Amazing Photos Of The World’s “Ugliest” Animals

This monkey really stands out from the crowd! And no, its distinctive red glow isn’t caused by a bad case of sunburn from its Amazonian home. This is a uakari monkey. Healthy uakaris will always have bright-red faces like this. A pale face, on the other hand, is associated with ill health.

From the lack of hair to the unfortunate wrinkles, it’s easy to understand why this sphynx cat might be sporting a large frown! But while it does look a little odd compared to other breeds, this feline is actually as affectionate and affable as can be.

Also known as Hypsignathus monstrosus, the hammer-headed bat does look like something that could pop up in a horror movie and eat you. Yet this creature is harmless, only filling its belly with fruit. Native to central Africa, it’s the biggest bat species on the continent, with males boasting a near 3-foot wingspan!

Excluding dolphins and whales, an elephant seal is the biggest marine mammal on the planet. But it’s probably not in the running to be named the cutest, although this fella might contest that! The females and young all have a fairly normal appearance, while the males start to change between the ages of three and five.

Since invading the Great Lakes of North America in the 19th century, the sea lamprey has been wreaking havoc on the local aquatic wildlife. With its monstrous set of razor-sharp teeth, just one of these creatures has been known to take out roughly 40 pounds-worth of fish over a 12-month period.

This furry critter may take the crown for the coolest name in the animal kingdom. Aye-ayes are the biggest nocturnal primates in the world, and they do some pretty clever things. For one, they use their tails to store fat during the colder months to make sure they don’t go hungry when food is scarce.

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were looking at some kind of dinosaur here. Trust us, though, that’s not the case! This unusual bird is in fact a marabou stork. It resides in Africa and towers over a lot of animals, measuring in excess of 5 feet tall.

We don’t think many fairy-tale princesses would be lining up to kiss this guy! It’s called an Indian purple frog, and it lives the most unexpected lifestyle. Instead of spending its time in lakes or other beds of water across India’s Western Ghats, it lives below ground.

While it might be small, don’t take a tarsier lightly. As the Treehugger website notes, it’s “the only entirely carnivorous primate” in the wild. Bugs, birds, snakes, frogs, lizards, and bats have all fallen victim over the years. The little guy’s deadly!

We’ve probably got a good idea what you’re thinking here: why does that bat have an ear on its face? Well, say hello to the horseshoe bat. As a creature that feeds on bugs, this animals relies on echolocation to find food.

Unlike some of the more majestic animals out in the wild, the hyena isn’t exactly cute. On top of that, its cries can be extremely unnerving, sounding similar to creepy cackles. The dude in this photo was seemingly caught mid-guffaw! Yet don’t be fooled by the eccentricities of this creature.

A resident of South America’s Lake Titicaca, the Titicaca water frog is a fascinating little critter. It spends all its life underwater, absorbing oxygen from various “skin folds” found across its body. The frog isn’t a frequent eater due to its sluggish digestion, but it does seek out snails, worms, and fish when hunger hits.

While the appearance of certain pigs can melt your heart, the warthog is a slightly different proposition. From the sharp tusks to their huge snouts, you wouldn’t want to hug one. But when it comes to surviving out in the African wilds, this unique-looking beast is well-equipped.

You can probably guess why this unusual animal is called a pig-nosed turtle. Just look at the protruding snout! It’s native to northern Australia and spends most of its time underwater, solely taking to land when nesting. Thanks to its eye-catching nose, the turtle boasts powerful aquatic smelling abilities to aid its search for food. 

The camel is an incredible creature: what other animal can say it has the strength to lug 900 pounds of cargo across 25 miles of sand each day? Talk about power! But even though this beast won’t win any beauty contests, its unique features are vital to its survival.

Does anyone else feel like this turkey is staring into their soul, or is it just us? That’s some glare. Now, this bird might lack the beauty of other feathered animals, yet it’s arguably the most interesting of the lot. For instance, did you know that a wild turkey rests in a tree during the evening?

There’s something weirdly endearing about the Chinese crested dog. Sure, it might look like it has woken up on the wrong side of bed, but folks are continually drawn to the critter. While no one knows the exact details behind its origin, this canine began to emerge in the 1300s after joining seafarers from China on boat trips.

