Our nose provides us with an extra sense by allowing us to smell, but it also functions as a vital channel for air to enter the lungs. Elephants, rhinos, and pigs are among the many animals to have long noses. While most animals utilize their noses solely for these two functions, there is a handful that has evolved far longer appendages. These long noses, as is generally the case with evolutionary modifications, serve a purpose. Let’s have look at some more of these animals with big noses,
Animals with big noses
1. Proboscis monkey
The probosci’s monkey, sometimes known as the Nosy monkey, has the longest nose of any primate. Proboscis monkeys can be found in the jungles of Borneo, Indonesia. Their primary habitat consists of wetlands, rivers, and mangrove plants.
The large and bulbous noses of Proboscis types of monkeys can grow as long as 17 cm and are much more pronounced in males than in females. Males use their huge noses to attract mates by making loud honking noises to impress the females. While these enhanced cries impress females, they are scary to male competitors and serve as a warning to stay away. Its Scientific name is Nasalis larvatus.
2. Aardvark
Aardvarks are African mammals that use their exceptionally long noses to detect food. These creatures rely on their noses and hearing in addition to their limited vision to find food. An aardvark’s long nose is a result of both its poor vision and its constant search for food. Additionally, these animals typically only consume termites and ants as food. Where their eyesight fails, they are able to locate these organisms thanks to their sense of smell. Orycteropus afer is its scientific name.
Also read: All You Need To Know About Aardvark vs Anteater
3. Sawfish
The sawfish doesn’t just have a large nose, but it has a large snout that eerily resembles a chainsaw. Their pointed scales define their long, narrow, flat snout. Despite the fact that their nostrils cannot be accelerated, they are a useful hunting tool. Scientists have long watched sawfish sifting through sand to find crustaceans to eat by utilizing their remarkably big nostrils.
But more recent information has revealed that they also use their noses as weapons to kill prey. Additionally, using their nose for hunting is not limited to sifting through loose sand. The surface of this fish’s nose is covered in tiny sensors that enable it to recognize the electric fields that live things emit. Its Scientific name is Pristidae.
4. Longnose Gar
Another fish species with a large nose is the longnose gar, which has a very low predator population. The ranges of longnose gars, which are found in North and Central America, include Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. The main cause of their lack of predators is their long noses.
They have a long, sharp row of teeth on their nose. They can bite and ensnare their prey with ease thanks to the combination of their fangs and snout. They are not the kind of fish that are readily disturbed; they have been around for over 100 million years. Lepisosteus osseus is its Scientific name.
5. Tapirs
Tapirs have long nose that resembles the trunk of an Elephant, and there are more parallels outside just appearances. Due to the prehensile nature of this animal’s nostrils, it is able to navigate its environment in a highly complex manner. This tapir’s trunk, like the elephant’s, encloses both its top lip and its nose. Tapirs of various varieties can be found in the jungles, grasslands, and mountains of Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and Paraguay, as well as in some areas of Malaysia.
Tapirs can navigate with their eyesight and their hearing, which is better. However, their trunks do assist in enhancing their sense of smell. They can activate the Flehmen response, which alerts them to everything from food sources to dangers to potential mates. Tapiridae is their scientific name.
Image Source: Wikipedia
6. Mandrills
The largest and most vibrant monkeys in the world, mandrills have vividly colored humps and blue and red skin on their faces. These monkeys are found in the tropical rainforest of equatorial Africa. Mandrills draw in female partners thanks to the size and color of their noses. The male with the largest and most vibrant nose has a greater chance of success since these features appeal to women. The long noses of these monkeys aid them in feeding as well as mating because they are skilled foragers of seeds, nuts, and small animals. Mandrillus sphinx is its scientific name.
7. Elephant seals
Elephant seals are so called because their noses resemble elephant trunks. However, unlike elephants, these seals do not use their noses as much. Southern seals can be found in the chilly Antarctic and sub-antarctic waters, while northern seals can be found in California and Baja California. Instead, during mating, another male is noisily scared away using the elephant seal’s nose.
Elephant seals only have large, bulging noses on the males. Additionally, because of the natural requirements of an elephant seal’s mating ritual, their huge nostrils aid them in storing water during the mating season when they are required to leave the coast. Their scientific name is Mirounga.
8. Bushpig
Bushpigs bushpig resemble domestic pigs in a number of ways, including having long, blunt, muscular noses. These pigs can be found in East and Southern African countries. Their natural habitats include woodlands, forests, and riverine vegetation. Similar to domestic pigs, bushpigs use their elongated snouts for many purposes.
When foraging, Bushpigs use their large noses, which have excellent senses of smell, to uproot grass and roots and dig the ground for small animals and insects. The creatures’ weak eyesight makes that useful. Their scientific name is Potamochoerus larvatus.
9. South American Coati
There are numerous varieties of coatis, but the South American coati has the largest nose. Strangely enough, despite their unusual appearance, these animals are actually bear relatives. They can be found in the lowland forests of the Andes. The nose of South American coatis aids in their survival as they consume a range of things, including vegetation and small mammals. They utilize their noses to discover food because they are mostly foragers. They can even dig out food (like insects) from beneath rotting wood using their noses. Its Scientific name is Nasua nasua.
10. Long-beaked Echidna
Long-beaked echidnas are exceedingly unusual mammals with spikes on their tongue in place of teeth and the ability to lay eggs. They also have exceptionally large noses. The snout is two-thirds the length of the head and has a modest downward slope. They can be found on the island of New Guinea.
An echidna with a long beak uses its long nose to sniff out food since they have keen senses of smell. This aids them in spotting any potential threats nearby as well as other long-beaked echidnas. Zaglossus is their scientific name.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are the list of the animals with big noses. Kindly share and do post your comments.
