In this article we will talk about animals that are proud of the title of the most "smelly" on the planet. All living things exude odors to some extent, and the animal smell is much more persistent than the aroma of plants. For some animals, the smell serves as natural musk, with the help of which they attract individuals of the opposite sex and mark the territory, while others pursue completely different goals, for example, scaring predators or other irritants.
Living in the wild is a daily struggle for survival, and for animals for which nature has not presented with large fangs, sharp claws or impressive dimensions, it remains only to adapt. Some of them are saved using aroma. A fetid odor is usually emitted through pores in the skin or body fluids, kneading such a bouquet that the most formidable beast in horror runs away from the tiny animal. So let's go ...
10 of the most "smelly" animals in the world:
1
Skunk
Whom you definitely expected to see in the list of the most smelly animals in the world is a skunk! He is rightfully considered one of the most fetid creatures on the planet. This small animal is in a kinship with the pandas, and emits a pungent smell with the help of the anal glands. Often, skunks irrigate the liquid of potential opponents, and the smell from the attack of the animal can last on the victim’s body for several days.
What is the reason for such resistance? It's simple, in the skunk's anal glands there are chemicals called thiols. They are a mixture of sulfur, butane, hydrogen and traces of methane. These volatile gases are quickly drawn in by the nose as they are instantly dispersed after being released. Fortunately, people have learned to deal with the unpleasant odor that skunks produce. The most effective methods are the use of dishwashing detergents, hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.
2
Tamandua
Tamandua is a type of anteater, also called the four-fingered anteater. These animals mainly live in South America, where they lead a solitary lifestyle, eating insects, including bees, termites and ants.
The four-toed anteater has large front claws that the animal uses to breed ant nests and as a means of protection. When tamandua lacks claws, he uses the last and crushing option, releasing a really terrible smell from the gland located under the base of the tail.
The aroma of tamandua is so strong that it can fill a territory with a radius of 50 meters. Apparently, the animal is ashamed of its smell, as it leads an exclusively nocturnal lifestyle, although it can not be called modest, because in the afternoon it rests in the burrows of other animals.
3
Musk ox
The second name of this animal, the musky bull, speaks for itself. The musk ox is a resident of the Arctic, which is known for its curved horns, thick wool and a strong body. Adult musk ox can reach a weight of 400 kg with a growth of 1.5 meters.
In the mating season, when testosterone levels reach their maximum (some people are also familiar with this), male musk oxides emit a pungent odor through urine. It is necessary to mark the territory, and also serves as a kind of advertising for potential "brides".
As with skunks, it doesn't do without chemicals. So, musk ox urine during the breeding season contains benzaldehyde, saturated lactones and cholesterol. Interestingly, in the struggle for females, male musk oxen are not limited only to competition for the most fetid urine. Between them, skirmishes may arise in which the dominant male wins, while the rest have to be content with not the most beautiful females.
4
Wolverine
Wolverine is a fairly large carnivorous mammal that resembles a bear in appearance, only significantly inferior to the latter in size. One common wolverine nickname is a skunk bear.
This is a single animal that lives in North America and Eurasia. The ideal habitat for wolverines is taiga and forest-tundra. The whole life of this beast takes place in the struggle for its territory and food, this is what causes the unpleasant odor that Wolverines secrete through the paraanal glands.
The smell serves as a kind of border for other living creatures, and also drives away scavengers from killed prey. The smelly secret has traces of chemicals of methylbutanoic, phenylacetic and methyldecanoic acids. Wolverines are so dangerous and fearless that even bears try to avoid meeting them. Intelligence of Wolverines allows you to ruin the traps of hunters, while they leave people with small but fetid marks.
5
Keeled Climbing Snake
This type of snake has several names, including a rat snake and a stinky goddess. The reptile lives mainly in Southeast Asia and is quite large in size, reaching an average length of 1.7 meters.
