Animal Facts That Are Too Crazy to Be True (But They Are!)

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Transcript

00:00:00You know, scorpions are interesting little creatures – six legs, two claws, and a powerful

00:00:05stinger.

00:00:06Now what if humans also wore exoskeletons to protect themselves?

00:00:10So an exoskeleton's mainly made up of chitin, which is a complex material found in insects

00:00:16and reptiles.

00:00:18Thanks to their exoskeletons, these tiny creatures can defend themselves and perform acts of

00:00:22superhuman strength.

00:00:25If you wore a scorpion exoskeleton, you'd be able to climb up any building you wanted.

00:00:30With massive claws in the front, it would be easy to grab hold of things and even cut

00:00:35through them.

00:00:36Might be hard to open a bag of chips, though.

00:00:38But at night, you'd have problems – UV rays.

00:00:41They wouldn't hurt you or cut through you or anything, but you'd definitely glow in

00:00:46the dark.

00:00:47Not exactly ideal for sneaking up on someone.

00:00:50A scorpion's tail is venomous and packs a nasty sting.

00:00:54You could use it to sting anyone in your way, plus it's long enough that you could defend

00:00:59yourself from a safe distance.

00:01:01Scorpions live all over the world in some of the harshest environments, from freezing

00:01:05icy landscapes to scorching hot deserts.

00:01:09If it freezes, a scorpion can even thaw itself out under the sun.

00:01:14This next creature also has two claws and six legs, but it doesn't have a stinger.

00:01:18It's the mighty crab.

00:01:21Its shell is a lot more powerful than a scorpion's, and it's surprisingly quick.

00:01:25So you'd be seriously powerful in one of those.

00:01:28The downside is you'd only be able to walk sideways.

00:01:32And you'd be delicious to someone like me.

00:01:35There are almost 5,000 species of crab all over the world, each with special skills.

00:01:40In a crab costume, you'd definitely be a master digger.

00:01:44Sure, you'd be doing it sideways, but those legs and claws can get the job done.

00:01:49If there were crab-inspired bodysuits, they'd most likely be made for digging.

00:01:54You could even work underwater.

00:01:55You'd be agile, strong, and you'd look awesome.

00:02:00Humans in ant suits would dominate any construction site.

00:02:04Ants live in colonies around most of the world and rely on strength and numbers.

00:02:08But that doesn't mean each little ant's weak or anything.

00:02:11Just the opposite.

00:02:13There are actually already exoskeleton suits out there to help humans do some heavy lifting.

00:02:18But to use the actual strength of an ant would be a game-changer.

00:02:22An ant can lift around 1,000 times its own weight.

00:02:26In a group, they can drag a bird across a field without breaking a sweat.

00:02:30What's even crazier is that they can carry things while they're climbing straight up

00:02:35a wall.

00:02:36Or even upside down.

00:02:37Wow.

00:02:38Imagine a group of humans dragging a jet fighter up the side of the Empire State Building.

00:02:43There wouldn't be any need for bulldozers or cranes anymore.

00:02:46Just strap into an ant suit and get her done.

00:02:50Buildings could be inspired by those huge underground ant colonies.

00:02:54Ants are amazing at making tunnels.

00:02:57Imagine wearing a body suit that flies through the air like a stealth craft.

00:03:01If you wore a hornet suit, you'd have it made.

00:03:04They have a tough exoskeleton that's surprisingly light and easy to maneuver.

00:03:09Picture a fleet of strong flying acrobats.

00:03:11Oh, and don't forget the stinger.

00:03:14Most people think of hornets as pests, but they're not.

00:03:17They do a lot of good for the ecosystem, like eating up those pesky mosquitoes.

00:03:23Having a hornet suit would be essential for any kind of undercover work, not so much for

00:03:27office work.

00:03:28A strong, aerodynamic body suit with a powerful stinger?

00:03:32Sign me up!

00:03:34An armadillo uses keratin to make its body suit.

00:03:37You know, the stuff your hair and nails are made of?

00:03:40What makes it unique is that it's foldable and durable at the same time.

00:03:44It's made up of hexagon-shaped plates that go all over its back.

00:03:49When there's danger around, it can roll up into a ball.

00:03:53Scientists are studying how to make durable bending glass just like the armadillo's

00:03:56body plates.

00:03:58Humans wouldn't be 100% protected with this thing on, but they'd be able to withstand

00:04:03pretty much anything.

00:04:04You could jump out of a plane, no parachute, land on a rooftop, brush it off, roll off

00:04:09the edge, and land safely on a nearby car, all while being chased by tricked-out cars

00:04:14and helicopters.

00:04:15Nah, I've been streaming too many movies.

00:04:19Being one of the slowest animals on Earth does come with an advantage.

00:04:23You got a heavy shell on you 24-7 for protection.

00:04:27Just like armadillos, tortoise shells are made of keratin.

00:04:30What's sweet about its shell is that it grows with the tortoise.

00:04:34Crabs and other shelled animals have to keep replacing theirs as they outgrow them.

00:04:39Animals would be almost invincible if they wore tortoise suits, but they'd be insanely

00:04:44slow and draw a lot of attention.

00:04:46Still, if something goes down, you could just hide in your shell and wait it out.

00:04:52Hopping around from place to place would be pretty sweet, but what about flying?

00:04:57Grasshoppers can do both!

00:04:58They have a set of wings they tuck in behind them, which they unleash after their epic

00:05:02take-off jump.

00:05:03Oh, and they come in all shapes and sizes – great for camouflage!

00:05:08A grasshopper can jump around 10 inches high and 3 feet long.

00:05:12Uh, far?

00:05:13Uh, out?

00:05:14Well, that far.

00:05:16Anyway, it's all thanks to its back legs.

00:05:19Grasshoppers basically catapult themselves when they feel threatened or when they see

00:05:23something delicious.

00:05:25If you had a grasshopper suit, you'd be able to jump a whole football field in one go.

00:05:30You can forget about being stuck in traffic.

00:05:32It might not be the most powerful armor, but with those jumping skills and landing skills,

00:05:38getting your weekend shopping done would be a breeze.

00:05:41Or you could be the world's coolest pizza delivery person.

00:05:44Just imagine the tips!

00:05:46The biggest animal on this list doesn't really have an exoskeleton, but it does have

00:05:51a thick, thick skin.

00:05:53This massive beast's one of the most powerful mammals on Earth, and it comes with a strong

00:05:57horn near its nose for protection.

00:06:00Any guesses?

00:06:01It might look scary, but that humongous rhino's an herbivore – it's not gonna eat you.

00:06:07But rhinos do attack when they feel provoked, so keep your distance.

00:06:10Their thick skin makes them look like a tank, and it keeps them nice and warm.

00:06:16With your rhino suit on, you'd have a monster advantage over the average human.

00:06:20The thick skin suit would be really useful for extreme weather conditions, cold or hot.

00:06:25And a horn on the top of your head would send a pretty powerful message.

00:06:29And it's not just beep-beep.

00:06:32Jaws that look like antlers?

00:06:34Six legs?

00:06:35Meet the stag beetle.

00:06:37Its oversized jaws are used for impressing its friends, and sometimes for a little wrestling.

00:06:42But don't worry, these fearsome jaws aren't strong enough to hurt you.

00:06:46A human stag beetle suit would be pretty weird if you saw one walking down the street.

00:06:51But who knows what people will be into in 10-20 years?

00:06:55Maybe this'll be the future of wrestling!

00:06:58This reptile has the toughest skin of its kind.

00:07:01Crocodiles are fearsome animals, virtually unchanged since the days of the dinosaurs.

00:07:06Our modern-day croc is still top of the food chain, with scales on its back and a very

00:07:10soft underbelly.

00:07:12Its scales are made from some of the most durable materials out there.

00:07:16And don't forget that powerful jaw!

00:07:18It can crush watermelons like chewing gum.

00:07:21A human croc suit would be fast, strong, but mostly limited to hanging around lakes and

00:07:26rivers.

00:07:27It's not a great thing to be wearing during a game of hide-and-seek, though.

00:07:31You're it!

00:07:33This last creature takes the grand prize – toughest exoskeleton ever!

00:07:38It's smaller than a rhino for sure.

00:07:40Presenting the iron-clad beetle.

00:07:43Even the name makes people's knees weak.

00:07:45This beetle has interlocking wing covers that make it twice as strong as it should be.

00:07:50But get this – it doesn't even fly!

00:07:52Yeah, it doesn't need to escape from danger.

00:07:55Whatever you throw at it, it can't be hurt, dented, or even crushed.

00:07:59Not even by a car!

00:08:01These beetles can live up to 2 years – way longer than other beetles who only stick around

00:08:06for a couple of weeks or months.

00:08:08A human suit based on the iron-clad beetle?

00:08:11Wow, that name gets me every time.

00:08:13It'd probably be resistant to just about any collision.

00:08:16Walking through moving traffic would be like strolling in the park on a warm afternoon.

00:08:21This suit would be perfect for deep-sea exploration since it's resistant to pressure.

00:08:26That'd make it excellent for outer space adventures too!

00:08:30Lions, elephants, and bears – oh my!

00:08:34Three of the most beautiful, yet intimidating members of the animal kingdom.

00:08:38But what intimidates these creatures, if anything?

00:08:41You might be surprised – let's take a look!

00:08:44How about we start with the universally recognized king of the jungle – the lion!

00:08:50We'll get to the elephants in a moment, but there's actually one in the room.

00:08:54You know, the one that claims that a certain jungle cat is afraid of the most vital substance

00:08:59known to man?

00:09:00A small hint – it covers 70% of Earth's surface.

00:09:04So is it true?

00:09:06Is the ferocious lion afraid of water?

00:09:09It's actually a myth.

00:09:11Lions enjoy taking a dip in the water because it allows them to cool off.

00:09:16This makes sense if you think about the climates the creatures have to face.

00:09:20Temperatures in a savanna climate range from 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

00:09:25You know all of us humans hit the beach whenever the weather is like that.

00:09:29So why should we expect anything different from the lion?

00:09:32Especially given that the creatures typically carry around between 280 and 420 pounds of

00:09:38weight, as well as a thick coat of fur.

00:09:41The ironic thing about this whole lions are afraid of water myth is that they're actually

00:09:46fantastic swimmers.

00:09:48The same goes for all of your other favorite large cats from these warm weather climates,

00:09:53such as tigers, leopards, jaguars, and ocelots.

00:09:57It's actually large cats from cold climates that do their best to avoid water.

00:10:02This applies to such felines as bobcats, lynxes, and snow leopards.

00:10:07The latter lives in places like the cold alpine tundra biome.

00:10:11It's a rocky mountainous area.

00:10:13Temperatures there, on average, get as low as 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

00:10:18Again, it makes perfect sense that these big cold weather cats despise water.

00:10:23Getting their fur coats wet would dampen their chances of staying warm, pun intended.

00:10:29I don't think you have to look too far to piece together where this lions are afraid

00:10:34of water myth comes from.

00:10:35In fact, there's a good chance for some of you watching this video that the reason is

00:10:40near your computer screen right now, jumping around and causing mischief.

00:10:45That's right, we may have jumped ourselves to a conclusion that certain behavioral aspects

00:10:50of our own pet cats would match that of a lion.

