Don’t worry, this bird didn’t get a big boom-boom on his head, it’s actually just one of its unique features. The Helmeted Hornbill can be found mostly in the Malay Peninsula and is widely known for this exotic bulge that sits on the top of its beak. Experts claim that this casque accounts for about 10% of the bird’s weight.
Unfortunately, the Helmeted Hornbill’s special casque also makes it a target for hunters and poachers, who managed to turn it into a critically endangered species. The locals use this unique feature and turn it into art and jewelry, while others view it as a spiritual talisman. There have been tens of thousands of these birds killed annually. Hopefully, the trend will end soon, before it’s too late.
Red-Lipped Batfish
An easy way to describe the red-lipped batfish is by thinking of your oldest living cousin who wears too much makeup and combining that with, well, a fish. This hilarious sea creature can be found mostly around the Galapagos Islands off Peru and tends to stay in depths of up to 250 feet. It's mostly known for the obvious bright red lips on its face, and also for being a terrible swimmer.
Red-lipped batfish live off of small fish and invertebrates, including shrimp, crabs, worms, and mollusks. They are quite harmless to humans and spend most of their time staring hilariously into the abyss. Scientists believe that their large forehead is actually a feature that attracts prey.
Lowland Streaked Tenrec
Many people claim that the lowland streaked tenrec is the horrible result of what Pikachu from Pokemon would look like in real life. This unique rodent can be found in Madagascar and is mostly known for having long and sharp hair-like bristles that resemble that of a hedgehog. The lowland streaked tenrec has built up various mutations and adaptations over the millenniums, as it evolved to survive in the Madagascan rainforests.
There are currently 37 officially discovered species of the tenrec on the island of Madagascar. If you ever come across one of these, it would be best to leave it alone. Their bite is quite painful, and you don't want to get stabbed by their extremely sharp spikes.
Bigfin Squid
On the list of deep-sea creatures you never want to come across, the bigfin squid is a great competitor for first place. This creature is genuinely one of the most terrifying things that lurk in the ocean and resembles something straight out of an H. P. Lovecraft novel. It's an extremely rare cephalopod, and is known mostly as the "long-arm squid".
Due to its rarity, it's not yet known if the bigfin squid is just a mutated creature or a full-blown category of species. Although there is no consensus among scientists on their official proportions, it's believed that these sea creatures are many times longer than your average adult male. While it may be harmless to your body, this big-fin squid definitely has the ability to damage your mental health.
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock
If you manage to get past its incredibly confusing look, you'll find that the Guianan cock-of-the-rock is one of the most pristine and beautiful birds to be found in nature. It can be traced to various tropical rainforests and sports a beautiful bright orange color. This bird mostly eats fruits and has been known to feed primarily off canopy trees and lianas.
The male Guianan cock-of-the-rock uses its incredible colors and crest to attract female birds and tends to breed early in the year. Despite being relatively safe and unthreatened in terms of extinction, this bird species is protected and bred by various organizations. It is mostly eaten by jaguars and other large cats but usually manages to stay safe from predators.