Have You Ever Heard of the Strangest Animal Found in Maine?

While there are many different and unique animals found here in Maine, this one stands in a category all its own.

Listen, we’re from Maine—we see weird stuff all the time. But this animal? Even we had to do a double-take.

But that raises the question—who's looking at all the animals and creatures in our state, comparing them, and deciding which one is stranger than the rest?

Reader’s Digest put together a list called ‘The Strangest Animal Found in Each State’ by highlighting creatures that stand out not for their size or danger, but for just how odd they are—whether they look strange, behave unusually, or seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie.

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So, with that in mind, which animal was chosen as the strangest and most unique found here in Maine? And where exactly can it be found?

According to Reader’s Digest and their report highlighting ‘The Strangest Animal Found in Each State,’ their pick for Maine is the tardigrade—an eight-legged microscopic creature.

Tardigrades can survive some of the harshest conditions imaginable, from the vacuum of space to extreme dehydration, thanks to a survival trick called cryptobiosis.

Reader’s Digest continues by highlighting an Oxford University study that found these nearly indestructible critters—often found in Maine on moss and lichen—could potentially outlive humans by 10 billion years.

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Well, there you have it—the strangest animal in Maine is the tardigrade. Have you ever heard of it before?

What are your thoughts on this pick from Reader’s Digest? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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