00:10:55House cats, though related to all the previously mentioned big cats, are not actually directly

00:11:00descended from them.

00:11:01They instead have developed over millions of years from a single wild ancestor that

00:11:06still exists in the wild today, the Near Eastern Wild Cat.

00:11:11As water is not plentiful in the Middle East, these cats were not exposed to it to any great

00:11:16degree.

00:11:17Like their descendants, they only appreciate it as a food source.

00:11:21As you likely see with your pet, they hardly bathe, swim, or interact with water in general.

00:11:27Lucky for them, they don't even need to.

00:11:30These domestic felines use their tongues to clean themselves.

00:11:34They can do this because their tongues have tiny hook-shaped papillae.

00:11:38They assist cats in grooming out knots and keeping the coat clean, sweet-smelling, and

00:11:43in overall immaculate shape.

00:11:47Cats in general are individualistic creatures, and you may be screaming at your screen right

00:11:52now proclaiming that your cat in fact loves water, and this is definitely possible.

00:11:58Some cats even like to play with water, for example, drips from the tap or bubbles in

00:12:03the bath.

00:12:05There are specific breeds of house cats that are known to enjoy the aqua life more than

00:12:10others.

00:12:11The Turkish Van, for example, which is also appropriately known as the Swimming Cat.

00:12:16It's believed that the breed developed an affinity for water by swimming in Lake Van

00:12:21to cool down.

00:12:22This lake is in the area the animals evolved from.

00:12:26Moving on to a problem a cat definitely doesn't have to deal with, have you ever heard of

00:12:31Musophobia, also known as Suriphobia?

00:12:35Both words are valid names for a fear of mice and rats.

00:12:40There is a common belief that one particular animal that has this fear is the beautiful

00:12:45elephant.

00:12:46That's right, the same animal that, depending on the species, stands at the height of roughly

00:12:5110 feet and weighs about 9,000 pounds.

00:12:55It's supposedly afraid of a creature that is a mere 4 inches in length and weighs less

00:12:59than 1 pound.

00:13:01But why did this belief appear?

00:13:03Well, the reasoning for this rumor is based on the possibility that elephants are paranoid

00:13:09about mice climbing inside their trunks.

00:13:12If a mouse succeeded in doing this, there would be a potential that it could cause irritation

00:13:17and blockage within the trunk.

00:13:19Now I'm not trying to be the guy who spoils parties, but it looks like this belief is

00:13:24also a myth.

00:13:26Experts claim that there's no concrete evidence that suggests elephants are afraid of mice.

00:13:31The most they'll concede is that the giant animal may sometimes take fright by the sudden

00:13:36appearance of the tiny rodent, which is the exact same for ourselves.

00:13:41Experts also claim that even if a mouse did get inside an elephant's trunk, the latter

00:13:46could effortlessly blow it back out with a puff of air.

00:13:49There's also some evidence that, in most cases, the animal remains unbothered by rodents and

00:13:55even allows mice to climb on their heads and trunks.

00:13:59Researchers are sure that as long as an elephant is healthy, there's no other animal that it

00:14:03fears simply because of its size.

00:14:06So lions aren't afraid of water, elephants don't seem to be afraid of mice, then are

00:14:12any of these animal fear rumors real?

00:14:15Hmm, we're probably going to be left just as disappointed by asking if a bear has any

00:14:20legit fear, right?

00:14:22Well, ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause for none other than people's

00:14:27best friend.

00:14:28That's right, bears do feel quite uncomfortable whenever they are around dogs.

00:14:34And all this despite a very distant genetic link to them.

00:14:37When the two creatures encounter each other, the dog has the ability to chase, intimidate,

00:14:43corner, or antagonize the bear.

00:14:46As for the powerful animal, it will instead try to avoid any run-ins with the dog.

00:14:51There's even a type of Finnish dog breed known as the Karelian Bear Dog.

00:14:56This dog species is specifically used for standing up to large animals, such as bears.

00:15:02This dog has a great sense of direction, body flexibility and control, courage, sense of

00:15:07smell and persistence.

00:15:10So does this mean you can walk with your dog through an area known to have bears and feel

00:15:14absolutely calm and confident because of the presence of your loyal companion?

00:15:19Not really.

00:15:21Despite the fact that bears may be nervous around dogs, we can't forget their size and

00:15:25power.

00:15:26The American Black Bear can reach a height of nearly 7 feet and weigh up to 660 pounds.

00:15:32If a mother bear has nowhere to run or feels that her cubs might be in danger, it's extremely

00:15:38possible that she will lash out, which can only mean big trouble for you or your dog.

00:15:44So nobody should ever test this theory.

00:15:47Instead, if you're ever planning to visit an unknown area with your dog, you should

00:15:52first plan ahead and familiarize yourself with the wildlife you may encounter there.

00:15:57Because you never know what a bear will do when it notices you and your pooch, especially

00:16:02given their mild case of Cinephobia, which is the name given to a fear of dogs.

00:16:08At least we were able to find one genuine fear of another animal out of these three

00:16:12tough members of the animal kingdom.

00:16:15Isn't it weird that a dog, something that gives so many of us such joy and comfort in

00:16:20our own homes, is still the creature that's brave enough to take on a bear if need be?

00:16:26Well, not all heroes wear capes.

00:16:28Some just wear fur and a dog collar.

00:16:31Why don't we take a look at what frightens these great companions of ours?

00:16:35Ever wondered why your own dog becomes uncomfortable when it hears loud noises?

00:16:39The degree of fear differs in each dog, but it's the simple unpredictability of thunder

00:16:45and flashing lightning, or loud bangs that accompany firework displays, that causes your

00:16:50dog uneasiness.

00:16:51The inability to understand what's causing this deafening noise may cause your dog to

00:16:56tremble, tuck its tail between its legs, or even run away from home.

00:17:02Another thing that can really frighten our loyal pets is when we leave them all alone

00:17:06by themselves.

00:17:08This can, unfortunately, lead to being a nightmare for your next-door neighbors, because a common

00:17:13symptom of this fear is excessive barking.

00:17:17This fear may also cause problems closer to home.

00:17:20Ever asked yourself why your dog chewed up your sofa?

00:17:24Housebreaking accidents are typical when a dog has separation anxiety.

00:17:29You can't stay mad at your dog for long, though, right?

00:17:32Your pooch will make it up to you when you guys run into a bear.

00:17:37If you think your folks were too harsh on you, perhaps this list of negligent animals

00:17:42will show you a broader perspective on bad parenting.

00:17:48Female horses, or mares, have a gestation period of about a year.

00:17:52This might sound like a terribly long time, but elephants won't agree with that.

00:17:56They carry their young for up to 22 months before giving birth.

00:18:01Unlike the other animals who prefer to rest waiting for their cub to arrive, for mares,

00:18:06pregnancy means party time!

00:18:08The moment the female horse gets pregnant, she goes for a walk around the herd and mates

00:18:13with every stallion.

00:18:15Although it seems meaningless because she's already pregnant, there's a reasonable explanation.

00:18:20The male horses are pretty proud and aggressive with their rivals.

00:18:24But if a stallion would think that a brand new foal is his, the chances that he will

00:18:29hurt the youngling will fall to zero.

00:18:31So the mare's actual intention is to keep the foal safe by making it impossible for

00:18:36stallions to determine the real father, which is a good mothering quality.

00:18:41That's why mares are at the bottom of our list.

00:18:46Female cuckoo birds are famous for abandoning their chicks before even hatching.

00:18:50They simply lay eggs in other birds' nests and leave for good.

00:18:55It's hard to distinguish native eggs from foundlings.

00:18:58That's why the unlucky foster birds incubate them all equally.

00:19:02Meanwhile, cuckoo birds even enjoy their single, independent lives.

00:19:06Unfortunately, it's not a win-win deal.

00:19:09The cuckoo chick brings chaos and losses to the foster parents.

00:19:12It grows faster and hatches earlier, making the smaller purebred chicks fall out of the

00:19:18nest.

00:19:21Sparrows are so cute, but don't buy into this innocent little thing.

00:19:24A female house sparrow is a good, caring mom, but also a furious stepmother who might terrify

00:19:31even Cinderella.

00:19:34Sparrows are typically monogamous, but sometimes they can have connections outside the native

00:19:38nest.

00:19:39When it happens, a female sparrow can literally figure out the other women that mated with

00:19:44their partner and destroy their nests.

00:19:47Why?

00:19:48Just to make sure the male sparrow will have enough time to father her own offspring.

00:19:52Apparently, they haven't heard of babysitters.

00:19:59Mothership seals are dedicated to their pups during the first two weeks, so they can't

00:20:02be called the worst mothers in the animal kingdom.

00:20:06In this short period, they keep their offspring close, nursing and feeding them round the

00:20:11clock.

00:20:12But after that, mother seals say goodbye and leave the younger generation alone on the

00:20:17ice.

00:20:18Seal pups are still very vulnerable because they don't know how to swim, hunt, or protect

00:20:23themselves.

00:20:24They should be at least two months old to learn all those skills.

00:20:28So they spend this time waiting, losing weight, and trying not to get eaten by predators.

00:20:34It's no wonder that only one-third of all little seals actually make it through the

00:20:38first year of life.

00:20:42Hamsters are harmless, cuddly, and cute, right?

00:20:45But still, they have one dark secret that can shock their owners if no one warns them.

00:20:51In some cases, hamster females may confuse their own offspring with dinner.

00:20:57Nobody knows exactly why, but scientists have developed several theories.

00:21:02Some suggest that they're trying to replenish nutrients after giving birth.

00:21:05Others claim that mother hamsters might feel stressed and threatened by too large a litter,

00:21:10so this action is a self-protection mechanism in a way.

00:21:14To avoid this sad ending, experts recommend keeping the mother hamster away from any stress

00:21:19and giving her all necessary nutrients.

00:21:26All or nothing is probably the favorite motto of black bears.

00:21:30They usually have two or three cubs at a time.

00:21:34But if a mother bear only has one cub for some reason, she's likely to abandon it,

00:21:39hoping for a larger litter the next year.

00:21:41Why?

00:21:42Probably because raising only one baby isn't worth the effort.

00:21:47That's a strange kind of laziness.

00:21:49And while a black bear cub may increase the chances of survival by having a sibling, pandas

00:21:54follow the opposite tradition.

00:21:56It's hard to admit, but these cute fluffy fellows are pretty negligent parents.

00:22:02Panda mothers usually have twins, but they prefer taking care of only one of them.

00:22:07They will feed and nurse the strongest cub.

00:22:09Meanwhile, the weakest one will be neglected and forced to survive on its own.

00:22:15The explanation for their cruelty is pretty practical.

00:22:18Pandas eat bamboo, but it's not nutritious enough to make milk for both cubs.

00:22:23Even pandas that live in the zoo follow the same tradition of abandonment.

00:22:27But thankfully, zookeepers provide all the cubs with milk equally.

00:22:36Although monkeys usually have the reputation of caring, responsible parents, these little

00:22:41mustache cuties stand out.

00:22:44After a gestation period of around five months, the mother tamarin usually gives birth to

00:22:49twins.

