Species with the spookiest names—and how they earned them - 1
Published 28 Oct 2018, 21:32 GMT
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
This lizard’s horn-like protrusions and striking eyes—on some individuals, they’re red—give them a devilish look. But rest easy: the only power these geckos wield is an incredible disguise that helps them blend into the leaf-filled forests of Madagascar.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkA name doesn’t get much more descriptive than 'screaming hairy armadillo'. When they feel threatened, these extremely hairy, armoured mammals, native to South America, sound the alarm. The loud, repetitive call warns others of a nearby threat.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkNative to eastern North America, these water-loving creatures are named for the orange and brown stripes on their wings. They prefer to perch atop bare twigs, swaying back and forth in the breeze like, well, a pennant.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkTrue vampires of the night sky, the common vampire bat is a flying mammal and obligate bloodsucker—meaning they feed on blood alone, which they lap up after making strategically-placed incisions on mammals, birds, and lizards. Special anticoagulants in the mammals’ saliva keep the blood flowing from the micro wounds. And for a good reason: if the airborne beasts miss two nights of bloodsucking, they'll drop dead. (Unlike their mystical relatives, they’re not immortal).
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkOzark hellbenders are also known as snot otters, devil dogs, and mud cats. Though no one is sure about the origin of their common name, the hellbender, these supersized salamanders—which can weigh over two kilograms in their native US habitat—certainly look like something that might occupy the underworld.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkAppearing like something from the murky water of nightmares, the hagfish has earned a reputation as one of the sea’s most repulsive creatures—and a name to match. The reality isn’t far off. Blind and jawless, they burrow into their prey using a tentacle-covered mouth and can absorb nutrients through their skin.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkPale and nocturnal—like a first-timer dressed as a ghost on Halloween—these sidestepping Atlantic ghost crabs vanish against the sandy backdrop when standing still, earning them their chilling name. They haunt beaches along the Atlantic coast, from Rhode Island to Brazil, scurrying at speeds up to 10 miles per hour.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkBoth the common and scientific name for this reticulate gila monster (Heloderma suspectum suspectum) should serve as a warning call. 'Heloderma' roughly translates to 'nail-studded', referencing the creature’s hard, scaly skin. And 'suspectum' derives from an early suspicion that they were venomous. They are. In fact, Gila monsters ('Gila' from the Gila River basin, where they were first discovered) are one of only a few venomous lizards on Earth.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkAs if post-coitall decapitation isn’t frightening enough—an activity that females of many mantis species are known for—this alien look-alike ghost mantis has another terrifying trick: it’s impeccable leaf disguise makes it all but invisible. Hidden among the forests of eastern Africa and Madagascar (like a ghost, maybe?), the predator sits and waits to ambush unsuspecting insects.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkFor these vampire shrimp crustaceans, 'vampire' is a bit of a misnomer. They don’t suck blood. And one aquarium website goes as far as describing them as “peaceful, tranquil,” and “on the shy side.” So where does come from? Perhaps, from their pale, reddish colour.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkOnce confined to its native range in Africa or Asia (the species’ origin is contested), the ghost ant is now haunting warm buildings around the world as an invasive species. With translucent legs and a see-through abdomen—from which it gets its name—you can always tell what the six-legged insect had for lunch.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkOn name alone, most would go to great lengths to avoid the blood python, a Southeast Asian serpent. And at least for smell edible creatures, that’s a good plan. Though the name comes from the reddish colouration on its scales—not from its favourite food—these snakes are ambush predators, waiting for unsuspecting prey to strangle.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkOne of the largest and most artistically coloured mantises, the devil's flower mantis ('Idolomantis diabolica') evolved to mimic a flower and avoid being seen. But the mantis has a back-up plan for when it’s exposed: it stands up tall, exposing brilliant greens, blues, and purples—and on some individuals, red horn-like antennae—earning its freaky name.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkAs far as fish go, few are more adorable than the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, a coldwater drifter and a comically poor swimmer shaped like a balloon. Making up for its lack of underwater agility is an evolutionary breakthrough: a strong sucker disk on its underside, formed from a set of pelvic fins, which it uses to anchor itself to rocks and seagrass. And while it has plenty of predators, these fish are covered in spiny outgrowths that help it stay camouflaged (and probably make it less tasty).
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkDeer have been known to kill birds, but it doesn’t go the other way around. These avian migrant killdeers (Charadrius vociferus), which breed in North America, are like chickadees—named after the sound of their call, a vociferous (hence their scientific name) 'kill-deer, kill-deer'.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkIf any creature looks like a ghost, it’s the moon jelly. Alas, it was named, instead, after the luminous rock in our night sky, which resembles the species’ short, translucent 'bell' or body. Though these jellies never made it to the moon, they have in fact been sent to space; in 1991, nearly 2,500 baby moon jellies went aboard the Columbia space shuttle (which ended tragically in the death of all seven members on board).
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo ArkGhostly, shaped like a knife—and as it turns, also electric, the black ghost knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) is native to South America. These fascinating fish cruise freshwater at night, using electrical pulses to scan for food and find potential mates in the dark, which they’ll zap with a love note. According to some sources, a reference to ghosts may stem from a belief that spirits of the dead take up residence in these fish.
Photograph by Joël Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark