Sometimes it seems that so much has already been written and known about dogs that there is nothing to write about except for fantasy on the Internet. But it turns out that our pets will delight us with scientific facts for a long time, since science does not stand still. For example, you could hardly imagine that there are dogs that cannot bark, or that there is only one breed of dog with six toes. But if you continue to read this article, you will quickly see that these are far from the only entertaining facts about a person's faithful companions.
Facts that prove that nature did a good job on the “Dog” project
Even if you are a big dog lover, you probably have not heard about the facts that we at Bemorepanda have collected and that we want to share with you. And don't miss the bonus at the end about the Beatles song, with sounds that only barking little brothers can hear.
1. Charming Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs are in Welsh fairy tales and myths
In Welsh folklore, these dogs pull fairy carriages, help herd fairy cattle, and are the steeds of fairy warriors.
2. Studies have shown that Border Collies are the smartest dogs.
This was found by scientists from the University of British Columbia. These dogs learn a new command in less than five seconds and obey their owner 95% of the time. In second place according to this criterion are poodles, in third place are shepherd dogs.
3. Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dogs in the US since 2013.
4. Basenjis do not bark, but make different sounds.
They purr, snort, make other strange sounds that sometimes resemble laughter. Sometimes it looks like they're grumbling.
5. The first Olympic mascot was a dachshund named Waldi.
At the Olympic Games in 1972, which were held in Munich, this dog became the first mascot in the history of the Games, which was named Waldi. This is a male dachshund, which is valued in Bavaria for endurance, perseverance and dexterity.
6. Huskies helped save children In Alaska In 1925
In early 1925, a diphtheria epidemic broke out in Nome, Alaska. To combat it, hospitals needed anti-diphtheria serum. Due to a snow storm, it was impossible to deliver it by plane. As a result, the serum was delivered by train to the station, which was located a thousand kilometers from the village. The rest of the way, the medicine was carried by dog sleds.
7. Greyhounds are the World's Fastest Dogs
They are capable of speeds up to 70 km/h.
8. The Catahoula Leopard Dog is the only breed that can climb trees
These dogs are used for hunting fur-bearing animals. But it can also be used for hunting elk, bear and wild boar. In pursuit of their prey, these dogs are able to climb trees.
9. Basset Hounds use their long ears to pick up scents.
Their ears drag along the ground and pick up scents.
10. On average, the intelligence of dogs corresponds to the intelligence of a 2-year-old child.
According to the American Psychological Association, dogs can learn up to 250 words and gestures, which is something a two-year-old can also do.
11. Dogs have three eyelids
Two of their eyelids are visible, and one is hidden. The third is in the inner corner of the dog's eyes. It contains the lacrimal glands.
12. The world's first dog lived 31,700 years ago and looked like a Siberian Husky
The prehistoric dog was about the size of a sheepdog, with a broad but short muzzle and a broader braincase than that of a wolf.
13. Male small dogs hold their legs high when they go to the bathroom to make other dogs look bigger.
According to a study conducted by scientists from Cornell University (USA), small dogs lift their legs high when they walk in a small way to deceive larger dogs into thinking they are bigger than they really are.
14. Dogs drink with the back of their tongue.
Dogs don't have cheeks, so they can't drink water like we can. Dogs move their tongue very quickly, twisting it back to create an impulse that causes water to collect in a column and rise into the mouth.
15. When dogs sleep, they instinctively curl up to protect their vitals and keep warm.
If the puppy sleeps without curling up, it means that he is just hot or feels safe.
16. Dog ears control 18 muscles
For reference: people have only six of them. Dogs can rotate and tilt their ears to pick up sound waves effectively. Their ears can also move independently of each other, allowing them to hear sounds from different directions.
17. Dogs can now watch TV thanks to the invention of high-definition (HD) television technology with higher frame rates. Before that, to our smaller brothers, the TV seemed to be something like a strobe light.
Now that modern televisions are generating more frames per second, dogs can perceive images like film in the same way that we do.
18. A dog's sense of smell is 10,000-100,000 times sharper than a human's.
Dogs are able to detect substances in concentrations of one part per trillion - it's like a dog finding one dirty sock among two million clean ones.
19. Dogs have sweat glands on their paw pads.
They have a type of sweat glands called merocrine glands that are located in the pads of their paws. Despite this, dogs with sweaty paws are relatively rare.
20. Dogs can be trained to detect cancer and other diseases.
In the human body, cancer cells, in comparison with healthy ones, secrete special metabolic products. The difference is actually so significant that dogs are quite capable of detecting cancer. Dogs can also sniff out cancer cells with a single human breath.
21. Dogs can get jealous
While our pets may be jealous and envious, their emotions are not as complex as those of humans. According to the American Kennel Club, our little brothers have a sense of justice (for example, everyone is rewarded for their efforts), but not when justice is more detailed (for example, when a meal or other reward is equal in volume).
