16 Unique Facts About 16 Unique Animals

1. The pangolin is the only mammal covered in scales. These scales are made of keratin, the same material that makes up human hair and nails.
2. The platypus is one of the only mammals that lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
3. The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, growing up to 100 feet long and weighing as much as 200 tons.
4. The axolotl is a type of salamander that can regrow lost limbs.
5. The narwhal’s long tusk is actually a modified tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long.
6. The octopus has three hearts and can change color and texture to blend in with its surroundings.
7. The aye-aye, a type of lemur, has long, thin middle fingers that it uses to catch insects inside tree bark.
8. The kakapo, a flightless parrot from New Zealand, is the only parrot in the world that can’t fly.
9. The tarsier, a small primate, has eyes that are larger than its brain.
10. The saola, also known as the “Asian unicorn,” is a rare mammal that was only discovered in the wild in 1992.
11. The pufferfish can inflate itself to several times its normal size as a defense mechanism.
12. The binturong, also known as the “bearcat,” has a distinct aroma that smells like popcorn.
13. The echidna, also known as the “spiny anteater,” is one of the only mammals that lay eggs.
14. The proboscis monkey has a large, fleshy nose that can grow up to 8 inches long.
15. The gharial, a type of crocodile, has a long, thin snout that it uses to catch fish.
16. The yacare caiman, a type of alligator, has a bony ridge on top of its head that it uses for head-butting during fights.