Mammals are a diverse group of animals, and some of them have developed unique characteristics that make them stand out. From the bizarre-looking aye-aye to the pangolin, considered the most trafficked mammal in the world, here are some of the strangest mammals in the animal kingdom.
Aye-Aye
The aye-aye is a lemur native to Madagascar, with a unique elongated middle finger that it uses to tap on trees to find insects. It has large, eerie-looking eyes and a bushy tail. Due to its unusual appearance, the aye-aye was once believed to be a bad omen and was often killed on sight. Its conservation status is currently listed as endangered.
Naked Mole-Rat
The naked mole-rat is a small burrowing rodent with wrinkled pink skin and large protruding teeth. It lives in underground colonies and is known for having a hierarchical society and for being almost entirely immune to cancer. It's also one of the few mammals that can tolerate extremely low oxygen levels.
Pangolin
The pangolin is covered in tough, overlapping scales and can roll into a ball when threatened. It's the only mammal with this unique adaptation, and it's also the most trafficked mammal in the world due to the demand for its meat and scales.
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to Australia with a bill like a duck, webbed feet like an otter, and a tail like a beaver. It's one of the few venomous mammals, and the males have venom-spurs on their hind legs. The platypus also lays eggs, making it one of only two egg-laying mammals, alongside the echidna.
Star-Nosed Mole
The star-nosed mole has a distinctive pink, star-shaped organ on its snout that it uses to sense prey in the dark. It's found in wet lowland areas in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Its unique sensory adaptation makes it one of the fastest foragers in the animal kingdom.
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