00:22:50If they happen to fall out of the tree by mistake, she will have the nerve to ignore

00:22:53her own cubs crying.

00:22:56Some of them can throw the cubs out of the tree voluntarily for unknown reasons.

00:23:01Who knows what hides in those little heads?

00:23:04But not all of them are so cold-hearted.

00:23:07If a mother tamarin is surrounded by a wide social group of strong food providers and

00:23:11protectors, she's likely to take good care of her offspring.

00:23:15But when no one's watching or helping, she can stop making any effort, probably because

00:23:20the cubs won't have a high chance of survival anyway.

00:23:24Although mustached tamarins look like great pet material, experts claim that these monkeys

00:23:29require more daily commitment and dedication than any other pet.

00:23:33Well, at least you're too heavy to kick out of the tree!

00:23:40Bunnies are usually associated with warm hugs and cuddles.

00:23:44In real life, they're not so gentle when it comes to their own newborns.

00:23:49Rabbit mothers prefer leaving the burrow as soon as they give birth.

00:23:53And these cute little bunnies have to learn to face life challenges on their own.

00:23:58They only interact with their mother for a few minutes a day during feedings.

00:24:04Scientists suggest that the female rabbit abandons her offspring to confuse predators

00:24:09and keep them away.

00:24:11Of course, this method doesn't provide a 100% guarantee.

00:24:15After all, the rabbit mothers don't put much effort into creating a safe shelter for the

00:24:19cubs.

00:24:20They usually build it out in the open.

00:24:23And where's the happy father, I hear you ask?

00:24:26Well, it's recommended to isolate the mother from any male rabbits while she raises the

00:24:30newborns.

00:24:32Unlike the horses, male rabbits will probably not hurt the younglings.

00:24:36He can impregnate the female rabbit again, even on the same day she gives birth!

00:24:43Reptiles aren't known for being warm and caring creatures.

00:24:46And their practical approach to life extends to their parenting style as well.

00:24:51But long-tailed skinks bring personal boundaries protection to the next level.

00:24:56This mother lizard will eat her own eggs when too many predators gather around her home.

00:25:01She won't make any effort to fight off the danger.

00:25:05Perhaps her philosophy is, if I can't have it, no one will.

00:25:09After the threat is gone, they'll just live on and lay new eggs.

00:25:14The female eagle lays 2-3 eggs within a week.

00:25:18After around a month of the breeding period, the eaglets finally emerge, but their problems

00:25:23are only getting started.

00:25:25Technically, all eggs have slightly different ages, so they don't hatch simultaneously.

00:25:31And when it comes to sibling competition, black eagles can get pretty aggressive towards

00:25:35younger chicks.

00:25:37The older chicks usually start to peck the younger before they even get the chance to

00:25:41start their lives, probably to reduce the competition for food and space.

00:25:46But the eagle mommy won't bother to pull apart her chicks, even if their fight leads to serious

00:25:51injuries.

00:25:52She would neither scold the winner nor save the loser.

00:25:56Apparently, her indifferent attitude should prepare the chicks for the harsh life of an

00:26:00adult eagle.

00:26:02After all, it's a bird of prey, and it keeps the habit of hunting mammals and other birds

00:26:07at their nests throughout life.

00:26:12Now sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins.

00:26:16Yep, incredible but true.

00:26:18They slow their heart rate so much, they can stay under the surface for up to 40 minutes.

00:26:23Unlike fish, dolphins and whales are aquatic mammals, which means they can't breathe underwater.

00:26:29When it comes to breathing, they're more similar to us than the fish.

00:26:33Both of them have lungs, and they breathe air through something we know as a blowhole.

00:26:38When they're under the surface, they hold their breath until they come up for some air

00:26:42again.

00:26:43Dolphins can stay under the water for 10 minutes.

00:26:46A sperm whale can hold its breath for 90 minutes, while an elephant seal holds the record when

00:26:51it comes to aquatic mammals and can stay under the water for 2 hours without having

00:26:56to go up.

00:26:57There's a wasp so tiny, much tinier than its name, it's smaller than an amoeba, even

00:27:03though amoebas are made of one cell only.

00:27:06You can see this wasp has the same body parts as the rest of the bugs – wings, brain,

00:27:11eyes, and the rest – but it's really a tiny version of an insect since it's only

00:27:168 thousandths of an inch long.

00:27:19Even the smallest adult insect we know of is a parasitic wasp with a big name, also

00:27:25known as the fairy fly.

00:27:27Their males don't have wings, they're blind, and only 5 thousandths of an inch long.

00:27:32It's no coincidence each animal species has different colors and patterns.

00:27:37One of the reasons for that is to help them stand out when looking for their potential

00:27:42mating partners or to send a warning to predators they're poisonous and hope they get the

00:27:47message right.

00:27:48Often there are ambush predators, such as tigers.

00:27:51It's very important for them to remain invisible because the difference is huge.

00:27:56If their prey sees them before they get there, no dinner that night.

00:28:01But why exactly are tigers orange?

00:28:04For us, orange is a color used for things that need to be ultra-visible.

00:28:08For example, items such as safety vests or traffic cones.

00:28:13To the human eye, orange will mostly stand out in the environment.

00:28:17So if there's a tiger coming for you, you'll spot it relatively easily.

00:28:21But humans have so-called trichromatic color vision.

00:28:25When light from your surroundings enters your eye, it hits the retina, a thin layer located

00:28:30in the back.

00:28:31To process that light, the retina uses two kinds of light receptors – rods and cones.

00:28:37Rods can only distinguish differences in light and darkness.

00:28:40They can't sense color.

00:28:42Our eyes will mostly rely on rods in dim light.

00:28:46Retinas are in charge of color perception.

00:28:49Humans mostly have three types – cones for green, blue, and red.

00:28:53That's exactly why we call our vision trichromatic.

00:28:57Most humans see three primary colors together with their colorful combinations.

00:29:01Apes, and some monkeys, also have such a style of vision.

00:29:06But most mammals that live on land, including cats, horses, deer, and dogs, have dichromatic

00:29:12color vision.

00:29:13Tigers in their eyes have cones for two colors only – green and blue.

00:29:18When humans get information from their green and blue cones only, they're considered

00:29:22colorblind since they can't, for example, tell the difference between green and red

00:29:27shades.

00:29:28This is similar with mammals that live on land.

00:29:31Deer are surely tiger's prey way more than humans.

00:29:35And deer don't see tigers as orange, but green.

00:29:39Seeing tigers would surely be more difficult to spot, which would mean more dinner for

00:29:44tigers.

00:29:45But evolution still decided to go with orange because it's simply easier to produce such

00:29:50a color.

00:29:51The only green mammal is a sloth, but its fur is not naturally green – it's because

00:29:56of the algae that grows in it.

00:29:58And they can hold their breath for 40 minutes.

00:30:01The water around the poles can get very cold during certain periods of the year.

00:30:06There's plenty of fish that live there, but when that happens, they need to swim away

00:30:10to survive.

00:30:11But there's a special group of fish native to the southern ocean near Antarctica.

00:30:17The temperatures there are from 28 to 39 degrees F. Technically, that's below freezing, but

00:30:23all those dissolved salts in the seawater don't allow it to freeze over.

00:30:28And these fish can survive because they have a special feature called glycoprotein.

00:30:34It helps them stay in their home because it acts as sort of a natural antifreeze.

00:30:38It's a protein that prevents all those ice crystals from forming in their blood and helps

00:30:43it continue to flow normally.

00:30:45Have you ever wondered how tiny animals like ants breathe?

00:30:49Try to open your mouth and throat, but at the same time, hold your chest and diaphragm

00:30:54still.

00:30:55The diaphragm is a muscular structure that separates the chest and abdominal cavities

00:31:00in all mammals.

00:31:02It expands as you breathe.

00:31:04If you can't do this, you can't hold your breath, because oxygen will still find its

00:31:08way into your lungs.

00:31:10At least, enough of it to keep up with your body's demands.

00:31:14But generally, when you breathe, diaphragm is actively pumping air in and out of your

00:31:19body.

00:31:20To survive without the diaphragm doing so, you'd need more than one throat and a way

00:31:25smaller body.

00:31:27Now, ants have 9 or 10 pairs of openings along the sides of their tiny bodies.

00:31:32They're called spiracles, and each is connected to branching series of tubes.

00:31:37It's a system similar to human lungs.

00:31:40Their blood doesn't carry oxygen from those tubes to the rest of the body.

00:31:44Instead, the tubes spread this oxygen.

00:31:47The endings of these branches directly touch the membranes of their cells.

00:31:51This can only work in really small animals.

00:31:54When the body is bigger than 8 tenths of an inch, these tubes are too long, so they

00:31:59can't diffuse air fast enough.

00:32:02There are a couple of reasons why giraffes have long necks, which, by the way, can grow

00:32:07up to be 6 and a half feet long.

00:32:10From first glance, it seems evolution gave them those to reach the sweetest topmost leaves

00:32:15of the trees.

00:32:16It's exclusive access other animals can only dream of, so giraffes don't have to

00:32:22compete for the best bites.

00:32:24But over time, researchers realized it's not the only reason.

00:32:28They also think the neck could be a good factor when male giraffes go into combat.

00:32:34The same as male antelopes will use their prongs or when a stag uses its antlers.

00:32:40The thicker the neck, the bigger the chances to win the combat.

00:32:44Some insects play possum when there's a predator nearby.

00:32:48For instance, in one research, scientists have observed an antlion larva insect.

00:32:54It played possum for 61 minutes.

00:32:56How does this even help?

00:32:58Well, let's say you're in a garden where you see a bunch of identical bushes with soft

00:33:03fruit.

00:33:04You go to the first bush and start collecting and eating fruits.

00:33:07Mmm, yummy, it's so simple!

00:33:09And you're doing it relatively fast.

00:33:12But as you strip that bush, it's getting harder for you to find more fruits.

00:33:16Plus, it's kind of irritating because it takes way more time now than at the beginning.

00:33:21So now you need to decide whether to stay there and try to find more, or simply switch

00:33:26to another bush to have it all easy and fast once again.

00:33:31Assuming you are the predator, and predators are greedy, you'll just look for ways to

00:33:35eat as much fruit as possible in the shortest period of time.

00:33:39This means you'll go on and start collecting fruits from another bush, and the next one,

00:33:44and so on.

00:33:46Researchers use the same logic when it comes to bird and antlion larva.

00:33:50It appears that insects waste the predator's time when playing possum, which has a significant

00:33:56impact on how things go later.

00:33:58That way, they encourage the predator to look for food elsewhere, because the predator doesn't

00:34:03have that much time to waste.

00:34:05So pretending to be not alive is actually a good way to stay alive.

00:34:11Depending on the species, young birds spend from 10 to 30 days in their eggs.

00:34:16There's no air inside, but Mother Nature created a perfect mechanism for them to still

00:34:21be able to breathe.

00:34:23As a young chick is developing inside the egg, it grows some kind of hollow sac-like

00:34:28structure from the gut.

00:34:30It's like a tiny pouch that fuses with a second membrane that goes around the chick and its

00:34:35yolk.

00:34:36So, one end is attached to the chick, while the other is close to the inner surface of

00:34:41the eggshell.

