# Identify these "awful" animals (with pics!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790 "2009-12-28T11:45:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/21 "2009-12-28T17:22:42Z")
16 was a tough one. It’s a type of cordyceps growing out of a white grub. After all that hard work searching the university of nebraska site, I’m annoyed to have found the thread the blogger probably took everything from: [Wired New York Forum](http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17820) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/22 "2009-12-28T18:00:07Z")
> [@This\_ll\_Do](#): > > 41 [Record Piranha](http://www.dwingdwang.com/2007/08/27/piranha-the-biggest-one-ever-caught/) I’m skeptical—that looks nothing like any pirhana I’ve seen. Pirhanas are usually roundish when viewed in profile; the fish in the photos is quite elongated. Also, four of the five people holding it all appear to be of undiluted subsaharan African ancestry, who I think would be unusual to find in the same South American regions pirhanas are found. Does anyone else have a cite for #41 that isn’t from some random blog? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/23 "2009-12-28T18:02:33Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > 16 was a tough one. It’s a type of cordyceps growing out of a white grub. > > After all that hard work searching the university of nebraska site, I’m annoyed to have found the thread the blogger probably took everything from: [Wired New York Forum](http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17820) Ah, thanks for that. According to that site, #41 is a [tigerfish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish) from the Congo River, which makes a lot more sense than a pirhana. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/24 "2009-12-28T18:54:39Z")
I knew a lot of these but I’m too late to play. For those hard to ID, you could probably track them down by searching their photo on [tineye.com](http://tineye.com) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/25 "2009-12-28T20:16:00Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > 16 was a tough one. It’s a type of cordyceps growing out of a white grub. > > After all that hard work searching the university of nebraska site, I’m annoyed to have found the thread the blogger probably took everything from: http:// wirednewyork .com/forum/showthread.php?t=17820 (broke link in quote) Careful, Google Chrome says that link appears to host malware. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/26 "2009-12-28T20:24:10Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > [li]**[giant marine isopod]([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/giant\_marine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/giant_marine) isopod)**[/li] JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! KILL IT! KILL IT!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/27 "2009-12-28T22:27:41Z")
How can owl chicks be the most awful creatures? Really? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/28 "2009-12-29T00:09:40Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! KILL IT! KILL IT!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: At least they don’t live on land. That coconut crab is freaking me the HELL out! Imagine [this](http://entertheoctopus.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/coconut-crab-2.jpg) happening to you! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/29 "2009-12-29T00:29:53Z")
That picture of the coconut crab must have been posted here about 500 times and I still can’t figure out what’s so disturbing about it. Maybe it has something to do with a lifetime of looking at whole, cooked crabs at dinner tables, breaking off their legs, and eating them that has made me jaded to the sight of large crabs. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/30 "2009-12-29T00:44:28Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > That picture of the coconut crab must have been posted here about 500 times and I still can’t figure out what’s so disturbing about it. Maybe it has something to do with a lifetime of looking at whole, cooked crabs at dinner tables, breaking off their legs, and eating them that has made me jaded to the sight of large crabs. Because [THEY FUCKING ATE AMELIA EARHART!!!](http://blogs.discovery.com/news_archaeorama/2009/10/as-a-new-biopic-about-legendary-aviatrix-amelia-earhart-launches-onto-movie-theater-screens-this-weekend-speculations-about.html) :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/31 "2009-12-29T00:45:41Z")
> [@Oldeb](#): > > **43** is a Giant Armored Trapdoor Spider This sounds like a D&D _Monster Manual_ entry. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/32 "2009-12-29T00:52:35Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > That picture of the coconut crab must have been posted here about 500 times and I still can’t figure out what’s so disturbing about it. Maybe it has something to do with a lifetime of looking at whole, cooked crabs at dinner tables, breaking off their legs, and eating them that has made me jaded to the sight of large crabs. You never worried about them taking revenge?! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/33 "2009-12-29T01:36:41Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! KILL IT! KILL IT!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg)’s another photo for you, from a less frightening angle. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/34 "2009-12-29T02:15:41Z")
The Camel Spider #31 photo is taken at an angle that exaggerates its size. They’re very creepy, and pretty damn huge, but aren’t quite as gigantic as that picture suggests. Here in the Southwest USA we have a slightly smaller version, called “Sun Spiders” or “Wind Spiders” although they’re not technically spiders. Even the biggest Camel Spiders are harmless to people, unless the creepiness factor gives you a heart attack. . ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/35 "2009-12-29T03:04:30Z")
That armadillo lizard is actually a Sungazer Lizard. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/36 "2009-12-29T05:01:25Z")
I’m never leaving Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/37 "2009-12-29T05:04:27Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg)’s another photo for you, from a less frightening angle. [And here’s the T-shirt](http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-PRETTY&Category_Code=QC) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/38 "2009-12-29T06:25:32Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathynomus_giganteus.jpg)’s another photo for you, from a less frightening angle. Wow. Now THAT guy does not. look. happy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![arachnologus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@arachnologus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arachnologus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/39 "2009-12-29T06:40:36Z")
1. is a crustacean in the order Notostraca, “tadpole shrimp.” Some of the U.S. species live in temporary desert pools. 2. The armadillo lizard here bears a striking resemblance to the fictional Cluster Lizard in Lexx - perhaps the real lizard inspired the fictional one. 3. A pycnogonid, or “sea spider.” Not actually an arachnid, but distantly related. They are marine organisms and never live on land, let alone crawl on your face! 4. A _Scolopendra_ species. These are venomous and even the touch of their leg claws can be painful or cause little welts to form. This is not necessarily a southeast Asian species - there are hundreds of species all over the warmer parts of the world, looking much alike, including some in the American SW. 5. This is the infamous “camel spider” hoax photo that makes them look about 8 times as big as they actually are. They are actually solpugids (a.k.a. solifugids) which are not spiders, not venomous, and none of the other legends about them are true either. See my pages [here](http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/camelspider.html) and [here](http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/camelspider2.html). 6. Another pycnogonid, as in 29. 7. This segmented trapdoor spider photo originates on [this page](http://people.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/~ubcg60a/malaysia/spiders.html). ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790/40 "2009-12-29T12:16:41Z")
I must correct myself. I don’t know why I said “dogfish” when #12 is a chimera pup. I must be gettign old, to be making such misstatements about elasmobranches. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-these-awful-animals-with-pics/522790.md?page=3)