Some of the SMELLIEST animals on earth

Some animals smell foul for a number of reasons.

In some cases it's a self-defense mechanism; if they feel threatened they will release a noxious spray which will deter any predator. Others may use their musk to mark their territory or keep their food safe from scavengers or it may be that their hair is continually sprayed with their own urine.

Read on to learn some fascinating facts about some of the world’s smelliest animals.

Bombardier Beetle

These beetles are most notable for the defense mechanism that gives them their name: when disturbed, they eject a hot noxious chemical spray from the tip of their abdomen. The beetle has two separate chemicals, hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide, stored in its body and whenever it feels threatened the chemicals mix with some special enzymes, heat from the reaction brings the foul-smelling liquid to near 100°C and produces gas that drives the ejection. The Bombardier Beetle is able to spray up to 4 times its body length and the damage caused can be fatal to attacking insects and small creatures and is painful to human skin.

Wolverine

Wolverines are shy members of the weasel family, seldom seen by humans. Like most members of the weasel family, it has glands that it secretes fluid from to mark its territory. The musky scent is very unpleasant and has given the wolverine the nicknames of “skunk bear” and “nasty cat”. Wolverines will also spray their leftover food and bury it so they can eat it later. Not only does this help them find it but it deters others from eating it!
Discover how female wolverines ensure their young are born when food is plentiful in our Animals A-Z section.

Stink Bug

Native to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, Stink Bugs are now found in almost every area of the United States after being accidentally introduced. They get their name from the unpleasant odor of the chemical they produce in glands on their abdomen when they are threatened. Some species can actually spray the chemical several inches!

Musk Ox

These furry, horned mammals that inhabit the Arctic produce a smelly ‘musk’ from their urine. It is only produced by the males and it is used to mark their territory during mating season. This is important because during the mating season male musk oxen are very aggressive. When they mark their territory, a lot of the urine gets matted into the hair around the belly of the animal; this is the reason for their generally bad smell.

Tasmanian Devil

Now found in the wild only on the Australian island state of Tasmania, these creatures can give off a very powerful odour when under stress, this helps them to protect their environment, but when calm and relaxed they are not smelly at all.

Lesser Anteater

Photo by Jerry Oldenettel

The lesser anteater has been regarded as one of the most foul-smelling creatures in the animal kingdom. Their pungent odour is about 4 to 7 times stronger than that of the skunk. It is possible to smell the lesser anteater up to 50 metres away!