Survival of the fittest is the eternal law of nature. Various animal species across the world are adapted to the upheavals or changes in living conditions in the environment such as global cooling or heating. Here is the list of animals with the thickest skin that are very well adapted to their environment,
Animals With The Thickest Skin
1. Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
Leatherback Sea Turtle is one of the endangered turtle and tortoise species and is among the largest of all living sea turtles. The average size of adult species is between 1 to 1.75 meters in shell length and between 1.83 to 2.2 meters in total length and the avarage weight is between 250 to 700 kilograms. These are some of the deepest diving marine animals and have been recorded diving to depths as great as 1,280 meters (4,200 feet). These turtle species are highly migratory and can swim over 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) a year between nesting and foraging grounds and hence listed as one of the animals that travel farthest.
2. Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Armadillo is one of the crawling animals that comes with distinctive hard protective shell covering their bodies. The protective layers can vary in both appearance and number of sections. They prefer thriving in the regions of warm, easy-to-dig soil that ranges from 7-15 feet depending on the species. The breeding age of an Armadillo is between 9 and 12 months of age and gestates for 2 to 5 months where the female will give birth in a burrow and all the baby armadillos, or pups, come from just one egg. The average lifespan of Armadillo is between 12 to 15 years in the wild.
3. Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
A giant anteater is one of the animals that have long faces and sharp claws to tear an opening into an anthill. The long tongue will help to lap up 35,000 ants and termites they swallow whole each day. The ant species will also fight back with painful stings, so the anteater will only spend a minute feasting on each mound. These animals with big noses can sleep upto 15 hours per day and their main predators include pumas, jaguars, and humans.
4. Pangolin (Manis spp.)
A pangolin is a unique-looking animal found in diverse habitats in tropical and subtropical regions in sub-Saharan Africa and southern and southeastern Asia. There are eight species of pangolins the long-tailed pangolin, tree pangolin, giant pangolin, ground pangolin, Indian pangolin, Philippine pangolin, Chinese pangolin, and Sunda pangolin. The animal species can grow between 30 to 100 centimeters long and weigh between 5 to 27 kilograms. They have a poor sense of vision, so they rely heavily on smell and hearing.
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
Rhinoceros Iguana is one of the animals with thickest skin endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. This is a large lizard and varies in length between 60 to 136 centimeters and the average weight is between 4.5 to 9 grams. The name of the species is derived from the bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth that resembles the horn of a rhinoceros on the iguana’s snout. The avarage lifespan of Rhinoceros Iguana is upto 20 years in the wild. The primary diet includes leaves, flowers, berries, seeds, and fruits from different plant species.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)
The The Cape Fur Seal also known as the African Fur Seal is the largest of all the fur seal varieties. The strong and stocky body has been covered with velvety dark grey or brown fur, howvever, it is not brutally hunted for that. The average length of animal species is upto 2.3 m in length and the average weight is between 200 to 300 kilograms. The dietary habit is carnivorous in nature and feeds on fish, squid, crabs, and other crustaceans. The avarage lifespan of a cape fur seal is upto 20 years in the wild.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris)
The northern elephant seal’s scientific name is Mirounga angustirostris is one of the two species of elephant seals that belongs to the family Phocidae (true seals). They are found in the North Pacific, ranging from Baja California, Mexico, to the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Talking about appearance, the body is long and robust and the neck is very thick. Th adult species can grow upto 13 feet in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds, however, females are smaller and can grow upto 10 feet.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Harp Seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
Haro seal also known as saddleback seal found in the arctic regions of Greenland, Svalbard, and Franz Josef Land, hence listed as one of the winter animals in the world. They can grow length of between 1.7 to 2 metres and their avarage weight is between 120 to 150 kg. Talking about appearance, once they are born they look like a white fluffy coat, however, in adolescence, they have a silver-gray coat spotted with black. These fluffy animals are very social around mating season, forming huge colonies on land.
9. African Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
The Cape porcupine scientific name Hystrix africaeaustralis is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa. The body length is between 63 to 82 cm in length and the average weight is between 10 to 24 grams. It is the largest rodent in Africa and also the world’s largest porcupine. The body is covered with long spines up to 50 cm (20 in) in length and hence listed as one of the animals with black thickest skin in the world. The avarage lifespan of the African Cape Porcupine is upto 10 years in the wild and upto 20 years in captivity.
Image Source: Wikimedia
10. Wildebeest (Connochaetes)
Wildebeest is one of the animals that travel farthest that belongs to the family of antelopes. They are found in central, eastern, and southern parts of Africa and prefer life in green plains and open woodlands. It is a grazer that feeds on short grass and needs to drink water at least every other day. Talking about their appearance, they have a large head, and natural predators include lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and African wild dogs. The avarage lifespan of wildebeest is upto 20 years in the wild.
These are the animals with the thickest skin in the world. Kindly share and post your comments.
