The Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) is
a uniquely colorful lepidopteran that is sought after by collectors.
Its often asymmetrical pattern of colors is caused by the optical
interference and scattering of light by curved, partially reflective
scales on the moth's wings. Sunset moths have a wingspan up to 11 cm and
are often mistaken for butterflies due to their color, tails, and habit
of resting with their wings vertical. Their bright aposematic colors
warn predators of their toxicity. In contrast, the moth's chrysalis
looks like a covered corpse and the Malagasy people believe the emergent
moth represents the risen soul of their dead ancestors.
There
are many beautiful animals that didn't make the list. These include the
snow leopard, peacock, polar bear, ladybird, sea turtle, giant
tortoise, penguin, emperor tamarin, fiery billed aracari, and the harpy
eagle.
Of course, there are many other stunning creatures that I have
neglected to mention. Please post any suggestions in the comments
section below. Thanks for visiting this list of the ten most beautiful
animals in the world. I hope you enjoyed it!
2. Tiger
The striking beauty of the tiger.
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is
the largest and most eye-catching of the big cats. They can grow up to
3.3 meters in length and weigh over 300 kg. Tigers have a lifespan up to
26 years, though all 6 subspecies (Bengal, Siberian, Sumatran, Malayan,
Indochinese and South China tigers) are endangered, with a total
population of less than 4,000. The Bengal tiger is the most common and
the Siberian is the largest. They live in India, southeast Asia, and the
far east of Russia (Siberia). Their striped fur serves as camouflage in
their natural habitat of long grasses and wooded areas. Underneath the
fur, their skin is striped in the same pattern.
3. Poison Dart Frog
One of the most striking varieties of the poison dart frog.
The poison dart frog (pictured: Dendrobates azureus) lives
in Central and South American rainforests, growing to between 1.5 and 6
cm in length. Indigenous people used the frog's toxic secretions to
poison the tips of blow-darts, giving the frog its name. The secretions,
which are being studied in medical trials, might also be used as muscle
relaxants, appetite suppressants, and heart stimulants. Their bright
colors form `aposematic patterns', which serve to ward off predators by
suggesting an unpalatable toxicity. There are around 175 closely related
species of poison dart frog which vary in size and coloration. The most
colorful are the 5 within the dendrobates genus.
4. Swallow-Tailed Hummingbird
The swallow-tailed hummingbird in flight.
The swallow-tailed hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura) lives
in east and central South America. It prefers semi-open areas, sparse
woodland, coastal regions, and gardens, but will avoid dense rainforest.
It has a long forked tail that comprises half of the bird's 16 cm
length. Its plumage is a mixture of green, blue, and purple, and its
wings flap at approximately 20 beats per second, allowing it to hover
while feeding on flower nectar. They are aggressive towards other birds
and will `dive-bomb' or pester birds as large as hawks!
5. Candy Crab
The well camouflaged candy crab.
The candy crab (Hoplophrys) belongs
to a monotypic genus, meaning it has no closely related species. It
grows to 2 cm long and can camouflage itself in bright colors to match
the coral that forms its habitat. As well as red, the crab can turn
white, yellow, and pink. It lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
6. Caracal
A caracal on the prowl.
The caracal (Felis caracal) gets its name from the Turkish words kara kulak, meaning `black ear'. It has a number of adaptations
that allow it to live in a diverse range of habitats. These include its
long, tufted, and highly flexible ears that help it hear the smallest
of sounds, and powerful hind legs that allow it to leap several meters
into the air to catch birds. They also eat small mammals, gazelles, and
reptiles. The caracal lives in Africa and the Middle East and can grow
up to a meter long, plus a 30 cm tail.
7. Zanzibar Red Colobus
The Zanzibar red colobus.
The Zanzibar red colobus (Procolobus kirkii) is
a monkey that lives only on Zanzibar, an island off the coast of
Tanzania. They are an endangered species with no more than 3000 left in
the wild. The people of Zanzibar hold negative views of the animal and
call them `poison monkey' because of their unusual smell. They live in
groups of up to 50 individuals, with a 1:2 ratio of males to females.
The red colobus eats leaves, seeds, and flowers that it finds in
forests, coastal areas, and swamps. They also eat unripe fruit because
they cannot break down the sugars in ripe fruit. They are known to eat
charcoal to aid digestion.
8. Black Backed Kingfisher
The colorful black backed kingfisher.
The black backed kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca) is
approximately 13 cm in length. It lives in southeast Asia and India
close to streams and rivers in well-shaded, wooded areas. These
kingfishers eat insects and snails as well as small lizards, frogs, and
crabs by the riverside. They build tunnel-like nests in the riverbanks
that can be up to a meter long. These nests can take more than a week to
dig.
9. Fennec Fox
Two young fennec foxes.
The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda)
lives in North Africa and the Sahara. Its huge ears can grow up to 15
cm long. They radiate heat away from the animal and allow it to locate
subterranean prey. The fennec fox is a predominantly nocturnal animal,
hunting small mammals, birds, and insects at night. It can live up to 14
years and reach a size of 40 cm, not including its 30 cm tail. They can
bark, purr, and snarl, and their natural predator is the eagle owl.
'Fennec' is the Arabic word for fox, and it is the national animal of
Algeria.
10. Mandarin Fish
The regal profile of the mandarin fish.
The mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) swims
in the south-west Pacific Ocean close to Australia, Taiwan, and the
Philippines. Its array of color is similar to that of the robes worn by
an Imperial Chinese mandarin or bureaucrat. The blue color comes from a
cellular pigment that is unique to the species. The mandarin fish is
only 6 cm long. It dwells in secluded lagoons and reefs, eating small
crustaceans.
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