00:34:42That way, this special membrane acts like lung tissue and connects the outside world

00:34:47with the chick's circulatory system.

00:34:50Most animals have two eyes, but some species need more.

00:34:54For example, some reptiles, amphibians, and fish have a third eye on top of the head.

00:35:01It's not something that improves their vision that much, but it simply helps them navigate

00:35:05via the sunlight and regulate their body temperature.

00:35:09Many invertebrates have more than two eyes.

00:35:12Spiders have eight of them, because that way, they can spot their prey easier.

00:35:18Leopard seals look so cute, don't they?

00:35:21You wouldn't expect a creature with such lovely eyes to harm you, especially since, on TV,

00:35:26seals were always represented as playful animals who like to goof around with humans.

00:35:31But leopard seals are apex predators you shouldn't trust that much.

00:35:35After all, they got the name after a black spotted coat, similar to the one a big cat

00:35:40has.

00:35:41That means they're at the top of the food chain, with rarely any other animal ready

00:35:46to oppose them.

00:35:47It's not that common, but there are known cases where they attack humans.

00:35:51They're generally more aggressive than other seals.

00:35:54And they're not animals that play well with others.

00:35:56Generally, they prefer to spend time by themselves.

00:36:00The ends of their mouths are permanently curled upward, which looks like they always smile.

00:36:05Since they're solitary animals, finding a partner is harder, so they vocalize to attract

00:36:10it.

00:36:12They even sometimes sing underwater.

00:36:15Dingoes.

00:36:17When you see one, you might think you're looking at an average street dog.

00:36:20But be careful.

00:36:22Dingoes are more closely related to wolves than dogs.

00:36:26They're the biggest land predator in Australia and apex predators.

00:36:30They go after their prey in packs.

00:36:32When they get together, they can confront even bigger animals like the red kangaroo.

00:36:37They generally avoid humans, but when in significant numbers, you should avoid them.

00:36:43Who doesn't love pandas?

00:36:45Because they look so adorable and innocent, they've become a symbol of kindness and peace.

00:36:50Also, they're very lazy, since they spend most of their time resting and eating bamboo.

00:36:56Sounds peaceful, but you better not mess with them.

00:36:59If you accidentally cross a panda's territory, or the animal senses you're a danger, it can

00:37:04hurt you.

00:37:05They have strong jaws and claws, and in most cases, they're way stronger than humans.

00:37:11They rarely attack humans, but you're safer knowing that pandas are one of those animals

00:37:15you should leave to enjoy their own peace.

00:37:20Slow loris.

00:37:21These animals are so slow that even when something dangerous is approaching, they just stop moving.

00:37:27And don't let their big wide eyes and tiny nose get you.

00:37:31This creature may be adorable, but its bite is venomous and can get you into a lot of

00:37:35trouble.

00:37:36Scientists say slow loris tends to mimic a cobra.

00:37:40It's one of the few venomous mammals in the animal kingdom.

00:37:43And they don't secrete the venom in their mouth like a majority of other animals.

00:37:48Their secret lies in a sweat gland on their arms.

00:37:51So when you think about it, it's not a cute teddy bear, but more like a real little monster.

00:37:57The same goes with koalas.

00:37:59They look so calm, but they'll also attack you if they see you as a threat.

00:38:03It's not that they're typically dangerous animals.

00:38:06They spend most of their time high in eucalyptus trees since they sleep 22 hours a day.

00:38:11And if you came across a koala in the wild, the animal would probably just climb higher

00:38:16so it could avoid you.

00:38:17But if it felt threatened, it would most likely use its teeth and claws as a defense.

00:38:24A swan does not only look delicate and graceful, but romantic too.

00:38:28Many associate swans with true love, but in their case, love hurts because these animals

00:38:34could really harm you.

00:38:36If they see you as a potential danger, they'll do whatever it takes to protect themselves

00:38:40and especially their young.

00:38:42First, they will start hissing like a cat and then flap their giant wings.

00:38:46You should already be running at this point because they can use their strong beaks to

00:38:50pull, bite, and hit with their powerful wings.

00:38:55Platypus.

00:38:56This one looks a bit like a mythical creature and a combination of different animals.

00:39:01Take a look at its webbed feet and the snout.

00:39:04Definitely a duck, right?

00:39:06It has the fur of an otter and a paddle tail like a beaver.

00:39:09And they look so graceful when you see them swimming underwater using their webbed front

00:39:13feet.

00:39:14But they're not so elegant while walking on land.

00:39:16You see their nails come out so they can walk better.

00:39:19Also, the nails are venomous.

00:39:21You can see sharp stingers on the heels of their rear feet.

00:39:25And remember, they'll use them for self-defense.

00:39:29Poison dart frog.

00:39:30A toad looks way more dangerous than this small charming one that looks surprisingly

00:39:34beautiful, considering it's a frog.

00:39:37But in reality, a toad is just not that good looking.

00:39:40It won't harm you, unlike a poison dart frog.

00:39:43There are over a hundred poison dart frog species and they all have different toxicity

00:39:48levels.

00:39:49The golden one is the most dangerous that can take down ten humans if they only touch

00:39:55it.

00:39:56A hedgehog has a special place in most people's hearts, looking at this cute creature curling

00:40:02up like a little ball and running so innocently.

00:40:05But it's still a prickly animal that uses the spikes when it feels it needs to defend

00:40:09itself from something dangerous.

00:40:11Its quills can puncture your skin and, well, that hurts.

00:40:16The anteater.

00:40:17With their warm, benign eyes, anteaters look so harmless, they don't even have teeth to

00:40:22defend themselves and hurt us.

00:40:25But they do have claws.

00:40:27They mostly use them to get food, but they won't hesitate to use them when they believe

00:40:31you could harm them.

00:40:33Also, did you know their tongues are covered in spikes?

00:40:36Yep, that's their main tool for collecting food.

00:40:40And their tongue can be up to two feet long.

00:40:42It's long and narrow, so anteaters can easily maneuver it down into some pretty narrow spaces

00:40:48to look for termites and ants for lunch.

00:40:52Owls are not even that adorable, but they look so shy and clever.

00:40:56Plus, you'd never say they even pay any attention to you.

00:41:00But what can really make them mad is if you come closer and interfere with their nests.

00:41:05They have big, sharp claws, so it's not an animal you want to mess with.

00:41:10They can rotate their heads 270 degrees, so even if you're coming from their back, don't

00:41:16think they won't see you.

00:41:19Kangaroos aren't generally those animals that go around looking for trouble.

00:41:23But if you face them, they're not afraid to stand up for themselves and show you who's

00:41:27in charge.

00:41:28They can go after a human as if it's another kangaroo.

00:41:32Their arms are very strong, and they're even able to grapple with you with their forepaws.

00:41:37But it's way worse when they kick out with their hind legs.

00:41:42Deer look like they came from an idyllic fairy tale, but be careful.

00:41:46Males have antlers, and it can be tricky if you come too close and they perceive you as

00:41:50a potential threat.

00:41:52They also have a habit of trampling private gardens and eating what they find.

00:41:57They can be dangerous for some domestic animals people have in their backyards, especially

00:42:02dogs.

00:42:04Red foxes can't harm us looking like that, right?

00:42:07They can carry the rabies virus, so it's better not to interact with them too much, even though

00:42:12they generally avoid humans.

00:42:14They can be aggressive towards them and some small animals.

00:42:18They're pretty unpredictable, so be careful.

00:42:22Raccoons look friendly and cute, and it seems that the only trouble they can bring is turning

00:42:27over your trash can, but not quite.

00:42:30These little fellas are definitely not afraid to show their teeth when they sense something

00:42:34dangerous, even though it's just you going out to see what's making that noise in your

00:42:38trash can.

00:42:39And their little paws might be cute at first, but they're hiding sharp claws you wouldn't

00:42:43want to mess with.

00:42:45Tarsiers are among the tiniest and most adorable primates in the world.

00:42:50Although the first thing you'd want to do when you see one is to give them a hug, you

00:42:53better think twice.

00:42:55They're not outright dangerous, but they're not fans of humans trying to touch them, so

00:42:59they can react pretty neurotically if that happens.

00:43:02Better admire them from a distance!

00:43:07Looking for something slimy?

00:43:09Many people tend to believe that snails are just slugs with shells, but even though they

00:43:14look so similar, they're completely different species.

00:43:18Slugs don't need any protective shells, as all their internal organs are, well, internal

00:43:23inside their slimy bodies.

00:43:25They can squish themselves and get into hard-to-reach places, which is why slugs can often be found

00:43:31in the most unlikely spaces, like under tree bark, or inside tiny crevices, or at the library

00:43:38pretending to study for exams.

00:43:40Snails, on the other hand, are tightly connected with their shells and can't survive without

00:43:45one.

00:43:46Unlike hermit crabs, which replace their shells as they grow, snails are born with a shell

00:43:51on their back.

00:43:52Baby snails look adorable with those fragile translucent bubbles that calcify and become

00:43:57bigger and tougher with age.

00:43:59Cute?

00:44:00Well, you be the judge.

00:44:02Many of the snail's internal organs are inside the shell too, meaning that if it gets

00:44:06crushed or damaged, well, the animal would probably not survive.

00:44:10Still, a snail can repair small scratches and cracks in the shell with the help of proteins

00:44:15and calcium secreted by its mantle.

00:44:19Turtles are very close to snails in this regard, by the way, because, contrary to common myth,

00:44:25they can't leave their shell at a whim either.

00:44:27A turtle's shell is an integral part of its body, and despite the reptile being able

00:44:32to hide its head and paws inside to protect itself from predators, its skeleton is fused

00:44:37with the hard shell, and just like any other animal's skeleton, it grows with the turtle

00:44:43itself.

00:44:44Now, koalas do only eat eucalyptus leaves, but there are over 600 different kinds of

00:44:49those, and koalas only munch on 30, or just 5% of what's available on the menu, so it

00:44:56has to be a very specific eucalyptus tree to make a good meal for a picky koala.

00:45:02These adorable creatures also have something in common with domestic cats.

00:45:06They sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day!

00:45:10Polar bears aren't at all white.

00:45:12Their skin is black under the fur.

00:45:14They need the white color to disguise themselves while on the hunt.

00:45:17The color black absorbs the sun better than any other, while white fur doesn't stop

00:45:22sunlight.

00:45:23Rays pass right through it.

00:45:25In a sense, a polar bear has transparent fur.

00:45:29There's a myth that dogs and cats see the world in black and white.

00:45:33In reality, they just can't distinguish some colors.

00:45:37Nobody knows how exactly dogs see.

00:45:39Some think they only distinguish two colors.

00:45:42Could be blue and yellow, for all we know.

00:45:44But they can see shades of other colors better than people, and cats have wonderful night

00:45:49vision.

00:45:50They need about 7 times less light than a human to see in the dark.

00:45:55Giraffes were thought to be mute, but recently it's been found that they make low-frequency

00:46:00sounds at night to communicate with each other.

00:46:03During the day, they don't say a word and warn each other of danger in a very unusual

00:46:08way, by moving their well-developed eyebrows.

00:46:13It's likely that at night, it's difficult to see the eyebrows, so they start talking

00:46:17for real.

