Unusual Animals Page 2

Sloths are extremely slow-moving mammals found in the rainforest canopies of Central and South America. There are two species of sloths:two-toed and three-toed. Most sloths are about the size of a small dog and they have short, flat flat heads. Their huge hooked claws and long arms allow them to spend most of their time hanging upside-down from trees. Sloths also sleep upside-down for up to 18 hours at a time. Sloths rarely climb down from the trees and can live for up to 30 years.

Star Nosed Mole – The Star Nosed Mole is found in Canada and North America. Its nose is hairless and is ringed by a unique ’star’ of 22 pink, fleshy tentacles which are extremely sensitive to touch and electrical impulses, allowing it to find its prey without sight. Using these supersensitive organs, identification of prey can be made in under half a second. Star-nosed moles feed on insects, crustaceans and earthworms. Star-nosed moles inhabit temperate forest, rainforest and grassland. They live in damp or muddy tunnels, which may open directly into water. They are typically found in colonies. As well as being agile on land, they are good swimmers.

Thorny Devil - The Thorny Devil is a lizard which can be found in the central Australian deserts. It grows up to eight inches and can live for up to 20 years and has a spectacular appearance, owing to its camouflaging shades of desert browns and tans and conical spines that cover it. It isone of the most remarkable lizards in the world, is a master of defence.  Its large spines are very sharp and make it look like a walking piece of barbed wire. If any predator fancies a go, the thorny devil can change its colour to match the surroundings. It can also tuck its head between its front legs to reveal what looks like a Viking helmet. This makes it almost impossible for predators to swallow.

Yeti Crab
This crab was first observed in March 2005 by marine biologists in the South Pacific Ocean.

The yeti crab is approximately 15 cm long, is notable for the quantity of silky blond setae (resembling fur) covering its legs and claws. Because of its hairy legs, this animal was nicknamed the “Yeti crab”. The ‘hairy’ pincers contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature may use to detoxify poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the hydrothermal vents where it lives. Alternatively, it may feed on the bacteria, although it is thought to be a general carnivore. Its diet also consists of green algae and small shrimp.