Slithering or scampering, fuzzy or feathered: What’s the weirdest thing you ever learned about animals? Well, whatever it is, we promise to give you an even weirder answer.
The beauty of the aye-aye is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. This species of lemur from Madagascar is often known for its visually striking looks—a coat of shaggy, wispy black and gray fur, large bat-like ears used for echolocation, and a pair of bright yellow-orange eyes that seem to piece into your soul.
Here’s the thing: Rats can’t vomit. Rodents as a general rule, don’t puke. That’s why most available rat poisons contain chemicals that induce vomiting; the urge to let out a technicolor yawn will save most humans and pets from getting an accidental dose of pesticides, but it doesn’t do diddly squat for a rat.
Male snakes have two penises. Actually, it sounds like a decent amount of lizards and things have two penises. But the story of the snake’s “hemipenis” is an interesting evolutionary one for certain.
Researchers in Israel published evidence that goldfish can learn to drive tanks. Fish tanks, that is.
Some researchers have proposed that while the frog benefits from the spider’s presence, the spider only tolerates the frog or ignores it. But others have suggested that there could be something in it for the spider, too. Frogs eat parasites and tiny creatures like ants that are too small for a tarantula to get their mouthparts around, but that can attack and eat a spider’s eggs. So while the tarantula is basically a bodyguard, the frog is basically a babysitter.
A study by the National Park Service found that 20% of the average urban coyotes’ diet is made up of cats. (How do they know, you ask? Poop. The answer is always poop.)
In 1822, a white stork flew by a northern German estate with a shocking passenger in tow: it had a two-and-a-half-foot spear sticking through its neck. The wound didn’t seem to have bothered it much, since it had carried the weapon all the way from Africa.
Poodle haircuts get a bad rap. There are vaguely French and, at least to modern eyes, totally frivolous. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as “proud” and reminds casual admirers that the dog’s fur orbs are not pompoms, but *pompons,* thank you very much.
And it comes down to the smell of ‘boar taint.’
You don’t realize how many spiders are in and around your house right now.
