The African crested rat? It's got that whole cute and cuddly vibe goin' on, but don't be fooled—it's packin' some serious venom. Yup, you read that right! This little dude coats its fur with toxins from poisonous plants, makin' it one of the sneakiest threats in the animal kingdom. And it ain't the only one playin' that game—there's plenty of other critters out there rockin' that adorable exterior but packin' a punch. From spiky hedgehogs to venomous frogs, nature's got a whole bunch of surprises up its sleeve. So, next time you spot somethin' lookin' all sweet and innocent, better think twice before gettin' too close! Credit:
markaharper1, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pitohui_dichrous.jpg
Pitohui dichrous:
CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0:
Maned rat: Kevin Deacon, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lophiomys_imhausi.jpg
Nycticebus coucang: David Haring / Duke Lemur Center, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nycticebus_coucang_002.jpg
Captive N. bengalensis: Helena Snyder, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Captive_N._bengalensis_from_Laos_with_6-week_baby.JPG
Persian sand cat: Payman sazesh, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_sand_CAT.jpg
Felis margarita: Malene Thyssen, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sandkat1_(Felis_margarita).jpg
Felis margarita: ErRu, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Felis_margarita_harrisoni_-_Sandkatze.jpg
Stożki: Pet, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sto%C5%BCki2.jpg
Textile cone: Richard Ling, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Textile_cone.JPG
Anadenobolus monilicornis: Totodu74, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anadenobolus_monilicornis_03.JPG
Harpaphe haydeniana: Walter Siegmund, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harpaphe_haydeniana_0446.JPG
Hooded Pitohui: Benjamin Freeman, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hooded_Pitohui_1.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/:
Charles J. Sharp:
Giant fire millipede, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_fire_millipede_(Aphistogoniulus_corallipes)_Mantadia.jpg
Duck-billed platypus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Duck-billed_platypus_(Ornithorhynchus_anatinus)_Scottsdale.jpg
OxfordSilkGroup / YouTube
thughamster8661 / YouTube
strongstylebboy / YouTube
NatGeo / YouTube
ZooBorns / YouTube
angelovemascot / YouTube
bigcatrescue / YouTube
wizardbeaver / YouTube
viralreels1835 / YouTube
Shellcade / YouTube
brunfree / YouTube
colinstu / YouTube
naturepbs / YouTube
Animation is created by Bright Side.
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markaharper1, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pitohui_dichrous.jpg
Pitohui dichrous:
CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0:
Maned rat: Kevin Deacon, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lophiomys_imhausi.jpg
Nycticebus coucang: David Haring / Duke Lemur Center, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nycticebus_coucang_002.jpg
Captive N. bengalensis: Helena Snyder, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Captive_N._bengalensis_from_Laos_with_6-week_baby.JPG
Persian sand cat: Payman sazesh, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_sand_CAT.jpg
Felis margarita: Malene Thyssen, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sandkat1_(Felis_margarita).jpg
Felis margarita: ErRu, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Felis_margarita_harrisoni_-_Sandkatze.jpg
Stożki: Pet, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sto%C5%BCki2.jpg
Textile cone: Richard Ling, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Textile_cone.JPG
Anadenobolus monilicornis: Totodu74, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anadenobolus_monilicornis_03.JPG
Harpaphe haydeniana: Walter Siegmund, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harpaphe_haydeniana_0446.JPG
Hooded Pitohui: Benjamin Freeman, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hooded_Pitohui_1.jpg
CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/:
Charles J. Sharp:
Giant fire millipede, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_fire_millipede_(Aphistogoniulus_corallipes)_Mantadia.jpg
Duck-billed platypus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Duck-billed_platypus_(Ornithorhynchus_anatinus)_Scottsdale.jpg
OxfordSilkGroup / YouTube
thughamster8661 / YouTube
strongstylebboy / YouTube
NatGeo / YouTube
ZooBorns / YouTube
angelovemascot / YouTube
bigcatrescue / YouTube
wizardbeaver / YouTube
viralreels1835 / YouTube
Shellcade / YouTube
brunfree / YouTube
colinstu / YouTube
naturepbs / YouTube
Animation is created by Bright Side.
