Western lowland gorilla

With the same word repeated thrice, its scientific name is effortlessly funny. Western lowland gorillas have lighter coats than other gorilla species. They have the widest range, covering over 700,000 square kilometers of lush rainforests across Central Africa.

Western lowland gorillas are umbrella species that protect other species around them. Unfortunately, logging and poaching threaten their existence.

Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

The Tufted Titmouse gets its name from the Old English words "tit," meaning small, and "mase,” meaning bird. The word "mase" eventually became obsolete and was replaced with the word "mouse.” 

The quick-moving tiny bird probably reminded people of the house mouse. The tufted part of its name likely comes from the small upward-swept tuft of feathers on its head.

There are five titmice species endemic to North America. The Tufted Titmouse is a sedentary south-based species that seems to be steadily expanding its range northward.

Red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini)

The fish's face matches its funny name. Its human-like lips look like they're slathered in bright red lipstick. The rest of its body is greyish brown with a white underbelly. It has a pretty odd shape for a fish and a prominent snout at the top of its head.

Another odd thing about the red-lipped batfish is that it prefers to use its fins as pseudo-legs to walk along the seabed rather than swim. This bottom-dweller is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

At 3.5 cm, the adult common cockchafer is the United Kingdom’s largest scarab beetle. The rusty brown beetle is also called the May bug because it tends to emerge from its underground home around May.

There are a few stories about how the common cockchafer got its name. One explanation says the word “cock” means familiar, and “chafer” means gnawing beetle. Another explanation says cockchafer is Old English for "big beetle." 

Yet another account suggests that the word cock in Old English referred to large size, while chafer meant gnawing insect. Therefore, the cockchafer got its name from its size and tendency to chew leaves and flowers vigorously.

Leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques)

Leafy seadragons are closely related to seahorses. They are endemic to the waters off south and east Australia.

The leafy seadragon is an excellent example of an animal camouflaging as a plant to escape predation. The fish has leaf-shaped protrusions all over its body, helping it blend in with the kelp and seaweed around it. 

Their bodies are usually yellow or brown, while the leafy protrusions have an olive tint. To further sell the disguise, the fins of the leafy seadragon are so thin and almost transparent.

Wunderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus)

The wunderpus octopus got its name just for being cute. Wunderpus is a mix of the German word “Wunder,” which means marvel or wonder, and the English word "octopus.” The "Photogenicus” in its scientific name likely refers to its photogenic nature.

This type of octopus has rusty brown skin with white blotches and stripes, which form beautiful patterns. It can impressively modulate its shape and color to mimic a lethal lionfish or sea snake to deter a predator. Wunderpuses live in the shallow waters of the Indo-Malayan Archipelago.

Frilled-necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)

Also called a frill neck or frilled lizard, this animal is named for the large frill that encircles its head. When threatened, it stands on its hind legs, unfurls the frill, and opens its yellow mouth. If the intimidation tactic fails, the lizard simply runs away on its hind legs at top speeds.

Frilled lizards are members of the dragon family. They can grow to almost 3 feet, with their tail accounting for two-thirds of the length. They are brown or grey, but their frills usually have an orange or tan tinge.

Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

The hellbender is the largest amphibian in North America. It can grow to about 29 inches and weigh up to 5 pounds. It spends its entire life in the swift-running rivers across the eastern United States.

Hellbenders may have gotten their name because of their monstrous size and wrinkly, slippery, splotchy skin. Those features, while unpleasant, serve essential purposes. Hellbenders absorb 95% of their oxygen intake through the folds and wrinkles of their skin. The mucus on the skin protects it from abrasion, parasites, and predators.

Moustached puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis)

Moustached puffbirds are plump, round birds that live in the Andes in Venezuela and Colombia. An adult can be 9 inches long and weigh up to 50 grams. 

As with most animals with funny names, the moustached puffbird looks funny. It has small tufts of white feathers around its bill's base, making it look like the bird has a white mustache. The females have darker plumage than males, with a less prominent mustache.

Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus)

The next funniest animal name is derived from the creature's slippery body. The fish coats its body in a mucus-like substance so that predators have a hard time grabbing onto it.

The slippery dick has three phases of growth and its appearance changes with each phase. Juveniles are white with a black lateral stripe. In its mid-phase, it becomes white-grey with two red stripes. At the terminal stage, the slippery dick turns green with dark stripes.