22. A Greyhound can beat a Cheetah in the long run.
Despite the fact that the maximum speed of the Greyhound is not as high as that of cheetahs (a wild cat can run 80-130 km / h), they are more enduring in long-distance running. Cheetahs are champions only in the sprint. Thus, in a long-distance race, the Greyhound will eventually overtake the predator.
23. Dogs' wet nose helps absorb aromatic chemicals.
Various chemicals settle on a wet nose. Dogs lick their noses to taste them.
Wet noses also help dogs regulate their body temperature and keep them cool. Unlike humans, our pets do not have normal sweat glands on their bodies.
24. The normal body temperature of dogs ranges from 37.4-39.0 ⁰С
A temperature above 39.5-40 ⁰С is considered elevated, and the pet should be shown to the veterinarian.
25. Dogs can dream, just like humans...
During sleep, the brain of a human and a dog works in the same way. We both have the same type of non-REM sleep and rapid eye movement (REM). During the REM stage, dogs can dream in the same way as humans. If you see your pet sleeping and his paws moving or twitching, it means that he is most likely dreaming.
26. They see in the dark much better than we do.
They have more light-sensitive cells or rods located closer to the center of the retina. In addition, their large pupils let in more light.
27. A dog's nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint.
It is believed that no two dogs have the same nose print. That is why the Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting nose prints as identification for pets since 1938.
28. Why do dogs like to wallow in dirty and smelly places?
The thing is that what seems smelly and foul-smelling to us is perceived differently by dogs. Their perception of smell is arranged differently.
29. Saluki is one of the most ancient dog breeds.
Lives with people since 329 BC. e.
Some historians claim that there is evidence that this dog breed was popular in ancient Egypt. This is around the time Alexander the Great invaded India.
30. Dogs hear about four times as far as humans.
Dogs hear sounds at a distance of up to 40-50 m, on average, a person picks up sounds from a distance of 6-10 m. At night, in complete silence, our pets can hear a sound from a distance of up to 150 m.
31. Some dogs, such as the Newfoundland breed, have webbing between their toes.
For example, Newfoundlands have webbed feet, which were originally used as fishermen's assistants - they pulled nets from the sea.
There are webbed fingers and the Portuguese Water Dog. These legs help them swim better.
32. They can detect emotions by listening to your voice.
There is a special section in the human brain that helps distinguish voices from other sounds, which helps distinguish between intonation and other speech sounds in speech. This allows you to capture different emotions in your voice. The study showed that dogs also have such a brain area in their heads, located approximately in the same place.
33. There is a legend that the Pekingese was bred in ancient China to protect the emperor and royalty.
The dog was hidden in the sleeve of the emperor in case of protection, if the enemy made his way into the chambers of the royal person. Such dogs were called "sleeve". The emperor and courtiers carried these little dogs with them literally everywhere. By the way, despite the cute appearance of these dogs, they, in fact, can be quite aggressive and able to fight back.
34. Despite those puppy-like innocent eyes, dogs don't feel remorse, as many people think.
According to experts, it is quite clear that dogs do not show guilt. They have only learned to mimic a guilty cute look to calm their owners when they are angry.
So don't believe those puppy mime eyes after your pet has been mischievous yet again.
35. There is a place on Earth that is literally a "dog's paradise"
In Costa Rica there is a shelter "Country of Stray Dogs" ("Territorio de Zaguates"). Thousands of dogs of various breeds live here, cared for by volunteers and veterinarians. Pets feel at home (if not better) running freely throughout the territory. Each dog in the shelter can be given to good hands.
36. Dalmatians are born without spots.
37. The name “pug” most likely comes from the Latin word “pugnus”, which means “fist”, “handful”, because the shadow from a clenched fist resembles the profile of a pug
38. Once a dog ran and walked 4,500 km across plains, deserts, mountains and rivers. And in winter, and all in order to return to his family
39. Most French Bulldogs have a too narrow pelvis for delivery, and therefore their puppies are almost always born by caesarean section.
The puppies' heads are too large, and their mother's narrow pelvis prevents the litter from passing through the dog's natural birth canal.
40. A study showed that dogs like the smell of their owner and other family members more.
Scientists have found that dogs not only distinguish the smell of the owner from others, but this also has a positive effect on the pet. This speaks to the power of dogs' sense of smell and provides important clues about the importance of humans in a dog's life.
41. Pug Doug is the most famous dog on the Internet
This pet in one of the social networks (******ram) has more than 3.5 million subscribers, who every day leave thousands of likes under the posts of his owner.
42. Three dogs of the Border Collie breed were trained to run through the forest with backpacks and scatter seeds.
So the Chileans wanted to restore plants after large forest fires.
