Top Ten Ugliest Animal Babies

It is pretty amazing how adults and their babies can look so different from each other. Take a look at this list of top ten ugliest (but adorable) animal babies.

#1 Robin (Turdus migratorius)

robin chick
Robin Chick. Photo Credit: galawebdesign

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: Baby robins weigh about 5.5 g.

Fun fact: Chicks are fed by both parents and eat 35-40 meals a day!

Growing up: Baby robins leave the nest when they are 13 days old and become fully independent at 4 weeks.


http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=25

#2 Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

baby owl
Owlet

Baby name: Owlet

The numbers: Barn owls lay 2-18 eggs.

Fun fact: The father brings food for the whole family but only the mother feeds the babies.

Growing up: Owlets have their first flight 50-70 days after hatching but they will return to the nest. They will stay close to home until they are 7 to 8 weeks old.

http://www.eol.org/pages/914939

 
 
 
 

#3 Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

baby giant panda
Giant panda cubs. Photo Credit: Milgrammer Lucy Reynell Zurich, Switzerland

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: Giant panda cubs weigh 85 to 140 grams.

Fun fact: Mothers enjoy playing with their young. They have even been known to wakeup a sleeping infant so that they can play together.

Growing up: Cubs are born with their eyes closed, opening them after 3 weeks. By the time they are 3-4 months old cubs are able to move on their own but they stay with their mom for up to 18 months.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328070

#4 Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

aardvark mom and baby
Aardvark cub with mom. Photo Credit Scotto Bear

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: A newborn weighs between 1.8 and 2 kg.

Fun fact: Normally only one aardvark is born at a time, but occasionally a mom will have twins.

Growing up: Baby aardvarks stay in the burrow for several weeks before heading out with mom for a nighttime food run. At 6 months the aardvark will dig its own burrow. Even though they have moved out the young cub will still stay close to mom for a few more years until they are ready to find a mate.

http://www.eol.org/pages/327830

#5 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

baby turkey vulture
Turkey vulture chick

Baby name: Chick

Fun fact: Turkey vultures will stake out a nesting site in a sheltered area like a hollow log or old building and they will use little or no nest for laying their eggs.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 30-40 days and the young become independent after 80-90 days.

http://www.eol.org/pages/1049010

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#6 Stump-Tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides)

baby stump tailed macaque
Stump-tailed macaque infant

Baby name: Infant

The numbers: Females have babies every 2 years.

Fun fact: Baby Stump-tailed macaques live in groups with moms helping to care for each other’s young. Special attention is given to the infants of high-ranking moms. Young macaques also inherit this rank from their mothers, taking up their position in the group.

Growing up: Infants are weaned after 9 months and become independent at 1.5 years

http://www.eol.org/pages/323946

#7 Tapir (Perissodactyla tapiridae)

baby tapir
Tapir calf. Photo Credit: Frank Wouters

Baby name: Calf

Fun fact: Tapirs are born with striped markings but they disappear by the time they are 6 months old.

Growing up: Young tapirs are weaned after 10-12 months.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tapiridae.html

#8 Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Baby Warthog
Warthog piglet. Flickr credit: Mediatejack, jacky w

Baby name: Piglet

The numbers: There are usually 1-7 piglets in a litter.

Fun fact: Newborn warthogs cannot keep themselves warm instead they rely on mom and a comfy burrow to keep their body temperature just right.

Growing up: Piglets stay in the den for 6-7 weeks before heading out with mom.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328332

 
 
 
 
 
 

#9 Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

baby walrus
Walrus calf. Photo credit: Max Smith

Baby name: Calf

The numbers: Baby walruses are 113 cm long and weigh around 63 kilograms.

Fun fact: Dads don’t stick around instead groups of mothers raise their young together. The calf (baby) and cow (mom) form a very strong bond.

Growing up: A calf is weaned after 2 years and is able to find a mate of its own after 5-7 years.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328627

 
 
 
 
 

#10 Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

baby flamingo
Flamingo Chick. Photo Credit: Steve, Washington DC

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: When they hatch flamingo babies weigh 85-102 grams.

Fun fact: Mating flamingos build their nests out of mud. The mound is twelve inches high and circular with a lower centre for the egg.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 28-32 days and the chicks are ready to fly about 65-90 days later.

http://www.eol.org/pages/913221

 
 
 
 
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