00:46:19While we're on the topic of giraffes, these animals sleep much more than 30 minutes a

00:46:23day, but probably not as much as you do.

00:46:26Their sleeping pattern is quite typical.

00:46:28After researchers monitored a herd of giraffes, they found out they slept at night and took

00:46:33short naps in the afternoon.

00:46:35In total, each giraffe had around 5 hours of sleep every day.

00:46:39Oh, and by the way, a herd of these guys is actually known as a tower of giraffes.

00:46:45Makes sense with the long necks.

00:46:47Seagulls can drink seawater.

00:46:49There are salt-secreting glands near their eyes.

00:46:52These glands purify seawater very quickly, and the salty residue comes out through the

00:46:56nostrils.

00:46:57Yep, you guessed it, salty snot.

00:47:01The Adelie penguins are real romantics.

00:47:04They only have one partner for life.

00:47:06The male must give a smooth stone to the female to create a family.

00:47:10You could say that's kind of an engagement ring.

00:47:13Like humans, though, a female penguin may refuse and not accept the ring.

00:47:18Speaking of animal love, foxes are romantic too.

00:47:22Male foxes are good fathers and husbands.

00:47:24They're devoted to their loved ones for life.

00:47:27They look after the females and even pick fleas from their fur.

00:47:31Aww.

00:47:32Male foxes improve their whole houses and take an active part in their babies' upbringing.

00:47:38Dolphins can sleep with one eye closed and the other one open.

00:47:41Half of the brain dreams and rests, and the second half closely monitors the environment

00:47:46for signs of danger.

00:47:48It's the perfect brain for sleeping during boring classes and meetings.

00:47:51Hey, I didn't say that.

00:47:53Besides, dolphins manually control their breathing.

00:47:56They can simply drown if their whole brain is sleeping.

00:48:00Sea otters are the cutest sleepers among all animals.

00:48:03In the summer, because of the heat, sea otters spend all the time in water.

00:48:07They swim on their backs and sleep in that position.

00:48:10The babies are sleeping on their mother's stomach, and two adults hold each other by

00:48:14the paws so that they're not carried apart by water currents.

00:48:19Ostriches don't stick their heads in the sand when threatened.

00:48:22In fact, these guys don't bury their heads at all.

00:48:25This myth has spread thanks to that famous idiom to hide one's head in the sand.

00:48:29In real life, ostriches have to dig holes in the sand for their eggs because they're

00:48:34flightless birds.

00:48:35To make sure they're evenly heated, ostriches put their heads in there to rotate the eggs

00:48:40from time to time.

00:48:41But ostriches still have some escaping mentality.

00:48:44When they face some threat, they can flop to the sand and stay perfectly still, pretending

00:48:50they aren't alive.

00:48:51Now, according to a popular misbelief, sharks can breathe only while moving because swimming

00:48:57helps them push water over their gills.

00:49:00Although many kinds of sharks are designed this way, many others, like bottom-dwelling

00:49:04nurse sharks, don't need swimming to pump oxygen-rich water over their gills.

00:49:10Meanwhile, all sharks do lack swim bladders, so if they stop swimming, they'll probably

00:49:15sink to the bottom.

00:49:17But luckily, a shark's body can't be compressed.

00:49:20That's why rapid descents or ascents are safe for them.

00:49:25Scientists from Japan played audio recordings for cats to prove they're truly dismissive.

00:49:31In those recordings, the owners of the cats called them by their names.

00:49:35When the cat's pupils dilated, the animals moved their tails, legs, or ears.

00:49:40Cats heard people, but rarely responded.

00:49:43It's all about evolution.

00:49:45Cats came to people because they were attracted by mice that ate grains.

00:49:49They lived close to people, but were never tame.

00:49:52And yet, we keep feeding them.

00:49:55Birds are actually the only surviving dinosaurs.

00:49:58They evolved from theropods, the dinosaurs that ran on two legs.

00:50:02Yep, T. rex is a distant relative of chickens, ostriches, and even hummingbirds.

00:50:08In reality, flamingos are white.

00:50:11The bird turns pink due to beta-carotene.

00:50:14This pigment is found in the algae and the shrimp that it feeds on.

00:50:18You can change your color too.

00:50:19If you eat a lot of carrots, your skin will turn slightly orange.

00:50:23This will happen because of the high beta-carotene content in the vegetable.

00:50:28Sailors from all over the world talked about the giant squid they met on their voyages.

00:50:33For many years, scientists considered monsters with long tentacles to be a myth.

00:50:38But in 2004, the first photo of a giant squid was taken.

00:50:42They actually exist.

00:50:45Scientists have registered an animal that has grown to 43 feet.

00:50:49Mosquitoes actually bite some people more than others.

00:50:52The most delicious humans are those with type O blood.

00:50:55Also, these insects have really good eyesight.

00:50:58They're attracted by green, black, and red colors.

00:51:01So check the color of your clothes before you go camping.

00:51:06You can actually put a shark in a trance for 15 minutes.

00:51:10To do this, you need to stroke the nose of a dangerous animal with your hand.

00:51:14This sort of hypnosis is called tonic immobility that happens thanks to the receptors in the

00:51:20shark's nose.

00:51:22The receptors send a lot of signals, and the shark's brain is unable to process them

00:51:26all.

00:51:27What it doesn't say here is exactly how you get close enough to a shark to rub its

00:51:31nose.

00:51:32I'd say that's important information, don't you think?

00:51:36Elephants aren't afraid of mice, per se.

00:51:38But these massive animals have bad vision.

00:51:41They also move fairly slowly.

00:51:43That's why they can get startled by a bird or a small creature, like a mouse, darting

00:51:48past them.

00:51:49Just the element of surprise, nothing more.

00:51:52The chameleon can change its color, but this creature doesn't do it to camouflage itself.

00:51:58The color change helps the animal regulate its temperature and communicate with peers.

00:52:03Now when most dogs pant, their tongues hang out of their mouths.

00:52:08That's why many people think that's how they sweat.

00:52:10In reality, dogs' sweat glands are located on their paw pads.

00:52:14Plus, there are other sweat glands all over their bodies.

00:52:18Dogs pant to evaporate moisture from their nasal passages, tongues, and the lining of

00:52:23their lungs.

00:52:24This also helps to cool them down.

00:52:26You might leave wasps alone, but don't be so sure they'll do the same.

00:52:31Bees do respect human boundaries, and if you don't bother them, they won't hurt you.

00:52:36But wasps are so bad-tempered, they can sting you even if you're just walking by their

00:52:41nest.

00:52:42Fooey on them!

00:52:44A human year is not the same as a dog year.

00:52:49You might have thought that dogs age 7 times faster than we do, but it's not that simple.

00:52:55A dog that's been around for one year is, in fact, already 31.

00:53:00It will most likely even have its own little puppies running around.

00:53:04But here's where it gets tricky.

00:53:06Two human years don't necessarily mean that your dog is 62, either.

00:53:12Your buddy will need to be around 4 in our years before it reaches old age.

00:53:16A 4-year-old dog will be 50, but a 7-year-old dog will be 62.

00:53:22And an 8-year-old dog will only be 64.

00:53:26So they age faster, but also slower and slower as time passes by.

00:53:32The next time you're celebrating your best bud's birthday, be sure to put lots of candles

00:53:36on the cake, and buy even more presents than you normally would.

00:53:40A common misconception is that dogs are colorblind.

00:53:44They're not, but they don't see color exactly as we do.

00:53:48They have trouble distinguishing between their reds and greens.

00:53:52It all just looks like a mash of gray, brown, blue, and even yellowy tones.

00:53:58That's because their eyes lack one of three photoreceptors needed to perceive colors fully.

00:54:05You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

00:54:07Wrong!

00:54:08Because of their old age, they might need more persistence from you, but it's not impossible.

00:54:15The key here is to be as positive as you can.

00:54:17If you see they're not feeling up to it right now, that's okay.

00:54:20Let them rest, and in a little bit, you can pick the training session back up.

00:54:25Rewards still need to be a big part of the whole ordeal.

00:54:29After Max successfully speaks, give it its favorite biscuit.

00:54:32Then, it'll speak on command whenever you ask it to.

00:54:37That dog has shoes on.

00:54:39They might seem unnecessary, but today, the weather's 90 degrees outside.

00:54:44Imagine walking with your bare feet on asphalt during this heat.

00:54:47You'd feel like you're stepping on lava, and so would your pup.

00:54:51Some dogs are better equipped to handle different weather conditions, but dog shoes can prevent

00:54:57your little buddy from harming its paws.

00:55:00It's the same during winter.

00:55:01When it's freezing cold, you wouldn't just walk around without a jacket on, so make sure

00:55:05your buddy is warm, too.

00:55:08Dogs with a lot of fur don't need to get their hair cut to feel lighter.

00:55:13They have what's called an undercoat.

00:55:15In winter, it gets thicker, which gives your buddy an extra layer of protection from the

00:55:19cold.

00:55:20Then, during springtime, your dog will shed some of its fur.

00:55:25It's that same undercoat that will keep your dog comfy during hotter days.

00:55:29When you shave a dog's fur, the new one coming in might get curly or entangled.

00:55:34It might just be better to leave it as is.

00:55:37You can also find different alternatives to keep them cool.

00:55:41Keep it in the shade when they're out, and always bring a bottle of cold water with you,

00:55:45so your buddy's always refreshed.

00:55:49At home, you can put damp towels for them to lie on.

00:55:52If you have a garden, you can also turn its sprinklers on and let Max run free.

00:55:57It'll exercise and have lots of fun.

00:56:00Not all dogs are great swimmers, but all dogs love swimming.

00:56:04If yours can't swim all that well, it might be because it has a bulky chest and a large

00:56:08flat head.

00:56:09In fact, it might not even be able to stay afloat.

00:56:13Get it a swimming vest designed especially for dogs.

00:56:18Some people might say a slightly open window is enough to keep a dog in the car.

00:56:22This isn't true, because after spending just a few minutes in a heated or cold car might

00:56:27mean severe health implications for your best friend.

00:56:31Some states even let you let a dog out of the car if you see it in there to let it breathe.

00:56:37If your dog can't stand mail carriers, it might be because it's trying to protect you.

00:56:42They bark because they're trying to alert you, their pack leader, that the vicious mail

00:56:46carrier is coming.

00:56:48You can fix this by introducing them to one another.

00:56:51This way, your dog will recognize them as a friend and not a villain.

00:56:56Unlike you, your dog isn't yawning because it's sleepy.

00:57:00Yawning is a way for them to show anxiety.

00:57:02If it doesn't like cats, and there's one around, it could yawn.

00:57:06Or maybe there's a new person in the house, and Max isn't feeling comfortable in their

00:57:10presence.

00:57:11Or, you take your dog to a play date, but they're not getting along.

00:57:16Max keeps yawning because he's getting upset.

00:57:19Yawning is also a way to show you it's running out of patience.

00:57:22It might be time for both of you to leave.

00:57:26Dogs eat grass when they're sick, but this isn't always the case.

00:57:30Catching your dog eating grass when you've been talking to your friend for way longer

00:57:33than you should have probably means it's just bored.

00:57:37They do it to be rebellious, too.

00:57:40Or just because it's fun.

00:57:41It won't be a problem if the grass isn't treated.

