7 Animals That Look Unrecognizable Without Their Fur
In the animal kingdom there are thousands of specimens, some better known than others. We think we can identify the characteristics of all those we know, but in reality we don’t know everything about them! There are many cases of creatures that, due to diseases or genetic alterations, don’t have their fur, which makes them almost unrecognizable.
Bright Side wants to share with you the images of some amazing hairless animals so you get to know them and feel surprised to see them without their characteristic fur.
1. Aardvark
Typical of sub-Saharan Africa, the Aardvark is a nocturnal animal that feeds on termites. It has ears like a rabbit and a tail like a kangaroo’s, although it’s nothing like either of them!
2. Wombat
Wombats are Australian animals that are similar to bears and koalas. They are as furry as a teddy bear, but when they’re small, they barely have any hair, which makes them look like adorable little mice.
3. Sphynx cat
This breed of cat is totally striking, as they’re very different from the cats that we are used to seeing. At first glance, they look totally bald, but in reality, they have a very thin, almost imperceptible, coat of beautiful hair.
4. Guinea pig
Guinea pigs are small rodents that usually have a smooth, fluffy coat. But there is also a breed called “skinny,” that was created in 1978. They only have hair on their legs and muzzle, which is ideal for those who love rodents, but are allergic to their hair.
5. Bear
This particular bear is named Dolores, and lives in Leipzig’s zoo, in Germany. Experts believe that she and the other bears that live with her, Bianca and Lolita, lost all their hair due to a poor diet and the climate. The lack of fur makes her look totally unrecognizable.
6. Kangaroo
Baby kangaroos are so cute. At birth they do not have hair since they are prematurely born. They then spend 9 months in their mother’s pouch, until they reach maturity.
7. Horse
Believe it or not, hairless horses do exist. The specimen in the photo is an Akhal-Teke from Turkmenistan. His lack of a coat is due to something called Naked Foal Syndrome (NFS), a genetic alteration that gives him that spectacular look.
Which specimen surprised you the most? Did you know about these strange cases of hairless creatures? What other animal do you know of that has this trait? Tell us in the comments.