Our planet is full of surprises, with every corner hiding strange and unique creatures unlike any other. Some amaze with their distinctive shapes, others with their strange behaviors and extraordinary abilities. From the depths of the seas to the tops of trees, from rainforests to deserts, these creatures vary in forms, colors, and lifestyles.

This article reviews six of the strangest animals you might encounter worldwide and their habitats, according to wanderlustmagazine.

The manatee, a large and slow-moving aquatic mammal also known as the sea cow, feeds on large amounts of seaweed that can exceed ten times its weight daily. It has a broad paddle-like tail and surfaces to breathe every few minutes. Its name is linked to mermaid legends told by ancient sailors. The most famous places to see it are the Crystal River in Florida, as well as Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Jamaica. A close relative, the dugong, can be seen near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The tarsier is one of the smallest and strangest primates in the world, with very large eyes and long fingers. It can rotate its head with amazing flexibility and usually lives in dense forests. Unfortunately, its popularity has made it a target for tourism exploitation, affecting its numbers. The tarsier can be seen in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. One of the best places is Bohol Island in the Philippines, where special reserves protect it.

The kakapo is a nocturnal, flightless parrot living only in New Zealand. It has a round face resembling an owl and wings that help it balance and leap from trees. The kakapo remains completely still when sensing danger, helping it hide among plants. Today, very few live on predator-free protected islands near Stewart Island and are not easily seen in the wild due to protection restrictions.

The rock agama is a lizard with stunning colors; males have red or orange heads and decorated blue bodies, while females tend to be brown. Males display their bright colors to attract females. These lizards are found in sub-Saharan Africa, with one of the best places to see them being Ruaha National Park in Tanzania.

The colugo, or flying lemur, is an arboreal mammal living in Southeast Asia. It does not actually fly but glides between trees thanks to a skin membrane stretched between its limbs, resembling a wingsuit. It can be seen in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Laos. Malaysia’s Langkawi Island is famous for tours to observe it.

The aye-aye lemur is the world’s largest nocturnal primate, living in Madagascar. It features large ears, a face resembling a possum, and very long fingers. Some locals believe it brings bad luck, making it vulnerable to hunting.