43. Dogs have learned to recognize and respond to human laughter
They are also able to detect crying.
44. Dogs sometimes sneeze to show other dogs that they are not threatening but are ready to interact.
45. Roselle, a guide dog, saved her blind owner during the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York by bringing him
45. Roselle, a guide dog, saved her blind owner during the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York by leading him out of the North Tower of the World Trade Center and leading the disabled man through 78 flights of stairs.
Immediately after the explosion, the owner of the dog removed the harness in the hope that his pet would be saved. At first Roselle ran away, but it turns out to find a way out. The dog then returned and led his friend out of the building.
46. There used to be a spit breed of dog whose task was to help cooks swivel meat.
They were also called kitchen or cook dogs. Their task was to run in a special wheel that rotated a skewer with meat strung on it. The dog helped the cook cook the meat evenly.
47. Archaeologists have found 26,000-year-old dog paw prints next to the prints of an ancient child, which proves that the dog has been a true friend of man for many years.
The conventional wisdom is that agrarian man tamed scavenging dogs about 15,000 years ago. However, recent archaeological discoveries and DNA analyzes show that our friendship with our smaller brothers was formed 30,000 years ago (and possibly 40,000).
48. Corgi in a non-adapted translation from Welsh means "dwarf dog"
The word "corgi" is derived from the Welsh cor gi ([kɔrɡi]) cor, "dwarf" and ci ([kiː]), "dog".
49. If you leave your dog alone at home, put an item of clothing that smells like you next to your pet - this will calm your friend and help reduce his separation anxiety
Dogs, like us, are very social animals.
They live in family groups with us for a long time and have evolved along with humans over the millennia to be our true friends. Most dogs prefer to spend most of their time with their owner and family members. Loneliness is simply not a natural state for them. But, alas, we have to leave our pets alone at home. So your dog is always stressed when he is alone. To reduce it, experts advise leaving your clothes and things that smell like you near your pet.
50. The Norwegian Lundehund is the only dog with six toes on each paw.
Of the six fingers, five rest on the ground. Other dogs have five toes on each paw and only four touch the ground.
51. Dogs don't ONLY see in black and white - they can also see in blue and yellow.
The idea that dogs can't see in color has been around for decades, but new research and findings about the anatomy and behavior of dogs have shown that even though our faithful friends can't see the same colors, and we, they can still distinguish some color spectrums.
Research shows that dogs' eyes are capable of perceiving shades of color. So, most likely, our pets do not see the world in gray.
52. Bloodhounds are able to pick up scents that were left over 300 hours ago.
They are one of the champions in flair - they are able to follow the trail for a long time, as they have an excellent memory for smells.
53. USA is the country with the highest population of pet dogs
In this country, there are about 75 million barking pets.
Many dog owners have probably observed more than once the desire of their pet to bury something away from prying eyes, not only food, but also other things. But what is causing this behavior? This could be understood if the dog were malnourished and in this case would hide something in reserve. But if the animal gets proper nutrition and has plenty of toys, then what's the deal?
Experts explained what caused the desire of dogs to hide things and whether something needs to be done about it.
Bemorepanda found the answer to this question. Specialists in veterinary medicine explained why this is connected and how you can correct the pet's behavior if it causes inconvenience to you and can harm your pet.
Previously pack animals, dogs have a natural tendency to bury important things like bones and food. Burying also provides stimulation, so dogs can hide toys and food when they are bored or stressed. To keep your belongings safe, you can give them a dedicated digging area and train them to only bury toys.
Do you feel like your dog's favorite bones and toys are slowly disappearing?
You may have searched long and hard - under furniture, inside cabinets, and on your dog's bed. In the end, you can come to terms with spending more money on new toys while still wondering where the rest went.
Your dog may be hiding his treasures in the mud outside, so don't be surprised if these toys turn up covered in dried mud later. If they don't have access to a backyard, their toys may end up in baskets, bedding, or under cushions.
This burrowing behavior is common among dogs. In the same way that you can hide your favorite snacks from family members or housemates so they don't nibble on your treats, your dog wants to protect his favorite things and save them for later.
This is what drives your dog's burrowing instinct.
Why do dogs like to hide things?
Your pet has inherited this very natural behavior from their canine ancestors - and wolves still do it today.
As pack animals, dogs sometimes ran out of food, so when they had a surplus, they stashed the food for later, says Dr. Abel Gonzalez, a veterinarian at Fuzzy Pet Health.
This instinctive behavior may also involve hiding things other than food or bones, such as favorite toys.
According to Gonzalez, dogs can hide whatever they see fit. This is because burying important items keeps them safe and prevents them from being lost or stolen by other pets in the home.
