Animals are amazingly interesting. The number of adaptations nature has come up with to try out in the animal kingdom is kind of bonkers.
Every time Mother Nature tries a new animal, she comes up with a whole bunch of new features! We're not saying they're all winners ... some are downright creepy (looking at you, woodpecker tongues) but the fact remains the list of animal traits, adaptations and "quirks" is nearly endless.
One reddit user asked:
What are some really amazing animal facts?
And yeah, it pretty much turned into a weird animal trivia shootout ... and we're totally here for it.
The Owl Challenge
Owls bob their heads up and down to help improve their depth of perception.
You can try it out yourself. Focus on an object and bob your head. It doesn't work for us, but you do look like an idiot.
He Does Impressions!
The mimic octopus is an octopus species that can change its body structure to imitate other creatures like flounders and sea snakes.
So, So Old
The Greenland shark reaches sexual maturity at 150 years old and lives 300-500 years. Always fascinates me that there is something that can live that long.
- UsedElk7
Ravens
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Ravens can mimic sounds and speech like parrots can.
They've found that ravens can actually learn words and form coherent statements. They can usually learn about 200 words, the same as a toddler.
A Caribbean Accent
Sperm whales in the Caribbean have an accent.
Yup. Sperm whales in the Caribbean and Pacific ocean speak different dialects. The babies start out babbling, then pick up the family language from those around them.
It's one of the arguments for whales having "culture".
- Sedixoap
MEEEEEERRRRRRAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAA!!!! 'Mon.
One Solid Mass
Turtles aren't in their shell, they are their shell. The shell itself is a combination of their spine and rib cage that has become one solid mass.
Pest Control
A lot of people think possums are pests and dangerous but they don't really carry diseases like rabies and if you have them, they keep tick populations pretty low so they are useful. Also they don't choose to play dead, their Adrenaline levels get so high they pass out!
- Benje17x
'Finding Nemo' Just Got Weird
In clownfish, each 'school' ( tribe whatever) has one female, and a head male. All the other fish in the group are male. If the female dies, the head male turns into a female.
The next in line to the "throne" (?) would become the new male leader and bang the former male leader/ew female leader.
Yeah clownfish are Wacky.
Time To Pounce
Foxes use the earth's magnetic fields.
"Like a guided missile", the fox harnesses the earth's magnetic field to hunt. Other animals, like birds, sharks, and turtles, have this "magnetic sense," but the fox is the first one we've discovered that uses it to catch prey.
According to New Scientist, the fox can see the earth's magnetic field as a "ring of shadow" on its eyes that darkens as it heads towards magnetic north. When the shadow and the sound the prey is making line up, it's time to pounce.
- Jammy13
Dolphin Suicide
Unlike humans, dolphins must actively decide when to breathe. Captive dolphins have been known to hold their breath until they die of suffocation, which some have suggested amounts to dolphin suicide.
Go F Yourself
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When a male octopus is ready to mate it rips off its ding dong and throws it at the female so she can do whatever she wants with it. The reason they do this is because they're a lot smaller than the female, so she'll eat the male if he gets too close. On the plus side, the male octopus will grow his ding dong back eventually.
"Here, go f*** yourself." - male octopus.
Practical Twerking
Wombat moms have their pouches "backwards" so when they dig, dirt doesn't get into the pouch. Also, they have very hard and sturdy butts to use as shields if any predator tries to get them.
And they said twerking has no practical use.
Magic Crocodile Blood
Crocodiles have a ton of special adaptions to allow them to stay underwater for prolonged periods of time. They can control where oxygenated blood goes via the foramen of panizza (directing oxygenated blood to the brain and essential organs and preventing it from returning to the lungs) and even control how much blood goes to their extremities.
That's pretty neat and it makes sense for an ambush predator that lies in wait for long periods of time in water--- but even more amazing is how Crocodilians deal with the PROBLEMS caused by the blood flow regulation/lack of oxygen. One of the less commonly known side-effects of this system is that blood pH levels begin to drop (becoming acidic as Carbon Dioxide builds up- a condition called "acedemia").
As a general rule of thumb Amniotes (Reptiles and Mammals) require a blood pH close to seven and-a-half. Even small drops in blood pH are enough to seriously interfere with normal biological function. Crocodiles, however, can function with blood pH drops down towards 6--- that's a blood pH that would kill any one of us currently posting about crazy animal facts!
Sound Problems
Bald eagles don't sound like they do on TV. They dub over bald eagles with the call of a redtail hawk. Actual bald eagle calls sound more like a seagull.
Similarly, lion roars on tv are usually dubbed over with tiger roars. Evidently this is because an actual lion roar is usually too deep to record well, so it sounds weak. But apparently is terrifying IRL.
A Real Hero
The Hero Shrew (aka the Armored Shrew) has an incredibly bizarre, chain-mail like spine that allows it to withstand vertical pressure up to 160 pounds or so, the equivalent of a human supporting 10 elephants on their back. It's believed they use this ability to wedge up logs to eat the bugs underneath and to allow them to bend almost completely in half, allowing for fast turns in their tunnels.
- codoro
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
Giphy
What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
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"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
Unimpressed Uh Huh GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Giphy
"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace
Giphy
"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
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"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
