In the process of existence and development, humans are constantly making efforts to explore and understand nature and the environment around us. Although there are still many mysterious and interesting things that we do not know yet, the year 2013 has witnessed many new discoveries. Including the discovery of many new strange creatures.

Batfish can walk

Scientists discovered a strange creature with a fish-like body but frog legs in the coastal area of ​​Santos city, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This creature has two fins that resemble both frog legs and wings growing next to its body. Based on its appearance, scientists judge that this strange creature was a mutated long-nosed batfish (scientific name Ogcocephalus corniger).

This fish is known for its ability to walk using its special fin. Therefore, people also call it “walking batfish”. The long-nosed batfish has very poor swimming ability but has developed chest and pelvic muscles, which is the advantage that helps this fish be able to walk. In addition, they also have the ability to jump and drag themselves on land.

Giant sea worm

In August, divers captured images of a giant and strange sea creature off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. This creature has a transparent, cylindrical body, its body length can be up to 30m and can glow, made up of thousands of tiny zooids. They draw water into their bodies through the nozzles on their bodies, trap plankton, and then release the water out their back.

This species of marine worm usually lives in the upper layers in warm ocean areas. They are also classified as plankton, the meaning of their movement depends on water currents, ocean waves, tides…

Insect with ‘electric shock’ hair

This strange creature with a yellow body with orange spots is only 7mm long. At the end of it is a silver beard, growing upwards like the “electric shock” hair of the world-famous Troll doll in the 1990s. This beard is made of wax secreted from the thyroid gland. inside the insect’s abdomen.

It is known that this strange creature was discovered by an American research team in the tropical forest in South America. Based on its shape and living characteristics, scientists believe that this creature is closely related to pupae.

Sponge Chondrocladia lyra

Chondrocladia lyra sponge, also known as harp sponge because of its shape like a harp, was discovered in the waters off the coast of California, USA, using a self-propelled probe. This creature has an appearance like a candle or a harp. It has a monstrous appearance with barbed barbs covering its body that helps sponges retain drifting crustaceans affected by deep-sea currents, and then it envelops its prey before absorbing it. they.

Unlike other sponge species that eat bacteria or organic matter, Chondrocladia lyra is a carnivorous sponge. This species of sponge has long tentacles protruding from veins, small spines on the tentacles used to trap passing fish, then wrap the prey in a thin membrane and gradually digest it. The harp sponge evolved its multi-branched structure to increase its spreading area and capture prey more effectively.

Leaf-tailed gecko

Leaf-tailed gecko has the scientific name Saltuarius eximius, has a quite primitive shape with a length of 20cm and a flat, leaf-shaped tail. It has no eyelids at all, forcing it to use its tongue to clean its eyeballs. This reptile lives in northern Australia. According to scientists, they appeared on Earth about 150 million years ago.

Glowing cockroach Luchihormetica luckae is the scientific name of a species of cockroach that lives in the forests around an active volcano in Ecuador. The body length of adult cockroaches is 2.5 cm. American scientists first discovered them in 1939. They then collected some and brought them to the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. They have many strange characteristics, but the most prominent one is the ability to emit green light.

Many animals in the deep sea have the ability to glow, but very few animals on land have the same ability. L. luckae is one of the very few animals that has the ability to glow and what’s special is that they imitate the glowing mechanism of other insects. They found that their luminescence mechanism was similar to that of Elateridae beetles, insects that glow to warn predators that they have toxins in their bodies. Thus, when predators see the cockroach’s light, they will think the cockroach is poisonous and give up the idea of ​​attacking.

Epaulette shark

The Epaulette shark is a species of jawed shark. This species of shark lives in shallow waters at the bottom of the ocean in tropical Australia and New Guinea and possibly other areas as well. Epaulette sharks are quite small, the largest one is only 121 cm long. Instead of swimming, this fish “walks” on the ocean floor by wriggling and using its fins shaped like oars to move forward. This fish only swims a short distance when it is pursued.

This species is a nocturnal hunter. They often live in shallow waters, near reefs. Epaulette sharks have the ability to increase blood flow to the brain and can close unnecessary nerve functions. This means that it can survive in conditions without oxygen for up to 1 hour without harm.

Giant arowana fish

In an article in Copeia magazine, scientist Donald Stewart officially confirmed that Arapaima leptosoma is a completely new species of the dragon-scale fish family living in the Amazon River. According to researcher Stewart, Arapaima leptosoma is often confused with other giant dragon-scaled fish. However, if you look closely, it’s easy to see that it’s slimmer.

As one of the largest freshwater species in the world, dragon-scale fish can grow to more than 3 m long and weigh 200 kg. This species breathes through its lungs and often lives in oxygen-poor waters. Two large air bubbles on both sides of the gills help the arowana fish store a large amount of air, enough for it to hold its breath for up to 15 minutes after each breath.

Giant tiger spider

Scientists have just announced the discovery of a new species of giant spider that does not spin webs with a body size as big as a human face in the forests of Mankulam village in northern Sri Lanka. This spider has the scientific name Poecilotheria rajaei, also known as tiger spider. This giant spider can reach a body length of up to 20.32 cm, with gray and yellow stripes along its legs and body. Although venomous, it is not deadly.

In the past, spiders used to live in trees, but since increased deforestation damaged the natural environment, they began to move into old abandoned buildings. Biologist Ranil Nanayakkara said: “This spider is extremely rare. They like to live in old trees, but suitable habitat for them is seriously decreasing because of deforestation.”

Legless lizard

California biologists have just discovered a new species of lizard, with both arms and legs reduced, at the end of the runway at Los Angeles International Airport (USA). According to the description, this legless lizard is very similar to a snake, it is 8cm long, has eyelids, external ears, a fairly wide abdomen and a long tail while snakes are the opposite – have a long body and short tail. They live mainly underground, eating insects and larvae.

These lizards live mainly underground or near the ground and usually do not leave the area where they live. If they come to the surface, it must be in damp places, under dead trees. Currently, legless lizards are often listed among the animals of most concern.