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7 of the world’s ugliest animals – and the survival tricks behind their weird looks

David BenjaminJanuary 6, 2026

W7RCM2 Pig-nosed frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) Western Ghats, India — Some animals didn’t exactly win the evolutionary beauty contest. While their fascinating features may prime them for survival in the wild, they don’t trigger the in-built nurturing response in humans that a cute doe-eyed puppy does. Every species has it’s place – no matter how unfortunate they look – so here are seven memorably ugly creatures well worth a closer look. (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

1. Star-nosed mole

The star-nosed mole looks almost alien in nature with its distinctive feature on its face. But these are not tentacles. Its nose has 25,000 sensory receptors that can detect anything from food to seismic vibrations. The mole has only very tiny eyes and so relies on this constantly moving appendage (known as Eimer’s organs) to navigate on land and underwater. (Picture: Getty)

2. Pig-nosed frog

W7RCM2 Pig-nosed frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) Western Ghats, India — This frog has a huge bottom and is slightly unseemly. But its big butt gives it the power to dig deep into the soil, where it spends most of its life. Unlike most other frogs, it needs powerful legs for digging, not jumping. The frog has tiny eyes, as it lives underground, and the odd shape of its head is perfect for foraging through the damp, moist earth in search of termites. Sadly, even though this species was only discovered in 2003, its numbers have declined, and its status currently stands at ‘near-threatened’. (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

3. Red-lipped batfish

This fish does not have makeup on. It is thought that this species has evolved striking red lips to aid identification by others of the same species during spawning. It was found off the coast of the Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean and seems to prefer to walk cross the seabed as it’s not a very good swimmer. (Picture: Getty)

4. Damascus goat

Damascus goat , funny and interesting looking. — This goat is a strange one as it starts off as a beautiful baby goat – known as a kid. However, as it gets older, its features begin to change and many westerners think the goat to be funny looking, while it is actually a symbol of beauty and is highly prized for its milk and meat in the Middle East. In 2008, there was a goat festival in Saudi Arabia where Damascus goats were judged on their beauty and auctioned. (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

5. Hammerhead bat

Hammerhead Bat — Known as the largest bat in mainland Africa, and the third-largest bat in the world, Hypsignathus monstrosus, also known as the hammerhead bat, has a massive head. It also calls with a very unusual low-frequency honking sound, amplified by large resonating chambers on its head and fluted lips and nostrils. While this doesn’t make the male bat the most beautiful creature, it does increase its chances of attracting a female. (Picture: Sarah H. Olson, et. al)

6. Blob fish

MUST CREDIT: AFSC/NOAA/Rex. Editorial Use Only. No advertising or merchandising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Afsc/Noaa/Shutterstock (3663842a) Blob sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus) AKA blobfish Blob sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus) AKA blobfish, Alaska, America - 2014 — The blobfish is considered one of the ugliest animals on the planet – but that is slightly unfair considering it changes when we see it out of the water. Most images, like the one here, show it on land, where its appearance is drastically different from its natural underwater form. Underwater, it looks more typically fish-like. It lives in the Midnight Zone of the ocean at depths of between 600 to 1,200m (2,000 to 3,900ft), so in order to survive in such conditions it has evolved to be squishy with very small muscles and soft bones. When it is on land, it loses its form. (Picture: Afsc/Noaa/Shutterstock)

7. Naked mole rat

Huge, exposed yellow teeth and a wrinkly body isn’t a combination that is known to be ‘cute.’ However, it is a very fascinating creature as it rarely gets cancer even as it ages and can live a very long and healthy life compared to other rodents. This is partly down to its low respiratory rate and ability to lower its metabolic rate in harsh conditions. It also does not need to drink water, and gets all its hydration from food. (Picture: Getty)

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