Are you a nature lover? Most people like some aspect of nature…for instance: the beach, beautiful flowers, or a cuddly fur-baby…but do you allow the things of nature to bring you to awe? To wonder? To worship? In this 2 part series, I’ve collected some of the most shockingly beautiful, creatively designed, (and some downright humorous) of God’s creations.
“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small.”
Psalm 104.24-25
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1. Lilac-Breasted Roller
The lilac-breasted roller is a fascinating bird with a few hilariously ironic features. First, let me call your attention to the eyes. For such a playfully colored bird (8 colors of feathers), it has such serious eyes! After searching images on Google, I have concluded the lilac-breasted roller is not as impressed by its appearance as the rest of us are. It’s expression ranges from sober to suspicious to slightly grumpy. This does not stop the roller from having a little fun, though! The name “roller” comes from their tendency to roll from side to side through the air while flying at very high speeds.
It may be a surprise to you that such a beautiful bird has a loud, harsh call which some have compared to the sound of a steam train. It apparently doesn’t disturb their mate, though, considering they mate for life! The most ironic thing about the lilac-breasted roller in my opinion, is that they hatch from plain white eggs. Seriously. God has such a sense of humor. Speaking of…see the next creature on the list.
2. Okapi
What animal would you guess is the okapi most closely related to? Although it looks like a drawing by an imaginative child, mixing a horse, a deer, a zebra, and a giraffe, it’s the only living relative to the giraffe! It’s also known as: forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, or zebra giraffe. The most obvious family traits are its prehensile tongue and the protuberances on its head, which are called ossisicones.
Some interesting facts about the okapi: their coats are oily so that rain slides right off, keeping them dry (like a built-in raincoat!) According to the San Diego Zoo, they have “scent glands on each foot that leaves behind a sticky tar-like substance wherever they have walked, marking their territory.”
Okapis are shy guys! In fact, scientists didn’t even know they existed until around 1900, because they are so elusive. It’s not clear how many there are in the wild because they are so good at hiding in the forest. Their large, sensitive ears pick up even tiny noises from long distances, giving them plenty of time to get away or hide. Although it might not seem like it, their unusual markings are perfect for hiding in dense forest. The black and white stripes give the effect of sunlight dappling through leaves. On top of that, okapis are able to communicate at a frequency lower than human ears can detect! What a delightful creature.
3. Orchid Mantis
The first time I saw a picture of an orchid mantis, I thought it was photoshopped- but a little research turned up a bunch of unbelievable mantises. Hold on to your hats, because this one is a little shocking. The orchid mantis, true to its name, looks like an orchid…but not any one particular orchid, as far as scientists can tell. This is so interesting, because it makes it possible for the mantis to target many different kinds of prey, not just ones that are drawn to a specific species of orchid. This flowery beauty has been described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” According to everywherewild.com, orchid mantises “catch their prey by snatching it out of the air with their front legs and immediately and mercilessly devouring it. While their primary diet is other insects, they have the ability to take down animals much larger than themselves, including frogs, rodents, lizards, and birds. For comparison’s sake, that would be like a human grabbing a grizzly bear and ripping it apart with their bare hands. Female orchid mantises can get pretty bloodthirsty as well. Like many of their kind, they’ll mercilessly eat males after copulation or when they’re just plain hungry.”
Did you know you could be terrified by such a tiny insect?
4. Leafy Sea Dragon
Sea dragons are a type of pipefish, closely related to sea horses. You may have heard that male seahorses carry their young, and the same is true for sea dragons! Judging by all those leafy appendages, it seems like sea dragons would be masters at precision swimming, but that’s not the case. They are poor swimmers who usually just drift along with the current and don’t try to control where they’re going.
Their camouflage is on point, though. They have no known predators…I guess no one who wants to eat them has ever been able to find them! That doesn’t mean these beauties are without their problems. The species has been so widely collected for aquarium pets, the Australian government has labeled them as a “Totally Protected Species.”
Bonus creature: check out the Ruby Sea Dragon just discovered in 2015!
5. White Peacock
I’m sure a peacock is nothing new to you, but when was the last time you really thought about the sheer extravagance of a peacock’s beauty? Speaking of peacocks, here’s a crash course in the names of these spectacular birds. “Peacock” refers to the male of the species; “peahen” refers to the female; “peafowl” refers to the bird whether it’s male or female; and “peachick” refers to the babies. How cute is that? So it’s the male peafowl, the peacock, that has the most eye-catching plumage. Of course, in the more common peacock, the India Blue species, the colors are extraordinarily vibrant. According to Rocking B-A-B Ranch, peafowl can be one of 15 different color variations: India Blue, Green, White, Cameo, Purple, Charcoal, Opal, Buford Bronze, Peach, Midnight, Jade, Taupe, Sonja’s Violeta, Hazel and Indigo. And you’re not going to believe this, but “scientists at Fudan University in Shanghai have found that solid crystals within the iridescent ‘eyes’ of a peacock’s tail feathers, rather than traditional pigments, are used to generate the unusual colours of the male plumage.” Crystals! Is your mind blown?
Which creature is the most interesting to you? Do you have others to add to the list? If you enjoyed this blog, keep your eye out for Part 2, which will feature 5 more amazing animals that showcase God’s wild creativity!
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