30 Strange Animals You Have No Idea Live in the United States

Beyond the familiar wildlife, there’s a realm of strange and obscure animals waiting to be discovered. While many are familiar with the iconic wildlife like bears, eagles, and deer, there’s a host of lesser-known and downright bizarre animals that call the US home.

Nutria

This creature, also known as a coypu, inhabits states such as Louisiana, Virginia, and Georgia. It’s a semi-aquatic rodent introduced to the US by fur farmers, who were unaware of the havoc these rodents would wreak on certain ecosystems. Despite this, they’ve become a permanent presence in the region! Source: Femanin.com

One-toed amphiuma

You might mistake this creature for a snake or an eel, but it’s far stranger! Meet the elongated salamander, an incredibly rare species. It sports limbs that appear useless, each with a single toe. Despite having gill slits, it lacks gills and is often found in mud or water. This oddity is also referred to as a ditch eel.

Gila Monster

The Gila Monster, belonging to the same family as the Komodo dragon, produces venom to kill and consume its prey. Despite being slow-moving, as long as you keep a safe distance, you should be fine. These creatures are primarily found in the southwestern part of America.

Craspedacusta sowerbii

You might be surprised to see a jellyfish on this list, but this one is unique. It’s a freshwater jellyfish originally from China and is now found in Wisconsin. These jellyfish are small, about one inch in size, and their stingers are so tiny that they can’t even sting you! Unfortunately, they’re becoming increasingly rare over time.

Brahminy blind snake

It’s often said that Hawaii has no snakes, and while it’s true for native species, there’s an exception – the blind snake, the world’s smallest snake! These cute critters, resembling earthworms, are commonly spotted in Kauai. Originally from the Philippines, they’ve ensured their survival by hatching unfertilized eggs.

Alligator gar

Imagine a fish that grows over 8 feet long and boasts sharp teeth – pretty terrifying, right? Meet the alligator gar, found in Mississippi and other Gulf-connected states. With primitive features, it can breathe both air and water. Sporting sharp scales and a formidable bite, it’s a true aquatic predator.

Lampreys

It’s like something out of “Stranger Things”! The Lamprey, a jawless fish, latches onto its prey with its teeth and sucks out their blood. Found in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, officials struggle to control its population. Definitely not a favorite!

Pygmy shrew

Let’s take a break from the strange and look at something cute and furry. Meet the Pygmy Shrew, the second smallest mammal in the world. Despite being only about two inches long, it can consume three times its body weight every day! To maintain body heat, it eats every few hours and sleeps for just a few minutes at a time, constantly on the hunt for food.

Fishing spider

Yikes! Meet the fishing spider, which can grow a little bigger than a human palm, is venomous, and can stay underwater for over 30 minutes. Sounds dreadful, right? These spiders literally fish for small fish and aquatic creatures, as well as catching insects on the water’s surface. And here’s the kicker – they lay eggs, wrap them in a silken ball, and carry them around in their mouth. Cool, cool, cool.

Hellbender

Meet the flattened aquatic salamander, found in the Ohio River. These creatures typically reach about 2 feet in length. Sadly, their population is declining due to poor water quality and accidental fishing. Considered living fossils by the scientific community, they may date back as far as 160 million years.

Snakefish

The snakehead fish is notorious for its predatory nature. Amphibious and with a rapid reproduction rate, it’s mostly found in the Washington D.C. area but also in other parts of the US. Their dominance in populated areas has led to efforts to control their population.

Gemsbok

The gemsbok, straight out of an African safari, might surprise you by its presence in New Mexico. Native to South Africa, it was introduced for hunting purposes. However, they’ve managed to establish and reproduce, with over 3,000 now in the area. The lower number of big predators in New Mexico compared to Africa has contributed to their survival.

Western hognose snake

These snakes have quite the flair for drama! When a hognose snake feels threatened, it goes all out: it hisses, flattens its neck, raises its head like a cobra, and pretends to strike. If that doesn’t work, it dramatically plays dead, rolling over and emitting a musty-smelling poop while letting its tongue droop. It can even produce blood drops for added effect. It keeps up the theatrics until it feels safe again.

Scorpion fly

Scorpion flies are peculiar creatures with a tail resembling a scorpion’s stinger, though they don’t sting. This tail is actually present only in males and is called a clasper, used during courtship. Interestingly, females are known to sometimes kill their partners, so the clasper helps males from being murdered. To avoid this fate, males offer a dead insect as a gift during courtship.

