8 Most Alien-Like Creatures On Earth

You would think these animals were aliens

4. Dumbo Octopus

A yellow Dumbo octopus - 8 Most Alien-Like Creatures On Earth.

Ocean Portal

The Dumbo octopus lives at depths of up to 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) and is native to many oceans around the World. This cute little octopus gets its name from the fins that protrude from the top of its head resembling ears like those of Disney’s Dumbo the elephant. While members of this species are typically small, 20–30 centimetres (7.9–12 in) in length, the largest ever recorded Dumbo octopus was a huge 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) in length and weighed 5.9 kilograms (13 lb).

3. Blobfish

A blobfish out of water - 8 Most Alien-Like Creatures On Earth.

Science News

The blobfish is so alien-like that one even appears in the movie Men in Black 3. In the Chinese restaurant scene, Tommy Lee Jones wrestles with the chef and pushes his head into a talking blobfish sitting on the bench. This very strange animal inhabits the deep waters off mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. They live at depths between 600 and 1,200 m (2,000 and 3,900 ft) where the pressure is 60 to 120 times greater than at sea level. The blobfish is able to survive at such depths because its body is primarily gelatinous with a density slightly less than that of water. This allows it to float in water without exerting any energy.

2. Sarcastic Fringehead

A sarcastic fringehead with a wide open mouth - 8 Most Alien-Like Creatures On Earth.

io9

The strangely named sarcastic fringehead is native to the waters off the western coast of North America from San Francisco to Baja California. This fish gets its name at least in part from its unusual ability to extend its jaw outwards, creating a mouth that looks just like the Predator! The sarcastic fringehead is extremely territorial and uses its gigantic mouth to fight off and discourage male intruders.

1. Coconut Crab

A coconut crab opening a bin - 8 Most Alien-Like Creatures On Earth.

Unique Hunters

The coconut crab is possibly the most alien-like creature on Earth. Looking similar to a facehugger out of the movie Alien, the coconut crab is found on islands throughout the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean. It is not just how this crab looks that makes it alien-like. It also has a very unusual life cycle. After mating, the female of the species migrates to the sea to release her fertilised eggs. The larvae eventually settle on the seafloor and find an empty shell to live in similar to a hermit crab. Even though life begins in the sea for these crabs once they mature they live entirely on land and will drown if they are in water for more than 1 hour.

 

The most alien-like creatures on the planet! What do you think? Are there any other animals more alien than these?