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Ugly Animals: 18 Ugliest Animals You Have Ever Seen

Ready to see the ugliest animals in the world? Well, we warned you. Here are 18 really ugly animals!

We often feature the most beautiful birds, the cutest animals, the most colorful birds, and so on. Today, we decided to bring the not-so-pretty creatures of nature to show that not every animal is as cute as a panda.

In fact, this article features nothing less than 18 ugly animals, including the ugliest animal ever.

Wondering what are the ugliest animals in the world? Read on!

18 Ugliest Animals in the World

Here are the ugliest creatures on the planet.

1. Californian Condor – Ugliest Bird in the World

California Condor sunning itself

Standing almost ten feet tall, Californian condors (Gymnogyps californianus) are bestowed with the coveted title of “second-largest flying land bird.”

It’s a pleasure to see them glide elegantly over the deserts and canyons of Western USA. However, you cannot deny the gross feeling you get when seeing them up close. 

What makes this ugly bird weird looking is the bald, wrinkled, multi-colored head, with no head feathers – closely resembling the vultures. 

It’s worth mentioning that at one point in the 20th century, these ugly animals were on the verge of extinction, with just eight individuals alive, making them one of the rarest birds. 

Thanks to various wildlife preservation initiatives, now their numbers are close to 200! 

2. Bald Uakari – Ugliest Monkey in South America

Bald Uakari monkey, a very endangered species

Restricted to the Varzea forests in the waters of the Western Amazon of Peru and Brazil, the bald uakari (Cacajao calvus) is a new world monkey with a short tail, red face, and a bald head. 

Their key characteristic is their bald head and red face, which indicates good health. 

While these features provide them with sound health, they make them look like ugly animals at the same time. 

These ugly monkeys feed on seeds, flowers, and small animals. They are not profuse breeders and give birth to an infant every two years.

3. Naked Mole-Rat – Ugliest Rodent in Africa

Naked mole-rat guarding underground tunnel

Apart from being one of the ugliest animals on earth, naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber), with their naked, hairless bodies, spend all their life burrowing below the ground. 

The only few hairs these nasty animals have on their bodies act as whiskers and help them feel the surroundings.

These ugly mammal species lead an insect-like life with hundreds of underground colonies formed by dozen rats led by a queen rat. 

Naked mole rats can live relatively longer than other rodents like mice, rats, or guinea pigs, holding a life span of 30 years.

While they are ugly, the greatest advantage they hold is that they are nearly blind, in a way blessed as they can’t see each other’s ugliness! 

4. Proboscis Monkey – Ugliest Monkey in Asia

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) in the jungles of Borneo

Primarily a resident of the Asian island of Borneo, the Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is regarded as an ugly animal owing to its long, bulbous nose that makes its sight seem dreadful. 

There are multiple opinions associated with its nose. 

Some opine it helps the male monkey attract its mate, others feel it lets them make loud calls, while yet others state that they use their nose to intimidate other males.

Still, these ugly monkeys are great swimmers, thanks to their webbed feet. Who would have thought?

Regardless of anything, these constitute one of the endangered species due to habitat loss.

5. Star-Nosed Mole – Ugliest Rodent in North America

Star-nosed mole portrait

Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) can be considered the ugliest animal due to its awful-looking tentacle-like organs sprouting from its face. 

Their star-shaped nose has 22 fleshy “attachments” that act as super-sensitive receptors, helping the mole move underground. 

The star-nose certainly makes them look weird and horrible. 

This organ, a highly sensitive one, manifests the ability of the moles to be outstanding hunters and lead a majestic life in their underground domain. 

6. Aye-Aye

Aye-aye starring at the camera

Far from being an attractive animal, the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is often regarded as an ugly animal. 

Their large ears, growing incisors, and bulging eyes don’t just make them scary but hostile as well. 

Some of their weird body parts are the long, bony fingers. 

These aye-ayes walk on the branch, tapping their middle finger, listening to the echoes, and chewing through the wood to look for insects to eat.

7. Roti Island Snake-Necked Turtle – Ugliest Turtle in Asia

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle (Chelodina mccordi ) is a critically endangered turtle species

Roti Island snake-necked turtles (Chelodina mccordi) are critically endangered turtles.

These strange-looking creatures are much different from ordinary turtles and tortoises, with their long necks that make it almost impossible for them to take their heads back to their shell. 

Consequently, they wrap their head around the side of the shell instead. 

While these ugly reptiles are endemic to the island of Rote in Indonesia, due to a very small natural habitat coupled with serious pet trade, their population is declining. 

8. Chinese Giant Salamander

Chinese giant salamander in water

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is truly an ugly animal, besides being the world’s largest amphibian that can grow up to 3.8 feet. 

As purely aquatic animals, these ugly creatures breathe through their skins, which have special receptors that help them point to their prey. 

Primarily an inhabitant of the mountain streams and lakes of central China’s Yangtze river, these creatures are highly endangered due to habitat loss and excess collection.  

9. Blobfish – Ugliest Animal in the World

Blobfish is definitely the ugliest animal in the world
Blobfish is definitely the ugliest animal in the world – Photo by jamasca66 (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Blobfish (Psychrolutes microporos), with their gooey, fleshy, gelatinous, slimy body, portrays a nasty, horrible appearance that could literally spoil your day. 

