Some surprising facts about animals that people with no knowledge of biology will definitely shock

The world of biology contains countless wonders and surprises that can surprise even the most knowledgeable people .

Shocking facts about animals you may not know

1. Some aquatic turtles breathe through their anus

Underwater, some turtles can breathe through the skin of their soft palate, which prevents them from rising to the surface to breathe during hibernation. In addition, they breathe through a special anal sac. After being underwater for a long time, some turtles even grow a lot of algae on their bodies.

2. Tropical butterflies drink crocodile tears

In December 2013, passengers on a boat traveling on the Puerto Viejo river in Costa Rica saw a strange sight: a Julia butterfly and a bee drinking water from a caiman crocodile's eye for more than 15 minutes.

In fact, many insects including moths, butterflies and bees are known to feed on tears, usually mammalian tears and occasionally human tears.

Insects seem to do this to absorb nutrients and minerals. Sodium and some other micronutrients are difficult to find in nature, butterflies and bees eat nectar that does not have much salt. But they still need salt for egg production and metabolism.

3. Pangolins walk on two legs

When it comes to pangolins, most people probably only know that this is a protected animal with a strong, seemingly impenetrable shell. But there are more mysteries about pangolins.

Pangolins usually have a gestation period of 69-150 days and each pregnancy only gives birth to one baby. Newly born pangolins will have quite soft scales, but over time these scales quickly harden.

Baby pangolins are usually weaned at 3 months of age, although they start eating ants and termites at about 1 month of age. At the same time, they will often cling to their mother's back while feeding.

Pangolins are the only mammals with scales, and they make up about 20% of their body weight. In addition, they have a keen sense of smell, strong claws, and although they have no teeth, they eat up to 70 million ants or termites each year through their long, sticky tongues.

The most interesting thing is that they walk on two legs like humans. When walking on their hind legs, their forelimbs and tail will stand still to maintain balance.

4. The woodpecker's tongue is so long that it wraps around the skull

Woodpeckers use their hard beaks to drill and tap tree trunks, while their long, sticky tongues are used to retrieve food (insects and larvae). The beak of a woodpecker is usually longer, sharper and stronger than that of other birds.

The most special thing about this bird is its tongue, which wraps around the skull through a special cavity to provide cushioning for the brain. Combined, this structure helps the beak absorb mechanical stress. In addition, their long, sticky tongue is covered with hairs that help these birds catch insects from deep in tree hollows.

5. Thick spines in camels' mouths allow them to chew entire cacti

Camels are often called "ships of the desert" and have a domestication history of more than 3,000 years. They can carry 180 kg of goods on their backs and travel dozens of kilometers every day. Their bodies are designed to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert, including a mouth that can chew cacti.

The camel's tough, elastic lips move over food, with the upper part of the upper lip divided to allow closer access to the food source. As a result, they will chew and swallow the prickly cactus smoothly. And all of this has a lot to do with the raised cone-shaped structure in its mouth. They can also direct the flow of food in one direction, allowing it to slide down the throat. Additionally, the camel's rotating chewing motion helps distribute pressure from the cactus.

6. When threatened, the baby deer instinctively lies on the grass and is motionless

When threatened, a fawn may instinctively lie down in the grass and remain motionless even when its mother is not nearby. Plus, fawns have virtually no odor, which actually helps them hide from predators. As they grow and mature, their escape skills become more complex and in addition to standing still, they will jump up and run away. When the deer gets stronger, it will follow the mother deer as she searches for food. The interesting thing is that they sometimes do this in areas with human civilization and still think they are in a good hiding place.

7. In sperm whales, teeth grow only in the lower jaw

In sperm whales, teeth grow only in the lower jaw. The sperm whale's lower jaw is very narrow and often drooping. Sperm whales have 18 to 26 teeth on each side of the lower jaw, which insert into sockets in the upper jaw. The teeth are cone shaped and weigh about 1 kg each.

8. Vultures mainly eat bones

The vulture's diet consists of 70-90% bones. It can devour the vertebrae of large mammals and digest them within 24 hours.

9. Crocodiles can swallow rocks

Rocks and other foreign objects are often found in crocodile stomachs. According to one theory, crocodiles swallow them to help crush food, while another theory suggests that crocodiles swallow them to increase their mass and increase their sinking speed. However, there is no clear explanation for this phenomenon.