plenteousness of superheroes and supervillains are animal themed , taking on the grace of a cat or the strength of a wanderer . But there are animals who are first-rate in their own rightfield , with abilities perfectly suited to save the day .
Top photo byRobin L.
Naked Mole Rat
Powers : The raw mole rat is certainlyone of the most remarkable creaturesto come out of Class Mammalia . No defenseless mole rat has ever been make love to get cancer ( patently thanks totheir remarkable skin cells ) ; theycan’t feel pain from acid or capsaicin ; they cansurvive for long period of time of time without atomic number 8 ; their tooth purpose as multitools ; and they have incredible sensory percept that make them perfectly built for life underground . They make us humans look like superpower slacker .
10 Reasons Naked Mole Rats Will Inherit the Earth
scientist have figured out why bare mole rats do n’t get cancer
https://gizmodo.com/the-naked-mole-rat-cant-feel-pain-from-acid-burns-now-5868776
Naked Mole Rats ’ Latest Superheroic Feat : come through Without Oxygen
Mission : Although their senses and impregnability to bother would make the raw bulwark dirty dog ideal nominee for surreptitious crimefighting , their eusocial nature ( the naked breakwater bum is one of only two known species of eusocial mammals ) is credibly well befit to group undertaking . There ’s a reason we deemed them a species likely to inherit the dry land ; in our superheroic interlingual rendition of the animal kingdom , the naked mole dirty dog are carve out bunker in advance of a next apocalypse . Woe unto anyone who endeavor to stop them .
Of of course , there is the periodic naked mole rat superspy :
Weakness : Snakes , notably one that is , oddly enough , called the rufous beak snake .
Photo byYinghai .
Waterbear
Powers : Tardigrades ( also known as waterbears ) areincredible extremophiles , thriving where other fauna dare not tread : in temperature from just above absolute zero to above water ’s boiling compass point , in 1,000 times more actinotherapy than other animals could subsist , in pressures six times greater than found in the Mariana oceanic abyss , and even in the vacuum of distance .
run across the tardigrade : The Solar System ’s Most Extreme Survivors
delegation : Super Waterbear would serve as our envoy to other planets and dimensions . There is no pressure too great ( well , okay , there probably is , but it ’s a very capital pressure ) , no vacuum cleaner too empty for this plucky Heron .
Weakness : Boredom . Or , if we ’re being serious , extreme hotness would do the trick .
Photo byJacopo Werther .
Mantis Shrimp
Powers : The creature realm ’s gold gloves belong to the peacock mantis shrimp , a tight - punching relative of lobster and crabmeat . This critter can unfurl its crushing clubwith and acceleration 10,000 time peachy than solemnity and its punch can reach a top speed of 50 miles per minute through the water . It ’s a ability that allow the mantid shrimp demolish shellfish shells and get at that delicious kernel .
missionary work : We ’re sending these hombre to the Pacific Rim breach to protect us from kaiju .
Weakness : take out butter .
Photo byAngell Williams .
Cuttlefish
Powers : Cuttlefish are superior of camouflage . Using its chromatophores , the unbelievable paint cells in their skin , cuttlefish can mimic their surround to a degree chameleons can only dream of . They can even alter the texture of their skin to seem rough or smooth . It helps that they cansee the angle at which lighting is reflected and polarise , allowing them to further fine - melodic line their camouflage .
Another reason why cuttlefish are master of camouflage
Cuttlefish have a ocular superpower – they see the world in polarized light
As a fillip , cuttlefish have been known to use their skin - change power to hypnotize their quarry .
charge : Cuttlefish are best suited to blind , such as underwater espionage .
failing : For the males at least , their cracking weakness is each other . Males outnumber females by up to 11 to 1 , which meansthe competition to couple can get fierce .
https://gizmodo.com/watch-the-worlds-largest-cuttlefish-battle-for-mating-r-5919643
Photo byWilliam Warby .
dolphin
power : Yes , dolphinfish are incredibly intelligent creatures who can observe mines and torpedoes . Bottlenose dolphins can even use nets to trap their prey . But that ’s not the real rationality they ’re on this listing . The grounds is theywield sea snake whip . That ’s correct , dolphin grab sea snakes and whip them around , which makes the sea Snake bite and stamp out the fish around them . It may not be the Lasso of Truth , but it ’s a pretty tasteful artillery .
https://gizmodo.com/10-weapons-that-animals-use-5890642
Mission : We ’re envision some kind of underwater Indiana Jones , protecting mysterious underwater artifacts from malevolent deep ocean diver .
Update : Sadly , the post about mahimahi wielding ocean snakes was erroneous . Dolphins are still awesome ; they ’re just not the Indiana Joneses of the ocean .
Weakness : Tuna nets .
Photo byGordon Wrigley .
Bonobos
Powers : Unlike most of the animals on this inclination , bonobos do n’t exert some incredible physiological ability , but have instead develop a rather intriguing battle resolution strategy : gender . In addition to using sexual activity as a means of bonding and attain pleasure , it appear that bonobos frequently terminate their ( not infrequent ) conflicts by engaging in intimate activity , reestablishing glad relations .
missionary post : To eliminate all conflict on Earth by encouraging people to have sexual urge with one other .
Weakness : Creating socially cumbersome situations among non - pygmy chimpanzee .
Thanks to George Dvorsky for suggesting this one !
Photo byJeroen Kransen .
Planarian
Powers : re-formation . Planarians , a eccentric of platyhelminth , are one of theTime Lords of the animal kingdom(along with creatures likethe hydrozoanTurritopsis dohrnii ) . They own biologic immortality , able to regenerate any organ . They can even reform their heads , andtheir memories stay entire .
These immortal flatworms regenerate like real - life Time Lords
Aquatic Invader Has Time Lord ’s Regenerative Powers
https://gizmodo.com/decapitated-worms-regrow-their-heads-with-old-memories-744188552
Mission : In the superpowered world , flatworms probably are n’t the beings who are off getting their hands dirty ( even if they had men to dirty ) . More likely , they would function as the keepers of knowledge , the animal who hold the swell secrets of the universe , or at least their tiny corner of it .
Weakness : Ultraviolet light .
picture bydavidd .
Archerfish
Powers : The Hawkeye of our animal superhero squad does n’t even need an pointer . The archerfish take out insects and other land animals by shoot them with droplets of water . They ’re also remarkably accurate , with adult unremarkably make for down their target on the first try .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhBZ40jIo4Q
Mission : Archerfish are sharpshooter , but their skills are peculiar in that they only work against brute on land . Superhero archerfish would trace down threats against the sea on shore or aboard gravy boat , criticise them into the drinkable .
Weakness : landed estate critters that move out of chain of mountains .
Photo byGreg Goebel .
Dragonflies
power : mosquito hawk are nature ’s predator drones . Because dragonflies can control each of their wings on an individual basis , they ’re outstandingly exact fliers and can attain fastness of 30 miles per minute . That ’s why dragonflies usually arrest their prey mid - air . Plus , they partake a trait with humans : selective aid .
Video cogent evidence that dragonflies are nature ’s ninjas
Like humans , dragonflies are capable of concentre their care
charge : If you need someone to take down enemy airman , you’re able to do little in force than the mosquito hawk . And their precise , speedy flights make them ideal for recovery missions .
helplessness : regrettably for dragonflies , they ’re on a lot of species ’ card — include humankind ’ .
photograph byTom Soper .
Animals
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