10 weird animals that call the British Isles home

Uncover the animal kingdom’s hidden wonders

Published: Wednesday, 03 July 2024 at 14:11 PM

The British Isles are home to some extraordinary and frankly weird animals. From microscopic organisms that have survived mass extinctions to ‘vampire’ fish and a shark as long as a bus, there are plenty of weird and wonderful creatures to be found.

Here is a list of our favourite most peculiarly interesting species:

10 weirdest animals

Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)

The bizarre Mola Mola looks as if it’s missing half its body. Credit: Getty

One of the heaviest bony fish – and one of the weirdest fish – in the world, the sunfish is an increasingly common sight around south and west coasts. They are slow swimmers with a rounded body, long, triangular fins and a peculiar, frill-shaped tail.

Sunfish will lie flat on the surface to sunbathe and they primarily eat jellyfish.

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

Basking Shark Underwater Feeding — Basking Shark feeding on plankton during the bloom in the Scottish waters off the Isle of Coll. Credit: Getty

The second largest fish in the world, growing to 11 metres in length and 5 tonnes in weight, basking sharks visit British waters in the summer.

Cruising slowly with mouths open (to filter-feed plankton) and dorsal fins breaking the surface, they pose no threat to people, but are endangered, so sightings should be treasured.

Our sister title BBC Wildlife Magazine named it one of the weirdest sharks in the world

Ladybird spider (Eresus sandaliatus)

One of our rarest spiders and largely limited to Dorset heathland where they build silk-lined burrows complete with a canopy from which they ambush prey.

The larger female is black, while the male resembles a miniature soft toy with white rings on its legs and a red body with black, ladybird-like spots.

Reeves muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

This little deer’s size isn’t the only thing worth noting. Credit: Getty

A small, secretive deer, increasingly widespread across England and Wales having been introduced from China in the 19^th century.

One of the world’s weirdest animals, the muntjac males have short antlers, visible ‘V’ shaped scent glands just below their eyes and pronounced upper canines that appear like tusks. They have a delicate, dainty gait and a haunting, strangled bark that echoes through their woodland home.

Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Slow worm in the UK — This gentle animal is generally nocturnal and has a taste for slugs. Credit: Getty

Neither worm nor snake, but a legless lizard, with a tail that it can ‘drop’ if attacked.

Slow worms grow to 50cm and are widespread, often found under logs or in rotting vegetation.

Their fondness for slugs makes them popular with gardeners, and they have extraordinary longevity, surviving more than 50 years in captivity.

Find out more in our expert guide to reptiles.

Sea mouse (Aphrodita aculeata)

A marine worm found all around our coast, the sea mouse has long, fur-like bristles known as setae, that change colour in response to the angle of light.

Measuring between 10 and 20cm long, they hunt small crabs and other worms, and their Latin name, Aphrodita, comes from their supposed similarity to female genitalia.

Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

A large, mostly white bird, similar in appearance to a heron, the spoonbill has an unmistakeable spatula-shaped bill.

It feeds by wading in shallow water and sweeping its bill side to side to catch fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

weirdest animals Nightjar — A nocturnal, summer visitor to heathland and open forest where its churring call fills the night. Credit: Getty

The nightjar is dove-sized and rests on logs or branches during daylight, camouflaged by its mottled brown plumage.

It catches moths with its wide gape and was once known as a ‘goatsucker’ from the belief that it suckled milk.

Listen to churring nightjars in episode 6, season 6 of our podcast, Plodcast.