#brightside
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Listen to Bright Side on:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-podcast-bright-side/id1554898078
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Stock materials (photos, footages and other):
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https://www.eastnews.ru
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Category
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FunTranscript
00:00Look at this funky African crested rat.
00:03Aw, it looks so cute!
00:05Well, think again. It's got an ace up its sleeve.
00:08Poison!
00:09In fact, the only known toxic rodents in the world are these maned rats.
00:14When they're feeling cornered,
00:16they puff up their fur and show off black and white racing stripes.
00:20Right in the center of this,
00:22there are a bunch of special brown hairs with a honeycomb-like texture.
00:26These hairs aren't just for show.
00:29They're loaded with a poison so strong it could bring an elephant down.
00:33These rats use this as a chemical armor to stay safe from predators
00:37like hyenas and wild dogs.
00:40East Africa has known about the crested rat's toxic mojo for ages.
00:45In 2011, researchers discovered that rats get toxins from a certain tree.
00:51Only one crested rat in captivity was caught doing this poison ritual,
00:56and some thought it might have been a one-time thing.
00:59Yet, researchers kept observing.
01:02The team had 25 rats.
01:04They filmed them in the lab and proved that it was not a one-time thing.
01:09Even though we know they're tough,
01:11these rats apparently have soft spots.
01:14Some of them might be into monogamy and even share parenting duties.
01:18Monogamy is rare in the animal world,
01:21but these rats are doing it.
01:23That's pretty exciting.
01:25Researchers say that they need to do more research to confirm the rodents' family values.
01:31The next one on the list is the slow loris.
01:35This creature seems to be the epitome of cuteness,
01:38with its tiny size and big eyes.
01:41But these animals are not your typical cuddly pals.
01:44In fact, they're the only venomous primates on the planet.
01:48They live in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia.
01:52You might be wondering why they're called slow lorises.
01:56When explorers first met them in the 18th century,
01:59they thought these little guys were as slow as sloths.
02:03Sure, they can stay put for hours and move slowly,
02:06but don't be fooled, they can hurry when they need to.
02:10If you look closely, you'll notice a raised bald patch on their inner upper arms.
02:15That's their brachial gland, and it secretes a seriously stinky oil.
02:20When lorises feel threatened, they lick the gland,
02:24mixing their saliva and oil to create a venomous solution.
02:29When they bite another animal, this venom gets into the enemy's bloodstream.
02:34The bite is pretty nasty.
02:36It can exterminate small animals and insects and cause serious issues even in humans.
02:42Suddenly, those big eyes don't seem so innocent.
02:46In the world of slow lorises, males fight for females.
02:49Females fight to protect their little ones.
02:52And everyone fights to defend their turf.
02:55That venom comes in handy during these showdowns too.
02:58Here, moms use their venom cleverly.
03:01Before heading out to grab some snacks,
03:04they lick their brachial glands and groom their babies.
03:07This transfers the venom to the little one's fur,
03:10acting as a warning sign for potential predators.
03:14The next animal is the sand cat.
03:18This cat species lives in the desert.
03:21Unlike other cats, they call the desert's harsh environment their home.
03:25First off, they've got the ultimate footwear for the desert runway.
03:30Thick fur on their paws, even between their toes.
03:34They also have built-in insulation against the crazy temperature swings,
03:39from 124 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to 31 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
03:45They even grow winter coats with hair up to 2 inches long.
03:50Sand cats can go weeks without drinking a single drop of water.
03:55They get all the moisture they need from the prey they munch on.
03:59When it comes to hunting, these seemingly cute sand cats unleash their inner predators.
04:05Forget the adorable kitten vibes, these guys are fierce.
04:10They're not picky eaters either, snacking on small rodents, birds, or insects.
04:15Oh, and they even go after venomous vipers.
04:19Plus, if they score more than they can munch on,
04:22they hide the extra food in the sand for a midnight snack.