BY THE WAY
A dog born into a large litter of puppies may also be more likely to hoard their own stuff, having had to compete for mother's milk, puppy food and toys from birth, Gonzalez says.
What breeds do this most often?
Most modern pet dogs don't have to worry about where their next meal will come from, but they may still have a natural urge to hide something away.
According to Dr. Preston Turano, veterinarian and spokesman for AKC Pet Insurance, dogs that were originally bred to hunt underground prey tend to be more confident diggers and may dig in toys and food more often than other breeds.
This is why some breeds are more likely to bury things than others, such as:
- basset hounds
- dachshunds
- terriers
A 2022 study of over 18,000 dog owners shows that no behavior is exclusive to one breed of dog. However, it also turned out that greyhounds are unlikely to be "diggers".
Non-sporting and herding breeds like Collies, Bulldogs and Chow Chows are also less likely to bury things underground, Turano says.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), other reasons dogs may bury or hide things are:
- competition from other dogs or animals in the home;
- boredom;
- stress or anxiety;
- overfeeding – If you give them too much at one meal, they may try to save the leftovers for later.
Should you be worried about your dog's hiding place?
In most cases, burying things is harmless. “It can be a very mentally stimulating and enriching activity,” Gonzalez says.
Because burying things is a natural instinct—much like chewing or herding cattle—your dog's body is designed for it. According to Gonzalez, this behavior helps them release physical, mental and emotional energy.
However, he says that trying to dig somewhere with hard ground, such as a rock garden, can cause injury to your dog's paws and claws.
Dogs that love to hide and bury things can also damage indoor objects like pet beds and sofa cushions, Turano said. And of course, if your dog behaves in a destructive way that pisses you off, both you and your furry friend may end up stressed.
A LITTLE ADVICE
Buying more durable pillows or keeping a close eye on your dog while playing outdoors can help. Just be aware that this won't fix the problem at the source if your dog is hiding things due to stress or anxiety.
If your dog obsessively burrows objects to the point of hurting himself when hiding or retrieving his toys, contacting a veterinarian or a certified pet behaviorist is a good next step. They can provide more guidance on anxious and destructive behaviors.
Keep in mind, too, that many veterinarians generally recommend not giving your dog bones. Bones can break into sharp pieces and damage teeth, leading to costly dental procedures, or if swallowed, get stuck in the gastrointestinal tract, requiring emergency surgery, Turano says.
If your dog likes to chew on bones, the American Kennel Club recommends that you let him do it under supervision, but not for long - up to 15 minutes, and get rid of the bones after three to four days. Instead, you can also opt for synthetic dice.
What to do with it
You may not have objected when your dog burrowed in his bones and toys, but now he's switched over to your stuff, like your remote control, your shoes, or your household knick-knacks.
You can try the following strategies to deal with this behavior:
Remove anything you don't want them to bury: If your dog is very fond of hiding his valuables, you may find it difficult to break the habit. Instead, keep things you don't want her to hide out of reach.
Set up a sandbox or yard area for burying things: Set aside a place where your dog can bury and hide toys. “Participating in instinctive activities can positively impact a pet’s mental health,” Gonzalez notes. As long as it's safe and controlled.
Block them in dig-free areas: Use temporary fences or other barriers to keep your dog from digging in places you don't want them to damage, such as a garden.
Train your dog to only bury certain items: "Dogs are smart and trainable," Gonzalez says. Most dogs can pick up new habits quickly, like burying their toys instead of your car keys. Training helps improve the bond between you and your dog and enriches his daily life.
Consult an animal behaviorist who can help you identify possible causes of destructive or persistent digging and suggest possible solutions.
Give the dog something else to do: A bored dog may bury things because he has nothing else to do. If you notice other signs that your dog may need more activity and stimulation, such as restlessness and excessive barking, try adding more exercise to his daily routine or introducing him to interactive puzzle toys.
Conclusion
Your dog's desire to bury his favorite things is completely natural. This inherited behavior may even be a mentally rewarding activity for your dog.
Of course, if you're losing things around the house, you may want to consider strategies to control this behavior, such as training or blocking access to digging areas.
Excessive digging and burrowing can sometimes lead to injury or property damage, not to mention worries about your dog's health and wellbeing. If this behavior is causing problems or your dog appears tense, consider seeking help from a veterinarian or canine behavior specialist.
Who are the crocodiles? Everyone knows them, even children. After all, from our early years, we read stories about crocodiles. People have probably heard that if you ever meet this reptile, you should hit it in zigzags (although if you want to live, it's better not to engage in a fight, and just try to run as fast and further as possible). But do you know how crocodiles differ from alligators? And what can they do... climb trees? Or where did the expression «crocodile tears» come from?
