Top 10 strange animals and plants that you probably have never heard of

The world we live in is a beautiful and strange place, filled with unique plants and animals. Many of these species are extremely rare and difficult to find.

Collection of extremely rare animals and plants on Earth

1. Amethyst Starling

The amethyst starling is also commonly known as the "plum starling".

The amethyst starling is a species native to tropical Africa, the male of this species is known for its purple and indigo plumage with hints of green and brown.

The Amethyst Starling is a special species, worth seeing for its striking amethyst color. The Amethyst Starling is also commonly known as the 'Plum Starling' or 'Purple Starling'. This bird is native to tropical Africa and is known for its purple and indigo plumage with hints of green and brown. The feathers of this bird resemble a galaxy of iridescent features due to their microscopic structure. The microscopic structure of the feathers refracts light like a prism, presenting a riot of colors.

Only males are capable of displaying this striking trait while females are brown. This strange difference between males and females of the species is known as sexual dimorphism. It is a condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics such as size, weight, color, markings and behavior. In fact, this is a rare species that lives in trees and never comes into contact with the ground.

2. Blue Mycena

Blue Mycena is also known as ocean mushroom.

The Blue Mycena, also known as "Pixie's Parasol" , is a vibrant blue-green mushroom. It is a small mushroom, found in and around Australia.

Also known as the ocean mushroom , this is a species native to Australia and can only be distinguished by its microscopic features. It includes over 33 species, many of which exhibit bioluminescence, producing a light known as 'fox fire .' The ocean blue mushroom is officially known as Mycena pura, or Pixie's Parasol. It is a small blue mushroom that is a brilliant blue-green color.

The caps are globular, spreading out into a wide convex shape as they mature and becoming slimy. The mushrooms have long stems and are attached to wood surfaces by flat white discs. The gills are white and attached to a green margin. These 'magic' mushrooms appear in small colonies on damp, wooden surfaces.

3. Melanistic serval

Servals are a species of wild cat native to Africa.

The melanistic serval is an extremely rare wild cat breed that is native to Africa. It gets its name from the melanistic gene mutation that causes it to have darker pigmentation compared to its contemporaries.

Servals are a species of wild cat native to Africa. They are slender, fairly large cats compared to domestic cats and are characterized by their yellow coat with black stripes. However, among them is a rare and elusive black cat known as the melanistic serval.

This animal is considered to be melanistic - a genetic mutation that causes it to be darker than its normal species. According to biologists, this genetic mutation is very rare among animals, making it unique. Not much is known about this elusive species.

4. Black Diamond Apple

Black Diamond apples are a rare variety of apples belonging to the Brown Flower family.

The Black Diamond apple has a unique dark purple skin. It is a rare apple variety grown in the mountains of Tibet.

Black Diamond apples are a rare variety of apple from the Brown Flower family. The apples have a unique deep purple skin and the color is believed to be due to their native geography. The apples are so named because of their waxy texture and diamond luster. The apples originate from Nyingchi, a small city in Tibet.

5. Hymenopus coronatus

This is a beautiful pink and white praying mantis that resembles flower petals.

Hymenopus coronatus is a rare orchid mantis from Malaysia. They are rare because their beautiful colors attract birds and they often do not survive to adulthood.

The orchid mantis, also known as Hymenopus coronatus , is a beautiful pink and white praying mantis that resembles flower petals. This rare orchid-like mantis is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The orchid mantis is characterized by its vibrant colors and is quick to adapt to any environmental conditions. The mantis is an expert at camouflage and mimics parts of orchid flowers.

Like the amethyst starling, Hymenopus coronatus also exhibits sexual dimorphism with males being smaller than females. The orchid mantis is a favorite of insect keepers but is rare and extremely expensive.

6. Rhinoceros Iguana

The species is named after the bony growth on its snout that resembles a rhinoceros' horn.

The rhinoceros iguana is a species of lizard native to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It is named after the bony growth on its snout that resembles a rhinoceros horn. It has a heavy body and is gray to olive green in color.

Males have larger horns than females. These unique iguanas live mostly in exposed bushes, rocks, and dense groups of shrubs. They spend most of their day active, climbing up crevices in rocks and digging burrows. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are harmless herbivores and their diet consists of fruits, leaves, and flowers.

7. Mexican alligator lizard

Lizards come in a variety of colors depending on the UVB light they are exposed to.

The Mexican alligator lizard, also known as the living alligator lizard, was described by Edward Drinker Cope, an American herpetologist, in 1864. The lizards come in a variety of colors depending on the UVB light they are exposed to. The lizard turns a brilliant green when exposed to natural sunlight but appears bright teal when placed under UVB light.

Adult lizards grow to be 12 inches long and have slender tails that make up nearly half their length. They are slow-moving and tend to bite when threatened.

8. Drumeye fish

The Barreleye fish, also known as Macropinna microstoma, is a unique-looking fish that has just been discovered by scientists. Strangely, the Barreleye fish has a transparent head, allowing you to clearly see all of its internal organs.

The head of the drumeye fish is transparent and the internal organs can be seen. (Photo: Pixabay)

However, the special thing about the drumeye fish is not only its head but also its tubular eyes. The reason is that they live in deep sea areas from 600-800m, where no light can reach, so their eyes have developed to become extremely sensitive to detect prey.

Their tubular eyes can rotate from horizontal to vertical and are located in a clear, fluid-filled shield on their head. When they turn their eyes upward, they can see through their transparent head to search for prey. In the water, the eyes of the drumeye fish glow a beautiful green.

9. Picasso Bug

Picasso beetles look beautiful but have an unpleasant smell when approached. (Photo: Pixabay)

The Picasso beetle, also known as the Zulu hud beetle, is an insect belonging to the Sphaerocoris annulus group. They live mainly in Africa and are found in the hot Sahara desert. The beetle is named after the famous painter Picasso because of the colorful colors on its body. According to scientists, the Picasso beetle uses its colors to warn predators to stay away from it. Although the Picasso beetle is known as one of the most beautiful insects, it is actually related to stink bugs, so it can give off a very unpleasant smell.

10. Amazonian Royal Flycatcher

From a distance, the Royal Amazonian Flycatcher looks as resplendent as a dancer at the Carnival. With its colorful crest, the Royal Amazonian Flycatcher is never absent from the golden lists of the world's most beautiful plumage birds.

The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher has a brilliant crest that attracts all eyes. (Photo: Pixabay)

The scientific description of the Amazonian Royal Flycatcher was first published in 1776 by German zoologist Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller, who gave it the name coronatus, Latin for crown, after the crest on its head.

The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher lives mainly in South America. They are divided into two subspecies, one of which lives in the Andes from Colombia to Venezuela and Peru, the other – in Venezuela, Guiana and Brazil.

The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is 15 to 17.5 cm long. They usually nest in trees, near water to avoid predators. Their diet is usually insects.