This universe is filled with animals of many hues and designs, and their beauty is undeniably beautiful. However, some of them are distinct. They desire to remain hidden in plain sight. Are they too shy, or do they simply wish to be discreet? Let’s learn more about the various varieties of ghostly, glassy, transparent critters that lurk around us. Do you want to discover why so many of the animals listed here are sea creatures? The answer is simple: self-preservation. According to American Scientist Sönke Johnsen, “almost all open ocean animals not otherwise protected by teeth, toxins, speed or small size have some degree of invisibility.” Here is the list of transparent animals in the world,
Transparent Animals
1. Transparent Snail
The shell of this newly discovered snail is semi-transparent and attractively formed like a dome. These snails were discovered dwelling in a deep cave system in Croatia, nearly half a mile (1 km) underground. They are tiny and have restricted mobility. This snail is a member of the genus Zospeum and tends to live in muddy areas near running water. They are not completely immobile, however, and their dissemination is primarily accomplished by passive transit via water or larger mammals.
Image Source: Wikimedia
2. European Eel Larvae
As an adult, the European eel lives in European estuaries and rivers before returning to the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda to lay its eggs. It is transparent as larvae and exploits the Gulf Stream currents to travel all the way back to Europe. Because predatory fish can easily grab these baby eels on their lengthy journey, they are transparent until they grow. Unfortunately, the population of this eel has been declining over the past 45 years, and the number of European eels that make it to Europe has plummeted by 90%.
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Barreleye
The barreleye, is sometimes known as a “spookfish” due to its look. The barreleye has a fully transparent forehead. Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute made numerous surprise barreleye discoveries in 2009. Previously thought to have a fixed gaze that only enabled it to see straight up, researchers revealed that the barreleye’s eyes can rotate and are really positioned within its clear skull. They also discovered that the barreleye can stare in different directions, including straight up while swimming, letting it detect the shadows of possible prey. This unique fish lives in the deep sea.
Image Source: Wikimedia
4. Crocodile Icefish
This fish is more than just transparent. It even has transparent blood! It is the only mammal in the world that lacks red blood cells, which means it lacks hemoglobin (a protein that transports oxygen in the blood). What is it for if its see-through blood isn’t good for camouflage? Crocodile icefish live in icy water. It can get up to 28.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.9 degrees Celsius).
At 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes (0 degrees Celsius). Saltwater freezes at temperatures below 28.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-1.9 degrees Celsius) depending on the salt concentration. That is why, throughout the winter, salt is shoveled into streets and paths. These fish use their blood plasma to absorb oxygen from the water.
Image Source: Wikimedia
5. Tortoise Shell Beetles
These bugs appear in many different forms, and some, like the clavate tortoise beetle of the eastern and southern United States, have a solid-colored interior surrounded by a transparent casing. Because of the casing on its back, this beetle resembles a turtle on a small scale and measures between 5 to 12 mm (less than 0.5 inches) in length. Tortoiseshell beetles are extremely colorful in tropical areas, so much so that they are used to produce jewelry. One of the tortoiseshell beetle’s odd habits is holding its feces in an umbrella constructed of its molted skin above it as camouflage.
Image Source: Wikimedia
6. Glass Frog
These animals’ abdomen skin is incredibly transparent, exposing their internal organs. This frog species uses camouflage to blend in with its surroundings. Most are light to dark green in hue. These creatures are usually arboreal and live high in the trees over water in the jungles of Central and South America. They have strong legs that allow them to leap 10 feet in a single bound. Its enemies are unable to notice it.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Glass Octopus
The glass octopus is so distinct that it has its own family, the Vitreledonellidae. This marine species is little known, however, it can be found in tropical and subtropical waters all over the world. Scientists know that its optic lobes contain abnormally long optic nerve stalks, indicating that its sense of sight is acute, thanks to its transparent skin, which presumably developed to help it avoid predators. You’d also need pretty strong eyesight to see one of these phantom beings.
Image Source: Wikimedia
8. Glasswinged Butterfly
The glasswinged butterfly (Greta oto), which is native to Central America, appears to have portions of glass in its wings, much like a colorless stained-glass window. The tips of this butterfly’s wings are colored, but the rest of the wings are clear. The wings of this butterfly do not reflect light as you might expect due to the nanoscale structure of the wings. This structure is made up of a “chaotic” arrangement of pillar-like constructions of varying sizes and shapes. The wings are so effective that their design could serve as inspiration for future glare-free computer and cellphone screens.
Image Source: Wikimedia
9. Clear Cleaner Shrimp
As the name suggests, the Clear Cleaner Shrimps are specialized feeders that clean reef species. The big feelers are translucent, and the legs and chelipeds feature red and white bands that alternate. Only a few blue-black lines show the rough contour of this animal’s body. This shrimp is only a few inches (cm) long and lives on coral in the Philippines. It is one of the most beautiful transparent animals in the world.
Image Source: Rickard
10. Jellyfish
Jellyfish are maybe the most well-known transparent organisms. Many free-swimming species of the phylum Cnidaria are transparent, which makes them occasionally dangerous due to their often lethal stings that can catch swimmers off guard. These types of Jellyfish are also among the most ancient species on the planet, and their transparent bodies make them among the most graceful and gorgeous sea creatures. They have specialized cells called cnidocytes that they primarily use for hunting.
These are the most transparent animals in the world. Kindly share and do post your comments.
