By Ify Mgbemena
Our world is full of animals that are wondrous and amazing! These fascinating creatures have certain adaptations that may seem strange to us, but are necessary for the animal to survive.
However, these adaptations may be defense mechanisms that help the animal to avoid predators or they may aid the animal in obtaining food for themselves.
Below are 20 fascinating facts about animals that may surprise you.
1. A Blue Whale’s tongue can weigh as much as a car, or a small adult elephant.
2.Interestingly, the world’s deadliest animal isn’t a shark, bear or tiger, but something far smaller – the mosquito.
According to the World Health Organization, 725,000 people are killed each year from mosquito-borne diseases, such as Malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.
3.Fleas can jump 350 times its body length.
4. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
5. Crocodiles cannot stick their tongue out.
6.Starfish do not have a brain.
7.Slugs have 4 noses.
8.Cobras are able to kill with a bite as soon as they are born.
9.Snakes always keep their eyes open, even when they are asleep.
10.The only mammal capable of flight is the bat.
11.Frogs have ear drums on the outside of their heads.
12.Sea otters always float on their backs when they eat.
13.Polar bears look white, but they actually have black skin.
14.Crickets have ears on their front legs.
15.Aardvarks can hear and smell termites and ants.
16.Flamingos have knees that can bend backward.
17. The pistol shrimp catches its prey by surprising it with a loud banging noise made with its claws.
18. Some species of Australian Flower Spiderseat their mother when food becomes limited.
19. The loudest animal in the world is a mere 2cm long prawn.
20. The shortest living animal in the world is the Mayfly. Its entire adult lifespan is just 24hrs.
21. Even after having its head cut off, a cockroach can still live for weeks.
22.Cows poo up to 15 times a day, which can be as much as 115 pounds of manure per day, or approximately 21 tons per year.