All the latest and strange

In South Korea after the wedding ceremony, the groom has to endure a beating from his friends before he can retire with his bride. Friends of the groom take off his socks, knot a rope around the ankles, and begin beating the soles of his feet with dried fish. A particular type of fish is used i.e. Yellow corvine. Sometimes a stick or cane is also used. It is believed that this will make the groom stronger before the first marriage night. It can be painful but it’s over quickly and more fun than cruel. The intention behind this tradition is to check the groom’s strength and knowledge. He is often asked questions and quizzed during the test. Beating the soles of a groom’s feet with a fish perhaps isn’t going to make him any smarter, but it’s an amusing tradition that holds a unique place in Korean wedding culture

A common practice in Romania, Bride Kidnapping is a crazy ritual where a man abducts the woman he wants to marry. Also known as marriage by arrest or by seizure, bride kidnapping also include elopements, where couples run away without the consent of their parents. In some parts of the world, the ritual is considered as a sex crime. In some cultures like the Romani or Gypsies it is still practiced.  It is believed that if you manage to convincingly or forcefully kidnap a girl and remain her by your side for at least 2-3 days, she will officially be called your wife

                                            Germany: Smashing Dishes

In parts of Germany, a ritual called Polterabend is practiced. It is a party hosted by newlywed which typically starts with profligate feasts and finishes with the entire guest making as much noise as possible. Dishes are damaged, pots are clashed and cookeries are smashed. It is believed that the cacophonous sounds caused by all this represent the inevitable future trouble that the couple will face in their married lives. By breaking the dishes in advance, the community is preparing the pair for the obstacles ahead and at the same time wishing them luck. Whips are often brought out and broken to hasten the removal of any evil spirits. The origin of this tradition is unknown but yes, it’s as fun as it sounds.

                                                  Mauritania: Over Feeding

                             The Goblin Shark 

Each year Halloween is the time for spooks and goblins, but at the bottom of the ocean, goblins can be found anytime–that is, if you're lucky enough to spot them.
The goblin shark avoids sunlight and only lives in very deep water, where it lays in wait for unsuspecting fish, then quickly snaps, or sucks them up in its jaws.
Flabby, wrinkled and gray with a pink and white underbelly, the first few times this elusive shark was seen, it was thought to be deformed. Only fifty of this species have been found so far, but it's not on the endangered list as it's not known how many exist. 

                   Venezuelan Poodle Moth

 Cute and cuddly animals always gain attention, but the terms "cute and cuddly" are not usually associated with moths.
Discovered in 2009 by Dr. Arthur Anker, the above image received very little attention until someone pointed out this fluffy moth looked a lot like a Pokémon character. When the image went viral, some were convinced it was a fake. After all, whoever heard of a moth with a proper poodle haircut and what appeared to be ultra-long eyelashes on the antennae just above its saucer shaped eyes? However, scientists assure us it's real.
There's not much known yet about this recently discovered species, other than that you'd save a fortune on grooming costs if you owned one as a pet, but it's believed to be related to the moth genus Artace, which ranges from the North American continent, down into Venezuela

                         Glaucus Atlanticus

 

           While the name sounds fancy enough, the Glaucus Atlanticus is a sea slug, but before you say, “ugh”, it's actually a very pretty one.
Rarely growing to more than two inches long, the glaucus atlanticus has silvery blue spikes at its sides that shoot off like the trails of a fireworks display. These spikes are called cerata, and as lovely as they appear, they're stored with poison. However, the glaucus atlanticus isn't actually born with stored poisons. It collects them from attacking other poisonous creatures, primarily the deadly jellyfish known as the Portuguese Man-O-War.
The glaucus atlanticus spends most of its life floating upside down on the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, its color camouflaging it from predators, but after a storm, it can sometimes be found washed up on shore. While the glaucus atlanticus is considered a delight to view, you might want to ask yourself if it's been battling with any Man-O-Wars, before picking one up!

                           Red-Lipped Batfish

 If you've ever wanted to kiss a fish, there's one who's already applied the heavy lipstick just for you.
The red-lipped batfish looks like it has a bit of an attitude. This might be due to appearing a bit flattened by spending its life on the ocean floor. Adding insult to injury, it's a fish that doesn't swim. It walks with the aid of its modified fins that look more like legs than underwater propulsion devices.
Native to the Galapagos Islands, a place where nature is always experimenting with adaptation, it must be assumed that the architect of design decided an overdose of red lipstick is an excellent way to attract a mate.

                      The Hummingbird Hawk Moth

 In general, hawk moths seem to be a confusion of design. The hawk moth possesses the body of a bee, yet has a wing spread resembling a butterfly. This is forgivable in the respect that bees and butterflies are both insects, but it becomes a little difficult to justify a moth that looks so much like a bird.
While visiting the British Isles, you might want to stop and smell the phlox and watch the hummingbirds flitting about. You also might wish to look closely, because among those tiny, humming, busy creatures, there is actually a moth that looks just like them. The hawk moth also hovers, but it doesn't have a beak. Instead, it has a very long tongue, called a proboscis, which splits down the middle for cleaning.
Additionally, the hummingbird hawk moth is unlike other moths in several ways–it comes out during the day, it doesn't mind the rain, and it doesn't die after leaving a 

brood of eggs

                           Long-Eared Jerboa

 For proportions relative to body size, rabbits have nothing on the long-eared jeboa. It's ears measure
around two-thirds its body size. If humans had the same proportions, our ears would be three
feet long! The mouse sized rodent also has very long hind legs that allow it to jump around like a kangaroo.

Native to the Gobi desert and China, it is believed its jumbo sized ears serve as a shady umbrella for cooling itself off in the hot summer months. Feeding primarily on insects, the long-eared jerboa is one of the few rodents actually considered beneficial in controlling the insect population. Now if it would just learn to fly, it could make a fortune in the movie industry!