Amazing animals — A look at the weird and wonderful species that live on our planet
![A collage of a thorny devil lizard, blue dragon sea slug, and silky anteater](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AWeciBGvqJ668UoVdk2qdf-1200-80.jpg)
There are millions of different animal species living on Earth, with new ones being discovered all the time. Each week, we take a closer look at some of the amazing animals wandering, flying or swimming about, zooming in on the amazing adaptations that help them survive and thrive, from the bottom of the ocean to the highest mountain peaks.
Latest about amazing animals
![Triboniophorus sp. nov. Kaputar moving over the ground.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qWEredzbrbnEWMzN54H6Vd-320-80.jpg)
Mount Kaputar pink slug: The giant hot-pink mollusk found only on a single, extinct volcano
By Lydia Smith published
The 8-inch, bright pink slug has been isolated in a "sky island" for millions of years.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK6o65dfCwTgt66NnhoHzb-320-80.jpg)
Antarctic scale worm: The glitzy frilly horror show with giant protruding jaws that look like Alien's xenomorph
By Melissa Hobson published
This deep-sea polar worm looks like it can't decide if it's dressed for a glitzy party or a gruesome massacre.
![A giant phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea) encountered off the Antarctic Peninsula during a Viking cruise.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xqnT3uKYVu95yfAH5eCjuS-320-80.jpg)
Giant phantom jelly: The 33-foot-long ocean giant that has babies out of its mouth
By Lydia Smith published
Giant phantom jellies were discovered in 1899 and since then have only been spotted around 120 times.
![Degu or Chilean Rat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP8Q5x37viYrw9JoUZtCZR-320-80.jpg)
Common degu: Oversized hamsters with societies governed by pee
By Lydia Smith published
Common degus clean themselves and communicate with urine, and they can detach their own tails to escape predators.
![A turkey vulture in full yawn.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s7YxwwKuN77KxjAVCQ8ADW-320-80.jpg)
Turkey vulture: The bird that vomits acid up to 10 feet and poops antiseptic onto its legs
By Lydia Smith published
Turkey vultures feed on dead carcasses, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
![Orange cave-dwelling dwarf crocodile from Gabon next to a regular dwarf crocodile.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/btTYLhHD7dyW72GQLEURuH-320-80.jpg)
Orange dwarf cave crocodiles: The crocs that crawled into a cave, ate bats, and started mutating into a new species
By Hannah Osborne published
The skin of dwarf crocodiles found living in a cave in Gabon is turning orange from swimming in guano. It's unclear how long they've been down there, but genetic research indicates they may be morphing into a new species.
![A hairy spider.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jsYSJ3rjiy6DBiW9WeYN3i-320-80.jpg)
Hairy giant tarantula: The monster among mini tarantulas with 'feather duster' legs
By Lydia Smith published
The newly discovered tarantula Trichopelma grande has unusually hairy legs for a ground-dwelling species. It's also much bigger than its relatives — and scientists aren't sure why.
![Pictures by a bank clerk with a passion for scuba diving shows a bright green sea slug grazing on tiny sea plants commonly known as algae just like the sheep we are so familiar with loves to munch on grass.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kuvSVaHqFENaYVqubwuNaC-320-80.jpg)
Leaf sheep: The adorable solar-powered sea slug that looks like Shaun the Sheep
By Melissa Hobson published
Known for its uncanny resemblance to the TV character Shaun the Sheep, this adorable sea slug munches on algae to steal its ability to photosynthesize and become solar-powered.
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