From blobfish to blue-footed booby; 7 wild animals with seriously funny names!

Be it bird, fish, or animal, every single breathing creature is born with a name. While some names are normal and socially acceptable, there are names which sound so strange, funny and unserious that they almost feel made up. But to your surprise, they’re absolutely real names. The probable reason behind this is that several names come from early explorers and local languages. Over time, these names sound logical but absolutely hilarious and funny.

You’ll notice that behind every unserious name is a very serious story. Whether it’s blobfish or dik-dik, these animals are as important to the world as other creatures with serious scientific names.

A look at seven animals with some of the funniest names and where to spot them.​

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Aha ha is perhaps the most playful or hilarious name of all. It is a wasp species mostly found in Hawaii. The story behind the name of the fish is quite interesting. It is said that the scientist who identified it reportedly exclaimed “aha” when he saw it. It’s an intentional humor.
Where to spot: Native forests of Hawaii.

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Now this might sound weird but a slippery dick is a type of wrasse which has a slippery sleek body. It’s not easy to catch them and that’s why the name “slippery.” And the next part of its name comes from old regional slang. It’s a vibrant reef fish which is actually quite beautiful.

Where to spot: Across the Caribbean Sea, mostly around the Bahamas.​
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Then there are blue-footed booby found on Galápagos Islands. The creature gets its name from the Spanish word bobo, which means “fool.” This name is given because of the creature’s clumsy behavior on land but it’s an excellent sea hunter and diver. The Blue-footed booby is known for its bright blue feet and cute dance.
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Where to spot: Coastal regions and islands like the Galápagos Islands.​
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The spiny lumpsucker looks as funny as its name. It is a chubby looking round creature covered in small spines and a suction disc. The word “lump” comes from the shape and “sucker” for its unique suction disc.​
Where to spot: Cold northern waters around the North Atlantic Ocean.
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Dik-dik is an extremely cute-looking but small antelope which is named after a sharp “dik-dik” sound the animal makes when surprised. This variety of antelope is quite shy and mostly seen in pairs. The name must be funny but it is quite an important part of its ecosystem.
​Where to spot: Kenya and Tanzania

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Shoebill is a funny name but it has a logic. The huge beak of the bird looks like a shoe and that’s why the name. The bird is quite large and looks prehistoric. One of the unique features about the bird is that it can stand for hours motionless while hunting prey.

Where to spot: Wetlands and swamps of Uganda and South Sudan.
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Not many must be aware of the fact that blobfish is also known as the “world’s ugliest animal”! When you look at it, the animal looks droopy and gelatinous and slimy at the same time. Blobfish live deep in the sea where pressure is high. Its “blobby” or “ugly” appearance is because of decompression. It is one of those fish which is rarely seen alive.

Where to spot: Australia and New Zealand

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