Humans rarely see these strange animals, as most of them live deep in the dark ocean. Here are some of the strangest creatures that have washed up on shores in the past decade.
Giant squid (Architeuthis dux) have been known for centuries, but sightings of them are extremely rare. These giant creatures are the largest invertebrates in the world and have the biggest eyes in the animal kingdom. They live in deep water and rarely drift inland.
In October 2013, a monstrous giant squid washed up on a beach in Spain. It has tentacles 9m long and weighs 180kg – equivalent to the weight of an adult brown bear.
In May 2018, residents in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines were extremely confused by the appearance of a giant hairy monster 6m long. Scientists say it’s probably part of a whale’s body, and the hair-like fibers that cover it are most likely decomposing muscle fibers.
In May 2021, a fisherman found the body of a lantern fish at Crystal Cove State Park in California, USA. This is a rare and amazing find, as this fish lives at a depth of about 914m.
In June 2015, a giant 4-meter-long paddlefish washed up on a beach on Catalina Island, California, USA. These fish usually live in dark deep water.
In July 2018, a 4.6m long “sea monster” washed up in Maine, USA. It had decomposed to the point of being almost unrecognizable. Because the body of the animal was so large, authorities had to send a bulldozer to remove it from the beach.
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very rare, scarce, or infrequently encountered. This designation can be applied to a taxon of plants or animals and is different from the term endangered or threatened. The designation of a rare species can be done by an official body, such as a national, state or provincial government. The more common term appears without reference to specific criteria. IUCN generally does not make such designations, but the term may be used in scientific discussion.
Rarely based on a specific species represented by a small number of organisms worldwide, usually less than 10,000. However, a species with a very narrow endemic range or fragmented habitat also influences this concept. Almost 75% of known species can be classified as “rare”.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses the term “rare” as a designation for species found in isolated geographical locations. They are not endangered but are classified as “endangered”.
A species may be threatened or vulnerable, but is not considered rare if it has a large, dispersed population. Rare species are often considered threatened because small populations are more likely to fail to recover from ecological disasters.
A rare species is a species with a small population. Many people move into an endangered or vulnerable group if the negative factors affecting them continue to function. Examples of rare species include the Himalayan brown bear, the Fennec fox, the wild Asiatic buffalo and the Hornbill.
