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Weird animals at the National Zoo

Peacock mantis shrimp Say hello to the peacock mantis shrimp. His bright colors might be beautiful to behold, but don't get too close. His hammer-like claws are powerful enough to break a human finger, which is why the species has been dubbed "thumb-splitter" by fishermen in the Indo-Pacific ocean, where the crustaceans live. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Sexy dancing shrimp Have you ever seen a shrimp dance? This little guy, known as the sexy dancing shrimp, got its unusual moniker thanks to the way the species wriggles its behind. The females perform the dance to attract males. Watch one do its dance in the next slide. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Sexy dancing shrimp video The sexy dancing shrimp is native to Indo-Pacific waters and is typically less than 1 inch long.(WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Coral Coral might not seem like the most unusual sight, but did you know that each spore is actually a tiny colony known as a polyp? Each polyp is a spineless animal just a few centimeters in width and length. Over the years, the colony creates a large skeleton known as coral. The color is determined by the creatures' individual DNA. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Cuttlefish Cuttlefish can be found in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Their unique biological makeup allows them to voluntarily change color and texture. They are known as the "chameleon of the sea." (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Giant Pacific octopus Meet Pandora, the giant Pacific octopus. At 4 years old, she is considered an old lady. Giant octopi only live to be about 5 or 6 years old. She is a member of the ruling class of cephalopods -- the largest recorded giant Pacific octopus weighed in at 156 pounds. They can be found in the north Pacific. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Madagascar golden orb spider The Madagascar golden orb spider is a very special type of arachnid. Almost completely blind, these spiders use their keen sense of touch to feel what's happening near them. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Madagascar golden orb spider They can track tangled prey by feeling vibrations on the silky web, which they repair daily. Because the spiders are so attached to their webs, they are housed in an open enclosure. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Walking leaf insect The walking leaf insect is a gentle creature from Southeast Asia. Their brown and green bodies allow them to blend into foliage, virtually undetectable to predators. They love to eat plants and generally mind their own business. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Goliath bird-eating tarantula The Goliath bird-eating tarantula doesn't actually eat birds, but was so named because of its giant size. They can grow to be about the size of a dinner plate. This particular spider is about 3 to 4 years old, and is currently starving itself so it can wriggle out of its current skin and into a new one. Its bite is not lethal to humans, but the venom can cause severe pain, nausea and sweating. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Southern three-banded armadillo The southern three-banded armadillo lives in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It is the only species that can roll itself into a perfect sphere to protect itself. Armadillos love to eat insects like ants and termites. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Golden-headed lion tamarin If the golden-headed lion tamarin looks angry, it might be because he is endangered. There are only about 6,000 left in the wild, the National Zoo says. These tree dwellers, native to the rain forests of Brazil, live in family units started by a monogamous pair. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

Naked mole-rat Wrinkly and hairless, the mole-rat has the kind of face only a mother could love. Their long teeth are used to excavate tunnels and burrows in their east Africa. They live in colonies of up to 300 creatures, and defer to a queen mole-rat. (WTOP/Alicia Lozano)

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Meet the National Zoo’s strangest inhabitants, some because of their appearance and some because of their unusual behaviors and talents. Let us know some of the weirdest creatures you’ve encountered at the zoo — send us your animal photos by clicking on the “submit” button.

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