Facts about large predatory reptiles
Even if you already know the answers to these questions, we are sure that in the selection that we at Bemorepanda have collected for you, you will find many fascinating facts that you have not heard about before. Moreover, they will be interesting for both adults and children.
1. When the female crocodile lays eggs, the temperature of the nest, in which the eggs are laid, actually determines the sex of the young. If the temperature is below 32 degrees Celsius, the baby crocodiles will be females, and if it is higher than this temperature - males.
2. Crocodiles have the most perfect heart in the animal world, and they actively change the direction of the blood flowing through it depending on their needs.
3. Crocodiles have very sharp hearing. So much so that they can hear their babies screaming from their eggs.
4. The expression «crocodile tears» (to show an insincere or false manifestation of emotions) comes from the fact that crocodiles shed tears while eating their prey.
5. Crocodiles like to have fun – play with random objects (floating trash, noisy ceramics), swim on ocean waves or slide down slopes.
6. Crocodiles have a second tooth, which is in reserve under the outer tooth, which can replace a lost tooth. That's a spare tooth row.
7. Crocodiles can change 4000 teeth in a lifetime.
8. The lifespan of crocodiles in different species varies from 25 to 70 years. It is known that captive crocodiles reach 100 years of age.
9. Crocodiles – the largest reptiles on Earth.
10. The longest crocodile caught alive in Agusan del Sur province, Philippines, was 6.17 m long and weighed 1075 kg.
11. It is known that crocodiles sometimes eat smaller crocodiles.
12. According to estimates, crocodiles kill about 1000 people a year in the whole world.
13. The feeding ratio of crocodiles varies greatly depending on whether they are in a limited space or not.
14. Crocodiles are not as agile as monkeys, but they can regularly climb trees.
15. The eyes of the crocodile are located very close to each other and are directed forward. This allows them to estimate the distance very precisely so that they can determine the exact location of their prey before the attack.
16. A simple way to distinguish a crocodile from an alligator: when the crocodile closes its mouth, all the teeth are visible, as the upper and lower jaws have the same width.
17. Crocodiles can hold their breath under water for more than a hour.
18. Crocodiles can sleep with their eyes wide open.
19. The eyes of the crocodile are protected by the third eyelid, and the eyeballs themselves can be pulled into the eyeballs during the attack.
20. Black spots around the alligator's mouth are the sensory organs it uses to detect changes in water pressure caused by the movement of potential prey.
21. Crocodiles kill and eat their prey, drowning it.
22. Crocodiles are carnivorous animals, which usually means that they eat only meat. However, a recent study showed that they also sometimes like the taste of fruit.
23. Crocodiles swallow small stones to improve digestion. These stones help to digest food in the stomach.
24. Crocodiles can be found on all inhabited continents, except for Europe and Antarctica.
25. Crocodiles can hold their jaws open under water.
26. Crocodiles can find their home at a great distance.
27. Sea crocodiles can ignore excess salt.
28. Alligators annually kill about one person in the United States, while crocodiles annually kill about 1,000 people in Africa alone.
29. The crocodile's tongue is attached to the bottom of its mouth, so it never moves.
30. Crocodiles don't sweat. To preserve cold blood, they open their mouths, which is known as "open mouth", which is very similar to difficulty breathing.
31. Crocodiles perform a «death throw» to defeat the prey, clamping its jaws and powerfully rotating.
32. Crocodiles are quite universal reptiles, which means that they can live in the most diverse environments, including lakes, rivers, freshwater bodies, salt water and brackish water (combination of salt and fresh water).
33. The ancestors of crocodiles (prehistoric crocodiles) were much larger.
34. Crocodiles have good night vision..
35. The heart of the crocodile has four chambers.
36. Crocodiles have a keen sense of smell, an evolutionary advantage that makes them very successful predators.
37. Crocodiles are closely related to dinosaurs and birds.
38. Crocodiles carry their babies in their mouths.
39. An average crocodile egg is about the size of a goose egg.
40. The ancient Egyptians and some tribes of New Guinea are just two cultures that revered crocodiles.
41. Crocodiles are very fast in the water - they swim at speeds up to 35 kilometers per hour.
42. Crocodiles hunt from ambush; even large mammals such as small elephants, hippos, sharks or large felines can become their victims.
43. Crocodiles make sounds to communicate. The young of some species squeak and grunt, while adult crocodiles may growl, hiss or roar at each other.
44. Larger crocodiles can go without food for more than a year.
45. Most young crocodiles are eaten in their first year of life by other predators such as lizards, other crocodiles, hyenas and even fish.
46. Crocodiles coexisted with dinosaurs.
47. Crocodiles wake up from hibernation when it starts to warm up, and live their lives until it gets cold again.
48. These giant geniuses can use tools to trick prey, such as holding branches with their snouts to attract birds building nests.
