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15 Creepiest Animals That Come Out Only at Night

“Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) on the way to the garbage can …” by berniedup is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

It’s easy to forget that while humans and many animals are busy during the day, millions of creatures come to life at night. When the sun goes down, the real action begins for all sorts of nighttime animals—from big mammals to tiny frogs. Here are 15 of the creepiest animals that only come out after dark.

Vampire Bats

“File:Greater False Vampire Bat (Megaderma lyra).jpg” by Aditya Joshi is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Vampires might be made up, but vampire bats are very real. Like Dracula, they only come out at night and need blood to survive. While they have bitten humans, they usually prefer other animals like cows and birds. You’re likely safe from them if you don’t live in Central America, South America, or Mexico. To find a blood meal, they listen closely to the soft sounds of an animal breathing and get ready for their nighttime feast. 

Aye-Ayes

“Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Tsimbazaza Zoo, Madagascar” by Frank.Vassen is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The aye-aye, the biggest nocturnal primate around, definitely has a face you will remember. This lemur from Madagascar lives mainly in trees. They’re a bit like woodpeckers—they chew holes in trees with their strong teeth and then use their long middle fingers to snag the grubs inside. Their ever-growing front teeth are so big that people used to think they were rodents. Their big eyes help them see in the dark. 

Naked Mole-Rats

“Naked Mole-Rat 20th Anniversary at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo” by Smithsonian’s National Zoo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

We all loved Rufus from “Kim Possible,” but real naked mole-rats aren’t as cute as the cartoon made them seem. Despite their name, they aren’t bald—they do have whiskers and some hair on their feet and tails. They also have terrible eyesight and rely on their other senses to get around. Like ants or bees, naked mole-rats have queens they fiercely protect. Their soldier mole-rats will even form blockades to keep snakes and other predators out.

Rococo Toads

“Male rococo toad” by Gabriel Kamener is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Don’t think toads are all that scary? Then you’ve probably never come across a rococo toad in the wild. These toads, found in parts of South America, puff themselves up to look bigger and scare off threats. If that doesn’t work, they can shoot toxins at their enemies. Even though they can be dangerous, some people keep these nighttime toads as pets.

Eyelash Vipers

“Eyelash Viper” by ashour rehana is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Few animals embody the phrase “If looks could kill” better than the eyelash viper. They get their name from the scales above their eyes that look like eyelashes. But that’s not the scariest thing about them. Eyelash vipers are highly venomous and have huge fangs that can quickly take down their prey. Those “eyelashes” help them blend in and hide from threats.

African Dung Beetles

“Black African Dung beetle” by ASally Ruth is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Anything that eats poop might seem gross, especially with a name like “dung beetle.” But African dung beetles are pretty fascinating. They use the Milky Way to help them roll their dung balls in a straight line, keeping them safe from other beetles. Even though humans and dung beetles might not agree on what’s worth protecting, we have to give them credit for their cleverness and hard work. From a safe distance, of course.

Tarantulas

“Brachypelma emelia mature male tarantula displays palps” by Tarantuland is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Tarantulas come out at night to stay safe from predators like birds, snakes, and lizards, which is just as well since these hairy spiders can be pretty unsettling. They’re also excellent hunters, munching on insects and sometimes tiny lizards. If you’re thinking about getting a tarantula as a pet—be ready for a long-term buddy. Males can live up to seven years, and females can hang around for up to 30 years. 

Owls

“Owl” by DIVA007 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

While some owls are active during the day, most are nocturnal and come out at night. These birds are famous for their big, striking eyes and their hooting sounds (though some make other noises, like hissing). Their excellent vision and sharp hearing make them superb hunters. Owls have asymmetrical ears that help them pinpoint the location of their prey more easily. They eat all sorts of animals—including rodents, insects, and even other birds. 

Deathstalker Scorpions

“Deathstalker (Leiurus quinquestriatus) 1” by מינוזיג is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Despite their scary name, getting stung by a deathstalker scorpion isn’t usually fatal, though it is incredibly painful and can be deadly for vulnerable people. Found in parts of North Africa and the Middle East, these scorpions are usually light yellow-brown. While their stings are super dangerous, especially if you’re allergic, research suggests their venom might have medical benefits, such as helping to detect brain tumors. 

Indian Flying Foxes

“Jaswantgarh IND – Indischer Riesenflughund – Pteropus giganteus – Indian flying fox 02” by Daniel Mennerich is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Can foxes really fly? No, but Indian flying foxes are bats that might just blow your mind. They get their name because they look a bit like foxes, especially with their reddish-brown fur. Unlike other bats that use echolocation, flying foxes find their food by seeing and smelling it. In India, these bats have a mixed reputation—they’re seen as both potential carriers of disease and sneaky fruit thieves.

Frogs

green frog standing on grey surface
Photo by Austin Santaniello on Unsplash


What do frogs do at night? During the breeding season, it’s all about singing. As day turns to dusk, many nocturnal frogs and toads start warming up, and by nightfall, their voices join together in a full-blown chorus. All this singing in spring and summer is to attract a mate. Being active at night also helps them stay safe since fewer predators can spot them in the dark.

Tarsiers

“Philippine Tarsier, Bohol” by . Ray in Manila is licensed under CC BY 2.0

If you’re ever wandering through Southeast Asian forests at night and feel like giant eyes are watching you, they probably are. The tarsier is known for its huge eyes, which can be bigger than its whole brain. These tiny mammals have the largest eyes compared to their body size of any mammal. When hunting, they climb and pounce on their prey with impressive skill.

Gila Monsters

“AZ Gila Monster 02” by Josh Olander is licensed under CC BY 4.0

One big perk of being active at night is that it helps animals in hot, dry places avoid overheating and losing water. The Gila monster—a big, venomous lizard—uses this to its advantage. During the day, it hides out in its burrow to stay cool in the scorching deserts of Mexico and the U.S. But come nighttime, it’s on the move, flicking its forked tongue to catch scents in the air and gather clues about what’s around.

Leopards

“Leopard” by Mitchell Fitzsimmons is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Leopards, like most big cats, love getting up to all sorts of sneaky stuff when the sun goes down. They creep around their territory, silently stalking their prey. Once they’ve made a kill, they drag it up a tree, keeping it out of reach from other hungry critters looking for a free meal. And if that wasn’t enough, they are strong swimmers and even take a dip to fish for a snack if they’re in the mood.

Honey badgers

“‘Honey’ the badger in daylight” by Peter Trimming is licensed under CC BY 2.0

If the dark is filled with creepy creatures, one way to handle it is to become the scariest creature yourself. The honey badger is famous for its fearless attitude. For this tough animal, almost anything can be a meal: they’ve been known to eat beetles, crocodiles, and even massive 3-meter-long pythons. They don’t shy away from tackling the highly venomous black mamba snake, either.

Written by Lisa O

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