00:57:44Either way, just make sure it doesn't eat too much of it.

00:57:47Otherwise, head out to the vet.

00:57:50Even a little bit of chocolate is poisonous for your pup and should be kept hidden away

00:57:54at all times.

00:57:56This includes cocoa powder and baker's chocolate.

00:57:59This applies to cats, too.

00:58:02If you suspect that your pet has eaten a large amount of chocolate, take it to the vet's

00:58:06office immediately.

00:58:08Well-trained dogs will do what they're supposed to and obey commands.

00:58:12But don't think they'll never bite you.

00:58:15It can act out of emotion.

00:58:17Imagine your dog's scared.

00:58:19You've put it in an uncomfortable situation with lots of new faces.

00:58:22This has been going on for a while, and Max isn't able to control his emotions anymore.

00:58:28So a new person tries to reach it to give it a pet and gets punished.

00:58:32Nothing harsh, but it was unexpected.

00:58:34Maybe it felt like it needed to be defensive.

00:58:37Thinking they're protecting and guarding you is another reason why a dog might bite.

00:58:42Or if they're feeling too intimidated by whoever it might be.

00:58:47You've got two dogs and you're about to enter your house.

00:58:51One of them is waiting for you in its bed.

00:58:53It doesn't make a big whoop about it rather than wagging its tail.

00:58:56The other one comes running to the door, it whimpers, jumps, and wags its whole body while

00:59:01running in circles around you.

00:59:03This doesn't mean it loves you more.

00:59:05It just means it's not properly trained yet.

00:59:09Tail wagging doesn't always mean your dog is excited.

00:59:12You can observe a dog's tail to understand what it's feeling.

00:59:16If it holds its tail high but isn't moving it, it's alert but also trying to assert its

00:59:21leadership.

00:59:23Still held high, the tail is moving now.

00:59:26It means the feeling's changed a bit.

00:59:28It's alert but happy.

00:59:30It's still trying to show it's the boss here.

00:59:32But at least it's feeling excited now.

00:59:36When its tail is between the legs, your dog's feeling afraid.

00:59:39Or if there's an alpha dog around, it might mean your buddy admits its leadership.

00:59:45A tail that's held straight out means the dog is taking in new information, feeling

00:59:49the room.

00:59:51It's not reacting though, it'll stay neutral while doing this.

00:59:56If a dog's tail is wagging fast, it means excitement.

01:00:00The faster they wag their tail, the more excited they are.

01:00:04A slow wag conveys insecurity.

01:00:07It might be because of another dog or person.

01:00:11Now imagine your dog is wagging its entire body.

01:00:15You even see its hips wagging.

01:00:18This means it's friendly.

01:00:19It might happen when you're in the elevator, and it spots its best friend from the apartment

01:00:24complex.

01:00:26The worst wag of them all is an extremely fast vertical wagging tail.

01:00:31When doing this, your dog can be mean to others.

01:00:35It might be feeling territorial over you.

01:00:37It's best to remove yourself from the situation.

01:00:41If your dog's tail is wagging to the right, it means it's more relaxed.

01:00:45And a left wagging tail means stress.

01:00:53You're walking through the park with your lovely little poodle.

01:00:57You throw the ball, the pet runs after it and brings it back.

01:01:00You throw again, and he's running happily.

01:01:03Then, he stops.

01:01:05The poodle freezes, shivers, then turns around and looks at you.

01:01:10Get it, Snowball!

01:01:11But he doesn't listen.

01:01:12Then, you approach the ball, pick it up, and look at the dog.

01:01:17Snowball stares at you with a piercing look.

01:01:19You throw the ball next to him.

01:01:21Snowball, take it!

01:01:23The dog puts his paw on the ball, then slowly shakes his head as a sign of refusal.

01:01:29You're a little scared, and look around.

01:01:32Notice some other people in the park also have problems with their pets.

01:01:36Some dogs are barking at their owners.

01:01:39Others are running around.

01:01:41Your poodle looks at you like you've done something bad.

01:01:44Then, it goes away.

01:01:46You're running after Snowball, asking him to come back.

01:01:50You leave the park and find yourself on the road.

01:01:53You can hear the creaking of tires nearby.

01:01:56Several people are running in your direction.

01:01:58They're scared.

01:01:59You try to ask them what's happened, but after a second, you understand it yourself.

01:02:05Elephants, zebras, lions, and gorillas are moving along the road.

01:02:11They jump on cars, demolish hydrants, knock people off their feet.

01:02:15Elephants are screaming through their trunks.

01:02:18When they run past you, you notice penguins sitting on the back of these huge animals.

01:02:23You don't forget about Snowball and decide to find your dog.

01:02:27You're wandering through the streets, meeting other people who lost their pets too.

01:02:32You've got a lot of messages on your phone.

01:02:35Your friends are asking you to check the news.

01:02:37You go online and see that all over the world, animals' behavior has become strange.

01:02:44You can see footage of a panda getting into someone's car and driving away.

01:02:49Another video captured several wolves standing in line at the supermarket.

01:02:54Chimpanzees are running out of a store with packs of books.

01:02:58In another video, several seals push a fisher out of his boat.

01:03:03Three waiters are sitting in the corner of a restaurant while lions are walking around them and roaring.

01:03:10One of these animals puts its paw on the menu.

01:03:13Looks like it wants to order some food.

01:03:16You don't notice a giraffe standing next to you.

01:03:19It bows its head and is also watching the video on your phone.

01:03:23You scream and run away.

01:03:25You approach your house and see Snowball.

01:03:29Your pet is surrounded by several stray cats and dogs.

01:03:33Looks like they're communicating with each other.

01:03:36They notice you and immediately run in different directions.

01:03:39You get into the house with Snowball.

01:03:47Cook your lunch and pour dry food into his bowl.

01:03:50Snowball refuses to eat those crunchy meatballs.

01:03:54He points his paw at your plate and jumps on a chair and waits for you to serve him a normal meal.

01:04:00It's all strange, but you give him your food and sit down next to the dog.

01:04:06After lunch, the dog runs into the living room and sits near the wardrobe.

01:04:10You open it.

01:04:12Snowball points at the second shelf with his nose.

01:04:15There's some blank paper there.

01:04:17You put one sheet on the floor.

01:04:19Snowball jumps onto the table and takes a pen with his mouth.

01:04:23The dog's holding it with his teeth and drawing something on the paper.

01:04:28After five minutes, you look at the drawing and realize that it's a crooked, incomprehensible

01:04:33inscription.

01:04:34And it says, from now, I understand everything.

01:04:39You look at the poodle and he nods.

01:04:43From this moment on, the lives of all people on the planet are changing.

01:04:49Your pet isn't the only one who has become sentient.

01:04:52All the mammals in the world are now as intelligent as humans.

01:04:57Dogs no longer walk the streets on leashes.

01:05:00Many pets run away from their owners and never come back.

01:05:08Others stay in houses and apartments, but only under certain conditions.

01:05:12Any pet has to eat the same food as their owner, sleep on a separate bed, choose TV

01:05:17shows to watch, and walk out when they want.

01:05:22Farms around the world offer animals a chance to pass intelligence tests.

01:05:27Zebras pound out some famous melodies with their hooves.

01:05:30Gorillas are excellent at drawing and writing.

01:05:33Bulls draw geometric shapes on the sand with their horns.

01:05:37As soon as people realize the animals are smart, they decide to release all the mammals

01:05:42from captivity.

01:05:43Pigs, sheep, cows, and other farm animals escape from farms and pastures.

01:05:49They want to be free.

01:05:51Milk products are disappearing from all stores.

01:05:54Milk production slows down because not every cow wants to share it with people.

01:05:59Animals get freedom, but it isn't enough.

01:06:02They want to say something important, but they can't because their vocal cords are not

01:06:07capable of it.

01:06:08To solve this problem, scientists create a collar that reads an animal's brain activity

01:06:13and turns their thoughts into words.

01:06:16Now mammals can speak with robot voices.

01:06:20A million wild and domestic animals come out of forests and the jungle all around the

01:06:25world.

01:06:26Reporters gather around them with cameras.

01:06:27A llama with a collar approaches the microphone.

01:06:28It declares the planet belongs not only to people, but to animals as well.

01:06:29From now on, people are prohibited from harming nature.

01:06:30If they violate the agreement, the animals will begin to take over the cities.

01:06:31A 500-page act is signed.

01:06:32The terms of the agreement are written in detail.

01:06:53Some of the animals move to the forests and jungles, but some mammals want to live in

01:06:58a comfortable urban environment.

01:07:01Several years pass.

01:07:03Animals and people are getting used to a new way of life.

01:07:06Every mammal living with humans now wears a speech collar.

01:07:10This allows them not only to communicate with humans, but also to become full-fledged society

01:07:15members.

01:07:17Now you can see wolves delivering mail on the streets.

01:07:20Antelopes work as track and field coaches.

01:07:22Orangutans work as librarians.

01:07:25One bat becomes a popular DJ and makes the best techno parties.

01:07:30People have learned a lot about animals thanks to the collars.

01:07:33It turns out that bulls are mannered, gallant gentlemen who don't like aggression and fights.

01:07:39Lions admit they love popularity.

01:07:42They want to be actors, writers, and musical artists.

01:07:46Bears are the laziest creatures on Earth.

01:07:48It turns out they can't stand hunting and enjoy sleeping.

01:07:52That's why their winter hibernation lasts for months.

01:07:56Lemurs and jerboas are worried about the future of the planet.

01:08:00They work as politicians and hold the positions of CEOs in many large IT companies.

01:08:06But cats have surprised people most of all.

01:08:09It turns out they have always been intelligent.

01:08:13They just didn't tell us about it because they've been living well enough.

01:08:17Since ancient times, cats have been highly respected in many countries.

01:08:21They stay at houses all day, relax, and bask in the sun.

01:08:26People love them and give them food.

01:08:28It's a great life.

01:08:29When they got collars, they said they didn't want to change anything.

01:08:33Famous fashion houses hire animals as models.

01:08:37You can see lions, gorillas, elephants, lemurs, and koalas in stylish outfits on the covers

01:08:43of magazines.

01:08:45Whales and dolphins are mammals too.

01:08:47They've also become intelligent, but their way of life hasn't changed much.

01:08:52They still like to swim in the seas and oceans.

01:08:55One day, people decided to interview a blue whale, the biggest mammal in the world.

01:09:00The whale said that two things are important in this world, clean water and the ability

01:09:06to communicate at low frequencies with other whales.

01:09:10And be careful with animals that came here from another planet.

01:09:15Then the whale simply swam away instead of answering the question of what it just meant.

01:09:20Over time, people realized that animal intelligence develops faster than that of humans.

01:09:26They build unique exosuits that allow working with their paws like people.

01:09:30A roe deer gets in the exosuit and builds structures with the help of mechanical hands

01:09:36instead of hooves.

01:09:38Using modern technologies, some animals create comfortable houses in the forests.

01:09:42They also install video cameras on trees to monitor people who decide to chop some wood.

01:09:48Then the animals invent their own language.

01:09:51Now they can communicate with each other without collars, using gestures, sounds and smells.

01:09:58One hundred years later, a group of deer and sheep create their own company to conquer space.