The climbing snake feeds mainly on large insects, mice, birds and everything that comes in its way. Also, fame came to the rat snake due to its anal glands, which emit a sharp unpleasant odor during danger or raising a snake. A meeting with this creature can turn into double problems for small mammals, if it does not take their lives, they will definitely smell it with fetid liquid.
About the largest snakes in the world also in an article on our website TheBiggest.ru.
6
Goatsin
Interestingly, in English, the goatsin is called nothing more than a "smelly bird." This tropical bird lives in South America, preferring marshland and mangroves in the Amazon jungle. Adult goacins reach approximately 65 centimeters in length. They are characterized by a burgundy eye color with blue skin around, as well as a pointed crest on the crown of the head.
Goacins have a bacterial fermentation system inside the stomach, which, in combination with the aromatic compounds of the leaves that enter the stomach as food, produces a rather unpleasant odor, reminiscent of the smell of decayed manure.
Of course, goatsin meat also exudes a dung smell, so the bird is not eaten even by natives living in the jungle. Despite the fact that the goatsin can fly, he practically does not use his skills, sitting all his life on trees and only occasionally descending to the ground.
7
Marble bug
A marble bug or, in common people, a “stink beetle” is an unusually fetid insect belonging to the Pentatomidae family. It appeared in Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea, as well as in other countries of Southeast Asia, later spreading around the world.
The marble bug resembles a medieval shield in shape and grows to 1–1.7 cm in length. The diet of the stink beetle consists of juice of apples, green beans, peaches, pears and other fruits. In Europe and North America, it causes significant damage to crops.
The unpleasant odor that the insect emits exits through openings in the stomach. The bug needs it to protect it from birds and lizards. Surely, each of you in your childhood took a stink beetle in your hands, and you remember this aroma containing two chemical components, which are compounds of aldehydes, esters and alkanes.
For human skin, these chemical compounds can be dangerous, causing blisters to come in direct contact.
8
Pangolin
Pangolin is a scaly mammal that feeds on ants. This lizard is mainly found in Africa and Asia and grows to 175 cm in length. The whole body of the animal is covered with keratin scales, performing a protective function.
Pangolins live in holes or climb into the hollows of trees. Interestingly, dinosaurs feed only at night. In addition to scales, an unpleasant odor is used as protection for pangolins. They have gland near the anus, which is used to release a pungent chemical substance. In stamina, this stench is similar to the smell of a skunk.
In addition, iron is needed for the pangolin to mark its territory. Interestingly, the release of a pungent odor is the last protective method of pangolin, since initially it prefers to curl up in a ball, which only large predators can deploy. If the animal feels that it will be "opened" soon, it will throw out a little "perfume" on the opponent.
9
Two-legged millipede
Diplopods or two-legged millipedes are creatures of the arthropod type. They are endowed with cylindrical bodies with connected limbs in each segment. This type of millipede can grow up to 38 centimeters in length, including a rounded flat head and a pair of antennae.
Due to the slow movement, diplopods often become the object of attention of predators. In order not to be offended, they use glands, releasing toxic and smelly liquids. The liquid spreads through the entire body of the insect, preventing it from eating a diplopod. Some species go further in an effort to defend themselves and spray liquid. It turns out something like an air freshener, only with the opposite effect.
10
Wood hoopoe
Forest or tree hoopoe is a small bird that lives in Africa, namely, south of the Sahara desert. Wood hoopoes are in a detachment of rhinoceros birds and are related to kingfishers. In length, wood hoopoe can reach 45 centimeters. The plumage of the bird has a metallic shade and shimmers from blue to green.
Forest hoopoes usually live in hollows, which themselves hollow out in the trees. The diet of birds consists mainly of insects. If hoopoes face danger, they turn back to the enemy and exhale an unpleasant odor, which is based on dimethyl sulfide. The aroma is similar to the smell of many rotten eggs, and immediately scares away predators.
On this, our article about the most smelly animals came to an end. TheBiggest editors hope that you add to this list with other smelly animals in the comments.
Author: Maxim Svistunov