Weirdest Animals Of 2008

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oi-Staff

By Staff

Friday, January 2, 2009, 12:43

The year 2008 has witnessed the discovery of some of the most oddest creatures in the planet. Here is a list outlined by the New Scientist for the 10 most unique species of 2008:

Bone-breaking horror frog: A hairy frog was discovered that damages its own bones in an attempt to produce claws. This leads to punctured toe pads and mostly occurs when threatened.

Solar-powered sea slug: The unique Elysia chlorotica is a urid-green sea slug that feeds on algae and absorbs the chlorophyll. It also steals some of the plant genes that allows it to survive on sunlight alone for over a year. The sea slug is with a gelatinous leaf-shaped body and lives along the Atlantic seaboard of the US.

World"s smallest snake: Leptotyphlops carlae is the world's smallest snake that was discovered by Blair Hedges, of Pennsylvania State University.

Sex-pest guppies: In order to invade and conquer another fish's territory, guppies use sexual harassment and even maiming resident females. According to the researchers, the guppies to this to suppress the native fish population.

Zombie caterpillars: A parasitoid wasp species manages to manipulate the behavior of the caterpillar. These wasps larvae partially develop inside the caterpillar body and chemically causes the caterpillar to behave like a zombie bodyguards, along with some unnatural moves as well.

World"s only lungless frog: The Barbourula kalimantanensis, is a little frog with big eyes, has no lungs and gets all the oxygen it needs through its skin.

Self-sufficient goldmine bug: Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator survives 2.8 kilometres down inside a goldmine, in 60 degrees Celsius water, completely isolated from the rest of the world, without light or oxygen. For this feat, it is called "the bold traveler".

Electric fish that loves a shock: Female species of the elephant nose fish are lured and attracted by the electric aura of their male counterparts and prefer them over the electric sparks of the other males of closely related species.

One-tonne guinea pig: Josephoartigasia monesi was a one-tonne rodent, that roamed South America 2 million years ago.

Newly discovered monkey already endangered: though discovered in the 2008 in the north-western Amazonia, a monkey has already been listed as an . AGENCIES