iStockphoto / quickshooting / Dave Irving / GlobalP / Martin Leber / Iva Dimova / reptiles4all
The biodiversity across planet earth is hard to wrap our brains around sometimes. One species in North America with a close relative in Asia might look completely unrecognizable from its brethren due to millions of years of evolutionary changes. To me, a fox looks like, well, a fox. But in Tibet? It looks like a kindergartner tried to draw a fox from memory.
With that in mind, I recently came across a funny thread on Meta’s Threads where people were posting pictures of real animals that look fake. I thought I could put my own spin on that here on BroBible and put together this list of 16 animals that look completely fake but are 100% real.
16 Real Animals That Look Totally Fake
Below, we see birds, snakes, and mammals of every sort. These are some of the most peculiar looking creatures in nature but I assure you, despite looking fake all of these animal species are 100% real.
1. Tibetan Fox
iStockphoto / Dave Irving
The Tibetan Fox is world famous for its square face and looking like it was drawn by a 4-year-old with crayons. Some say the Tibetan Fox looks like the creation of a bad taxidermist.
They are monogamous and mate with the same pair for life and primarily feed on pika, a rabbit-like animal. Interestingly, they sometimes team up with bears to collaboratively hunt. They’re small though! This completely fake looking but totally real animal only grows to between 8-12 pounds.
2. Armadillo Girdled Lizard
iStockphoto / eptiles4all
Found in the deserts of South Africa, the Armadillo Girdled Lizard looks like an armored dragon. Everything about them looks like something you would see in a Fantasy film. Then when it comes to their behavior, they are well-known for biting their own tail when frightened to roll up into a ball, hence the ‘armadillo’ name.
I firmly believe this species has, in some capacity, helped shape our world view of what dragons and dinosaurs would look like in real life.
3.Maned Wolf
iStockphoto / Martin Leber
The Maned Wolf is the largest canine species in South America and despite the looks and name, they are neither actually a wolf or a fox. Maned wolves are primarily found in Brazil but they can be spotted in parts of Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
To me, they look like a spirit wolf sent to haunt your dreams. This creature looks like Nyla from Avatar the Last Airbender. Everything about it is out of proportion, though perfectly adapted to its surroundings. When I look at a wolf or a fox I think ‘that’s cute, I wish I could pet it’ but when I see a Maned Wolf my inclination is to lock the door.
4. Mountain Viscacha
iStockphoto / estivillml
Keeping the trend of South American furry creatures that look fake but are somehow real, we have the Mountain Viscacha. This creature looks as if someone took a chinchilla and a rabbit and just spliced them together and voila, the Mountain Viscacha came to exist.
They can weigh up to 7 pounds which is considerably larger than I would’ve expected. In my mind they are the size of a Magic 8-Ball. They boast dense fur like a rabbit and thick foot pads to hop all around sharp rocky ledges. Adorable? Yes. Have I pondered what they might taste like? Perhaps.
5. Golden Buckskin Akhal-Teke Horse
iStockphoto / olgaIT
Come on! This Golden Buckskin Akhal-Teke Horse, while 100% real, looks completely fake. This majestic horse looks like a little girl’s dolly. It is too perfect.
They are a rare breed of horse from Turkmenistan and their stunning metallic coat makes them prized around the world. There are only around 6,600 of them worldwide according to the Livestock Conservancy, making them one of the rarest horse breeds around.
6. Quokka
iStockphoto / TuF
For my money, Quokkas might be the friendliest looking animals on earth. Their constant smile looks fake but I’ve been assured it is 100% real.
They are found throughout Western Australia and these herbivorous marsupials steal hearts left and right. Seriously, just look at them. How is that a real wild animal? I’m shocked humans haven’t snatched them all up yet.
7. Pallas Cat
iStockphoto / cookelma
The Pallas Cat is well known among cat lovers. It is an exotic cat species hailing from the steppes of Central Asia and it prefers to live a solitary life.
That’s a shame because they are adorable. So much so that they look fake. Their huge tufts of fur make them look big, right? It’s an optical illusion. They are actually pretty small and range from 4-11 pounds and 20-26″ long. Cute though!
