Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus)
Late at night these bats emerge from abandoned buildings, dark caves, hollowed trees and mines found in Central and South America. These bats received their name because they do need blood to survive; but don’t worry, these bats won’t be eying your neck for their next meal. Vampire bats make a small cut with their teeth into cows, pigs, horses and birds and lap at the free flowing blood. In other words, they only snack on other animals.
Another reason these bats are unique: they can walk, run and jump. And they are surprisingly friendly to humans.
Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
These fuzzy, gremlin-looking creatures are from Madagascar and are classified as primates. These primates have bony, witch-like fingers that they use to pick insects and food from tree trunks and branches.
Madagascar superstition believes that if an Aye-aye points their middle finger at you it’s a death sentence, so you’d best not cut one off in rush hour traffic.
Blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus)
Remember the movie Monsters vs. Aliens? How about the blue blob Bob? Turns out there really is an animal that is a blob, well a blobfish. Blobfish live deep in the waters of Australia and Tasmania. These fish are primarily a gelatinous mass that is barley denser then water.
Blobfish will eat any edible matter as it floats by. Do you think they can smile?
Stay tuned for next week’s “spooky” weather phenomenon!