is considered a delicacy in places like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
6. Saiga antelope
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The Saiga antelope can be found around Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan and is easily recognized thanks to its large and flexible nose. In reality, its gigantic schnoz helps to filter out dust and regulate its blood temperature. In May 2015, more than 120,000 Saiga antelope were found dead. Scientists believe they were victims of a suspected epizootic illness that infected the herd.
7. Long-horned orb weaver spider
in the north of thailand life these horned spider in the woods (iStock)
This is the type of creature that’s cool to see in photos but you never want to see in your home. The long-horned orb weaver spider has eight eyes and long, horn-looking spines protruding from its abdomen. This particular spider can be found in the forests and fields of Asia.
8. Gharial
South-Indian fish-eating crocodile gavial, or gharial (iStock)
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill crocodile. This skinny-snouted croc is called a gharial, and it can only be found swimming in the waterways of India. Its long nose is filled with 110 teeth, making it well adapted to catching fish. Scientists estimate that there are only 235 gharials in existence.
9. Red-lipped batfish
CLOSE-UP FACE VIEW OF BATFISH WAITING IN SAND BOTTOM CORAL REEF (iStock)
![Animals Animals](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oItIwiQUxGM/maxresdefault.jpg)
You can’t put lipstick on a pig, but apparently you can put it on a fish. The red-lipped batfish is found near the Galápagos Islands and looks like it’s wearing the color Dangerous from MAC makeup. In addition to its bright pucker, the fish has a a horn and casually walks along the ocean floor instead of swimming.
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