For most of us, the word “hatchling” doesn’t carry an instant association with something cute or adorable. In fact, “hatchling” usually makes me think of creepy crawlers… Surprisingly, some hatchlings can be incredibly adorable, so I found the 12 cutest hatchlings on the internet:

1. Platypus babies

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The platypus is a mammal that spends most of its time in the water. They are endemic to Eastern Australia and Tasmania and when initially discovered, European zoologists thought they were a hoax.

2. Baby octopuses

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The octopus is the most intelligent invertebrates there is. They're capable of solving problems, some can change their color and shape as a form of camouflage and have been known to break out of aquarium tanks and even board fishing boats to eat caught crabs...

3. Chameleon

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The common chameleon is an arboreal lizard, known for its ability to change the color of its skin to match the environment as a form of camouflage. Chameleons can control each of their eyes separately and can project their tongues to twice their body length to catch food.

4. Baby Ostriches

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The largest of all birds, the ostrich is incapable of flight, but can run at speeds of 70 km/h (40 mp/h). Ostriches also produce the biggest eggs in the world, each weighing over 20 times more than a chicken's egg.

5. Golden eagle chick

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The golden eagle is a very large bird of prey, which is very common throughout the northern hemisphere. The eagles are so well known that they are the national animal of 5 countries (Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico and Kazakhstan) and are featured on many countries' coat of arms.

6. Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling

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Loggerheads are oceanic turtles, spending most of their time in and underwater. They can reach sizes of 2.8 m (9.1 ft) and weigh as much as 450 kg (1,000 lb)!

7. Swan chicks

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Swans are one of the biggest waterfowls in the world, with the biggest species growing to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. They're known to mate for life and can be very aggressive when threatened.

8. Madagascar giant day gecko

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These arboreal lizards are found only in the north-western tip of Madagascar and 2 tiny islands that are close by. True to its name, the giant gecko can reach a size of 30 cm (~1 foot) and have been known to sometimes eat smaller lizards.

9. Galapagos tortoise

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One of the most famous residents of the Galapagos islands, the giant tortoise' look (its neck, in particular) prompted the development of Charles Darwin's evolutional theory. According to Darwin, the first time he saw the giant tortoise - he tried to ride it...

10. Humboldt penguin

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These South-American penguins are endemic to Chile and Peru. In 2012, a Humboldt penguin seemingly scaled a 13 ft high wall and fence of the Tokyo zoo, and thrived in the Tokyo bay for nearly 3 months before being recaptured by zookeepers. 

11. Alligator hatchling

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Alligators are native only to the United States and China. The American species can reach 5.8 m (9.2 ft) and weigh over 450 kg (1,000 lb). Its name is attributed to the first Spanish colonials who referred to it as "The lizard" (el Lagarto).

12. Flamingo chick

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Flamingo are famous for their pink color - an effect of eating a-lot of crustaceans, which turns their white feathers pink. Flamingos are social birds, living in a large flamboyance (that's a group of flamingos). After laying their eggs, both parents engage in feeding the chicks and defend them relentlessly.