25 Mind-Blowing Animal Facts That Will Probably Change How You See Nature

Reddit, a platform known for sparking insightful discussions, recently posed a thought-provoking question about lesser-known wildlife facts that capture the imagination. Users enthusiastically shared intriguing tidbits about animals that often go unnoticed in everyday conversation. Here’s a captivating exploration into some of the enlightening responses.

These revelations not only showcase the diversity and complexity of wildlife but also invite us to marvel at the wonders of the natural world. They underscore the ongoing discoveries that enrich our understanding of animal behavior and inspire a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of life on Earth.

#1

Image source: look_a_male_nurse, Renee Grayson

Every single whiptail lizards is female. They reproduce by parthenogenesis, a natural form of asexual reproduction.

#2

I’ve told this one before, but some bar-tailed godwits (a wading bird) fly from Alaska to Australia non-stop in the longest continuous migration of any bird (maybe any creature).

To do this, they shrink their internal organs so they can pack more fat (for energy) into their body. They’re basically balls of fat when they take off. And when they’re in flight, they shut most of their organs down to devote all energy to flying.

And they’re just medium sized nondescript brown birds that peck around in the mud. I love wading birds, man.

Image source: KestrelQuillPen

#3

If you put a hamster wheel in the middle of the forest, you’d expect that small creatures would ignore it. They don’t. Instead, they absolutely love it! Scientists believe it’s because it provides some kind of novel stimulation that hits the core of most animal brains!

Image source: bbbbbthatsfivebees

#4

Image source: Riflemaiden1992, Jos van Ouwerkerk

Crows can mimic human voices similar to parrots. I experienced that first hand while hunting on public land. Heard a little boy calling “MOM” “MOM!!” only to realize that the voice came from a crow flying overhead.

#5

There is a type of mouse that behaves like a tiny wolf. Members of this species travel in packs, hunt live prey, and even howl. It is called the Grasshopper Mouse, named for one of its primary food sources.

Image source: Master-o-Classes

#6

Image source: soragoncannibal, Sorin Basangeac

Young goats pick up accents from each other, joining humans, bats, and whales as mammals known to adjust their vocal sounds to fit into a new social group.

#7

Image source: leclercwitch, Cornelius Ventures

My favourite fact ever: penguins have knees. Will never not baffle me. Knees.

#8

Image source: angelLaguna1, Gaetano Cessati

A flamingo’s head has to be upside down when it eats. This is interesting to know!

#9

Image source: agitator775, Chris F

The Mayfly’s adult lifespan is so short they are born without a mouth.

#10

Image source: Express_Hedgehog2265, Matt Seymour

Rats have collapsible ribcages – it’s why they can fit through such small crevices.

#11

Some species of birds can sleep while flying, known as “unihemispheric slow-wave sleep,” keeping one hemisphere of their brain awake.

Image source: LunarLass1

#12

Squid brains are donut-shaped and the digestive tract goes through the hole in the middle.

Image source: FireStrike5

#13

Fungi can help build “wood wide webs” connecting surrounding tree roots in the forest. These “webs” are used as warning systems when a tree is in distress from an attacker and these systems also transfer nutrients and other goods to eachother within the system.

Image source: Intrepid-Middle-5047

#14

Image source: cat9tail, Ashithosh U

Pigeons produce milk.

#15

Buffalo/ American bison only have one lung cavity. They have 2 lungs, but they are together in the same cavity. It’s what makes such incredibly powerful dumptrucks of pure muscle so vulnerable to a single gunshot, or bow shot.

Image source: jollyrobyn

#16

Deer will eat human remains. It’s known that they are very occasional opportunistic carrion consumers, and this has included film of a deer munching on human remains at a body farm. I guess there’s no reason to assume that carrion wouldn’t include human remains, but it’s just sort of a weird thought, we just don’t think of deer like that.

Image source: adlittle

#17

Bull Sharks can survive in any kind of water. They swim into rivers to have their young because there are fewer predators, hence you hear news stories about sharks in the Mississippi River.

They are also a******s and will bite with very little provocation. IIRC they cause more “attacks” than Great Whites but they’re nowhere near as big so they don’t do as much damage. They are still the 3rd most dangerous shark in the world behind Tigers and Great Whites.

Image source: CopperTucker

#18

Image source: TheFuckeryIsReal, Alex

Elephants can’t jump.

#19

Image source: Slow-Star8477

There are reports of elephants finding humans sleeping under trees and the elephants think they’re dead. People have woken up with elephants gently stroking them with their trunk and in some cases they try to cover them with branches and sticks as a “burial”

Elephants are one of the few animals who mourn their dead and have rituals.

#20

Image source: Expensive_Plant9323

Vultures are really important for the ecosystems they live in, but a lot of vulture species are critically endangered due to human activity. Vultures have stomach acid so powerful that it can destroy things like botulism and anthrax, thus cleaning up the environment when they eat rotting meat that contains those things. There is evidence for a correlation between the drastic decline in India’s vulture population and the boom in the stray dog population, since less vultures means there is more food for the dogs to scavenge. This has also sadly led to a rise in rabies which kills many people and animals. Many people find vultures scary, but for the most part they are harmless and we really need to have them around. Please consider supporting vulture conservation projects.

#21

Image source: WhimsyyWhisperr_, Zdeněk Macháček

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.

#22

Image source: NyxK83

Raccoons have the most soft, velvety, devilish little hands.

Baby raccoons purr and knead like kittens. Did not know this myself until last spring when a wildlife rehabber posted a call to arms for people to help. (Figured I’ve raised enough neonatal kittens, my experience would be helpful.)

A ban has been lifted in my state and people are poisoning adult raccoons without considering the babies they are orphaning. Last year I raised and released 11. So far this year I’ve raised and released 27. I’ve also officially become a wildlife rehabber. One of the females I raised last year showed back up, babies in tow! Wasn’t sure how she’d respond after being away for a bit but she let me check her out and treat her battle wounds.