Some parts of Earth are extreme, to say the least. These areas look unreal, and like they were meant for a sci-fi world instead of our little planet.
But life finds a way, and amazingly, animals still manage to inhabit those areas. Heat, lack of oxygen, cold, or even outer space (wow!), some champions push through it all.
Get inspired, and take a look at these astonishing animals who manage to defy all odds, no matter how hostile the world may be!
1. Emperor Penguin
These penguins brave through temperatures of -76°F during the Antarctic winter. The way they survive is adorable: they huddle together in large groups to share body warmth!
You can also see them incubating their eggs on their feet. Penguin dads are no joke! They can go up to two months without eating while protecting their eggs. Absolute dad goals!
2. Camel
We all know that camels can go for weeks without water. In the desert, of all places! That’s quite an amazing feat. Once camels get to water, they don’t take it slow: they can drink up to 40 gallons of water in one sitting!
But do you know how they’re able to do it all? It’s because of their humps! They store fat in them, which gets converted to energy and water once needed.
3. Wood Frog
Just like a student right before an exam, this frog freezes when things get inconvenient. Literally! They can freeze solid in winter and thaw out in the spring as if nothing happened. Yes, even its heart and breathing stop too!
All of this works because of a neat little trick: they can produce a lot of glucose. It’s a natural antifreeze which protects its organs and tissues from damage.
4. Cockroach
Our often hailed (and feared) friends. Hailed for their ability to survive, feared for their, uh, being cockroaches.
Cockroaches can survive quite extreme environments! We’ve seen them survive radiation exposure, which is quite a big deal, especially for us humans. On top of it, cockroaches survive near starvation too! And I get cranky when I get peckish!
But interestingly, they can eat almost anything: decay, glue, whatever. The point is, in a post-apocalyptic setting, a cockroach is your survival guru.
5. Tardigrade
The undefeated champion of survival! These microscopic animals live virtually everywhere. You can find them in volcanic vents, glaciers, and even radioactive spots!
Whatever harsh condition you can think of, they’ve done it. Intense heat? Yep. They survive temperatures as high as 304°F. Freezing temperatures? They’ve done up to -328°F.
Crushing pressure? That’s nothing. The literal vacuum of space? Without a doubt! Getting revived after being frozen for decades? Pfft! Easy! They survive by going into cryptobiosis. It’s a state where their metabolism slows to almost nothing!