04:26Their secret weapon is super sensitive hearing.
04:30They don't leave paw prints, and they don't make noise when they approach their prey.
04:36Meet cone snails, sea snails with a twist.
04:40They have vibrant, colorful patterns decorating the surface of their shells.
04:45They're not just cool looking, they too pack some serious venom.
04:50Armed with a modified radula tooth and a venom gland, cone snails are the sea's skilled hunters.
04:57They use this harpoon-like tooth to launch a venomous attack on their prey,
05:02paralyzing it before eating.
05:05Speaking of venom, cone snail venoms are like a cocktail.
05:09They contain a mix of toxins with different effects.
05:13Some of the bigger cone snails can deliver a sting that's not just serious, but even fatal to humans.
05:20Yet their venom helps us with certain medical issues.
05:24The fifth cute, but dangerous animal is the millipede.
05:29These critters sport two pairs of jointed legs on most of their body segments.
05:34Each of those double leg segments consists of two single segments teaming up.
05:39Imagine a crew with elongated cylindrical or flattened bodies, usually boasting more than 20 segments.
05:47But pill millipedes are the shorter rebels in the gang.
05:50It allows them to roll into a tight ball.
05:54In 2021, a new species was discovered that had over 1,300 legs.
06:01If you dive into the millipede world, you'll find around 12,000 different species.
06:07Many of them are generally harmless to humans.
06:10But beware, some might pull pranks in your house or garden.
06:16The sixth animal is the hooded patui.
06:19It's a bird found in New Guinea.
06:21This bird stands out as one of the few known poisonous birds with toxins in its skin, feathers, and tissues.
06:30The poison comes from its diet.
06:32It serves as a defense against predators and parasites.
06:36Interestingly, its resemblance to other poisonous patuis is an example of convergent evolution,
06:42where unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.
06:48In this case, different poisonous patuis independently developed similar characteristics as a form of protection.
06:56The hooded patui has mullerian mimicry too.
07:00It's a phenomenon where harmful or poisonous species evolve to resemble one another.
07:05In simpler terms, it's like a group of toxic friends dressing similarly so everyone knows they should be avoided.
07:13Additionally, non-poisonous species imitate the appearance of the hooded patui in a phenomenon known as Batesian mimicry.
07:22This is when harmless or less harmful species evolve to resemble a more dangerous or toxic species to gain protection from predators.
07:31In this case, other birds copy the look of the hooded patui, even though they lack the same toxic defenses.
07:38So in this case, a harmless bird dresses up in a poisonous costume.
07:42To ward off potential threats.
07:45Platypuses look adorable with their thick fur and duck-like bills.
07:50But you don't want to mess with them either, especially in the late winter when male platypuses get a bit feisty.
07:57They fight for females and use vicious spurs on their feet that inject venom during the brawl.
08:03In 1801, one biologist thought the spurs were for keeping females in check during mating.
08:09But he was wrong.
08:11These creatures are more into hunting insect larvae than romance.
08:16Late winter, though, is a different story.
08:19Males fight injecting venom and losers get paralyzed.
08:23There have been cases of these animals attacking humans.
08:26Luckily, none of them were fatal.
08:29If a platypus decides to stab you, even morphine won't ease the effects.
08:34Doctors might need to remove the spurs from your wound manually.
08:38Ouch!
08:40Watch out for pufferfish as well.
08:42They may be cute, but they're the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world.
08:47Their liver, eyes, and sometimes their skin contain tetrodotoxin.
08:51This is a substance that makes them taste awful and can be lethal to fish.
08:56This substance is also a serious threat to us.
08:59It's up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide.
09:05A single pufferfish has enough toxin to take out 30 grown-ups, and there's no known antidote.
09:11Despite this danger, some people in Japan consider pufferfish meat a delicacy called fugu.
09:18Trained chefs are well aware that one wrong move could result in the worst-case scenario for a customer.
09:25That's why not all chefs are allowed to prepare this dish.
09:29That's it for today.
09:30So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.
09:35Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!