Digging in Caves, Again

Yahoo! is reporting that scientists have discovered a new species of crawdad in a cave in Israel. Don't they know that every species discovered in a cave is going to be ugly - remember, nothing that doesn't see the light of day is going to be an attractive animal. Also, why all this digging around in caves? It seems that new species are being discovered in our underground realm every few months.

Something You Didn't Want to Know

Going with a parasite is pretty much cheating when you are tracking down ugly critters. Can any of you find a good looking or cute bloodsucker? Consider yourself challenged.

Here is a famous parasite - the ban of many a toe or barefoot - the leech. This particular specimen - a hermaphroditic cousin to the worm - is one of the few haemophagic leeches, meaning they feed on blood. One of their main predators are other leeches that specialize in eating leeches. That might be one of the most gross and disgusting little factoids I have ever posted. I'm going to go vomit.

Photo courtesy: www.io.com

No Lifeguard on Duty

Here's a swimming hole you might want to avoid. Have you ever seen so many alligators in one place? At what point is one more alligator too many? Why does this farm stock so many? How do they feed so many?

It looks as if this enclosure is right up against the farmhouse. Can you imagine waking up to this each morning as you throw your curtains open? Are they noisy at night? If they are, how do you get them to shut up?

Ugh, so many questions.

Old Man Buffalo

Perhaps it isn't fair to post this particular cape buffalo on Ugly Overload. Afterall, his looks come from a long and hard life on the African savannah (check out those nitched ears!). Though, when you poke around online, you quickly come to understand that the merit of this animal doesn't come from their looks.

Although they are herbivores, they are known to be very aggressive. These beasts are believed to have killed more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa. They can take down lions, who only bother attacking sick or old individuals. If wounded, they have been reputed to have stalked and then attacked the foolish man who shot him. When they decide to throw their weight around - nearly one ton of muscle, bone, and horns - they are lethal.

The cape buffalo may not have any brains underneath those gnarly horns, but I'll respect it just the same. From a distance. Behind a strong fence.

Thanks for the photo, Vearl.

I eat pieces of $%!& like you for breakfast!

No, seriously. When this gorilla threatens you with that old line, "I eat pieces of [feces] like you for breakfast," he means it, literally. As if that look in his eyes wasn't enough ...

Did you know that a male silverback (one of them is staring at you right now) can stand at 5'6", weigh up to 500 lbs, and have an arm span of over 9 feet!?! Ya. They can literally tear us measley humans apart and not break a sweat. I'm just glad I have truly opposable thumbs and a larger brain. I'm sure that will impress the gorilla who gets his poo-stained hands on me.

I just hope it's his own product he's eating. I won't consider the alternative. Thanks for the great shot, Jeff.

Anyone ... hello ... ?

Okay, OKAY! Hold your horses. I know that the aardvark isn't exactly ugly (and that baby is cute, dang it), but will you concede that it is at least alien-looking? Huge claws, tube noses, funky ears - they look like a poorly designed alien creature from a bad sci-fi movie.
I did some research to justify putting this shot on this site. Did you know that 'aardvark' comes from a word meaning 'earth pig?' That' a good start; pigs are ugly. Also, the aardvark is from Africa. That's another strike against it - face it, Africa produces an disproportionally large amount of ugly animals. And then, what do aardvarks eat? Termites - using their sticky tongues that they stick inside termite mounds. That's gross, right? Anyone ... hello ... ?

Photo courtesy: Yahoo!

Gobble Gobble Wretch

Can you believe that turkeys - which are so very tasty - look like this? Check out that wattle and all those miscreant hairs! Just like with pigs, I ask, why does something so yummy look so ugly? Such questions have plagued humankind for eons.

Photo courtesy: rob.orangejack.com

U is for Ugly

Here is a baby bactrian camel, and here are some factoids about this animal: they are found in the desert and steppes of the Gobi desert (China & Mongolia), they have two humps comprised of fatty deposits, they can go months without water, but can drink about 15 gallons in one sitting, they live to be 40 years old, and can reach a top speed of 40 mph.

There are two basic categories of camels: the dromedary and the bactrian. How do you know which one has one hump and which one has two? Here's a trick: the Dromedary has one hump (picture a D on its side), and the Bactrian has two humps (think of a B on its side). How can we work a U in for ugly? I don't know.

Photo courtesy: Yahoo!