49. Hunting crocodiles for their skin is illegal.
50. Crocodiles are aggressive by nature and even more aggressive during mating season.
51. Crocodiles have relatively weak jaw opening muscles and can be kept closed with a rubber band or bare hands.
52. The key difference from the alligator is the shape of the muzzle. Alligators have a wider, U-shaped muzzle, while crocodiles have a more pointed, V-shaped muzzle.
53. Crocodiles have the most acidic stomach of all vertebrates.
54. There are 24 recognized species of modern crocodiles, divided into three families.
55. Ancient species of crocodiles probably hunted human ancestors.
56. Crocodiles eat without chewing. Their jaws work in such a way that they cannot move sideways, so they cannot grind food with a traditional chewing movement. That is, they do not know how to chew!
57. There is a species of crocodile called "dwarf crocodile" - the smallest crocodile in the world.
58. Saltwater crocodiles have the strongest bite - they close their jaws with a force of 1680 kg per 6.5 square meters. cm.
59. Each species has a unique combination of snout proportions, dorsal bony structures, and scale arrangement.
60. The oldest crocodile was a freshwater crocodile named Mr. Freshy, who lived to be 140 years old.
61. Crocodiles mate during the rainy season.
62. Like most reptiles, crocodiles are cold-blooded animals and prefer to settle in tropical areas near wetlands. They cannot generate heat on their own, so they go into a period of long sleep until it gets warmer again.
63. Crocodiles are mostly nocturnal.
64. Male crocodiles can use their tails to get attention, and when attacking, they can wag their tails to knock out their targets.
65. The brain of a crocodile is capable of learning to a greater extent than that of any other reptile in the animal kingdom.
66. A crocodile can only swim with its eyes and nostrils open.
67. Despite the thick skin, crocodiles are surprisingly touchy.
68. Crocodiles can run on land at speeds up to 17 kilometers per hour for short distances.
69. Crocodile paws are webbed.
70. If the temperature is below 32 degrees Celsius, the cubs of crocodiles will be females, and if above this temperature - males.
There are one trillion species of living beings on the planet today. This is slightly inferior to the number of trees, which are about three trillion on Earth. Each type of animal is unique and has its habits and characteristics. For example, did you know that chinchillas have the thickest fur of any land mammal and that turtles were the first animals to fly around the moon? We still know little about the natural world, and intelligent people still have much to learn. But we already know a lot.
Animal Facts You Won't Find in Textbooks
At Bemorepanda collected facts about animals and discovered that our smaller brothers hide a lot from us.
1. The average length of a giraffe's tongue is 45-50 cm. And they can grab branches with it, sticking it out 35-45 cm.
By the way, their tongue is dark in color (some scientists believe that the color of the language protects it from burning in the sun).
2. Sea lion cubs communicate with their mother using a unique set of vocal sounds so they can recognize each other.
Moreover, such vocalization is unique and does not resemble the sounds of other females and cubs. So the mother and her children do not confuse the sounds of other relatives. Also, each puppy and female has a unique smell that helps to recognize each other. For example, a female can find her cub by unique sounds even among hundreds of others, and when she sees it, she sniffs it as the last check.
3. "Puppy eyes" - the result of the joint evolution of dogs and people.
“Puppy eyes” or “puppy eyes” are round eyes, raised brow ridges, and a piercing, mimic look directed into a person’s eyes.
Domestic dogs have evolved two muscles that exaggerate the size of their eyes, making them appear larger and more expressive—in other words, cuter and cuter.
4. Newborn baby elephants can't see well, so they recognize their mother by touch, smell, and sound.
5. Male giraffes use their very long tongues to catch the female's urine to find out if she's ovulating.
6. The fins of the octopus Dumbo (Grimpoteutis) are like the ears of an elephant.
That's why Disney named his iconic baby elephant after the cute octopus. By the way, it is one of the world's cutest octopuses.
7. Hippos have pink sweat.
When hippos are hot, they produce unusual sweat (an oily secretion), a reddish substance that acts like sunscreen.
8. Wolves are afraid of strangers and hide. Because of this, they make poor guard dogs.
9. Ostriches swallow pebbles to grind food in their stomachs.
With no teeth, ostriches swallow pebbles, so their food is digested normally. An adult ostrich can eat about 1 kg of stones at a time.
10. Giraffes can run at speeds up to 55-60 km / h, which is quite fast for an animal that practically walks on high stilts.
Usually, their average walking speed is 15-17 km/h. Compared to a person, their relaxed walking for us is the sprint speed of a runner at maximum speed.
11. Goats and cows have their regional accent.
Cows, as a rule, moo differently depending on the country, region, and area where they live. The same applies to goats, but unlike cows, goats, once in a new place where their foreign relatives live, quickly adopt their unique “accent.”
