To cut it in the animal kingdom, you have to be tough—really tough. From withstanding brutal climates to fending off ferocious predators, surviving in the wild is no small feat.
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But a few cunning creatures have developed interesting traits and habits to stay in the game. Here are 45 of the most genetically gifted, physically freakish, and just all-around coolest animals in the world.
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1
Snails have a crazy sleep schedule
Snails are all over the map when it comes to sleep. We’ll define them as manic. They may nap for several hours, then stay awake for sessions of 30 hours or more. On the flip side, they have crazy hibernation periods. They can snooze for periods of up to three years, a survival instinct for when they feel the need to self-preserve.
Dive Deeper: How to Hack Your Sleep
2
Owls can twist their heads 270 degrees
These birds have the insane ability to swivel their heads in almost a full circle thanks to their flexibility and the fact that their heads are only connected by one socket pivot. Researchers at Johns Hopkins also found that owls have backup arteries, so when they turn their heads at extreme angles, they’re still getting blood and nutrients when their blood vessels are cut off during turning.
Plus: Crows Are Self-Aware and Capable of Analytical Thought
3
African Lungfish can survive out of water for a year
When the African Lungfish feels it’s in a life-threatening situation, it secretes a mucus cocoon and burrows itself up to nine inches under the soil, where it gets air through its lung via a built-in breathing tube that leads to the surface. It then relies on rainwater to breathe.
Check This Out: This Goldfish Learned How to Drive
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4
Electric eels can transmit a shock between 600 and 800 Volts
That’s enough electricity to kill a horse. And while it might not be enough to kill you instantly, it’s enough to knock you out and leave you to drown. Another nasty note: If you’re shocked by one, it burns your skin.
Plus: This Is the First Fusion Power Plant to Generate Net Electricity
5
Stonefish are the most poisonous fish in the world
The stonefish produces intense vasoconstriction. If you’re stung by one, it can cause shock, paralysis, malaise, nausea and vomiting, sweating, delirium, pyrexia, cardiogenic shock, respiratory distress, and even death if it’s not treated within a few hours by anti-venom. If you do survive, the symptoms can last a long time, from days to weeks, and full recovery may take many months.
Read This: Nature’s Toxic Gifts: The Deadly Story of Poison
6
Whale Sharks use their 4,000 teeth...to eat veggies
At over 25 tons, the whale shark is the second largest fish in the world, and yet it’s fueled mostly by plankton, plants, and algae. It has over 4,000 teeth, but it’s a filter feeder. It collects food through a technique called “cross-flow filtration,” similar to some bony fish and baleen whales.
Swim Over Here Next: 11 Close Encounters of the Shark Kind
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7
Kangaroos can jump crazy far
Kangaroos can jump over 27 feet in one bound. They can accomplish this thanks to having small front legs and a long, strong tail that helps keep them balanced while jumping.
Next Up: How to Jump from a Moving Train Using Science
8
Mosquitoes are the deadliest insects on the planet
They may be small, but they cause millions of deaths a year around the world, according to the World Health Organization. This is because mosquitoes carry and transmit a number of viruses and diseases, from malaria to dengue to yellow fever. In 2015 alone, there were 438,000 deaths from malaria.
Read This: Can Science Cure Death? It Sure Looks Like It.
9
Black Mambas have super snake speed
The Black Mamba slithers up to 12.5 miles per hour, but hopefully you can run faster. If it catches you, you have 20 minutes to find some anti-venom—or else you’re toast. The snake is responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths each year.
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10
Mountain Stone Wetas freeze, but remain alive
This insect native to New Zealand freezes itself for several months, and then thaws itself. It’s the world’s largest freeze-tolerant insect, and withstands freezing 80 percent of its body tissues. It does this to survive drastic temperature changes thanks to a protein that prevents the formation of ice crystals in its blood-like fluid.
