From an eel that can produce 400 times their volume in slime, to a fish with human teeth, here are some really weird animals from around the world.

Our planet is mind-bogglingly diverse. Different environmental conditions give rise to different characteristics in weird animals of all shapes and sizes. Some evolve for the dark, gloomy depths of the oceans, while others eke out an existence in dry, seemingly inhospitable deserts.

Others look seemingly ‘normal’, until something triggers their weirdness to come out (a bit like humans?).

But there are plenty of oddities on land, too. Here are some of the weirdest animals on the planet!

Siphonophore

Hoatzin

Hagfish

Pink river dolphin

Blobfish

Ghost shark

Penis snake

Many of nature’s weirdest creations hail from the ocean, where complete darkness, sediment-rich waters, high-pressure environments, and near-freezing waters have each led to unique adaptations and some of the most bizarre-looking creatures. Scientists estimate there are anywhere between a few hundred thousand, to over ten million new species waiting to be discovered in the depths of our oceans.

Sea pig

Pink fairy armadillo

Star-nosed mole

Thistledown velvet ant

Red-lipped batfish

Mantis shrimp