Top 10 Ugliest Animals on Earth

Sharks are also considered some of the ugliest creatures on the planet, which is why many people tend to avoid eating them. However, this doesn’t stop chefs from seeking them out, and it doesn't diminish the flavor of the shark meat. The shark's head is notably large, and its mouth is filled with sharp, pointed teeth. These sharks are typically found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, often farther from shore but occasionally coming closer to coastal areas. They are commonly mistaken for the regular long-tailed shark, even in professional publications, but can be distinguished by their dark black color, unlike the usual white markings on the fins.

The shark’s body is covered with tiny, smooth, tooth-like scales. The upper side is a deep, rich blue, while the underside is white. The white does not extend to the pectoral fins, which is another characteristic that sets it apart from the long-tailed species. Upon death, the color fades to gray. The black pigments on the pectoral fins, the round shape of the dorsal fins, and the absence of the typical lip grooves help identify this species. Their diet mainly consists of small fish found in the mid-water column, which they capture with a quick strike using their tail. Like other species of sharks, they give birth to live young, with the developing embryos feeding on unfertilized eggs produced by the mother. The newborns are unusually large, reaching up to 43% of the mother's size. The long-tailed shark is commercially valuable for its meat, skin, liver oil, fins, and is also targeted by sport fishing enthusiasts.

Aye Aye is not just one of the ugliest animals but also one of the weirdest. It’s a nocturnal creature with large ears that make it look quite peculiar. The Aye Aye can only be found in Madagascar, where it is easily recognized by its curved tail and brown fur, although some have black fur with white streaks. Its oversized ears are extremely sensitive, giving it an incredible sense of hearing. The Aye Aye's arms are thin, but they end with sharp claws.

Due to its unique features, there was much confusion in classifying the Aye Aye when it was first discovered. Its ever-growing incisors, similar to those of rodents, led many naturalists to mistakenly categorize it as a rodent. Unfortunately, the Aye Aye is endangered partly because local Malagasy people once believed it was an omen of death. Whenever it was spotted near a village, it was killed. It was thought that seeing this creature would bring misfortune, so villagers would capture it and poke its eyes out. In 2013, the Aye Aye was voted one of the ugliest animals on Earth, and now only about 80 of them remain in the wild.

This unique mole, known as the Star-Nosed Mole, has a nose shaped like a star, and its name derives from this remarkable feature. The nose is unlike anything found in the animal kingdom, making this creature stand out. Most of these moles live in aquatic environments but occasionally leave the water to dig channels or hunt for food using their highly sensitive nose. Not only is this nose star-shaped, but it also resembles a spider’s web and is always wet. The Star-Nosed Mole is a small mole found in the damp lowlands of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, with sightings along the Atlantic coast as far as southeastern Georgia.

It is the only species in the genus Condylura and the family Condylurini. The mole’s star-shaped nose has twenty-two fleshy appendages, which it uses as an incredibly sensitive sensory organ, with over 25,000 touch receptors called Eimer's organs. Thanks to these organs, it can detect seismic vibrations. The mole primarily feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae, and earthworms. It can even smell underwater by exhaling air bubbles into objects or scent trails and then inhaling the bubbles to bring the scent back through its nose.

Cathartes aura, known as the Turkey Vulture, is a bird found in the New World vulture family. It ranges from southern Canada to the southern tip of South America. These birds are found in open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, scrublands, grasslands, and deserts. They are scavengers, feeding almost exclusively on carrion. Turkey Vultures use their excellent eyesight and keen sense of smell to locate dead animals. They fly low, detecting the gases released from decaying bodies. Turkey Vultures glide on thermal currents, flapping their wings infrequently. They roost in groups when sleeping. Lacking a syrinx, the vocal organ of birds, they produce soft, low calls.

Turkey Vultures nest in caves or tree hollows, feeding their young by regurgitating food. They have few natural predators. The vulture’s head is almost bald, with only a few black feathers, contributing to its unattractive appearance. They possess a large beak for tearing into carcasses. Their sharp sense of smell is crucial for finding dead animals on the ground, or they may circle around living creatures and wait for them to die before feeding. When foraging, they fly just above the ground to catch their prey. Once they find something, they devour it quickly without delay.

Unlike most dogs, the Chinese Crested is almost hairless and might remind you of a toy dog when you see it. It can remain still for long periods, not moving an inch. Interestingly, it is known to sense its owner's emotions, attempting to cheer you up when you're feeling down. While they generally enjoy being lazy and dislike going outside, they can jump surprisingly high, even though they don’t seem to make much effort. This breed is friendly with other animals. The Chinese Crested, sometimes called the 'hairless dog,' is a small companion breed originally from China but with deeper African roots, tracing back to African Hairless Terriers. Despite its name, the breed didn’t originate entirely in China.

The Chinese Crested’s ancestors came from Africa, where they were used by Chinese trading ships to hunt rats. As trade routes passed through Africa, these dogs were taken aboard ships because of their exceptional rat-hunting skills. They were first showcased in the West in 1885, though the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not recognize them until 1979. Over time, this breed gained popularity in both the US and the UK as a companion animal. The Chinese Crested is a regular contender in rare dog competitions. Today, there are four hairless dog breeds in the US: the Chinese Crested, Mexican Hairless, Inca Hairless Dog, and Peruvian Inca Orchid.

