8 of the World’s Scariest Looking Animals

[Catty1]

I think the Tube Nosed Bat is kinda cute!

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-o...g-animals.html

Kara, selected from Treehugger, November 3, 2014

You probably wouldn’t want to encounter any of these in the wild…
If you’re missing the goblins and ghouls of Halloween, take a look at these real-life monsters. We’ve compiled some of the most unique-looking creatures on the planet. Scroll down to get creeped out!

credit:

Smithsonian National Zoo

Naked Mole Rat
Look at those teeth! Frightening. Naked mole rats are vegetarian, but you wouldn’t want to be around if they changed their mind… They use the few hairs they do have on their body to feel around as they tunnel under ground.

credit: Michael Bentley

Gharial
It’s hard to say if these guys are funny or scary. They look like crocodiles with squished snouts, but when you look at those teeth…

credit: James Joel

Tube-nosed bats
If gargoyles were real, this is what they’d look like. Luckily these bats don’t feast on blood, they prefer fruit.

credit: Erik Adamsson

Musk Deer
This is not Photoshopped – there are in fact deer in the world with vampire teeth. These guys use teeth instead of horns to impress the ladies. The older the musk deer, the longer the fangs.

credit: Mark Dumont

Aye-Aye
This Malagasy native looks like it’s waiting for you to walk by so it can pounce. In the dead of night it uses its long middle finger to tap on trees and listen for yummy insect morsels. To the people of Madagascar, the Aye-Aye are a bad omen, so they’re often killed on sight.

credit: NWCouncil

Lamprey

Look at the teeth on these things! Some species of lamprey suck blood from fish.

credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Barreleye Fish

You can actually see through this guy’s head. Brains and veins and stuff, isn’t that only supposed to be in zombie movies? Barreleye fish live in the deep sea, so humans barely ever lay eyes on it.

credit: “Mistukurina owstoni museum victoria – head detail” by Dianne Bray / Museum Victoria

Goblin Shark
Yikes! This shark’s schnoz acts like a metal detector so it can find its prey. Then, it shoots its jaw out much like a hand would reach for food. You definitely wouldn’t want to be this guys’ next meal!
Manon Verchot, from Treehugger

[Lady's Human]

The Gharial looks like a Caiman relative.

[Karen]

Some of these are more fascinating than scary! And are endangered, like the poor aye-aye! The fish with transparent head is really neat, I think!

[Lady's Human]

That the Goblin Shark is being caught is a sad commentary on fishing. When local populations are depleted, fishermen go deeper. Goblin sharks live at extreme depths, and shouldn't be being caught if there are sustainable fishing practices being used.

[smokey the elder]

Goblin shark = inspiration for the mouth on the creature in Alien, maybe?