Unconventional Animal Favorites

I was talking to a friend on IM who pointed out that I seemed to have unconventional tastes when it came to favorite animals. I thought about it, and he was quite right! Most people like "normal" animals like dogs, cats, and horses. Maybe even farm animals like pigs or cows, or magnificent beasts like lions, tigers and bears. Then there's me.

My current favorite? Well, if you haven't guessed from my phone's background, my computer's wallpaper, and my frequent photos of the stuffed version, it's tarantulas! In particular, Brachypelma Smithi (a.k.a. the Mexican red-knee tarantula):

Next comes an animal that I think most people will agree is cute, but will keep their distance from. None other than the striped skunk! Look at those baby faces. Who could resist!?

And then there are the animals whose welfare represent my love of all of God's living creatures as well as his earth: sea turtles!

Before that, my loves consisted of frogs and killer whales (the latter mostly because I loved going to Sea World and seeing Shamu).

Why such out-of-the-ordinary creatures?

I fell in love with each of these animals because I had a stuffed version of them that was utterly adorable. Made me interested in learning more about the real-life version of my (current) favorite stuffed animal. And that's how I learned about the plight of endangered sea turtles, that skunks are really tame and make great pets (stink aside, of course), and that most desert tarantulas are docile, peaceful creatures and sit at the top of their buggy food chain.

I wonder why falling in love with a particular stuffed animal makes me fall in love with the real-life version of it. One friend postulates that because I spend so much time with them, they seem larger than life. She knows how to appreciate a good stuffed animal, as well :-)

At any rate, these are my animal favorites. What are your favorite animals?