12. Penguins settled in an abandoned minefield protected from poachers.
Penguins are too small to detonate mines, but poachers can't get through.
The mines were planted in the Falkland Islands when Argentine commandos occupied the territory in 1982 during a conflict with British forces. Magellanic penguins have lived in the area ever since. And since the rooms are well marked and fenced off, no civilian was harmed by mines.
13. Cats can feed hedgehogs.
In 2017, at the Sadgorod zoo in the suburbs of Vladivostok, a cat “adopted” them and began to feed them. Thanks to the care of the mother cat, the little orphaned hedgehogs were brought up.
14. Giraffes can live longer without water than camels.
15. Giraffes have twice the blood pressure of humans.
In just a second or two, a giraffe can raise its head from ground level up to a height of about 4.5 meters and not faint due to a lack of blood in the head. If a person could do something like that, he would immediately faint. A hard-working heart and high blood pressure keep the giraffe from fainting.
By the way, their blood pressure regulation system became a hint to aviation engineers to create a plan for maintaining astronauts' life support systems.
16. No two giraffes have the same spotting pattern, but those living in the same area tend to have the same coat.
17. Seagulls often stomp on the ground - called their "rain dance" - to attract earthworms and other insects.
Their stomp imitates vibrations from real rain, which lures insects to the surface, who think it has begun to rain, and, to protect themselves from moisture, crawl to the surface, where cunning birds are waiting for them.
18. Cats are responsible for the complete extinction of 33 animal species.
Let's be clear: we are talking about the street (feral cats) and not about your pets ...
Every year, billions of living creatures become the prey of street cats, and as a result of their hunting, 33 species of animals and birds have disappeared from our planet forever.
19. Dogs prefer to go to the toilet facing the North Pole.
One study showed that dogs use the Earth's magnetic field when they pee. While observing the dogs, the scientists found that the dogs preferred to "defecate with their bodies aligned along the north-south axis" and wholly avoided the east-west direction.
20. Your dog is probably dreaming about its owner.
According to Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist at Harvard, there is reason to believe that animals dream the same way humans do. It is likely that dogs also have dreams where they dream of ordinary "dog joys," such as walks or the joy of the owner.
21. Zebra mothers keep their cubs in the center of the herd to keep them safe from predators.
22. The oldest living creature was a mollusk that lived 507 years.
The mollusk specimen was named Ming. It washed ashore in Iceland. Age was determined by the rings on the shell, counting their number. One call - one year of life.
23. Millions of years ago, penguins lived about 2 meters tall and weighed 115 kg.
Scientists named the giant penguin Palaeeudyptes klekowskii.
24. Ants can survive falling from any height.
Even from an airplane! The fact is that because they weigh almost nothing, they fall very slowly. In addition, they have an exoskeleton.
25. Some fish can recognize the face of their master.
Not all fish can do this. But some can learn to recognize familiar faces even though they don't have the area of the brain that humans use to recognize faces. In the study that found this fact, scientists used only archer fish. But, as biologists believe, other small fish in the world may be capable of this.
26. Giant pandas are no longer an endangered species. The tiger population is also growing.
Bamboo bear populations have increased by 17% over the past ten years, changing their status from endangered to vulnerable. Not everything is terrible with the tiger population, either. For example, in India, home to 60% of the world's wild tiger population, their number in the wild has increased by 33%.
27. When a baby elephant is born in a herd of elephants, other females trumpet to announce to the entire social group of animals about the appearance of the baby elephant.
Elephants tend to stay in close "family" groups their entire lives. Elephant herds usually consist of females (males often leave the group to mate with females from other packs but sometimes team up with other solitary males to search for elephants together).
28. Pregnant dolphin mothers sing to their babies.
According to a study by the University of Southern Mississippi, USA, mother dolphins emit an "unusual whistle" for their baby until it is born. This whistling sound is believed to be a kind of "name" that the future dolphin remembers. Thanks to this sound, they can easily find each other after birth. After the calf's birth, other nearby adult dolphins will make less of their sounds, probably helping the calf learn to correctly identify its mother's whistle and use it to call for its mother.
29. The first animals to circle the moon were turtles.
We know from school that our country was the first in the world to send animals into space. We are talking about launching dogs into Earth's orbit. Did you know we were the first to send animals around the moon?
In 1968, turtles were sent on a space flight around the moon (not in lunar orbit) aboard the Zond-5 spacecraft.
30. Giraffe in Latin is "Camelopardalis," a reference to the era of the Romans, who believed that these animals looked like a mixture of a camel and a leopard.
