10 Animals that Look Like Plants

Sea Fan Sea fans, sea whips, and sea pens are marine invertebrate species resembling plants. They form colonies on the seafloor, branching out into large sizes. One species, Tauroprimnoa austasensis, lives in Antarctica's frigid seas. Most are native to tropical waters.

Sea Anemone Sea anemones, resembling plants, are marine invertebrate species found on seafloors or coral reefs. They use tentacles and venomous stingers to capture prey, attracting crabs, fish, and plankton. The larger dahlia anemone can hunt starfish and jellyfish.

Pale Tussock Moth The pale tussock moth, a land animal, has two forms: caterpillar and adult. In caterpillar form, it's bright green with spiked hairs and a head, hiding in gardens. In adult form, it blends with shade tree bark in the UK and Ireland.

Sea Cucumber Sea cucumbers, a class of marine invertebrates, can range in size from 1 inch to over 6 feet and resemble lumpy cucumbers. They use tubular feet for locomotion and feeding, and can be found in shallow to deep oceans. Some species expel internal organs as a defense mechanism, causing no long-term damage.

Flower Hat Jelly The flower hat jelly, an ocean-dwelling invertebrate, has striking plant characteristics, resembling a fancy hat covered in plants. It spends most of its time on the ocean floor, with its bell shape and varying length and color tentacles. These curls can capture prey and blend in with the kelp and seagrass they spend time near.

Star-Nosed Mole Star-nosed moles, the only species of mole found in swamps and marshes, have a unique nose made of 22 rays. They have poor eyesight and navigate their underground world by touch, touching their nose 10 times per second to find insects and consume them within 0.25 seconds. They spend most of their time above ground and burrow deeper to survive colder temperatures. They also smell underwater by blowing out air bubbles..

Coral Coral reefs are made up of polyps, small organisms with tentacles surrounded by nematocysts. They sting and kill prey, ranging from microscopic plankton to small fish. Hard coral is found in shallow waters, while soft or deep water species exist

Walking Stick Over 3,000 Phasmida walking sticks, found in all but Antarctica, are herbivores that use mandibles to feed on leaves. They disguise themselves as sticks, mimicking branches in the breeze, but not all predators, including bats, spiders, reptiles, birds, and primates, can be deceived.

Orchid Mantis The orchid mantis, native to Southeast Asian rainforests, uses camouflage to capture prey. Its legs are formed into the shape of orchid petals, mimicking the flowers they are named after. Despite not being categorized by the IUCN, their rare nature makes research challenging.

Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko The satanic leaf-tailed gecko, found in Madagascar's rainforests, is known for its plant costume, including a tail shaped like a leaf, horned eyebrow ridges like branches, and ridges down its body like leaf veins. This unique species uses plant mimicry for self-defense and occasionally screams when threatened. Its unique appearance sets it apart from other leaf-tailed geckos worldwide.