The warthog, a species of wild pig, is so uniquely unattractive that it earns a spot on the list of the world's ugliest animals. Its bald head, though covered with a patch of thick hair, gives it a particularly rugged appearance. The animal’s snout is hard and its face flat. Male warthogs often engage in head-to-head combat, using their hard heads to push against each other without causing injury. These creatures primarily feed on grasses, plants, and dig up roots with their tusked snout. Though they may be unattractive, warthogs can survive for long periods without water, even living in arid, dry lands.

Despite being covered in thick fur, from a distance, their body and head appear almost naked, with the only obvious fur being along their backs, cheeks, and tails. The English name refers to their distinctive facial battles, especially common among males. Warthogs also possess long tusks, measuring up to 10-25 inches (25-64 cm) in males, though smaller in females. While they are mostly herbivores, they occasionally consume small animals. Although the species as a whole is considered of Least Concern by the IUCN, the desert subspecies, known as the Cape warthog, went extinct around 1865.

The Proboscis monkey is undeniably one of the ugliest animals, with its large nose dominating its face. The surrounding fur only accentuates its awkward appearance. Unfortunately, this species is now facing the threat of extinction, which has led to its inclusion in the endangered species list, regardless of its unappealing look. As these monkeys mature, their noses grow larger and their fur changes. Their diet primarily consists of seeds and leaves, but they occasionally eat insects to survive. Did you know? When born, these monkeys have green fur and a small nose.

Native to Southeast Asia, the Proboscis monkey is one of the most distinctive animals with its bloated belly and oversized nose. Additionally, they have a unique ability to regurgitate food, much like cows. Once widespread, these monkeys are now found only in the Borneo Islands of Indonesia. Over the past 30 to 40 years, their population has decreased by 50%, largely due to habitat loss and excessive hunting. Currently, they are classified as an endangered species in the Red Book.

The Blobfish is often hailed as the world's ugliest animal, its appearance resembling that of a jellyfish. This is partly due to its gelatinous structure, which allows it to float in the water effortlessly. These fish inhabit depths of about 362 meters, where the pressure is 118 times higher than at the ocean's surface. Its appearance has been likened to Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, with pale skin and a face that seems to scowl with a bulbous nose. Adult Blobfish can grow up to 30 cm in length. The fish's body is made mostly of a gelatinous mass that is less dense than water, allowing it to float at the ocean floor without expending energy. It can withstand the immense pressure at such depths without being crushed. However, its body is not well-suited to environments with low water content, and it tends to move sluggishly.

The Blobfish thrives between 600 and 1,200 meters (2,000 to 3,900 feet) deep in waters with a salinity of 33°S, where the water pressure is tens of times greater than at the surface. This intense pressure renders the fish's swim bladder ineffective in maintaining buoyancy. The Blobfish, lacking muscles, does not need to move much as it feeds on planktonic organisms like deep-sea crustaceans, including crabs and shrimp. While harmless to humans, the fish is often caught unintentionally by fishermen while trawling for shrimp and crabs, making it vulnerable. Scientists are concerned that the Blobfish may become endangered due to overfishing, though its conservation status is still under review.

The Red-lipped Batfish is found primarily around the Galápagos Islands, not far from Peru. If you wish to encounter one, you'll likely have to dive deeper than 30 meters, as these fish are quite rare. Scientists believe their vibrant red lips are a means of attracting males. These fish grow no longer than 40 cm. With their striking, plump, red lips reminiscent of a young woman's, the Red-lipped Batfish is a true marvel of nature’s diversity. Their name comes from their bat-like appearance.

Although called a fish, this species cannot swim in the typical manner. Instead, they move by “walking” along the seafloor using their pectoral fins. As they mature, their dorsal fins develop into sharp spines. The Red-lipped Batfish feeds on smaller fish, crustaceans such as shrimp, and mollusks. Their distinctive red lips and nose are used to attract prey. Living in deep waters, they are not fond of bright light.

The face of the Big-eared Bat resembles human ears more than a typical bat's face. Known for its auditory responsiveness, this creature is found in both tropical and temperate climates. Most of them are brown, although some rare individuals may appear red. Despite their small size, weighing only about 1 ounce, they possess long, flexible ears. Townsend's Big-eared Bat is a medium-sized bat (7-12 g), with a body length of approximately 10 cm, a tail length of 5 cm, and a wingspan of around 28 cm.

This bat specializes in eating moths and predominantly feeds on species within the Lepidoptera order, although it will also consume small moths, flies, beetles, and other small insects. The Big-eared Bat is known for its quiet echolocation, emitting calls at much lower intensities than most other bats, making it difficult to detect with bat detectors. This behavior likely helps it avoid detection by some of its prey, as certain moth species can hear the bat’s calls and produce noises to interfere with the bat’s echolocation in an attempt to thwart its hunting.