Jaguarundi

This little cutie, the jaguarundi, measures about 30 inches from nose to tail and enjoys hunting small rodents. You can typically only find them in the state of Texas. Surprisingly, they’re closely related to the mountain lion. Intelligent and solitary, they prefer a life of solitude.

Nile crocodile

While this creature isn’t exactly “weird,” the fact that it’s found in Florida is definitely a strange situation – or perhaps the most “Florida” situation we can think of! The Nile crocodile is far more aggressive than American crocs, responsible for hundreds of human fatalities annually. No one’s quite sure how they ended up in Florida, but they can grow up to 16 feet in length, so… we’re good!

Roseate spoonbill

The spoonbill is a stunning bird with its pink feathers and long, speckled beak. Primarily dining on snails and crustaceans, they also use their beak in courtship rituals. Males gather nest-building materials with their bills and assist in caring for their young. Talk about multitasking!

Tardigrade

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic creatures with eight legs and a sucker-like face. Believed to be 10 billion years old, they can survive dehydration, freezing, and even the vacuum of space. These hardy creatures can be found in the waters of Maine and are likely to outlast the human race. Wild, isn’t it?

Coatimundi

The Coatimundi, related to the raccoon, is like the cuter, friendlier cousin. Found in the southwest, they have a penchant for fruits and vegetables. However, they’ve been known to enjoy a varied diet, including frogs, birds, bird eggs, and even small lizards.

Painted bunting

The painted bunting, found along the Gulf Coast, displays stunning rainbow colors on the males, while females have green feathers. These birds are primarily foragers, and during mating season, the males switch to an insect-heavy diet to prepare for their search for a partner.

Scolopendra heros

If creepy crawlies aren’t your thing, then steer clear of this one. Meet the largest centipede in North America. With its bright coloration and venomous bite, it’s not for the faint of heart. It preys on small creatures like rodents and various bugs, thanks to its cell-rupturing venom. Fun, right? And watch out for the last pair of its 23 legs – that’s where the deadliest bite is!

Spiny water flea

The spiny water flea looks like it’s from another planet and is an invasive species found across the Great Lakes. They’re pretty crazy-looking! How did they get here? It’s believed they came from Europe and Asia on ships.

Camel spider

The camel spider can be found in the desert areas of the southwest United States. They’re not as big as the viral photos from the Gulf wars, but they do have a very painful bite. While they’re not venomous, it’s probably best to avoid them for a happier mood.

Pronghorn

The pronghorn, resembling an antelope, boasts a unique backward-curving horn. They’re the second fastest land mammal, only behind the cheetah! Even the babies can run over 53 miles per hour. When threatened, the hairs on their behinds raise, creating a distinctive white patch that’s visible from afar!

Cat-faced spider

The cat-faced spider, also known as the jewel spider, has two pronounced bumps on its abdomen that resemble ears, forming what looks like a cat face. When it sits with its head towards the ground, it appears like an upside-down kitten. Despite its appearance, it’s harmless to humans!

Seneca white deer

The Seneca white deer is surprisingly stunning. The Army Depot built a wildlife sanctuary where the largest herd of these deer can be found. They’re not albino, but they have a recessive gene that contributes to their lack of hair pigmentation. Despite their white coat, they have normal noses and brown eyes. So cool!

Glass lizard

These glass lizards, found in the eastern part of North Carolina, are often mistaken for snakes. Despite being legless, they possess all the other characteristics of a standard lizard. Their tails break into several pieces (like glass) to evade capture, a process that can take years to grow back.

Spotted skunk

If not a friend, why friend-shaped? The spotted skunk is undeniably cute! But beware, if it feels threatened, it’ll hiss and spray without a second thought. It even gets into a handstand before spraying from its tush, so definitely keep your distance!

American paddlefish

The paddlefish, existing for 300-400 million years, has a unique paddle longer than its head. Flat on the top and bottom, it stabilizes the fish. When young, they have teeth, but lose them in adulthood. They can weigh over 200 pounds.

Geoduck

Alright, let’s keep it clean! This clam has gone viral on the internet due to its… unique… shape. They are the largest burrowing clams globally, and one of the longest-living creatures, found in the Pacific Northwest. They can reach lengths of around 24 inches!

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Article Sources:

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