Animals That Were Drawn From Memory

There are some weird looking animals out there. Some have been described as looking as though they were “drawn from memory”. This is the idea that an animal looks like something someone would draw with no reference. I’ve come up with a short list of animals I think fit this unserious description. Let’s learn about some of them!

Tibetan Fox

The Tibetan fox first spurred the idea of an animal looking like it had been drawn from memory when a photo of a Tibetan fox was commented on saying as much, and is the inspiration for this blog. Many said it looked as though someone just couldn’t get the face quite right. Ladakh, Nepal, the Mustang Region, and most notably the Tibetan Plateau are home to these foxes. Tibetan foxes are hunters of pikas, a small mammal that belongs to the same taxonomic order as rabbits. The Tibetan fox’s disproportional head and body, as well as eyes and mouth land itself on this list of animals that look like they were drawn from memory.

Sun Bear

The sun bear, Helarctos maylanus, is the smallest of the world’s bear species. These bears are native to Southeast Asia and inhabit tropical forests. Sunbears are specialized to move through trees and eat mostly fruits and insects. They have funny faces and even funnier bodies, causing their look to resemble that of a bear drawn from memory.

Arabian Sand Boa

The Arabian sand boa, Eryx jayakari, is a goofy looking non-venomous snake found on the Arabian Peninsula. This snake has a blunt face, with eyes on the top of its head. Arabian sand boas hide their bodies in the desert sand, remaining unseen by their prey, such as rodents and lizards. The placement of these eyes gives them a hunting advantage, allowing them to see above the sand. There’s no denying these snakes look like a child tried to draw one from memory.

None of these animals reside at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less interesting to learn about. What animals do you think look like they’ve been “drawn from memory”?