Items28The creator’s order
  1. 1Star-nosed moleStar-nosed moleThe star’s 22 fleshy rays are touch sensors. The mole brushes them against whatever is in front of it, then uses the small central pair to examine possible prey in finer detail. Underwater, it can sniff by blowing little bubbles against an object and drawing the bubbles back in.0
  2. 2Proboscis monkeyProboscis monkeyAn adult male’s nose hangs over its mouth and helps shape the sound of its calls. Computer models suggest that the enlarged nose strengthens lower frequencies and leaves a slightly different acoustic signature for each male.0
  3. 3Saiga antelopeSaiga antelopeThe saiga’s bulbous muzzle conditions the air it breathes. In the dry months it helps catch dust kicked up by a moving herd. In winter the same nose helps warm cold air before it reaches the lungs.0
  4. 4Greater Horseshoe BatGreater Horseshoe BatLook around the nostrils for a rim shaped like a horseshoe and a pointed flap above it. The bat sends its echolocation calls out through the nostrils. The folds of the nose leaf help shape the outgoing sound beam.0
  5. 5Asian ElephantAsian ElephantThe trunk combines the nose and upper lip into one flexible organ. The small projection at its tip helps grasp food with precision. For a drink, the elephant draws up water through the trunk and squirts it into its mouth.0
  6. 6African bush elephantAfrican bush elephantLook at the bottom of the trunk for two opposing tips that can pinch a small piece of food. The Asian elephant has one projection there. Seeing what both kinds can pick up makes the trunk look much more like a hand than a large tube.0
  7. 7Baird’s TapirBaird’s TapirA tapir’s nose and upper lip form a short, flexible trunk. The tip can grab a branch and strip its leaves, or poke above the surface like a snorkel while the animal is underwater.0
  8. 8Northern Elephant SealNorthern Elephant SealIn an adult male, the inflatable nose hangs over the lower lip. It helps the calls of rival males resonate during the winter breeding season. Females keep their smaller noses, so the profile gives a clue to which adult you’re looking at.0
  9. 9Hooded SealHooded SealAn adult male can swell a dark hood over the front of his head. He can also inflate a partition inside his nose into a reddish balloon. The two-part display gets females’ attention during breeding and can signal aggression to rival males.0
  10. 10GharialGharialThe knob at the end of an adult male’s snout is called a ghara. In the breeding season, males produce loud underwater pops and leave a trail of bubbles around the snout. Research suggests the ghara helps produce the sound along with a quick snap of the jaws.0