Considered the most disgusting animals, these fish are so ugly you could easily mistake them for a ball of slime.

They live in deep oceans where pressures are too high. Their pudding-like flesh helps them remain buoyant at depths where one with gas-filled bladders can’t survive. 

Their bodies don’t need many bones or muscles as the pressures at the depths where they thrive offer them all the support they need.

Blobfish usually eat mollusks and crabs that come in their paths. 

10. Common Warthog – Ugliest Pig in the World

Common Warthog in the wild

Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) are large members of the pig family who spend their time looking for food or wallowing in the mud. 

These wild animals have a wart-like growth on their faces, sharp tusks coming out of their mouths, and a characteristic pig nose. A large mane of hair comes down their backside.

They have no connection to beauty, however, they prefer living across sub-Saharan Africa in the treeless grasslands.

11. Blackbellied Angler – Ugliest Fish in the World

Angler fish (also known as monkfish) camouflaged on sandy sea bed

Also known as monkfish (Lophius budegassa), these are ugly creatures with large heads, wide mouths, and much smaller bodies. 

Their small and beady eyes create a strange feeling for individuals who happen to see them! 

You might be surprised to know that these ugly fish are also known as “poor man’s lobster” or sometimes “sea devils.” 

12. Red-Lipped Batfish

The red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) is a fish of unusual morphology

As the name suggests, red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) look as if they have just chewed a tube of lipstick.

While the actual function of the red color is not known, scientists believe it is to attract mates. 

These weird-looking animals can be seen walking along the ocean floors of the Galapagos Islands and near Peru. 

The stark red color on their lips imparts an ugly, rather strange look to these creatures. 

13. Hammer-Headed Bat – Ugliest Bat in the World

Hammer-headed bat
Hammer-headed bat – Photo by Sarah H. Olson et al Public domain

Primarily found in Central Africa, the hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) is also known as a big-lipped bat. 

They undeniably belong to the category of ugly animals and are the largest type of bats in continental Africa. 

Male hammer-headed bats are a sub-family of megabats with a wingspan of 2.96 feet. 

As the name suggests, the males have strong hammer-headed faces, while the females showcase small, fox-like faces. 

These ugly bats mostly feed on fruits, with figs being the most common diet.

14. Indian Purple Frog – Ugliest Frog in the World

Indian purple frog
Indian purple frog – Photo by Karthickbala (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Mostly found in the western ghats region of India, the purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) is also known as the pignose frog. 

While the female purple frogs are nearly 2.75 inches in length, the males are one-third the length of the females. 

Their bloated, greyish-purple skin and odd slimy noses certainly make them ugly animals who remain underground for most of the time and come out only during mating season. 

Besides being ugly, they are also classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List

15. Sphynx Cat – Ugliest Cat in the World

Sphynx cat facing camera

While cats are always among the most beautiful animals on the internet, the sphynx cat is always among the ugly animals. 

They were created in the 1960s by a genetic mutation and refined through selective breeding. 

Their long, narrow head, whip-like tails, and oversized ears compared to body size cause the ugly look. 

The bare skin is of the same color as their hair would be and has cat markings like dots, solid, or tortoiseshell.

Did you know? On September 8th, the world celebrates Ugly Animal Day. Given the current rates of extinction, the ugliest animals ever also need our protection.

16. Matamata Turtle – Ugliest Turtle in South America

Matamata Turtle "Chelus fimbriatus" sits on a piece of bark

Matamata turtle (Chelus fimbriata) is considered to be an ugly animal with its long neck, warts, and ugly fleshy folds. 

The snorkel-shaped nose and the large flat head add to their ugliness, while this nose helps them breathe underwater. 

17. Pufferfish

Photo of a prepared blowfish against blurred background

Pufferfish, known by multiple names like blowfish, swellfish, and toadfish, inflate themselves with air or water. 

This makes them take up a spherical form which gets them the name of ugly animals. They are mostly found in tropical waters, including saltwater and freshwater bodies. 

Pufferfish produce tetrodotoxin, which is poisonous and foul-tasting to other fish who want to eat them. 

These creatures are so lethal that they can kill 30 adults, and there’s no antidote for their toxin. 

18. Saiga Antelope – Ugliest Antelope in the World

Critically endangered wild Saiga antelope near watering in steppe

Primarily found in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and parts of Southern Russia, Saiga antelopes (Saiga tatarica) are similar to other antelopes and resemble the white-tailed deer. 

While the nose makes the Saiga antelope an ugly animal, it serves a critical role in their breathing. 

Their bizarre nose helps them filter out the dust from their surroundings and warm the air they breathe during cold winters. 

They are endangered as they are illegally hunted for their meat eaten, horns, and other body parts.

Wrapping Up Ugliest Animals In The World

We hope you enjoyed this list of the most disgusting animals and ugliest creatures alive.

Obviously, the complete list of ugly animals is much longer, but for now, you have enough hideous animals to have nightmares.

What about you? What’s the ugliest animal ever, in your opinion? Drop your answer in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!