11
Dung beetles are crazy strong
The dung beetle has been deemed the strongest insect on Earth. They’re able to push balls of fresh animal poop (hence their namesake) that weigh more than 200 times their body weight. Researchers documented one individual dung beetle that was pushing a ball that was 1,141 times his body weight, the equivalent of a 150-pound person moving a whopping 80 tons.
12
Tarantula hawks leave the nastiest bug bites
Don’t let the name fool you—it’s not a spider or a bird. It’s actually a wasp. But this insect leaves one of the most painful bug bites. According to entomologist Justin Schmidt, who created the “Schmidt sting pain index” to measure the severity of bug bites, on a scale of 1 to 4, the tarantula hawk is one of just two insects that scores a 4.
Plus: How to Make a Great Garden Fence
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13
Jaguars have killer jaws
Jaguars kill their prey with one bite by piercing the neck of their prey from behind, killing it instantly. And by the way, jaguars and black jaguars are the same species; the lack of markings is due to a mutation that occurs in approximately 6 percent of the wild population.
14
Hippos are insanely fast for their size
While hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in water, they also take to the land (and have been known to be super aggressive). And for their size, they’re super speedy. Don’t try to outrun a hippo, because you’ll lose. They grow between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds, and can run between 15 and 30 miles per hour.
15
Komodo dragons eat like champs
Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet long and swell to around 150 pounds, which means they eat…a lot. Try up to 80 percent of their own body weight in a single meal. Their post meal-ritual? They regurgitate all of the indigestible parts (bone, hair, feathers, scales) into gastric pellets that smell awful.
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16
King Brown snakes squeeze out the most venom
You’ve likely seen videos of scientists squeezing snakes’ venom into glass beakers. According to researchers, the snake that contains the most venom in volume is the King Brown, which can provide 1.3 grams of dry venom from a single milking.
Plus: Humans Could Live to Be 150, Science Says
17
Tasmanian devils have the strongest bite
Looney Tunes made Taz a lovable cartoon character. But in real life, the devil is anything but. According to a study, it has the strongest bite on Earth. Although these animals weigh just 20 pounds on average, they can exert up to 94 pounds of pressure, for a “Bite Force Quotient” of 181. That’s nearly twice as strong as a hyena and some 60 points higher than a lion.
18
Emperor penguins dive really deep
Emperor penguins live in the Arctic, arguably one of the cruelest environments, where it can get below -40 degrees Fahrenheit on the regular. They inhabit the ice and ocean that surrounds them, and have become experts at surviving. They dive up to 1,755 feet for food in water that’s well below freezing.
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19
Ringtail lemurs out-stink each other
Ringtail lemurs have one of the most unique conflict-resolution tactics of all animals: stink fights. Since lemurs live in large social groups of 20 to 30, breeding season can bring a lot of competition. Male ringtails have scent glands on their wrists and shoulders. The wrist gland produces a volatile, short-lived odor, while the shoulder gland produces a brown, toothpaste-like substance, which is much longer lasting. Basically, male lemurs wave their tails and waft a fragrance toward their rivals, resulting in a smelly standoff until someone backs off.
Plus: This Ferret Died 33 Years Ago. Scientists Just Brought Her Back to Life.
20
African elephants are pregnant for a really long time
Nine months is nothing: African elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal, which can last up to two years. Scientists don’t really know why it takes so long to grow an elephant, but it could have something to do with their highly developed brains—elephants have complex social relationships and cognitive skills.
Emily J. Shiffer
Contributing Writer
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. Her work has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
Manasee Wagh
Service Editor
Before joining Popular Mechanics, Manasee Wagh worked as a newspaper reporter, a science journalist, a tech writer, and a computer engineer. She’s always looking for ways to combine the three greatest joys in her life: science, travel, and food.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise, but I can provide information based on the search results I have access to. Here is some information related to the concepts mentioned in this article:
Snails' Sleep Schedule
Snails have a unique sleep schedule. They can nap for several hours and then stay awake for sessions of 30 hours or more. Additionally, they have long hibernation periods and can snooze for up to three years as a survival instinct [[1]].
