• NOAA
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    Think you know every critter in the animal kingdom? Think again. The world is full of astounding, rarely seen creatures, especially in places remote to humans. This makes the Arctic a jackpot of extraordinary finds. Test your species smarts and see if you recognize some of the weirdest-looking animals from the world's chillest spots.

    RIBBON SEAL 

    Family: Phocidae

    Habitat: Arctic Regions of the North Pacific

    Fun Fact: These seals have an inflatable air sac connected to their trachea, which researchers believe is used for underwater vocalization in mating rituals. 

  • Alamy
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    MUSK OX

    Family: Bovidae

    Habitat: Arctic Canada & Greenland

    Fun Fact: Male musk oxen release a strong odor to attract females, which is how the animal got its name. 

  • Dan Hersman/flickr/Wikimedia
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    LION'S MANE JELLYFISH

    Family: Cyaneidae

    Habitat: Cold boreal waters of the world's oceans

    Fun Fact: The lion's mane jellyfish is the largest known species of jellyfish. 

  • Wikimedia
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    ICEFISH

    Family: Bovichtidae

    Habitat: Water around the continental shelf of Antartica 

    Fun Fact: Many of these fish have antifreeze proteins in their blood, which allow them to live in freezing waters. 

  • Alamy
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    LEMMING

    Family: Cricetidae
    Habitat: Arctic tundra
    Fun Fact: It is a common misconception that lemmings commit mass suicide. In reality, lemmings can reproduce in large numbers, which leads to big migration groups. Unfortunately, a number of these animals do not make it through these dangerous migrations. 
  • Reddit
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    NARWHAL

    Family: Monodontidae

    Habitat: Waters of the Canadian Arctic

    Fun Fact: About one in every 500 male narwhals grows a second large tusk. 

  • Wikimedia
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    ARCTIC COOKIE STAR

    Family: Goniasteridae 

    Habitat: Depths of Alaskan waters

    Fun Fact: The cookie star is a kind of cushion star, which differ from most starfish by having short and attached legs. 

  • Citron/Wikimedia
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    NORTHERN WOLFFISH

    Family: Anarhichadidae

    Habitat: North Atlantic Ocean sea floor

    Fun Fact: The sharp teeth of the Northern wolffish ensure that the creature has few predators. 

  • Yalbik/Wikimedia
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    HOARY MARMOT

    Family: Sciuridae

    Habitat: Mountains of Canada & Alaska

    Fun Fact: These marmots are sometimes called "whistle pigs" because of the high-pitched sound they let out to warn other marmots of threats. 

  • NOAA
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    TURQUET'S OCTOPUS

    Family: Octopodidae

    Habitat: Antarctic Ocean 

    Fun Fact: By studying the genetic makeup of these animals, researchers have learned how climate change is affecting the South Pole. 

  • Steven Hint/Wikimedia
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    ERMINE

    Family: Mustelidae

    Habitat: Siberian & Canadian Arctic islands 

    Fun Fact: The ermine is considered one of the world's worst invasive species. 

  • Wikimedia
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    GYRFALCON

    Family: Falconidae

    Habitat: Mountains & sea ice of the Northern Hemisphere

    Fun Fact: The gyrfalcon is so protective of its nest that the animal will take on nearby bears to ensure the safety of their eggs. 

  • NOAA
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    SNAILFISH

    Family: Liparidae

    Habitat: Antarctic & Arctic Oceans

    Fun Fact: Snailfish do not have scales, but are instead covered with a loose, gelatinous skin. 

  • Wikimedia
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    ARCTIC TERN

    Family: Sternidae

    Habitat: Arctic regions of Europe, North America and Asia

    Fun Fact: The Arctic tern's migration is so long and expansive that the animal sees two summers each year.  

  • NOAA
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    WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN 

    Family: Delphinidae

    Habitat: North Atlantic waters

    Fun Fact: This dolphin is a social feeder and has been observed dining with orcas, blue whales and other dolphins. 

  • Flickr User: ajmatthehiddenhouse
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    LITTLE AUK 

    Family: Alcidae

    Habitat: Islands in the High Arctic 

    Fun Fact: Little auks are extremely talkative on land, but are always silent at sea. 

  • NOAA/Census of Marine Life
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    ARCTIC SEA STAR

    Family: Asteroidea

    Habitat: Arctic Ocean regions

    Fun Fact: Starfish are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. 

  • Jan Frode Haugseth/Wikimedia
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    ROCK PTARMIGAN

    Family: Phasianidae

    Habitat: Arctic tundra of North America

    Fun Fact: The Ptarmigan molts from white in winter to brown in spring to stay camouflaged with its surroundings.

  • Charles Fisher/Penn State
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    ICE WORM

    Family: Enchytraeidae

    Habitat: Glacial ice

    Fun Fact: Ice worms liquify if exposed to temperatures higher than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. 

  • Wikimedia/Samuel Blanc
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    Next: See More Strange Animals

    SNOWY SHEATHBILL

    Family: Chionididae

    Habitat: Shores of Antartica 

    Fun Fact: The snowy sheathbill gets a good amount of food by stealing it from nearby penguins.