Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) ∏ Pancy98(01 of21)
Open Image ModalThe pig-nosed turtle is the sole surviving member of an ancient and once widespread family of animals. The most unique feature is the elongated, pig-like snout, which acts like a snorkel, allowing the turtle to breathe while the rest of the body remains underwater (perhaps so it never has to show the world its ugly face?) Greg Foot (daredevil scientist and C4 Sunday Brunch’s “resident scientist”) Forget your big cuddly attention grabbing pandas. It’s time for something else to step up into the limelight, well, I guess something to swim up in this case! Yes, it is the pig-nosed turtle… so there you go – the pig-nosed turtle. Vote now! It’s quite clear it’s got to be the pig-nosed turtle. No longer does he need to be bullied in the animal playground, he can now stand there with his piggy snouty nose raised up high!
Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) -� Fletcher and Baylis(02 of21)
Open Image ModalThe proboscis monkey is named after its impressive nose, used as a resonating chamber to increase the volume of mating calls. The bigger the nose, the more impressive the mate… The monkey is also well known for its fairly rotund appearance, a by-product of its diet of unripe fruit, making it a pretty gassy primate!Ellie Taylor (presenter of Snog, Marry, Avoid) is backing this big-nosed critter… she explains why: “These guys need our help! They can’t compete with the orang-utans, who are really cute, these guys are really hideous…They’ve got massive noses, really ugly willies, and they’re full of farts. I mean come on, that thing needs our help!”
Dromedary jumping slug (Hemphillia dromedarius) ∏ Kristiina Ovaska(03 of21)
Open Image ModalThe dromedary jumping slug wriggles its way out of danger, avoiding predators with a quick flick. It’s part of the Aronidae family and lives mainly in the Americas. Tom Toal (comedian and actor) thinks the slug deserves far more recognition than it currently gets… “It’s a slug, with a hump on its back, that can jump! Where’s its Disney movie?? You’ve got the Hunchback of Notre Dame… where’s the dromedary jumping slug and the princess?”
Flightless dung beetle(04 of21)
Open Image ModalThe flightless dung beetle lives on elephant and buffalo faeces, so its decline is proportionate to these larger animals. When poo is scarce, it can’t survive! It can now only be found in the wild in South Africa. Sarah Bennetto (comedian and radio presenter) explains why she thinks they deserve your vote, “There are three different types of dung beetle – rollers, tunnellers and dwellers. And dwellers are by far my favourite! Oh my goodness! They live in poo! They use this dung ball as a brooding chamber to attract potential mates. I mean it’s harrowing. Don’t even think about dating a dung beetle. Unless you’re a dung beetle. In which case, go for it.”
European common eel (Anguilla anguilla) -� Niels Sloth - biopix(05 of21)
Open Image ModalEuropean common eelA favourite cockney snack, the European eel is threatened by overfishing and environmental changes. Its unusual life cycle sees it change colour as it grows, from transparent to yellow to dark grey. Rob Wells (comedian and science presenter) – urges supporters to “support the eel so we can have a jolly good East End knees up in its honour!”
Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) ∏ Dinis Cortes (06 of21)
Open Image ModalBritish batsThere are 18 varieties of bat in the UK, and most are in national decline. Seventeen of these are currently known to be breeding, the eighteenth is actually just one lone male who appears to have come over from the continent and lives in a cave in South England on his own. Bats make up over a quarter of the mammal species that live in the UK and can often be found near railway lines, as they like to use the tunnels as roosting areas, and short cuts to other hunting grounds. Simon Watt sympathises with these species; “bats are brilliant, if you cannot see all the reasons British bats are fantastic, you must be as blind as a, well, as a bat actually!”
Greater short-horned lizard(07 of21)
Open Image ModalGreater short-horned lizardStephen Fry is supporting this feisty little lizard, found in North America. The greater short-horned lizard is identified by its toad-like appearance. When scared, it builds its blood pressure near its eyes, and forces blood through its tear ducts, squirting it at predators. Combined with a noxious smell, the blood is a surprisingly effective method of repelling predators such as foxes, coyotes and dogs.
Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) -� Paddy Ryan(08 of21)
Open Image ModalKakapoThe kakapo is a critically endangered giant parrot, and is a classic example of evolution on an isolated island. It is the only flightless parrot in the world, and also the heaviest. Although it probably evolved from parrots that could fly – its muscular thighs mean it is better suited to walking and climbing, than taking to the air. Steve Mould (BBC Blue Peter scientist) explains why the Kakapo deserves support, “The kakapo encapsulates the fragility of life that evolved in a bubble – in this case, the bubble is New Zealand… but that bubble burst and New Zealand is full of predatory mammals, but the kakapo hasn’t evolved a fear response. Often its response is curiousty – “who’s this?” the kakapo would say – “oh, I’m in its mouth…”
Pubic lice(09 of21)
Open Image ModalPubic lice have been around for over 3 million years but face extinction because of increasing hygiene habits across the world. They live in coarse hair such as pubic hair and eyelashes. Dan Schreiber (producer, presenter and from QI Elf) explains why he has sympathy for these particularly unattractive beasts… “So many women worldwide are having Brazilians that they don’t have a natural habitat to exist on anymore… they’re being deforested!”
Titicaca water frog(10 of21)
Open Image ModalThe Titicaca water frog is the largest truly aquatic frog, found only in Lake Titicaca in South America. The multiple folds in its skin enable it to breathe underwater without needing to surface for air. Its Latin name literally translates as the ‘aquatic scrotum’. Iszi Lawrence (comedian), is very excited by this.. she says; “Vote scrotum frog, you heard me right, scrotum frog. Even better than being called scrotum frog, it lives in Lake Titicaca!”
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) -� Lauren DiPerna(11 of21)
Open Image ModalThe axolotl is a type of salamander, which remain aquatic for their entire life, and has the amazing ability to regenerate lost limbs. This freaky cross between Peter Pan and the Xmen, is endangered because of urbanisation in Mexico City and polluted waters. Helen Arney (science presenter and comedian) is supporting this little critter; “Beauty is only skin deep, and the axolotl had a dark secret… it never truly grows up, it’s like Peter Pan, Justin Bieber, or any character Zooey Deschanel every plays in a film…”
Steve Mould - Kakapo ∏NSEC(12 of21)
Open Image ModalSarah Bennetto - Flightless dung beetle ∏NSEC(13 of21)
Open Image ModalRob Wells - European common eel ∏NSEC(14 of21)
Open Image ModalGreg Foot - Pig-nosed turtle ∏NSEC (15 of21)
Open Image ModalPaul Foot - Blobfish ∏NSEC(16 of21)
Open Image ModalTom Toal - Dromedary jumping slug ∏NSEC(17 of21)
Open Image ModalHelen Arney - Axolotl ∏NSEC(18 of21)
Open Image ModalSimon Watt - British bats ∏NSEC(19 of21)
Open Image ModalIszi Lawrence - Titicaca water (scrotum) frog ∏NSEC(20 of21)
Open Image ModalBlobfish(21 of21)
Open Image ModalThe blobfish lives at depths between 600 and 1,200 metres where the pressure is several dozen times higher than at sea level. Its gelatinous appearance aids it buoyancy, as it spends its life gently bobbing around the deep sea. Although they are inedible, the blobfish suffers a significant threat from fishing trawlers, hunting the crabs and lobsters living at the same depth. Paul Foot (Never mind the Buzzcocks) – is supporting the blobfish. In his campaign video, he explains why he has a soft spot for this gelatinous blob…“Some would describe it as a bit ugly, but I think the sad face of the blobfish belies a kind and very wise little brain in there.”