8. Shoebill Bird
iStockphoto / Kesu01
The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is well-known among birders as one of the most pre-historic looking creatures on planet earth. I’ve yet to see a Shoebill in person but see pictures of them regularly as we play a ‘Bird BINGO’ game at home with my son and the Shoebill haunts my dreams.
Imagine for a second that you are wandering through a swamp in Africa and happen upon this bird… How do you react? Did I mention that they are 5 feet tall??? Their 9-inch beak is terrifying and they have an immense wingspan. If it’s me, I’m running as fast as I can in the other direction and telling everyone I saw a mythical beast because despite being real the Shoebill looks 100% fake.
9. Arabian Sand Boa
iStockphoto / Murilo Gualda
Look at the eyes on this snake. C’mon. How is that real? The Arabian Sand Boa is found throughout the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran. They are a boa constrictor and non-venomous and really pose zero threat to humans, or any creatures as far ask I can tell because they look so comical with their bulging eyes.
Often likened to a ‘sock puppet,’ the Arabian Sand Boa looks like a snake I’d have drawn in preschool. Somehow this is a 100% real creature despite looking totally fake.
10. Common Potoo Bird
iStockphoto / FabioMaffei
The Potoo Bird is native to Central and South America. I’d have 100% guessed Australia which seems to breed peculiar creatures left and right.
They are masters of camouflage and perfectly blend into their surroundings with markings that mimic trees. That is until they open their eyes. Goodness gracious, those eyes. How is that real?!
11. Axolotl
iStockphoto / Iva Dimova
Popularity in axolotls has exploded in recent years. I’d say they were a top-3 animal amongst kids over the past 5 years but capybaras appear to have stolen the limelight for a while.
One thing about axolotls is they can only be found in the Xochimilco lake complex near Mexico City. That’s it. They have one home on earth (in the wild). To me, they look like cheerful spirit creatures that should be worshiped.
12. Yellow Boxfish
iStockphoto / hansgertbroeder
Found throughout Indo-Pacific coral reefs, the Yellow Boxfish looks totally fake. Animals are not meant to be box-shaped. Well, int his case they are, but in 99.999% of cases boxiness in nature doesn’t exist.
They grow up to 18 inches long but the yellow coloring and black spots is most pronounced when they are young. Oh, they can also release a toxic mucous to kill nearby fish if they feel threatened.
13. Rock Hyrax
iStockphoto / Colin Eaton
The Rock Hyrax is found throughout the Middle East and Africa and it looks like nature thought ‘Okay, we have the Quokka… what if we turned it into a vampire?’ Those fangs are intense!
On the one hand, it’s adorable. But on the other hand, vampire fangs. How is this thing real?! Somehow, some way, they are ancient relatives of… wait for it… elephants. That’s right, these fur balls are related to elephants.
14.Slow Loris
iStockphoto / GlobalP
One of my all time favorite viral memes/videos was the slow loris opening its eyes to the THX sound from movies. Their eyes open to completely asinine proportions.
The Slow Loris is a tiny, nocturnal, tree-dwelling creature found throughout Southeast Asia. They actually have a toxic bite that they deliver by first licking their armpits. As if they didn’t look totally fake they lick their armpits before attacking?! C’mon, man.
15. Secretary Bird
iStockphoto / nicholas_dale
Arguably the best-known bird on this list because it made an appearance as Mufasa’s assistant in Disney’s The Lion King, the Secretary Bird looks completely outrageous. What is up with that Punk Rock hair in the back? Those little skinny legs?!
Despite seeming small in The Lion King, Secretary Birds can stand up to 5 feet tall. Imagine staring at this thing in the eyes with that hair.
16. Long-Nosed Horned Frog
iStockphoto / Zdenek Macat
Last but not least is the Long-Nosed Horned Frog which is found throughout Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia,Singapore, Sumatra, and Borneo. It looks like a bat was put under a magical spell and turned into a frog but someone also said ‘make it look like a dragon.’
If ever there was a real-life Pokémon on this list, the Long-Nosed Horned Frog is it. Their distinct markings are meant to mimic a dead leaf and hide them from predators but in actuality they just look completely fake despite being totally real.
Now that we’ve made it to the end, what real animal that looks totally fake would you add to this list? Drop your answer down below in the all-new comments section here on BroBible!