Nature’s riddled with irregularities and breathtaking beauty.

A few of the world’s most remarkable inhabitants can be found in your own neighborhood. Others are far, far from typical human reach. Some animals have mind-bending adaptations akin to superpowers.

Here are 12 of the most fascinating organisms on the planet – from your backyard to the dark depths of the ocean.

1. The immortal Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish

Otherwise known as the “immortal jellyfish,” the Turritopsis dohrnii jellyfish can rejuvenate. You read that correctly – at any point in its development, the immortal jellyfish can reverse its life cycle, turning back into a “young” polyp. The rejuvenation involves the process of cellular transdifferentiation whereby one type of cell converts to another. Turritopsis dohrnii can reset.

2. The otherworldly cuttlefish

Another ocean-dweller, the cuttlefish can adapt its appearance to the local environment by altering the way its skin reflects light. It almost looks alien. I wonder if there’s a Pokemon based on the cuttlefish.

3. The Crotalinae pit viper

The serpentine pit viper’s fascinating, with perhaps the most sensitive heat-sensing faculties among snakes. This subfamily of vipers – venomous, I might add – contain unique infrared-sensing organs that can detect temperature and the degree of heat coming off an object. This ability’s especially useful while hunting.

4. A mimicking lyrebird

Lyrebirds have incredible vocal capabilities and long, ridiculous hind plumage. In fact, they’re able to mimic complex sounds like hammers and drills from a construction site. They also have huge eyes relative to the size of their heads.

5. The platypus, the oddball mammal

The platypus deserves mention as one of the most unique, oddball mammals on the planet. Not only does the platypus come fit with a bill reminiscent of waterfowl, but it’s also one of two mammals that lays eggs. Oh, and it has a sixth sense powered by electro-receptors in its bill. No big deal.

6. The fearless Alpine ibex

The thrill-seeking, daredevil Alpine ibex is an expert climber – a master of the slopes. It has impeccable balance and no fear, used to living in altitudes up to 4,600 meters. Here, a group scales a dam at the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy. Some suspect that they’re licking the stones for salts and minerals.

7. The mistakenly named fire salamander

Known for their abstract yellow spots, fire salamanders are native to hilly areas of central Europe. The amphibian features poison glands that cause muscle convulsions and hyperventilation in vertebrates. Oddly enough, the fire salamander was mistakenly named from the belief that they could live through fire.

8. The incredibly carnivorous spotted hyena

Many remember hyenas from the classic Disney film The Lion King. Spotted hyenas will eat anything (besides vegetables). They’re particularly adept at handling microbes associated with rotting meat. Essentially, their strong stomachs allow them to eat even the most vile carcasses, avoiding risk of infection.

9. Shocking electric eel facts

Everyone knows of the electric eel – a cylindrical, water-dwelling organism with the ability to discharge electricity, even at a distance. Researchers recently discovered that their shocks work in the same way that tasers do. Eels can target their shocks like a remote control.

10. The parasitic cuckoo

Cuckoos are known as brood parasites, hiding evolutionary inconspicuous eggs in the nests of other targeted bird species. Newly hatched cuckoos will then proceed to take control of the nest. Cuckoos even continue to influence clock creation. But are they cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs? I’m not so sure.

11. The copycat mimic octopus

The mimic octopus, particularly Thaumoctopus mimicus, can copy a plethora of different aquatic organisms. These include the flatfish, lionfish, and sea snakes, among others. We might have stumbled on the inspiration for the X-Men’s Mystique character.

12. The hovering hummingbird

Relative to their size, hummingbirds are the fastest vertebrates on the planet. Despite their tiny frames, they can move up to 27.3 meters per second. In body lengths per second, they even outpace fighter jets.

The world’s packed with absolutely amazing, mind-bending organisms with their own superpowers. But the overarching reality’s not as cool as they are. Scientists assert that we’re living in the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history. Unfortunately, humans have had an overwhelmingly undeniable impact on the ongoing global biodiversity loss. Now more than ever, we must protect the fragile ecosystems that allow these organisms to flourish.

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Source: Ranker, NY Times, Daily Mail, ICR, Deseret, Daily Mail