LIFE - 19 Insanely Weird Animals

Mike the Headless Chicken

Mon, 22 Oct 1945 03:00:00 EST

This is not a hoax: Following a non-lethal decapitation, Mike the headless chicken, later nicknamed "Miracle Mike," lived for approximately 18 months. Seen here in 1945, a little over one month after the beheading, Mike's body poses with his head.

Janus, the Two-Headed Tortoise

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 03:00:00 EDT

In 2007, visitors to the Geneva Museum of Natural History are fascinated by Janus, a two-headed Greek tortoise, on his 10th birthday. He's named after the two-headed Roman god.

The Kangaroo Rat

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:26:07 EDT

This weird little rodent gets its name from its huge cheek pouches, which extend back to its shoulders; it fills them with food or nesting material to take back to the burrow, emptying the pouches by turning them inside-out with its front paws.

The Aye-Aye

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 03:00:00 EDT

Kintana, a aye-aye from Madagascar, makes his first public appearance at the Bristol zoo in April 2005. This nocturnal primate has rodent-like teeth and a long middle finger, the better to catch and devour grubs.

The Naked Neck Chicken

Wed, 01 Jan 1947 03:00:00 EST

Yep, the name says it all: This breed of fowl, common in Europe, is naturally missing feathers on its neck.

The Kakapo

Sat, 25 May 2002 03:00:00 EDT

In 2002, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark carries an 11-week-old kakapo chick on her shoulder during a visit to a hatchery in Auckland. Resembling an owl but technically a parrot, the bird is nocturnal, flightless, and distinguished by its yellow-green color.

De Brazza's Monkey

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:00:00 EDT

Think this African swamp monkey is colorful? You ain't seen nothing yet: Males of the species have a blue scrotum.

The Andean Condor

Sun, 01 Jul 1951 03:00:00 EDT

It's the largest flying bird in the Western hemisphere and feeds on carrion, with a particular taste for deer or cattle. Also: Get a load of the feet on this baby!

The Pygmy Marmoset

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:03:20 EDT

The tiniest monkey in the world ranges from 5.5 to 6.3 inches long. Almost every New York rat we've seen is bigger than that.

The Scorpionfish

Tue, 31 Dec 2002 03:00:00 EST

Don't get too close: This species of fish, most often found in tropical waters, has sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. Ouch! And also: ew.

The California Mastiff Bat

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 11:28:35 EDT

It has a tiny body but a wingspan of over 22 inches. Also, bats in close-up totally freak us out.

The Bairds Tapir

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:12:04 EST

Two words: prehensile nose!

The Two-Toed Sloth

Sat, 01 Jan 1938 03:00:00 EST

A sloth gives a thousand-yard stare at the Brookfield Zoo in 1938. Weird fact: This species' metabolism is so slow that it can take a month to digest food. Depending on where in the digestion process it is, up to 30 percent of a sloth's body weight can be its own, ahem, waste.

The 'Walking Stick'

Thu, 01 Jan 1953 03:00:00 EST

These insects take camouflage to the next level. Other bugs in the Phasmatodea order can look like tree bark or leaves.

The Bat-Eared Fox

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:00:00 EDT

It's got huge ears but tiny teeth, with insects making up about 80 percent of its diet.

A Sheep With Five Legs

Thu, 30 May 2002 03:00:00 EDT

A two-month-old sheep with an extra limb is photographed in 2002 in Lage Zwaluwe, Netherlands. The farmer who owned the sheep said it limped slightly but did not appear to suffer from the fifth leg.

The Anglerfish

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 EST

Ugly and gelatinous, the anglerfish has three long filaments sprouting from the top its head to lure in prey, which it swallows whole. Gulp.

The Chinese Goose

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:12:03 EST

It may look strange, but it's very productive: a female can lay 60 eggs or more during the breeding season.

The Coelacanth

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 03:00:00 EDT

This very rare fish species is thought to have existed since the Cretaceous period. Average weight: 176 pounds.

Bonus Shots: Mike the Headless Chicken

Mon, 01 Jan 1945 03:00:00 EWT

Can't get enough "Miracle Mike"? Here he is getting fed -- directly to his esophagus, via an eyedropper -- in 1945. See more insane shots of Mike the Headless Chicken.