Alien-like creatures are all around us at all times, from microscopic to the largest organisms on Earth. Although they may have always been here with us, their bizarre appearance and behaviors suggest they originated elsewhere.
What’s more, we are never far away from alien-like creatures at any point in our lives. Their strange forms and behaviors are part of what makes our planet so endlessly fascinating. As you see, earthlings can be quite otherworldly and generally no threat to humans.
Here’s a look at just a few alien-like creatures of Earth.
Alien-Like Creatures – On Your Face
Although you can’t see them, tiny eight-legged creatures related to ticks and spiders almost certainly live on your face. People living in different world areas tend to have different Demodex (face mites), which are strangely loyal. In fact, they are so loyal that their DNA holds clues to our ancient ancestors’ migrations.
See, you’re never alone after all. On each tiny peach-fuzz hair, the Demodex may cling. As they hang out in hair follicles, they eat the grease on your face called sebum.
At night while you are sleeping, Demodex ventures out to mate. Then, they go back to lay eggs. But don’t worry, these alien-like creatures are nothing to worry about.
According to entomologist Michelle Trautwein, Demodex begins life on your face shortly after birth, generally presenting no issues for those with healthy immune systems. It seems you can thank Mom for your face mites.
“They’re not dangerous in a broad sense because we all have them and most of us seem to be cohabiting quite well with them,” Trautwein says. “We mostly share them within family units, and it seems like you are probably initially colonized soon after birth, most likely by your mother, traditionally speaking in human history.”
As another strange feature, face mites have no anus, never pooping. Hey, that’s a plus, right?
Related: Ancient Poop Reveals Extinction Event Inside Humans
So, will you embrace the tiny aliens on your face? Um, no, but they embrace everyone universally as part of the living ecosystem of our bodies. Inside, we humans are home to somewhere around 39 million mostly beneficial microbial cells, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
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Alien-Like Leaf/Slugs
Although most people have never seen one, there are emerald living leaves in the oceans all along the eastern United States coastline up to Canada.
The Eastern Emerald Elysia, Elysia cholorotica, seems like a leaf that came to life. In reality, it’s a sea slug that steals light-harvesting organelles from algae to take advantage of photosynthesis.
While the leafy appearance certainly helps disguise the slug, it also functions as a leaf. That is, the Elysia is solar-powered, incorporating genes from algae to keep chloroplasts alive inside its body. Thus, it can rely on the sun for much of its energy, slowly moving in the shallows.
See the Eastern Emerald Elysia in action from Strange Animals:
Octopus: Are They Actual Aliens?
No discussion of alien-like creatures of Earth should overlook the octopus. These extremely intelligent mollusk relatives defy belief, living in underwater cities, for one example.
Along with their alien-looking appearance, octopus and squid have almost otherworldly abilities. For instance, they can rewrite their RNA and the codes for neural proteins, a possible reason they are so remarkably smart.
Although it is far from proven, scientists have explored the idea that octopus genes may have originated from other worlds.
Below, check out the rare “Rainbow” Blanket Octopus recently caught on camera in the Philippines. In this species, the males remain the size of walnuts while females reach six feet long. For defense, they rip the tentacles from Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish to use as their own weapons.
Video by USA TODAY:
Recently, “pro mermaid” Madison Cashio made Newsweek showing her interactions with an octopus at the Blue Zoo in Louisiana. As you can see, Octavia, the octopus, is playful and seeks attention from the diving mermaid.
Leaf Sheep
Similar to the Emerald Elysia, another sea slug selectively steals and incorporates chloroplasts from algae as it feeds. It is commonly called a “Leaf Sheep,” resembling a tiny bovine, complete with tiny horn-like appendages.
To find these tiny alien-like, adorable creatures, Costasiella kuroshimae, you would have to travel to Japan, Indonesia, or the Philippines. However, these tiny sea slugs are so small (one-centimeter max) they easily go unnoticed.
Up close, these little guys are ridiculously cute and alien-like.
See more about the Leaf Sheep below from Ben G Thomas:
Alien-LIke Praying Mantis
Of all the creatures in the world, the praying mantis is probably one of those most often called alien-looking. When you encounter a mantis, they turn their heads and look at you with their huge compound eyes, a feat other insects can’t accomplish.
As the Toledo Blade’s Matt Markey described the mantis:
“With its Marty Feldman eyes, its space alien antennae, its spindly stature, its leaf-like wings, and those Edward Scissorhands weapons out front, this is a killing machine posing as a cartoonish character.”
Thanks to its Marty Feldman eyes, a mantis can zero in on anything within 60 feet. However, it can’t detect the direction of the sound, with some mantids having one ear on the belly. On the other hand, the praying mantis can detect ultrasound, such as from predatory bats. So, if a flying mantis detects the bats’ echolocation, it can evade capture.
Although the name is spelled “pray,” the more accurate word would be “prey,” as the mantis locks onto anything it can overpower. As the biggest carnivorous insect species, they are formidable alien-like creatures. One of the largest species, the Devil’s Flower Mantis from Africa, truly appears to be an extraterrestrial.
In UFO culture, extraterrestrials resembling a mantis are well-known. So, the mantis could be the most alien-like creature on Earth? Each day, photos of these stunning insects amaze people all over the planet.
More about Praying Mantis from ZoneA:
Featured image: Mantis via Pixabay, Pixabay License with screenshots via YouTube