01:10:05Mammals send the first rockets into space and colonize Mars with people.

01:10:15Did you know that animals see the world differently from us?

01:10:18Like this.

01:10:19Pigeons actually have better vision than humans.

01:10:21Crazy, right?

01:10:23So let's try to see the world from the animals' eyes.

01:10:26Let's start with snakes.

01:10:27Their way of seeing the world is totally different from ours.

01:10:30They have special infrared-sensitive receptors in their snouts.

01:10:34This allows them to see the radiated heat of warm-blooded mammals.

01:10:38Now let's move on to cows.

01:10:40These big guys don't see colors as well as humans do.

01:10:43They can't see the color red, because they don't have the necessary receptors in their

01:10:47retinas for that.

01:10:48So they only perceive variations of blue and green.

01:10:51Also, they don't like it when someone approaches them from behind.

01:10:55They have a near panoramic vision.

01:10:58And the only area they can't see is directly to the back.

01:11:01So if you're ever sneaking up on a cow, make sure you give them a heads up.

01:11:06Horses have a blind spot right in front of their faces because of their eye placement.

01:11:10This means they can't see things directly in front of them.

01:11:13Also, they don't see as many colors as we do.

01:11:16Just like cows, their world is mostly made up of greens, yellows, and blues.

01:11:20Poor guys.

01:11:22Fish eyes have ultraviolet receptors and a more spherical lens than humans.

01:11:26This gives them an almost 360-degree vision.

01:11:30As for colors, they're able to see all the same ones as we humans do.

01:11:34But because light behaves differently underwater, they have a hard time discerning red and its

01:11:38shades.

01:11:39Deep-sea fish can easily see in the dark, which is pretty cool.

01:11:43Sharks, on the other hand, can't distinguish colors at all, but they see much clearer under

01:11:48the water than we do.

01:11:51Birds have some pretty unique ways of seeing the world.

01:11:54Unlike humans, birds can see ultraviolet light.

01:11:58This helps them differentiate between males and females of their own species, as well

01:12:02as better navigate in their surroundings.

01:12:04Also, they are very good at focusing.

01:12:07For example, falcons and eagles can focus on a small mouse in the field up to a distance

01:12:11of one mile.

01:12:13A pigeon can see all the tiny details.

01:12:15So if you ever need to find a crack in the pavement, just ask a pigeon.

01:12:19And by the way, it has a 340-degree field of vision, and generally their vision is considered

01:12:24twice as good as a human's.

01:12:26There you have it.

01:12:27I'm envious of a pigeon.

01:12:30Insects have some weird vision patterns, too.

01:12:33Flies, for example, have thousands of little eye receptors that work together to give them

01:12:38a big picture of what's going on around them.

01:12:40And get this, they see everything in slow-mo.

01:12:43Plus, they can see ultraviolet light.

01:12:46It helps them with communication.

01:12:49Bees have their own problems.

01:12:51These guys can't tell what the color red is.

01:12:53To them, it looks like a dark blue.

01:12:55How messed up is that?

01:12:57Now rats.

01:12:59These little guys can't see red either, but that's not the weirdest part.

01:13:02Either of their eyes moves on its own, so they're seeing double like all the time.

01:13:06It's a wonder they don't run into more walls, am I right?

01:13:11Cats don't see shades of red or green, but they do see brown, yellow, and blue hues like

01:13:15a boss.

01:13:16Plus, they got a wide-angle view, so they can peep more stuff on the sides than we can.

01:13:22There's more, though.

01:13:23When it's pitch black outside, cats become ninja-like and can see six times better than

01:13:28us.

01:13:29Their pupils adjust to any lighting like magic.

01:13:32Now let's talk about dogs.

01:13:34These furry friends can't see red or orange, but they do rock at blue and violet.

01:13:38Plus, they can differentiate 40 shades of gray.

01:13:41I mean, it's not 50, but still impressive.

01:13:45On a related note, frogs are really picky eaters.

01:13:48They won't even bother with food that isn't moving.

01:13:51They could be surrounded by a buffet of delicious bugs, but if they don't wiggle, frogs won't

01:13:55even bat an eye, and they're not the most observant creatures either.

01:13:59If something isn't important to them, like a shadow, they won't even bother looking at

01:14:03it.

01:14:05Chameleons have eyes that can move independently of each other, so they can see everything

01:14:08around them without even turning their heads.

01:14:11They can even see two images at the same time, like a double-feature movie, one in front

01:14:16and one behind.

01:14:18Pretty impressive, right?

01:14:19What would you do if you suddenly got 360-degree vision like a chameleon?

01:14:24Share in the comments.

01:14:27Now one of the most common animal myths is that mice love cheese.

01:14:32It popped out a long time ago, probably as early as when people started storing food.

01:14:38Since mice are regular visitors to human homes, they were constantly looking for food they

01:14:42could eat.

01:14:43People used to store grains in glass jars.

01:14:46They also kept their meat hanging up high.

01:14:48But they'd lay the cheese on the shelf, which was an easy target for all the unwelcome pantry

01:14:54visitors like mice.

01:14:55So they ate it because they couldn't reach anything better.

01:14:59But a mouse will definitely more likely go after chocolate or some other sweet thing

01:15:03than the cheese.

01:15:04Who can blame them?

01:15:06Now flamingos don't really stand in the water on one leg so they wouldn't get cold.

01:15:11This is just a simple way for them to spare the effort.

01:15:14It's exhausting for us humans to stand on one leg, but for them, this is the most stable

01:15:19position possible considering their peculiar anatomy.

01:15:23This pose doesn't require any muscular work.

01:15:25Now I'm jealous.

01:15:30One of the most widespread and oldest myths out there is that ostriches hide their heads

01:15:35in the ground every time they're scared.

01:15:37A long time ago, researchers thought ostriches weren't very smart because they bury their

01:15:42heads in the ground without being aware the rest of their large bodies are still out there,

01:15:46where everyone can see them.

01:15:48In fact, ostriches do it when they want to swallow sand and pebbles to boost their digestion

01:15:53or just turn over the eggs they lay in their nests.

01:15:56And even then, they technically don't bury their head but put it near the ground.

01:16:01Otherwise, with its head in the sand, the poor thing wouldn't be able to breathe.

01:16:06No reason to think of an ostrich as a frightened bird.

01:16:08Like some other animals, it will flee if it senses there's a danger coming.

01:16:13And in some situations, it'll fight back and defend itself.

01:16:16And that's one angry bird.

01:16:20What do you think is the largest thing a blue whale can swallow?

01:16:23Well, we're talking about the biggest animal ever known to have lived on our planet.

01:16:28It can grow up to 100 feet long with a weight of 200 tons.

01:16:32Its heart is as big as a car, and its tongue can weigh as much as an average elephant.

01:16:37It's easy to imagine a blue whale swallowing cars, people, and even small ships, perhaps.

01:16:42But it's all wrong.

01:16:44The largest thing it can actually swallow is a grapefruit.

01:16:47Its throat can take the size of a small salad plate.

01:16:51Camels feed on small fish, plankton, and marine crustaceans, so they don't need a

01:16:56bigger throat.

01:16:57But we wouldn't be able to survive the juices inside a blue whale's stomach anyway.

01:17:01It would finish us within 15 seconds, similar to how long we'd last in space without a

01:17:06spacesuit.

01:17:07So, don't try this.

01:17:11Camels don't store water in their humps.

01:17:13We're talking about animals with extraordinary resistance to some pretty extreme conditions.

01:17:18They can survive even when drinking water only every 8-10 days, but not because they

01:17:23have a secret stash on their back.

01:17:25It's because, when they have a chance to drink, they will swallow 50 gallons of water

01:17:30at one sitting.

01:17:31They mostly use it to replenish 30% of their total body weight, an amount they can lose

01:17:36by dehydration.

01:17:37So, they lose a lot of water but quickly regain it.

01:17:41Their humps are where they deposit fat.

01:17:43But it's not for producing water.

01:17:45The oxygen camels would need to inhale would cause them to lose too much water because

01:17:50it would evaporate through their lungs.

01:17:52That's why they use fat as a nutritional source for energy.

01:17:55This helps them survive in arid regions and times of scarcity.

01:18:00It's a myth that anteaters vacuum ants using their noses.

01:18:04They don't go around looking for ants and hoovering them through their long snouts.

01:18:09Anteaters have very long tongues.

01:18:11Giant anteaters have tongues that go up to 2 feet long.

01:18:15It's the shape of a strand of spaghetti and covered in spiny hooks and sticky saliva

01:18:19that traps ants.

01:18:20Up to 160 times in a minute.

01:18:23Which means they eat up to 20,000 insects in a single day.

01:18:27That's a lot of bugs.

01:18:28They open ant hills using their claws and then do the rest of the work with the tongue.

01:18:33They don't have teeth, so they only swallow all the insects they catch.

01:18:38Movies might have given you a false sense of security when it comes to dinos.

01:18:43Nope, standing very, very still couldn't save you from a raging T-Rex coming after

01:18:47you.

01:18:48Uh-uh.

01:18:49It's a myth the Dino King had bad vision.

01:18:51These beasts may have seen better than modern-day raptors.

01:18:55They had excellent death perception, something present in today's animals such as eagles

01:19:00and hawks.

01:19:01Even if, by some miracle, the Dino King can't see you or thinks you're just a small tree

01:19:06or some other object because you're standing so still, they had a pretty good sense of

01:19:11smell.

01:19:12So, the better option would be to run because the T-Rex is not as fast as scientists used

01:19:17to think – up to 33 mph.

01:19:20Considering their anatomy, they could move at a speed of 12 mph.

01:19:24Anything faster than that would've caused serious bone damage.

01:19:27But this didn't stop them from ruling the animal world because there were plenty of

01:19:31dinosaurs way slower than them, so they didn't have to worry about food.

01:19:37Another misconception states that owls can spin their heads.

01:19:40Neither more nor less than 360 degrees.

01:19:44Their head-spinning does have its limit – 270 degrees in one direction.

01:19:48Since they can turn 270 degrees to the left and right, owls have a 540-degree range of

01:19:55motion.

01:19:56Don't worry, if you touch a butterfly's wings, the animal won't lose its ability

01:20:01to fly.

01:20:02It will survive, despite the common myth that says the opposite.

01:20:07Butterfly wings have scales.

01:20:08When you touch them, some scales might shed off.

01:20:11But it's not a bad thing because they shed off naturally too.

01:20:15Because of sheddable scales, they can escape more easily if they get stuck and trapped

01:20:19in spider webs.

01:20:22The next myth has inspired many movies, books, and TV series scenarios, but no, wolves don't

01:20:28howl at the moon.

01:20:29They typically howl at night, true, but because that's the period of time when they're

01:20:34most active.

01:20:35They'll also look up while howling since this helps the sound travel.

01:20:39That way, other wolves will hear them from around 6-7 miles away.

01:20:44And that's why they howl in the first place – to communicate with each other.

01:20:47They make specific sounds for a certain situation.

01:20:50For example, to help a wolf that lost its pack find its way home.

01:20:55The moon just happened to accidentally be there while wolves were communicating.

01:21:00Okay, giraffes only need 30 minutes of sleep a day.

