This is my atonement for last-week’s shiver-inducing montage of Monsters in Our Midst, real creatures that are particularly scary-looking, although many are, in fact, quite harmless (tadpole, anyone?). I now offer this companion gallery of real creatures that–while unabashedly quirky–are mostly harmless and sometimes beautiful, cute, or at least adorably ugly (the Proboscis Monkey has a face only Jimmy Durante could love). Remember, beauty is only skin–or fur, or feathers, or slime–deep.
(Click on any image to enlarge it, or to begin slide show)
Sumatran Rhino
Angora Rabbit
Archduke Butterfly larva
Axolotl
Aye-aye
Banded Piglet Squid
Damascus Goat
Blob Fish
Blue Parrotfish
Bush Viper
Coua
Ili Pika
Dryandra Moth caterpillar
Earthworm (QUeensland, Australia)
Bumblebee Bat
Bearded Pig of Borneo
Emperor Tamarin
Fennec Fox
Flapjack Octopus
Gluacus Atlanticus (sea slug)
Great Orange-Tipped caterpillar
Hammerhead Worm
Hoatzin
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Jerboa
Streaked Tenrec
Maned Wolf
Mary River Turtle
Mirror Comb-footed Spider
Mudskipper
Panda Ant
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Red-Lipped Batfish
Royal Flycatcher
Saiga Antelelope
Proboscis Monkey
Saturnidae Motch caterpillar
Sea Pig
Spun Glas Slug
Sunda Colugo (Flying Lemur)
Tarsier
Umbonia Spinosia (Treehopper)
Thorny Dragon
Yeti Crab
Tufted Deer
Wattle Cup Caterpillar
Platypus at play
Well – now I don’t have to invent monsters, just look up real world examples.
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Yep, that’s where Hollywood gets them from!
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I can definitely believe that!
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A fascinating look at sheer beauty!
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Funny, I am just rereading James Herriot. 🙂
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God’s timing. ;>)
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I’d like two Damascus Goats and a Panda Ant in a pear tree, please.
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;>)
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Natures amazing and beautiful!
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The proboscis monkey looks like (long time ago) Jimmy Durante. I love the blob fish and the banded piglet squid. Wonderful creatures.
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Yes! Every time I see proboscis monkeys, I think the same thing!
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So many new faces to love! My favorite might be the Damascus goat. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they put a bit of eyeliner on her and curled her ears for the photo. Looks like a glamour shot!
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Yeah. Although that Red-Lipped Batfish is a real looker, too. ;>)
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Amazing artwork of God. And we have only begun to see a taste of what lives deep in our oceans.
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Love the lli Pika… awesome animals.
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These are so cool. Gotta love God’s creation! The Axolot and Aye Aye were cute with their eyes!
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How strange that I don’t see any monsters! In fact, I think they’re all gorgeous! If it wasn’t detrimental to them being out of their natural habitats, I’d be inclined to adopt them all 😉
Love these pics. Thank for you sharing 🙂
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These are wonderful representatives of God’s amazing creativity! Loved the panda ant!
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Fantastic!
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Evolution is so incredible! 🙂
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The fangs on that tufted deer are a little scary.
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True. But as vampires go, he’s definitely a cute one.
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No question about it. 🙂
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The goat is so beautiful
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