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This is the Jackalope. That’s right; “Jackrabbit” and “Antelope” combined. This animal may have came from sightings of rabbits with Shope papilloma virus, which are large tumors that could have possibly resembled antlers. These rabbits can imitate any sounds, including the voice of a human. They’re such rare creatures due to the fact they only breed during electrical storms.. Also, they’re killer bunnies, but that’s okay because they taste like lobster. The only time you’ll be lucky enough to see this aggressive, yet elusive creature is if somebody was lucky enough to get it to drink their whiskey. Once it was intoxicated, they probably hunted it and got a nice little mounted trophy for their wall. SAVE THE JACKALOPES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!  Photo credit: Ph0tomas
This tree-living mammal is known as the three-toed sloth (Bradypus). There are four living species of the three-toed sloth: The Brown-throated sloth, the Maned Sloth, Pale-Throated Sloth, and the Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth. They’re notorious for their slow speed, which at the most can be 0.24 km/h or 0.15 mph. Even though they’re so slow in trees, they’re actually quite agile in the water.  These slow mammals only leave their tree once a week, in order to defecate on the forest floor. They are actually quite a sight to see on the forest floor, dragging themselves with their front arms and claws. It’s quite humorous to see pictures of it, and I could imagine even more humorous to watch them in real life. If only these  guys could walk like they swim.. Photo credit: jrothdog
This isn’t your typical Nemo!  The Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) is a member of the family Pomacentridae which can be found in eastern parts of the Indian Ocean and western parts of the Pacific Ocean. If you’re ever lucky enough to see one in the wild, chances are it’s living in a symbiotic relationship with an anemone, as most clownfish do. They will feast on any algae or small crustaceans nearby.  Photo credit: nogu69
Believe it or not; this is a type of shark! The Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is a type of carpet shark native to tropical waters off of Australia and New Guinea. They typically reach a length of 1 m (3.3 ft) and walks along the sea bottom by pushing and wriggling with their paired fins. They’re opportunistic feeders, eating crustaceans, worms and bony fishes. These sharks have a special ability to survive in oxygen depleted waters for lengths at a time; and even survive in complete anoxia for an hour without any ill effects. They do this by increasing blood flow to their brains and shutting down non-essential neural functions. These sharks are so well evolved, it surprises me not many people have heard of them!  Photo credit: divemecressi
This bad boy is one of only two known alligator species; The Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis) is smaller than it’s relative the American Alligator, growing an average of 1.5 m (5 ft). They’re native to China, but critically endangered. It’s predicted there’s less than 200 wild individuals; and only 50 of them are old enough to mate! Scientists believe the decline in population is due to not only their habitat being turned into rice patties, but the poisoning of rats which these reptiles will then consume.  So how do you tell the Chinese Alligator from the American Alligator, or even from Crocodiles? Unlike the American Alligator, the Chinese Alligator is fully armored, which is a feature that has otherwise only been seen in a few crocodiles. If you see what you presume is a crocodile, try and think again! If the snout is short and blunt, it’s more likely to be an alligator. If the snout is more tapered and toothy looking, even with the mouth closed, chances are it’s a crocodile.  Photo credit: Jon Inghram
This is like an overdose on cuteness! The Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) is a tiny seahorse, measuring in at less than 2 cm (0.79 in). These cuties inhabit the western central Pacific Ocean, and live exclusively on fan corals. Pygmy Seahorses can be recognized by their distinct size and the tubercles coming off of their bodies, which helps them to blend in with the fan coral and hide from predators. Since they have prehensile tail and remarkable camouflage, it’s nearly impossible to spot one..In fact, they weren’t discovered until a scientist had been studying the gorgonian coral these seahorses inhabit. It was then that he discovered a seahorse on this branch of coral he was studying! Adult Bargibanti’s Seahorse can normally be found in pairs of clusters of up to 28 seahorses on a single branch of gorgonian. They may be monogamous but it’s not known for sure yet. Breeding is all year-round, and as most other seahorses, it’s the male that will give birth. Gestation lasts about 2 weeks, and the fry is independent from birth.  Photo credit: Mike Hohman
This is a face only a mother could love…Naw, I’m kidding, it’s adorable! The Mata Mata (Chelus fimbriatus) is a freshwater turtle found in South America. They have a very distinct horn on their snout, along with three barbels on the chin. They use their long snout to breathe when they’re in the shallow, slow moving, blackwater streams they inhabit. This, along with their skin flaps allows them to hunt very well, using suction feeding to eat some yummy fish.  Photo credit: Joachim S. Müller
Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens), also known as moustache and giant triggerfish are extremely territorial fish, and especially during the breeding season during April and May they will protect their nests aggressively. During these months the male will guard the nest against all on-comers, including divers; the ‘Protection Zone’ goes directly up from the nest in a cone shape (as they can see upwards). Their eyes are independently rotating, heavy armored scales; they are the largest members of the Triggerfish family and can grow up to 75 cm! Their diet may play a nice role in this, considering they eat a healthy mix of shellfish, urchins, crustaceans and even coral. Although their bites can’t cause infection, eating their flesh can as they contain a natural poison called Ciguatoxin, which can have serious affects on humans; in extreme cases causing heart attacks or paralysis. They may also use ramming techniques, holding their dorsal spine erect to scare potential threats away.  Photo credit:p@ragon
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