Strange-tailed tyrant (Alectrurus risora)

The Strange-tailed Tyrant is a flycatcher with an unusual tail. In addition to its regular proportional tail, it has a couple of long outer tail feathers. That's where the strange tail in its name comes from. 

However, the reason this bird is called a tyrant has less to do with its behavior and more to do with its classification. The bird is a member of the genus Alectrurus, which belongs to the family Tyrannidae. The family name reflects the aggressive nature of some members, especially the Western Kingbird.

Spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis)

The Pacific spiny lumpsuckers are tiny, one-inch bony fish. Their bumpy body is full of spiny tubercles, which provide camouflage. The fish have modified pelvic fins that function as adhesive discs, allowing them to remain attached to rocks, eelgrass, and kelp.

The name of this fish describes its appearance funnily. The “spiny” and “sucker” parts of the name are explained in the paragraph above. The lumpy part refers to how the fish resembles a puffy lump.

Tasselled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)

The tasselled wobbegong is a type of carpet shark. Its name comes from the dermal lobes that run along its head. The lobes look like tassels, and that's where the first word of its name came from. The word “wobbegong” is thought to come from an Australian aboriginal term meaning shaggy beard, once again referring to the lobes.

Tasselled wobbegongs ambush prey by laying motionless and blending into the sea floor. The colorful blotches on their skin and the coral-like dermal lobes enhance the disguise.

Goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)

The goblin shark looks like something from a horror movie, but it is a very real animal. It has a long snout, a projectable jaw, and sunken eyes. Its skin is somewhat translucent, allowing its visible veins to complete its otherworldly appearance. The name definitely comes from the appearance.

Goblin sharks are not common. They live about 4,000 feet below sea level. Although scientists believe they are present in oceans worldwide, Japan has the most sightings.

Rasberry crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva)

Rasberry crazy ants originate from South America and are becoming an invasive species in the United States. These types of ants chew through electrical wires, causing short circuits. They also displace other animals, including ants.

The ants get the first part of their name from Tom Rasberry, a pest exterminator. He was the first to identify the ants in Texas. The “crazy” part of their name comes from their rapid haphazard movement.

Satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

The satanic leaf-tailed gecko camouflages as dead leaves and twigs to evade predators. Endemic to Madagascar, these gecko species' coloration varies according to the trees they live on. Spikes and ridges run along their heads, bodies, and legs. Their flattened tail looks exactly like a dead leaf.

In addition to its strange appearance, the animal likely gets its name from the blood-curdling scream it uses to deter attackers.

Pleasing fungus beetle (Erotylidae)

The pleasing fungus beetle is any of the 3,500 species of the Erotylidae family. It is easy to recognize by its black and red-orange patterns. 

Pleasing fungus beetles feed on fungus, where the middle part of their name comes from. However, some species within the family also extend their diet to include plant matter.

The nocturnal pleasing fungus beetle is not a pest, which is excellent news because you can find it almost anywhere in the world. Perhaps the first word of its name comes from its easy-going nature.

Dik-dik (Madoqua)

Naming animals after the sounds they make is sure to produce some silly names. For example, a small antelope from Eastern and Southern Africa derives its common name from the “zik-zik” alarm call they make when threatened. 

Dik-diks are shy, elusive creatures. They mate for life and live in small family groups. Poaching for hide and bones and agricultural encroachment threaten dik-dik populations.

Ice cream cone worm (Pectinariidae)

The ice cream cone or trumpet worm is a marine animal stuck to the ocean floor. The odd-looking worm constructs a tube to live in by gluing together sand and shell fragments. 

The tube expands as the worm grows and eventually looks like an ice cream cone, hence its name. The weird ice cream cones are about 3 inches long and open on both sides.

Another name for the ice cream cone worm is trumpet worm because of its tube shape.

Pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncates)

The pink fairy armadillo is arguably the cutest in the world. It has a pink dorsal carapace and silky white fur on the rest of its body except its feet and tail. The smallest armadillo species measures just about 13cm and is endemic to the neotropical region of central Argentina.

The pink fairy armadillo's name is not the only unique feature; it also has a double skin1, which is unusual for mammals.