Nature is beautiful, but it can also creep one out sometimes. Animals, just like plants, exist in multiple species, in all shapes and forms and different sizes. Some animals are physically terrifying and even shocking to look at. Have you ever thought of the ugliest animals in the world? You can find the most unpleasant-looking animals on land and in the sea.
Not everyone enjoys looking at ugly creatures. Most people prefer animals that are easy on the eye and will even go ahead to take care of them. It is, however, paramount to treat every animal graciously, whether you like them or not and whether they are domesticated or wild.
20 ugliest animals in the world
While some creatures will captivate your heart with elegance, others defy conventional beauty norms. These animals described as not appealing can be amphibians, mammals, birds, and reptiles. Here is a list of the ugliest animals ever, according to Outforia:
1. Warthog
Think of ugly pictures of animals; the first animal you will probably visualize is the warthog. This mammal is one of the most rigid and sturdy animals on land. Its male adult can weigh up to 331 pounds (150 kgs), while its female adult can grow to 165 pounds (75 kgs).
Warthogs are members of the pig family and are mostly found across Sub-Saharan African nations. Their big heads with padded bumps on each side and four sharp tusks don't make it any better in appearance.
2. Titicaca water frog
Also known as Telmatobius coleus, Titicaca water frogs are reported to be an endangered species of frog. The animals are found in Lake Titicaca in the Andean Highlands of South America, especially in Peru and Bolivia.
Unlike many animals with lungs, this frog species does not spend much time on land; its preferred habitat is underwater, where it spends its entire life. The Titicaca water frog has an interesting appearance, with excessive skin folds covering its body.
3. Bedlington terrier
Beauty may be subjective, but when it comes to Bedlington Terriers, most people will agree that Bedlington Terrier does not count among the good-looking animals. It almost looks like a lamb with a unique head shape.
The Bedding Terrier is a dog breed named after the mining town of Bedlington, Northumberland, in North East England. Originally used for hunting, the dog is known to be good-tempered and affectionate to the owner. Today many people keep this breed of small dog as a pet.
4. Red-lipped batfish
The red-lipped batfish may look like a dangerous animal, but it is entirely harmless and one of the ugly animals known today. Found around the Galápagos Islands and off Peru at depths of 3 to 76 m, this fish species is used chiefly to enhance species recognition during spawning.
Any marine life enthusiast will immediately recognize the fish thanks to its distinctive red lips and pectoral fins. Given that they are not good swimmers, red-lipped batfish use camouflage to trap their prey.
5. Hyena
What is the ugliest animal? The hyena is at the top of the list. Hyenas have some of the worst characteristics in the animal kingdom. Besides being cowardly when alone, vicious and greedy, hyenas are also some of the ugliest animals in the world.
There are four extant species of the hyena; the striped hyena, the brown hyena, the spotted hyena, and the aardwolf. Hyenas are found across Africa, India, and some parts of Arabia. Despite being similar to dogs' structure, hyenas are more closely related to cats.
6. Elephant Seal
Elephant seals are humongous, with male adults growing up to 13 feet long and weighing 4,500 pounds (2041 kgs). Female elephant seals may grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 1300 pounds (590 kgs).
The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world after the southern elephant seal. The northern elephant seal is found in the North Pacific, while the latter is found on islands such as South Georgia and Macquarie Island.
7. Mata mata turtle
Counted among the world's ugliest animals, The Mata Mata Turtle is predominantly found in South America. The Amazon and Orinoco basins are their primary habitat, with some found in Trinidad.
This species of freshwater turtle may look aggressive, but it is not. These turtles are only hostile when going for their prey. The slow-moving animals often feed on fish and small invertebrates. They use their natural camouflage to man over their surroundings and catch on prey.
8. Proboscis monkey
One distinct feature of this monkey species is its weird-looking nose. The Proboscis monkey has a huge nose, which scientists believe they use to attract mates. Mostly found in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, this monkey is said to have 9 stomachs that contain healthy bacteria.
The healthy bacteria is to help them digest their food. Their reddish-brown skin colour and long tail are other distinct features of the monkey. Being herbivorous, they essentially consume fruits, seeds, young leaves, and shoots of mangroves.
9. Aye-Aye
Aye-ayes are long-fingered lemur, a strepsirrhine primate native to Madagascar. They take the name from the phrase ‘I don't know’ in Malagasy. It is believed that the natives were afraid of speaking their name and thus used ‘Aye-Aye’ to refer to them.
Aye-Ayes have rodent-like teeth that continuously grow. They also have a unique thin middle finger to search for grubs in trees while pattering on the bark and listening for wood-boring insects moving around. Aye-ayes are one of the world's black ugly animals.
10. Vulture
Vultures are birds of prey that scavenge on carrion. There are 23 known vulture species on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Vultures may be known to be predominantly scavengers, but they also occasionally kill small animals on the verge of death.
