10 Wild Biology Facts About Animals You Won’t Believe Are Real

These 10 wild biology facts about animals will surely shock you. From the tardigrades being one of the few animals that can survive in space to the size of the ostrich’s eyes compared to its brain, you probably will hear these facts for the first time today.

1. Ostriches Have Bigger Eyes Than Brains

Did you know that ostriches’ eyes are about the size of a billiard ball, which also means that it is larger than their brain. They have the largest eyes out of all land animals in the world.

Since ostriches have always lived in open areas and savannas, they needed to evolve to be able to see predators as quickly as possible at great distances. That is why, over time, they have adapted to have these large eyes.

Source: Gulla.net

2. Orangutans Break Bones—and Keep Going

Studies have shown that half of adult orangutans have broken bones that healed after falling from trees. X-ray images have revealed that these fractured but already healed bones are present in these primates.

This phenomenon showcases their way of living which is a lot of climbing trees, to avoid predators and get food, and their resilience and ability to recover from such injuries.

Source: Paneco.ch

3. Sloths Take Weeks to Digest a Meal

You probably already know that sloths are slow, but did you know that they are so slow that even their metabolism could take up to 30 days to digest one meal?

Also, they only need to go to the bathroom about once a week, but whenever they do that, they lose about 1/3 of their total body weight. Overall, sloths possess the slowest digestion rate among all mammals.

Source: SlothConservation.org

4. Elephants Can’t Jump—But They Don’t Need To

Elephants are among the few mammals that are incapable of jumping. You probably already know this fact, as it is very obvious due to their weight and size. But a more detailed answer is that it is also because of the way their legs evolve.

Rather than speed and agility, elephants’ legs evolved to carry their weight, which means it is designed for stability so they do not fall, and strength to be able to walk with all that weight.

Source: Universal Property

5. Giraffes Are Almost Completely Silent

For a long time, people thought that giraffes couldn’t make sounds and that they were mute. However, it is now proven that this belief is wrong, and scientists confirm that they communicate via low-frequency sounds that are not audible to human ears.

It was also revealed in their biology that they have all the body parts just like us, to be able to create and make sound. They just prefer not to use it as much. But, with the right conditions and technology, humans can actually hear them hum at night.

Source: Wired.com

6. Dolphins Sleep With One Eye Open

Did you know that dolphins can stay awake for more than 15 days by using this odd trick? They make one half of their brain sleep at a time, and open up one eye to watch for danger.

So even if a dolphin is resting, they are very alert. This feature is most likely a product of evolution and their environment. With different predators who are fast swimmers and intelligent hunters that prey on dolphins, they needed to see them first, even just a fraction of a second, to survive.

Source: Discover Magazine

7. Tardigrades Can Survive in Space

Tardigrades are microscopic animals that are so tiny, most people do not know they exist or what they look like. However, we know that they are one of the most resilient creatures out there.

Tardigrades are not only capable of surviving at extreme heat, such as high as 150°C (302°F) or freezing cold at -272.95°C (-458°F), they can survive even at the vacuum of space where there is no oxygen.

Source: Wikipedia

8. Platypuses Don’t Have Nipples

Female platypuses feed their babies by secreting milk through their skin in their bellies. Unlike most mammals, they do not have nipples, and they are considered one of the most unusual animals on the planet.

This is because of their combination of mixed characteristics from birds, mammals, and reptiles. They lay eggs, have duck-like bills, fight with venom, and glow under ultraviolet light, crazy!

Source: American Museum of Natural History

9. Honeybees Smell Like Bananas When Angry

Did you know that the sweet flavor of bananas you are buying from the grocery stores is the same chemicals that are released by honeybees when they are alarmed by a threat? This chemical is known as isoamyl acetate.

This smell of isoamyl acetate has been described by scientists to be the sweet and fruity smell in our grocery store bananas. So the next time you think you smell fresh bananas, remember that it might also be a swarm of honeybees instead.

Source: Lifeinthefingerlakes.com

10. Vultures Cool Off by Peeing on Their Legs

Vultures often live in hot places, so the way they make their body cool down is by peeing on their legs. This process is called urohydrosis.

After they pee on their legs, those liquids begin to evaporate, creating a cooling effect for the rest of their bodies. Since urine is very acidic too, they are also thought to kill the bacteria that may be present on their legs. So, it might be gross, but this evolutionary trait is effective.

Source: Hawk-conservancy.org

Author's Final Thoughts

Our Mother Nature never runs out of surprises. For as long as we stay curious and look, it will show us just how amazing and strange life can be in all forms. We hope you enjoyed reading these facts, and if you want to read more random information about animals, you can head on to the next article below.

Related: 10 Animal Facts So Weird You’ll Think They’re Fake