In the strength and the glory of power, In the pride and the pleasure of wealth(For who dares dispute me my dower Of talents and youth-time and health?), I can laugh at the world and its sages I am greater than seers who are sad, For he is most wise in all ages Who knows how to be glad.
I lift up my eyes to Apollo, The god of the beautiful days, And my spirit soars off like a swallow, And is lost in the light of its rays. Are tou troubled and sad? I beseech you Come out of the shadows of strife Come out in the sun while I teach you The secret of life.
Come out of the world – come above it Up over its crosses and graves, Though the green earth is fair and I love it, We must love it as masters, not slaves. Come up where the dust never rises But only the perfume of flowers And your life shall be glad with surprises Of beautiful hours. Come up where the rare golden wine is Apollo distills in my sight, And your life shall be happy as mine is, And as full of delight.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Our world is full of beautiful, diverse species and incredibly unique forms of life that can be found in the most unlikely places. Our world is also full of strange and unusual creatures that are beautiful in their own way… well, maybe. Here are some of our favorite under-appreciated creatures we are lucky enough to share our world with.
Giant Isopod

Getty Images/ AFP/ Christophe Archambault
A giant isopod refers to numerous species of oversized isopods that are found in abundance in cold, deep water of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Some can grow up to 20 inches long and weight around 3-5 pounds.
Orchid Mantis

Getty Images/ Entertainment/ Shirlaine Forrest
Other than the butterfly family, this strange creature is among the most beautiful insects out there. It is among the species of the flower mantises, which both look like and copy the flowers they come across. Their colors can change, ranging from white and yellow, to pink and brown.
Spider Crabs

Getty Images/ Boston Globe/ Tom Herde
This super creepy spider crab is Japanese and is known as the taka-ashi-gani in Japan, which translates to ”tall legs crab”. Their legs can reach up to 12 feet in length, and weigh as much as 42 pounds. It looks like something that could attack all of Japan in a Godzilla movie.
Mantis Shrimp

Getty Images/ AFP/ Alex Ogle
The Mantis Shrimp may appear to be a cross between a crayfish and a parrot, but it’s not to be disturbed. It moves extremely fast, so much so that they actually boil the water surrounding them. The shockwaves they produce are so strong that they can kill their prey.
Frogmouth

Getty Images/
Christian Science Monitor/ Melanie Stetson Freeman
Frogmouths are found in the Western Ghats mountain range of Sri Lanka and South India. They live in the dense undergrowth of tropical forests, and are very difficult to spot due to their grey-brown feathers. What makes them uniquely strange is their rather oversized head.
Platypus

Getty Images/ Fairfax Media Archives/ Kenneth Stevens
This creature is so weird that the first scientists to have discovered them back in 1799 actually believed them to be fake and that they were made from sewing a variety of animals together. However, this is a real animal. It’s got the feet of an otter, the tail of a Beaver, and the bill of a duck. They were once hunted for their fur, but they are now protected.
Coconut Crabs

Getty Images/ AFP/ WILLIAM WEST
These tropical looking coconut crabs are a species of the hermit crab. They mostly live on the coasts of the Indian Ocean and the central Pacific Ocean. They eat mainly fleshy fruits and seeds, however they also consume dead animals. Their only known predators are other coconut crabs and humans.
DAMSELFLY WITH BLUE EYES

Getty images/Science Photo Library/ ALBERTO GHIZZI PANIZZA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Damselflies are insects that are very similar to dragonflies, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. They are predatory insects which means they hunt and eat other insects. They are found in freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. It is said that damselflies symbolize purity, protection, and equality.
Assassin Bug

Getty Images/ Barcroft Media/ Sijori Images
These alien like predators are in the same family as the plant-eating Shield Bug, however their favorite victims are ants and bees. They are best known for their ninja-like skills, including the ability to coat themselves with ant carcasses to disguise themselves.
Pangolin

Getty Images/ AFP
There are eight different species of the Pangolin that can be found in both Africa and Asia. They are the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world, and are highly endangered. They appear similar to pine cones and ancient Armadillos, with long tongues, and stink glands so bad, they can be compared to skunks.
Bocydium Globulare

Getty Images/ News/ Patrick Landmann
This Brazilian treehopper belongs to the treehopper family, and has very strange features similar to a helicopter. They can be found throughout the world, however are most dominant in South America, Africa, Asia, North America, and Australia.
mandarin duck

Getty images/Moment/ Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography
The mandarin duck is beautiful and covered in many different colors. These exotic looking can be found in lakes and parks. These ducks are famous for being a monogamous species, meaning that they mate for life. The mandarin duck has become a symbol for love and fidelity for couples in China, Japan, and Korea.