8 of the Stinkiest Creatures on the Planet

5th April, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-a5ff3e40-cd7e-4b3c-91ac-051dfda0d086 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(25.92395866858973%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8785f257-29df-4dee-87ca-5df45def838b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c5da36-8d30-4043-bde6-782f1aa5496d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Get ready to meet creatures with odors that pack a potent punch.

1: Skunk

[{"selector":"#anim-07bdef39-7e46-4fd7-ad0f-ea4c78788c41 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.5152498388672%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6da7642f-f158-408a-9930-18a959f3c48f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f926f398-45bb-47ab-8275-6c95871a8d97","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7189743-6943-4bf6-a044-2c57b2f0aed5","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16fea220-d8e2-45b4-9254-d1922aed0a7b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Noxious spray fired from their anal glands, a defense known the world over.

2: Wolverine

[{"selector":"#anim-95a54153-2e9c-4a34-8295-0daacf147fe0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.08620196300119%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-072e912c-67b8-4344-bcd4-76f31c26af79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1c4f533-584d-40f7-8f2a-3d94527b8b69","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7207d5ef-493f-4f64-8a7f-a9c69ac9d2e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40033fd3-efa6-418d-a8ae-70d9cadc030f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Musk from scent glands marks territory and deters predators - smells like a stinky gym bag.

3: Tasmanian Devil

[{"selector":"#anim-921e2782-6baf-46b1-b9a5-68736585cde0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-20.044516907777513%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f90c7e74-9d91-4755-b7c0-e7043245287e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84412485-a39b-4bea-abed-eacff9ca356c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30a22b53-726b-4dc2-9213-791288b807df","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a092a2f-8f70-4a95-8fd4-a4205d2636c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Foul-smelling secretions act as a warning when they're feeling threatened or agitated.

4: Hoatzin

[{"selector":"#anim-1764ca6a-4d61-4e8c-95c2-32cefdef053b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-60.01881160628484%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7459e938-f20a-463d-821b-3f030dba183e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3723db07-7b2b-452a-abd5-bf6821b67ca8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b49a22ee-898e-47b1-ae2f-a538f3e12666","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ab296b3-7828-42d0-a459-2510a8cf1ea9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Unique digestive system gives them a 'cow manure' aroma – yes, birds can be smelly!

5: Stink Bug

[{"selector":"#anim-3ff3bc57-a1b4-4f80-abcd-4b96d8bd2648 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.45814579175103%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91d9a27a-ac5b-4b66-b2fe-a0bf5b80954c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ddf6f6f-c562-419b-bef0-47c4272bf1d7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eca6cf87-53f1-4779-b0a1-df09e2de0d61","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b30a6d85-1042-4906-934a-18df76880902","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Releases a pungent chemical when disturbed – their name isn't misleading!

6: Lesser Anteater

[{"selector":"#anim-1ae224e4-a7d8-4b9e-b655-1db3dc1ba4d2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-8.29624716222257%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90b5c25d-176c-4e42-a61f-6b5348b6b20f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2dc928ed-7416-4033-b67e-1cfb0a22169b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f4ffc6d-562d-4548-965e-f2566febf227","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f73a12fa-0e53-4959-9f13-faef83598204","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Powerful scent glands ward off predators – think extra-stinky skunk. Learn more

7: Bed Bug

[{"selector":"#anim-9f73065b-19d2-40b8-8973-9a80066cb97b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.48040883846495%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b763551-c8fa-4411-92cb-cfe7784a20e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d912b54c-0980-42d9-a7f1-d783fb22be8f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bff9cbe8-785f-485e-8f37-531407329e6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b74ee4c-68d9-4e3f-8e53-705b696625bb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Releases musty, sweet odor that strangely attracts other bed bugs. Eww! Learn more

8: Hoopoe

[{"selector":"#anim-b08af426-5b7d-4a92-a7ee-b7adc117baa9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.81607116612851%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2127fe4-ef0a-4887-9693-8b65e116e3b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-870d40a5-5c22-47ac-9379-94ed8679e6c8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d788639-69a4-4b75-aaf9-d19047d8a48b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9452ef38-1780-4593-b3b7-4dcc1cd73e35","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Nests reek, and chicks can shoot foul-smelling poop at intruders – messy business! Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-be05176e-5923-4503-9426-57ca02b71304 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.218322267611725%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d182f12-46ee-4389-99a1-a5ddc5d42a35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11d1cbdb-ed85-483b-a1a1-9f01914fea74","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Sometimes, an awful smell is a survival tactic! The animal kingdom is full of surprising (and stinky) adaptations. Learn more