12 Weird Animals That Look Like They’re Wearing Makeup

Nature never ceases to amaze us with its incredible variety of creatures. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, along comes an animal that looks like it’s got a full face of makeup on! These fascinating creatures sport vibrant colours and patterns that seem almost too perfect to be natural. From birds with bold eyeliner to monkeys with rosy cheeks, the animal kingdom is full of surprises. Let’s take a look at some of these remarkable animals that appear to have raided the cosmetics counter.

The Mandrill

The mandrill is a primate that looks like it’s ready for a night out. Its face is a work of art, with bright blue and red stripes that resemble expert contouring. The males have the most striking colours, which they use to attract mates and show off their health. Interestingly, the brightness of a male mandrill’s colours is directly linked to his testosterone levels, making it a reliable indicator of his strength and dominance.

The White-Faced Saki Monkey

This monkey looks like it’s wearing a fluffy white mask. Its face is framed by stark white fur, creating a dramatic contrast with its dark body. This unique look helps them communicate with other monkeys in their group. The males and females of this species look quite different, with males sporting the distinctive white face while females have a brownish-grey colouration.

The Tawny Frogmouth

With its wide eyes and seemingly pouty lips, the tawny frogmouth could pass for a supermodel. This Australian bird has feathers that look like perfect eyeshadow, complete with a hint of shimmer. Its camouflage is so good, it’s often mistaken for a tree branch. The tawny frogmouth is nocturnal and uses its wide mouth to catch insects and small animals in flight.

The Red-Lipped Batfish

This odd-looking fish seems to have applied a generous coat of red lipstick. Found in the Galapagos Islands, the red-lipped batfish uses its bright lips to attract prey and mates. It’s a poor swimmer but can use its fins to ‘walk’ along the ocean floor. Despite its unusual appearance, the red-lipped batfish is an skilled predator, using its protruding snout to detect prey hiding in the sand.

The Painted Bunting

This colourful bird looks like it’s been dipped in every paint pot in the art shop. With its bright blue head, red chest, and green back, the male painted bunting is a true stunner. It’s often called the most beautiful bird in North America. Female painted buntings are less colourful, sporting a uniform green plumage that helps them stay camouflaged while nesting.

The Emperor Tamarin

With its long, white moustache, the emperor tamarin looks like it’s borrowed a costume from a pantomime. This small monkey got its name because it supposedly resembles the German emperor Wilhelm II. Its fancy facial hair helps it recognise other tamarins. Emperor tamarins are highly social animals, living in groups of up to 20 individuals and communicating through a variety of calls and facial expressions.

The Pygmy Seahorse

This tiny seahorse is a master of disguise. It can change its colour and grow skin filaments to match its surroundings perfectly. Some species look like they’re wearing elaborate eye makeup, with swirls and spots around their eyes. These minuscule creatures are so small that they weren’t discovered until the 1960s, and some species are smaller than a fingernail.

The Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey

With its bright blue face and pouty lips, this monkey looks like it’s wearing frosty eyeshadow and lipgloss. Found in the mountains of central and southwest China, these monkeys have thick fur to keep them warm in the cold. They’re one of the few primate species that can survive in snowy conditions, with groups huddling together for warmth during harsh winters.

The Picasso Triggerfish

Named after the famous artist, this fish looks like a living painting. Its face seems to have been carefully drawn with black lines, creating patterns that look like carefully applied eyeliner and lipstick. These fish are known for their grumpy expressions and territorial behaviour. The Picasso triggerfish is also known for its intelligence, being able to learn and remember the best feeding spots in its reef habitat.

The Gouldian Finch

This Australian bird is a riot of colour. With its bright purple chest, yellow belly, and green back, it looks like it’s been to a very enthusiastic makeup artist. Male and female Gouldian finches are equally colourful, which is unusual in the bird world. These finches come in three different head colour variations – black, red, and yellow – with each colour type having different personalities and mating preferences.

The Spectacled Bear

This South American bear looks like it’s wearing a pair of glasses. Light-coloured fur around its eyes creates a spectacle-like pattern, giving it a scholarly appearance. It’s the only bear species native to South America and is an excellent climber. Also known as the Andean bear, this species is primarily vegetarian, with over 90% of its diet consisting of plant matter.

The Red-Eyed Tree Frog

With its bright green body and striking red eyes, this frog looks like it’s dolled up for a night out. The red-eyed tree frog’s vibrant colours are actually a defence mechanism. When startled, it flashes its big red eyes and brightly coloured legs to scare off predators. During the day, these frogs sleep on the underside of leaves, tucking their bright colours away and blending in perfectly with their surroundings.

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