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A nose is far more than a facial feature housing nostrils. In nature, some of the most remarkable snouts can control temperature, filter debris, function like appendages, or even attract mates. These five extraordinary animal noses, snouts, and proboscises serve purposes far beyond mere smelling.
1. Saiga Antelope (Saiga tataricus)
Saiga antelopes thrive in the harsh landscapes of Russia and Kazakhstan, enduring freezing winters and arid summers. Their extraordinary snout doubles as a built-in climate control system. During dusty summer migrations, this unique nose filters air and potentially cools their blood. In the bitter cold of winter, it warms the air before it reaches their lungs, acting as a natural heater.
2. Star-Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata)
Hillbraith, Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0
The star-nosed mole is a fascinating creature with a face adorned by fleshy tentacles. Like other moles, it has poor vision and lives mostly underground or underwater. It uses its strong claws to dig and its retractable tentacles to navigate. These star-shaped appendages are incredibly fast, touching up to 12 objects per second, appearing as a blur to the human eye.
These tentacles are highly sensitive, allowing the mole to detect and consume prey in under half a second. Researchers believe they may also detect faint electrical signals from aquatic prey. Additionally, star-nosed moles are the only mammals capable of smelling underwater. They achieve this by blowing bubbles and inhaling them to capture scents.
3. Darwin's Hawk Moth (Xanthopan morganii praedicta)
Esculapio, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0
One of the most famous snoots in scientific history belongs to the hawk moth. Three years after releasing On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin became captivated by orchids, particularly their diverse adaptations to attract insects. Naturalist Robert Bateman sent Darwin orchid specimens, including Angraecum sesquipedale, which features a foot-long nectary. Darwin was astonished, famously exclaiming, "Good Heavens, what insect can suck it?"
Shortly after, Darwin hypothesized the existence of a moth with a foot-long proboscis. Though initially met with skepticism, his prediction proved correct. Decades after his death, the Madagascan hawk moth Xanthopan morganii praedicta was discovered, showcasing the very snoot Darwin had envisioned.
4. Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus)
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Sexual selection plays a crucial role once more: female proboscis monkeys are attracted to males with large, prominent noses. However, this distinctive feature isn't merely for show; researchers suggest it functions as a natural sound amplifier, ensuring the male's calls are heard far and wide.
A male proboscis monkey is impossible to ignore. Even when silent, his striking appearance—complete with a sizable nose, webbed feet, a vivid red penis, and a dark scrotum—commands attention. Subtlety is not in their nature.
The same conspicuous traits that aid male proboscis monkeys in attracting mates also make them vulnerable. Their numbers have sharply declined due to habitat destruction and hunting. These monkeys, being sluggish and easy to capture, are often hunted for food. Additionally, they produce bezoars, which are valued in traditional Chinese medicine.
5. Hooded Seal (Cystophora cristata)
Unlike most seals, which are sociable and reserved, the hooded seal is a formidable creature. Adult males, measuring up to 8 feet and weighing around 660 pounds, are known for their aggressive and territorial behavior. Conflicts over mates and territory often escalate into violent encounters, featuring biting, striking, loud roars, and the dramatic display of their distinctive pink nasal sacs, which resemble football-sized balloons.
The unique nasal sacs of male hooded seals serve multiple surprising functions. When threatened, a male will inflate his sac and vigorously shake it, a display that intimidates rivals and attracts potential mates. This bizarre courtship ritual ensures that males with the most impressive nasal sacs are more likely to reproduce, passing on their distinctive traits to the next generation. Truly, nature never ceases to amaze.