A word of warning, folks: if you’re not a fan of creepy crawlies, then this next entry could give you nightmares! Yep, the giant isopod is a very real creature, growing to lengths of about 20 inches.

Male proboscis monkeys have large noses that led people to call them "Dutch monkeys" (the joke being that the large noses resembled those of Dutch sailors). In nature, however, the bigger the nose, the more desirable the partner! And if you wanted to spot a proboscis monkey in the wild, you'd have only one place to go.

Literally translated, the word “aardvark” means “earth pig,” which is pretty fitting when you learn that one aardvark alone can consume up to 50,000 ants in just one day. And the animal’s entire body is built to make this task as easy as possible.

Thanks in part to its petite size, a salamander is a cute little critter to have as a pet. Yet the same can’t be said for this beast: it’s a Chinese giant salamander, and boy that name isn’t overselling it. Compared to the 4 or 6 inches of a standard salamander, this animal measures roughly 3½ feet long.

From the elongated snout to the long tongue, the anteater is definitely among the most unusual-looking animals in the world. And surprisingly, it can get pretty dangerous, too. How? Well, the creature is equipped with extremely sharp nails that can prove to be handy when facing threats to its safety. 

Say cheese! These odd-looking animals can live to be over 30 years old, so there's plenty of time to show off that distinctive grin at birthday celebrations. That long snout isn't just there to look pretty, though.

Arguably one of the most recognizable monkey species, the Voldermort-esque monkey makes for a fascinating sight. This animal has the ability to hold out through the coldest of winters in the wild, dealing with freezing conditions. That’s thought to be why the creature doesn’t have a “proper” nose: it would freeze in the cold.

The Chinese call this goldfish the “stargazer” because of its unique eyes, which are permanently fixed in an upward gaze. This feature actually gives it an advantage over the competition when it comes to finding its next meal.

This mole is almost completely blind, but it still makes its way around just fine thanks to the dozens of appendages on its face! Just like so many other critters in the animal kingdom, the mole’s distinctive features have stuck around and evolved to boost the owner’s chances out in the wild. 

This bald bird is an obligate scavenger, meaning it doesn’t hunt for food. Rather, it eats the remains of dead animals that it happens to find. Talk about being a survivor! Even when they’re first born, condors don’t have feathers on their heads.

Virtually blind, mole-rats spend their entire lives in total darkness. Similar to bees, their colonies consist of soldiers — workers who remain celibate their entire lives — and a queen. Rather than inheriting the throne, the queen is always a mole-rat who has clawed her way up to the top!

This bizarre-looking fish doesn't have any bones or teeth. As you can imagine, this makes it pretty difficult to hunt. So, in order to survive, it just floats along and inhales whatever small creatures it can pull into its mouth. Now that’s the life! But while it has a reputation for being pretty “ugly,” scientists tell us this is a bit unfair.

A native creature of Madagascar, the lowland streaked tenrec is a very spiky customer! Measuring up to 6 inches, this little guy has hair that can stand on end when danger approaches. As they stiffen, the follicles become sharp enough to sting whatever touches the animal.

Also known as the Pacific Barreleye Fish, the Macropinna Microstoma is a truly unique creature. If you're wondering why nature (or evolution) decided that this fish's head should be transparent, then allow us to fill you in.

When you think of an octopus, you probably have a pretty clear image that comes to mind. But have you ever pictured this unusual-looking guy? We’re guessing not, but this is a real type of octopus! And you can probably guess how it got its name.

For some people, there is nothing scarier about the open ocean than the prospect of coming into contact with a shark. Those people should probably turn away from their screens now because surely the only thing worse than a shark is a shark that looks like a goblin?

No, that's not a rock. It's a turtle! A mata mata turtle, to be exact. And evolutionarily speaking, this turtle isn’t supposed to look like a rock, but rather like an old strip of tree bark. Either way, it certainly blends in to its surroundings.

Strangely, the panda ant is neither a panda nor an ant. It’s actually a rather a nasty type of wasp that’s found in South America. Its bushy monochrome hairstyle warns off predators, while the wingless female is capable of delivering an agonizing sting.