The largest vulture in the world is the cinereous vulture, sometimes called the black vulture. It lives in mountainous areas and open terrains. This bird is considered one of the ugly animals that are giant flying birds.
11. Naked mole rat
Think of the ugliest thing ever, and you have this rodent. Also known as the sand puppy, the naked mole rat is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya. It is hairless and takes a pink colour.
The most oversized naked mole rat may weigh around 0.1 pounds (50 grams). Their hard incisors help them dig through hard-packed soil, and their teeth move independently. It is said that naked mole rats do not drink water and can live into their 30s.
Another shocking fact about these rodents is that they practice coprophagy, which means they can consume their poop to aid them in maximizing their nutrient uptake.
12. Bald uakari
It is a monkey species known for its very short tail; bright, crimson face; bald head; and long coat. The bald Uakari lives in várzea forests and other wooded habitats near water in the western Amazon of Brazil and Peru.
The South American primates mainly feed on unripe fruits, ripe fruits, leaves, nectar, and insects like the caterpillar. They gain their independence within five months after birth and have a life span of 15 to 30 years.
13. Blobfish
What is the ugliest thing in the world? The blobfish, perhaps? Despite its unusual appearance and unappetizing texture, some people are daring enough to eat blobfish. The smooth-headed fish is as ugly as any animal can get.
This animal is located in the deep waters of mainland Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand coasts. The blobfish is crucial in the ecosystem as being a bottom feeder; it prevents the explosive growth of many populations like crustaceans and molluscs.
14. Saiga antelope
Common antelopes are known for their speed and beauty, whereas the Saiga antelope is known for its unfriendly looks. The Saiga antelope inhabits parts of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
These animals thrive in open dry steppe grasslands and semi-arid deserts. Unfortunately, this species is considered critically endangered, but conservationists are putting effort into ensuring their population does not decrease further.
15. Horseshoe bat
This rare bat got its name from its large nose-leafs shaped like horseshoes. The nose-leafs aid in echolocation- a physiological process for locating distant or invisible objects. The bats’ natural habitats include Pastures, Mediterranean and sub-mediterranean shrubland and woodlands.
Some countries where horseshoe bats have been located include North Africa and southern Europe through southwest Asia, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Himalayas, China, Korea, and Japan. The horseshoe bat is one of the ugliest animals ever.
16. Chinese giant salamander
It is one of the largest salamanders and one of the largest amphibians in the world. The wholly aquatic species is critically endangered as only about 50,000 of them are known to exist today. Overexploitation and consumption by some communities have led to their decline over the years.
Chinese giant salamanders are nocturnal. Due to their poor eyesight, the amphibians feed on fish, insects and snails using smell and touch. However, the beauty of Chinese giant salamanders is that they have the longest life span of any amphibian.
17. Monkfish
Monkfish is a delicacy for seafood lovers despite its dreadful appearance. The flat-bodied fish is consumed for its tight, meaty white flesh that is frequently compared to lobster meat. The liver is especially devoured because It helps lessen the cholesterol level in our blood.
This animal's liver also elevates our immunity to disease. Even with its offputting tadpole appearance and the fact that it can eat its own, monkfish remains a favourite food choice for many. Monkfish inhabit the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
18. Star-nosed mole
One of the most interesting ugly black animals is the star-nosed mole. The small semiaquatic mole is found in eastern North America, from Quebec and Newfoundland, south to at least Virginia, and west to North Dakota.
Their habitats are mainly adjacent to water; though they can also live in moist soil, including woods, bogs, marshes, and fields. The mole has 22 projections containing numerous extremely sensitive organs that also aid them in finding prey.
19. Aardvark
Think of the ugliest thing ever, and you have the Aardavarks. They are medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammals native to Africa. Also known as antbears, the mammals thrive in savannas, grasslands, woodlands and bushland.
These animals spend their days in dark caves to escape the daytime heat. Their long sticky tongues aid them in getting their food, which is primarily ants and termites. Aardvarks are loners, but they are also good swimmers.
20. Goblin shark
Also known as a living fossil, this rare species of deep-sea shark is one of the shark species with highly distinctive features. It has a shovel-like snout, a flabby body, and a tail with a feebly developed lower lobe.
The Goblin shark in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans primarily inhabits the sea bottom. Sharks are known for being aggressive, but not the goblin shark. Goblin sharks are recorded to have zero fatal attacks on humans.
Ugliest animals in the world - Final word
The ugliest animals in the world are not necessarily useless and deserve to exist like any other living thing. Some of the mentioned animals are almost extinct, and man may be contributing to their extinction. Some of these animals thrive in conditions that other creatures cannot.
Tuko.co.ke published an article about the most deadly animal in Africa. Over 30 million tourists visit Africa annually on safaris to see wildlife in the huge open savanna grasslands and lush green woods.
Beneath the magnificent African beauty lies some of the world's deadliest predators that attack humans. The most lethal animals in Africa range from apex predators to venomous reptiles.