31. Your dog loves you, not just because you give and walk his food.
Studies that measured dogs' levels of oxytocin (a hormone that helps build social bonds - also called the hormone of affection and love), heart rate, and other biometric indicators showed that hormone levels increased. Heart rate decreased as in dogs: humans and their dogs after interacting. When you pet your dog, you and your pet release more of the same hormone in the brain that makes you fall in love with each other, making you less nervous and more relaxed.
32. Filmmakers often add tails to actor dogs.
This is done when the dogs in the frame often wag their tails. For example, computer graphics experts give some husky dogs virtual seats in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This was necessary so the dogs did not look too friendly because they actively moved their tail during filming.
33. Dogs can approximately determine what time their owner can return home.
Have you ever wondered how your dog can tell when you will come home? It turns out that they do this by the remnant of the smell of a person who is not at home. If you or someone you live with come home at about the same time every day, you have probably noticed how your dog, shortly before the arrival of a family member, sits at the door or window and waits. According to research, a dog correctly determines the arrival time of its owner or family member by how much the smell of a person in the house has decreased in his absence.
34. The fur of chinchillas is so dense that it is impossible to get wet. So instead of bathing in water, they bathe in the sand.
These funny furries have ultra-plush fur. They have an average of 60-70 hairs per follicle, which makes their fur the thickest among all land mammals. For comparison: in most mammals, including humans, there is only one hair per follicle!
Because their fur is very thick and dense, if it gets into the water, it will dry for a very long time, which is not safe for funny rodents. This is because moisture can get close to the skin, leading to several skin conditions, including pyoderma (skin infection) and dermatitis (skin inflammation). Instead of soap and water, chinchillas are "bathed" in fine dust, which helps evenly distribute skin oils, cleans dirt and debris from fur, and leaves it silky soft.
35. Giraffes give birth standing up, which means that the first thing a baby giraffe will experience is a fall from a height of almost two meters onto cold, hard ground.
36. Hundreds of trees - if not more - grow yearly due to squirrels forgetting where they buried their food.
According to Rob Swihart, a wildlife professor at Purdue University, gray squirrels bury their food (nuts, acorns, etc.) everywhere but often forget where they set up their hiding place. These buried squirrel "treasures" have a good chance of eventually becoming mature trees.
37. Scorpions glow in the ultraviolet.
Scientists don't know why this happens, but they have many theories about it.
38. It turns out that the wasps taught us how to make inexpensive paper.
They scrape wood from trees and stumps and recycle it into the paper to build a nest. The French scientist René Réaumur noticed this, and this idea became revolutionary to reduce the cost of paper, which in the 1700s was made from cotton and linen rags, ropes, old sails, etc., which made the piece too expensive.
The idea of making paper from wood was not realized immediately. Still, after a while, the German priest Jacob Schaffer wrote a treatise on producing paper from alternative fibers in 1765-1771. In his work, he talked about paper samples from wasp nests, comparing them in more detail from different types of wood.
39. Sharks "taste" everything.
Like your three-year-old nephew or small child, sharks also put everything in their mouths. And most often because they are curious. So most shark attacks are actually because predatory fish are very interested.
40. Lions love to cuddle.
This is how they build and maintain a friendship with each other.
41. Eels swim for a long time only to mate and die.
Eels migrate from freshwater to salt water to mate; this journey will be the first and last of their lives. For example, European eels, living in fresh and brackish waters of Europe and North Africa, go to spawn at the end of their lives. To do this, they swim more than 6 thousand kilometers across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea, mate, lay eggs and then die.
42. Pregnancy lasts 15 months for giraffes.
43. Wolves mourn when one of the pack dies.
Wolf packs are a big family; when one dies, they begin to “sing” (howl) mournfully.
44. Alligators pretend to be trees to attract birds.
American alligators have been observed using baits for hunting birds. They carry sticks and branches on their heads, thus attracting birds that are looking for nest materials.
45. Giraffes sleep a maximum of two hours a day, usually no more than 10 minutes at a time.
46. Dead ends make a couple for life.
After the birth of offspring, they equally share their parental responsibilities. Before mating, the birds do an unusual ritual: rub their beaks against each other.
47. Sheep are born with long tails.
48. Alex the parrot is the only animal in the world that asks a question about itself.
When a mirror was placed in front of him, seeing his reflection, he asked an existential question: "What color am I?"
49. Among cows, there are optimists from birth or pessimists - everything is like in people.
In the study, the scientists found that the fearfulness of cows is closely related to pessimism and is not a temporary mood of the animals.
50. Ginger cats are predominantly male, and tricolor cats are primarily female.
Dogs are great – they provide us with love, companionship and are always there when we need them. But did you know there’s far more to dogs than meets the eye?
We all know dogs have been ‘man’s best friend’ for thousands of years, but there’s loads more to our four-legged friends which makes them really amazing.
We’ve put together some of our favourite canine facts so you can learn a little more about your pooch.
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