9 mythical-looking animals that actually exist in the wild

Wikimedia Commons/Felix Stember

Most of the world's animals are fairly normal looking, but every once in a while we come across something that looks like it jumped straight out of a fantasy movie.

Check out these amazingly unique animals who seem almost mythical in nature. 

1. Okapi

It might be difficult to determine exactly what this guy is just by looking at him, as many of his features are reminiscent of other animals.

Those features each play a unique role in his life, from helping him blend in with his surroundings and hide from prey to allowing him to reach berries at greater heights. He's about the size of a horse with the long neck of a giraffe, and is considered a national symbol of pride for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

2. Saiga antelope

The saiga antelope has a proboscis-like mouth, giving the impression of an anteater, that actually works as a sort of air filtration system.

These hardy guys have been around since the Ice Age but are on the brink of extinction. Thankfully, recent conservation efforts have helped them begin a bit of a comeback.

3. Narwhal

If these guys kind of remind you of dolphins with pointy horns, you're not far off. The narwhal is actually a porpoise with an ivory tusk tooth sticking prominently out of his upper lip, which ends up resembling a horn.

The tooth can grow close to 9 feet in the males and is thought to be used for mating rituals and fighting off potential rivals. Narwhals are extremely rare and only an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 exist in the wild.