You may think you know everything there is to know about wild animals, but we’re here to tell you that there are still some facts that are pretty surprising, and you might not believe them until you’ve heard them! For example, did you know that giraffes used to have short necks? If you’d like to learn more interesting animal facts like this one, continue reading below…
1) Polar bears are left-handed
Studies have shown that about half of polar bears are left-handed, which is unusual for animals. That might not seem like a big deal, but it’s actually very odd because humans and most other animals favor one side over another. For example, in humans 9 out of 10 people are right-handed. In other animals, it’s usually an even split between lefties and righties. So what causes these awkward numbers?
2) Penguins sleep with one eye open
Penguins don’t need to sleep, or rather they can go without sleeping for long periods of time. They have a special gland in their head that can produce a hormone that keeps them from feeling tired and sleepy. The main reason they sometimes sleep is to help them float better. If one eye is closed when it sleeps, it floats better and doesn’t sink as fast in water.
3) Wolves howl at the moon
While you might have heard wolves howling at midnight, they are actually just expressing their territory. A wolf’s howl is a mixture of barks, growls and yips. Each howl also has a specific pitch, volume and length that helps other wolves locate each other. The pitch makes it easier for other members of his pack to hear him at long distances. Wolves in North America usually sound different than wolves in Europe because North American wolves tend to use more low pitches than high ones.
4) Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur
A lot of people think that a tiger’s stripes are just part of its fur, but they’re actually separate from it. The color and pattern on a tiger’s skin are unique, making them hard to counterfeit. This doesn’t just help tigers tell each other apart—it also protects them from large-scale counterfeiting efforts! Now that’s some pretty advanced evolution.
5) Elephants are natural swimmers
Elephants are one of just a few animals that can naturally swim. In fact, when a wild elephant finds itself in water over its head, it will often stay afloat by holding its trunk above water and forming an air pocket that allows it to breathe. If you’re ever worried about your pachyderm friend sinking into deep waters (it is possible for elephants to drown!), don’t be—they’ve got everything under control!
6) Koalas really do eat only eucalyptus leaves and bark
It might seem strange to us, but koalas can only survive on eucalyptus leaves and bark. They don’t have a stomach and process their food in their intestine much like other herbivores. Koalas use up all of the nutrients in their food before eliminating it as feces. While there is debate as to how many koala bears are left in Australia, it has been estimated that they make up only 30 percent of previous populations.
7) Ostriches can run faster than humans
Ostriches can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour, though they usually top out at 25 to 30. As for humans, Usain Bolt’s fastest speed is 27.8 mph, according to Guinness World Records. So how does a bird that looks like a big turkey beat even one of our world’s fastest athletes?
8) Chickens suffer from claustrophobia!
Chickens have been shown to exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression when they are cooped up in chicken coops. Although chickens aren’t intelligent, they have been proven to display many human-like behaviors such as empathy and self-awareness. Because of their high level of intelligence, chickens deserve more space than just a small hen house! They should be allowed to roam freely and enjoy life in their natural habitat.
9) Pythons use other animals as hosts for their babies (it’s true!)
Pythons are known for their size and ability to squeeze through very tight spaces, but they’re also smart. Pythons know how to use animals as a host when they can’t find an ideal place to lay their eggs. They’ll sometimes put these eggs in crocodiles or even (yikes!) larger pythons!
10) Bees have to tap dance to communicate
Honeybees communicate by dancing. When a worker bee finds a good source of food, she returns to her hive and does a little dance for her sisters. The direction of her dance indicates where food is located, and how long it took her to get there. Bees have an internal clock, so they can estimate their travel time accurately.