The animal kingdom is full of mysteries that scientists are still uncovering. In their ongoing research, zoologists continue to reveal surprising new facts about animals that will intrigue even the most devoted animal lovers.
For instance, a recent study from the University of Tokyo found that house cats often pretend not to hear their owners’ commands. Have you ever noticed your cat, Betty, sharpening her claws on the furniture, completely ignoring your stern voice telling her to stop? Cats do this because they know their owners won’t punish them.
Interestingly, cats are one of the only predators whose jaws can’t move sideways, which is why they chew solid food in such a peculiar way. And here’s another curious fact: cats are the only animals that aren’t mentioned in the Bible. If you’re fascinated by cats or animals in general, AdmiGram.com has compiled a list of the most interesting and surprising animal facts for you to enjoy.
35 most surprising animal facts
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- The easiest way to tell a predator from a herbivore: predators’ eyes are positioned at the front of their heads to spot prey, while herbivores’ eyes are on the sides to watch for predators.
- No new animals have been domesticated in the last 4,000 years.
- Elephants and humans are the only mammals that can stand on their heads.
- An ostrich egg is so large that it would take the combined warmth of 10 hens to incubate it.
- Ferrets love to sleep and can snooze up to 20 hours a day.
- Male monkeys lose their hair in the same way human men do.
- Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
- If you ever catch a garfish, you’ll be surprised — its bones are green!
- An octopus’s pupils are rectangular.
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- Giraffes have black tongues that can be as long as 45 centimeters (18 inches).
- Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight.
- Fish in Antarctica can have blood that is below freezing in temperature.
- On the Falkland Islands, there are 350 sheep for every human.
- In 1850, when sparrows were first brought from Europe to America, Americans were so thrilled that they overfed them, causing many to die.
- Iguanas can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes.
- Zebras are actually white with black stripes, not the other way around.
- A rat can survive longer without water than a camel.
- In ancient Egypt, the biggest field pests weren’t locusts or beetles, but hippos.
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- Sharks roll their eyes back when attacking prey to protect them from injury.
- Female armadillos can delay giving birth for up to two years when stressed.
- Bee stings kill three times more people annually than rattlesnake bites.
- Whales have extremely slow heart rates, beating only nine times per minute.
- A type of sea star called Lunckia columbiae can completely regenerate its body from a fragment just 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long.
- Tigers have night vision that is six times better than humans, thanks to a reflective layer behind their retinas.
- Some snakes can hibernate for up to three years without eating.
- Dolphins sleep with one eye open.
© james ballard / Unsplash
- Despite their humps, camels have straight spines.
- The Tokyo zoo closes for two months every year so the animals can take a break from visitors.
- Female dogs are more likely to bite than males.
- Sea stars can turn their stomachs inside out.
- Hummingbirds can’t walk.
- When food is scarce, a tapeworm can eat up to 95% of its own body weight.
- Moths don’t have stomachs.
- Orangutans signal aggression with loud burps.
- Crocodiles swallow stones to help them dive deeper.
With these fascinating facts in mind, you’ll have plenty of new information to share with your fellow animal lovers!
image on top: Jennifer Uppendahl / Unsplash