Owls' Head Rotation
Owls have the incredible ability to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees. This is possible due to their flexibility and the fact that their heads are only connected by one socket pivot. Researchers have also discovered that owls have backup arteries, which allow them to receive blood and nutrients even when their blood vessels are cut off during extreme head rotations [[2]].
African Lungfish Survival
The African Lungfish has a unique survival strategy. When it feels threatened, it secretes a mucus cocoon and burrows itself up to nine inches under the soil. It has a built-in breathing tube that allows it to get air through its lung, which is connected to the surface. The lungfish relies on rainwater to breathe during this time [[3]].
Electric Eels' Electric Shock
Electric eels are capable of generating a shock between 600 and 800 volts, which is enough to stun or kill their prey. While it may not be enough to kill a human instantly, it can cause unconsciousness and potentially lead to drowning. Additionally, being shocked by an electric eel can cause burns on the skin [[4]].
Stonefish's Venom
The stonefish is considered the most poisonous fish in the world. Its venom can cause various symptoms, including shock, paralysis, malaise, nausea, vomiting, sweating, delirium, pyrexia, cardiogenic shock, respiratory distress, and even death if not treated promptly with anti-venom. Survivors may experience symptoms for days to weeks, and full recovery can take months [[5]].
Whale Sharks' Diet
Despite having over 4,000 teeth, whale sharks primarily feed on plankton, plants, and algae. They are filter feeders and use a technique called "cross-flow filtration" to collect food, similar to some bony fish and baleen whales. Despite their massive size, they rely on these small organisms for sustenance [[6]].
Kangaroos' Jumping Ability
Kangaroos are known for their incredible jumping ability. They can jump over 27 feet in a single bound. This is made possible by their long, strong tail, which helps them maintain balance while jumping [[7]].
Mosquitoes' Deadly Impact
Mosquitoes are considered the deadliest insects on the planet. They are responsible for millions of deaths each year due to the transmission of various viruses and diseases, including malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. In 2015 alone, there were 438,000 deaths attributed to malaria [[8]].
Black Mambas' Speed and Venom
The Black Mamba is one of the fastest snakes, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour. If bitten by a Black Mamba, immediate medical attention is crucial, as the venom can be lethal. Without treatment, a bite from a Black Mamba can be fatal within 20 minutes [[9]].
Dung Beetles' Strength
Dung beetles are known for their incredible strength. They can push balls of fresh animal dung that weigh more than 200 times their body weight. Researchers have documented individual dung beetles pushing balls that were 1,141 times their body weight, equivalent to a 150-pound person moving 80 tons [[10]].
Tarantula Hawks' Painful Sting
Tarantula hawks are wasps known for their painful sting. According to entomologist Justin Schmidt, who created the "Schmidt sting pain index," the tarantula hawk is one of the few insects that scores a 4 out of 4 in terms of pain severity. Their sting is considered one of the most painful insect bites [[11]].
Jaguars' Hunting Technique
Jaguars have a unique hunting technique. They kill their prey with a single bite by piercing the neck from behind, instantly incapacitating their prey [[13]].
Hippos' Speed
Hippos, despite their large size, are surprisingly fast. They can run between 15 and 30 miles per hour. It is advised not to try to outrun a hippo, as they can reach weights of 2,000 to 4,000 pounds [[14]].
Komodo Dragons' Eating Habits
Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet long and consume up to 80 percent of their own body weight in a single meal. Afterward, they regurgitate the indigestible parts, such as bones, hair, feathers, and scales, in gastric pellets [[15]].
African Elephants' Pregnancy Duration
African elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal, lasting up to two years. The reason for this extended pregnancy is not fully understood, but it may be related to their highly developed brains and complex social relationships [[20]].
Please note that the information provided is based on the search results available and may not cover all aspects of the concepts mentioned in the article.
