Top 12 Interesting Animal Facts That Might Surprise You

Our lives are so focused on other people rather than other species. Animal facts, however, can aid in people’s understanding of the various animals that coexist with us on this planet. All birds, sea creatures, mammals, and reptiles in the animal kingdom possess a unique collection of characteristics and habits. An excellent method to explore nature is to learn some interesting animal facts. Some fascinating facts about animals that you might like to know are as follows.

• Platypuses

Even though platypuses have a strange appearance, you do not want to offend one. They can be one of the Deadliest Animals In the world. Fun facts about creatures with innocent appearances, like the platypus, include their peculiar defense mechanisms. These wild creatures are among the few species of toxic mammals due to the venomous spurs on the heels of the back feet. 

Platypuses are among the seemingly harmless animals that are truly deadly for their venom, although not powerful enough to kill an individual, is exceedingly uncomfortable and can induce swelling as well as hyperventilation.

• Kangaroos

You know that long-distance hopping is the primary method of moving around for these giant Australian marsupials. However, one unique trait that might be unknown to you is that they cannot walk backward, partially due to the design of their big tails and powerful rear feet.

• Flamingos

People generally think that flamingos have backward-bending knees. But if you look closely, you’ll notice that what appear to be knees are actually the animal’s ankles and heels. The knees of a flamingo are situated much closer to the animal’s torso and are covered by its feathers.

Another fact about them that might interest you is that they get their distinctive pink color from their food. They eat a significant portion of their diet consisting of shrimp, which contributes to the pinkish hue of their skin.

• Hyenas

As you already know, hyenas are frequently pictured and thought of as canine-like animals, but National Geographic exclaims them as the closest relatives of cats. They are classified scientifically as belonging to the “Feliformia” suborder, one of the two suborders that make up the order Carnivora. 

The “cat-like” carnivores are classified in the Feliformia suborder; “Caniformia” is another suborder. Hyenas are still distinct enough from big cats. So this allows them to put in their own family classification, the “Hyaenidae”.

• The Pistol Shrimp

You might be surprised to know that the pistol shrimp sneaks up on its prey and kills it by startling it with a resounding bang that it produces with its claws. The vibration is so intense that it either incapacitates or perhaps kills the animals that they hunt. The sound that is produced by pistol shrimp claws sometimes reaches up to 210 decibels, which is louder than the sound of gunfire.

• Sloth

You undoubtedly consider sloths among the slowest wild animals as they are quite slow. However, they possess a skill you might not have been aware of. They are proficient swimmers who swim around 3 to 4 times quicker than they normally move.

As per Live Science, they perform the breaststroke similarly to humans, and this talent is essential for their survival in flood-prone rainforests. If you thought sloths couldn’t be any more adorable, just picture one swimming!

• Cobra

You may not know that cobras are born with the ability to kill with a bite. The venom of a baby cobra is just as dangerous as the venom of an adult cobra. Cobras can inject a lot of poison in one bite, making their bites dangerous. The neurotoxin in cobra venom affects the nervous system and therefore can cause paralysis, failure of the respiratory system, and even death.

• Elephants

Elephants possess “many admirable features,” including a superb ability to smell, a seemingly near resistance to cancer, and “complicated social lives,” as per Live Science. Despite all of this, a strange animal fact remains: elephants cannot jump. 

They struggle to run for longer than a short distance due to their “wimpy lower-leg muscles” with “inflexible ankles,” according to an evolutionary specialist at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

• Polar Bears

You might be amazed to know that Polar Bears International claims that polar bears greet one another by touching noses, which is a cute and unusual gesture. This is often how they ask to share a meal; a bear will walk up to another bear that is eating and rub its nose to inquire about joining in on the munching session.

• Koalas

These Australian koalas that move slowly and feed on eucalyptus are adored for their endearing personalities and uncannily alien cuteness. They do, however, share a trait of Homo sapiens: fingerprints. 

Furthermore, when examined under a microscope, our fingerprints and theirs practically have the same looping and whorling patterns. This trait, which can also be found in primates like chimpanzees, is thought to have been modified by koalas to help them grab the twigs they climb in quest of leaves, as per some research.

• Crickets

A fun fact about crickets is that they have ears located on the front legs of their bodies. Their ears are also some of the tiniest in the animal kingdom and are situated right below the animal’s knees. You may also find ears on the legs of grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts, in addition to crickets.

• Sea Otters

An interesting fact about sea otters is that they will always glide on their backs when feeding. These marine mammals eat animals such as mussels, clams, sea urchins, and snails while they are floating on their backs. Their diet consists almost entirely of shellfish. While they consume their food, their extraordinarily dense fur shields them from the chill of the water.

Final Words

Amazing and wondrous species abound on our earth. These intriguing animals have certain peculiar characteristics that, while weird to us, are crucial to their survival. These modifications could be survival factors that allow the animal to fend off predators, or they could be means for the animal to get food for itself. 

Exploring their different characteristics can broaden our knowledge and views of the surroundings. So, let’s keep learning about animals and increase our compassion for them as we share the same planet.