Bright Side has prepared for you a selection of strange animals that you have probably never heard of, let alone, ever met. And at the end, you'll find a bonus that will blow your mind.
1. Mangalitsa Pig, aka a pig in sheep's clothing
The birthplace of this curly-haired pig is Hungary, where it was discovered in the mid 19th century. Due to the fleece covering this animal, it resembles a sheep, therefore its name. The fleece can be black or red, but these cuties are most commonly blond. This is the last pig in existence to boast such an amazing winter coat. Tragically, it was nearly extinct by the 1990s, when fewer than 200 pigs could be found in Hungary, all because of their extraordinarily tasty lard. Thankfully, nowadays, the future of Mangalitsa looks much brighter!
2. Rhinopithecus, or Golden snub-nosed monkey
The name of this species is roxellana, and there is a story behind it. It is believed that they were called this way after the supposedly snub-nosed courtesan of Suleiman the Magnificent, a 16th century Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Another interesting thing is the difference between male and female monkeys, with males being twice heavier than females and of a different colour. Girls have darker, or even black tones on their forehead and upper parts. Infants have such a light coat, it may seem white in the sunlight.
3. Emperor Tamarin
This guy looks like a real emperor, or at least a wise old man, with its fabulous mustache. And indeed, they were called like this because of the resemblance of their mustache to that of German Emperor Wilhelm II. The size of this cute little thing is only about 10 inches or 26 centimetres, but their tail can be up to 16 inches, or 40 centimeters long.
They live in groups of between 4 to 20 animals, and often give birth to twins. They are not completely vegetarian. Besides flowers, nectar and fruit, tamarins can feast on frogs, snails, and even small birds.
4. Patagonian Mara
If you are wondering if this animal is a cross between a kangaroo and a hare, think again. Patagonian Mara is the fourth largest rodent on our planet. There are several interesting facts about them. Females often put offsprings into creches for safety.
Males help to guard their babies. They grunt when they try to threaten and also they squeal like guinea pigs. If you startle them, these animals can leap up to 6 feet or 182 centimetres in the air. What's your record jump? As for their character, well, they can be quite flighty.
5. Fluffy Cow
In fact, there are several secrets surrounding these big plush toys. First of all, it's not a new breed. All these lovely cows belong to the breeds already known. The thing is, they are looked after by special people, whose work it is to wash, dry and use the product to style the animals so they look as fluffy as they do.
What is more, it is necessary to maintain them daily, and it will take months of regular grooming till they get this lovely look of kids' toys. It is done mostly for shows, and it typically takes about two hours to bring them into form before a performance. Hair sprays are used to fix their fuzz, and natural oils are applied to make their fur look shiny.
How much time do you spend in front of the mirror?
And do you believe it? Neither do we.