01:21:04That's another myth.

01:21:06They sleep about 4.5 hours daily.

01:21:08It's not that unusual for animal species that are most active during daylight.

01:21:13Studies also show giraffes usually lay down to sleep for less than 11 minutes at a time.

01:21:19Many people believe moles are blind.

01:21:22These small, burrowing mammals actually can see.

01:21:25It's just their vision is really poor and only adapted to recognize light.

01:21:29They're also colorblind.

01:21:32When they're searching for food and navigating the dark underground, these creatures mostly

01:21:36rely on their touch and sense of smell.

01:21:39Now their sense of touch is sharp, which is why moles can feel nearby vibrations of activity.

01:21:45This helps them avoid danger or find their next meal more easily, like millipedes, worms,

01:21:50centipedes, and other invertebrates.

01:21:52Yum!

01:21:53They're really fast at digging and can dig a couple of inches per minute.

01:21:58In the winter, animals hibernate not because it's too cold for them to be outside, but

01:22:03because there isn't enough food during that period.

01:22:06When an animal is in hibernation, its heart rate, body temperature, breathing, and other

01:22:11metabolic activities slow down significantly.

01:22:14That's how they conserve energy.

01:22:16Chipmunks, bats, turtles, snakes – they all hibernate during the winter, which saves

01:22:22them energy for other seasons when they get more active and are capable of getting more

01:22:26food.

01:22:27I'd say bears too, but they're not the true hibernators.

01:22:31If you try waking one up during the winter when you believe the animal is sleeping, you

01:22:35might end up having a bad time.

01:22:38They do slow down, which means they sleep for extended periods of time.

01:22:41They're still not asleep for the entire winter season, and you can easily wake them

01:22:46during their sleep, so let's not.

01:22:50Don't believe myths – earwigs won't lay eggs in your ears.

01:22:54Yep, despite their name, they're not that interested in your ears.

01:22:58Well, at least, there's no evidence they'd want to go there.

01:23:02They prefer to spend their time in dark, moist places, such as under tree bark or in soil.

01:23:07So your ears are off the hook.

01:23:13Despite their cold-blooded nature, crocodiles and alligators are some of the most caring

01:23:18and gentle parents in the animal world.

01:23:21Come on, really?

01:23:22Yeah!

01:23:23The females of these frightening animals lay from 10 to 60 eggs at a time and then bury

01:23:28their eggs in riverside nests.

01:23:30They build the nests out of plants they break off with their teeth and push together using

01:23:34back legs.

01:23:36Then croc moms patiently wait up to 3 months, protecting their future babies from any danger.

01:23:42Although crocodiles themselves are very strong and frightening animals, they don't hesitate

01:23:47to hire special babysitters to protect their nests.

01:23:50The water thickness It might seem like a risky deal, but these

01:23:53birds have formed a win-win alliance with crocs.

01:23:57They place their eggs nearby, and together, they scare away big reptiles like Nile monitors

01:24:02and other predators.

01:24:04Crocodiles have an excellent sense of hearing.

01:24:07Bird cries alert the mother about all uninvited guests, and the mama croc goes out of the

01:24:12water to protect her babies and bird nests along the way.

01:24:17When baby crocodiles are born, they're of a size of a large banana, and it takes years

01:24:22for them to reach maturity, from 4 to 15 years, depending on the species.

01:24:27In some cases, a female crocodile helps her babies to hatch by putting the eggs in her

01:24:32mouth and rolling them.

01:24:34Then she what, spits out a kid?

01:24:36Apparently so!

01:24:37Baby crocs tend to stay together close to their mommy during the first 1 to 3 years

01:24:41of life.

01:24:42The mother assists her children in digging out of the nest and carries them to the water

01:24:47in her mouth.

01:24:48A female crocodile can place up to 15 babies in her mouth at once, and instincts prevent

01:24:53her from closing her jaws.

01:24:55So newly-hatched babies feel safe in the crocodile's mouth as if it were a cradle…with teeth.

01:25:03Although the croc teaches her babies to hunt and provides protection from predators, only

01:25:08about 1% of the hatchlings survive to adulthood due to predators and weather conditions.

01:25:14Sad news for any parent, but crocs are cold-blooded reptiles after all.

01:25:18The only reason they cry is physiological rather than emotional.

01:25:23When crocs spend enough time out of the water, their eyes get so dry that they cry to keep

01:25:28them lubricated.

01:25:29If a baby crocodile manages to survive its childhood, it gets the chance to live a very

01:25:35long life.

01:25:36Just like some other reptiles, turtles, and whales, crocodiles exhibit the so-called negligible

01:25:42or, in simple words, a lack of normal aging.

01:25:45It means they don't actually get older, just bigger and badder.

01:25:49They're only afraid of getting sick or being attacked by other predators.

01:25:54Although the average lifespan of crocodiles varies from 50 to 70 years, some of them reach

01:25:59over 100 years.

01:26:01So in theory, someone may meet a 500-year-old crocodile as huge as an airplane somewhere

01:26:07deep in the tropics.

01:26:08But the chances to survive and tell the tale of this meeting are slim because the crocodile's

01:26:13appetite grows in proportion to its body.

01:26:16Mr. Freshie, who passed away at the age of 140 years, was the oldest documented crocodile

01:26:22that was in captivity.

01:26:24It was caught in the Moorhead River in 1970 and resided at the Australian Zoo.

01:26:29Mr. Freshie was called after its kind, Freshwater Crocodile, the breed that has never been witnessed

01:26:35doing any harm to humans.

01:26:37At the age of 10, when crocodiles reach the body length of about 5 to 10 feet, they become

01:26:43mature enough to give birth to their own babies.

01:26:47The mating dance involves several steps.

01:26:49Males produce a special low-frequency sound which humans can't perceive.

01:26:54But for crocodile females, it sounds like an invitation to become a mother and continue

01:26:58the gentle parenting tradition.

01:27:00Hey, could we call this the Crocodile Rock?

01:27:03Hey, I like that song!

01:27:06Of course, crocodiles are not the only animals that demonstrate surprisingly high family

01:27:10values and dedication.

01:27:12Polar bears, for example, are very attentive and take time to teach their cubs all necessary

01:27:17survival skills in the cold climate.

01:27:20While the babies are still in their mother's belly, polar bears construct a special space

01:27:24by digging into deep snow drips.

01:27:27This space serves as a home for the future cubs.

01:27:30They spend the first months of their life getting milk and heat from their mother.

01:27:34Polar bears usually give birth in a period between November and January and don't allow

01:27:38the cubs to get out until spring.

01:27:42The newborn's fur is very fine, and they're not yet ready to face severe colds.

01:27:47Once the cubs emerge from the den, the mother bear begins to teach them how to survive in

01:27:51the outside world.

01:27:53Babies mimic her every move, learning how to swim, hunt, build dens, and migrate.

01:27:59The mother will fight off predators and larger polar bears and hide her cubs from any threat.

01:28:04After 2-3 years together, babies learn everything they need to know and leave her.

01:28:10But they'll still be able to recognize their mother throughout their life, which lasts

01:28:13up to 30 years.

01:28:15Another example of caring motherhood can be found among our close relatives, primates.

01:28:20Gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos, a cousin of the chimp, embrace and kiss their newborns

01:28:26just like humans.

01:28:28While feeding their little ones, primate females release special hormones associated with motherhood

01:28:33feelings and gentleness.

01:28:35When it comes to breastfeeding, orangutans are the champions.

01:28:38This process may continue for up to 8 years.

01:28:41In the wild, orangutan mothers nurse their offspring for up to 7 years, which is longer

01:28:46than any other primate.

01:28:48During this period, mothers teach their infants to find food and build sleeping nests on their

01:28:52own.

01:28:54The bond between female orangutans and their mothers is stronger than that of males.

01:28:59Daughters may continue living with mothers until they reach the childbearing age that

01:29:03equals 15 or 16 years.

01:29:05Yeah, they just won't move out!

01:29:08Just like humans, apes may have mother issues that impact their social life.

01:29:13Maternal support helps young primates to gain dominance and mating success when they grow

01:29:17up.

01:29:18On the other hand, apes who didn't get enough nurturing in their childhood tend to have

01:29:22fewer children when they reach maturity.

01:29:25Meanwhile, males of African elephants don't fight for dominance because all important

01:29:30issues are resolved by females.

01:29:33And every calf in the herd is cared for by everyone equally.

01:29:36A young elephant mother gets the assistance of her sisters and older aunts while giving

01:29:41birth and raising her child.

01:29:43That's why elephants are considered some of the most protective moms on the planet.

01:29:49Males of female elephants and children tend to travel together in a special circle.

01:29:53They put the youngest members of the group inside the circle to protect them from predators.

01:29:58Also, older elephants will adjust the pace of the herd so the calves don't get tired

01:30:02and lag behind.

01:30:04Females in the social group will communicate with babies using affectionate gestures and

01:30:09teach them how to find food.

01:30:11And everyone packs their own trunk!

01:30:14By the way, girl elephants are very attached to their mothers and will typically remain

01:30:19together until the mother passes away from old age.

01:30:22And the average lifespan of elephants is around 65 years or even more.

01:30:27Mothers bear the cubs for 2 years of that time, so no surprise they're so attached

01:30:32to each other!

01:30:34Giraffe females also have a long pregnancy period – 15 months.

01:30:39It makes sense because the giraffe calf is already on its feet very soon after birth.

01:30:45Mother nurses giraffe babies for about 9-12 months.

01:30:48When she needs to go find some food, she will hide her babies or ask other giraffes to look

01:30:53after them.

01:30:54Like humans, giraffe moms need to stay awake – they can afford to sleep from 30 minutes

01:30:59to a couple of hours a day.

01:31:01And even that in extremely short periods, like 5-10 minutes at a time.

01:31:05The remaining time is dedicated to guarding and protecting her babies.

01:31:09Emperor penguin mothers are not afraid of difficulties either.

01:31:13After laying an egg, the female leaves it with a male who protects it from any threat.

01:31:17Meanwhile, the mother takes a long journey of up to 50 miles to reach the ocean shore

01:31:22and catch some fish.

01:31:24When the fishing is over, she returns to the hatch site to feed the fish to her newly hatched

01:31:28babies.

01:31:29Mmm, seafood!

01:31:31Using the warmth of her own body, the penguin female keeps the younger generation safe and

01:31:36warm.

01:31:37Alright, you're scuba diving in the ocean, watching corals and colorful fish flitting

01:31:44by, when suddenly an enormous shadow appears above you.

01:31:49You look up and see a massive creature approaching you, its mouth a gaping abyss.

01:31:55Relax, just stay still and you'll be fine.

01:31:58This leviathan is a basking shark, one of the scary sea monsters that isn't really

01:32:04capable of doing harm to anyone.

01:32:07Basking sharks are filter feeders, just like baleen whales.

01:32:10They open their large mouths to swallow plankton, and don't even have teeth!

01:32:15It's late night in the Central American jungle.

01:32:19You're out in the wild to watch birds, and you hear flapping of wings.

01:32:23Excited, you look intently into your night vision goggles, only to see a face out of

01:32:29your worst nightmares.

01:32:30Don't scream, you'll scare it away!

01:32:34It's a perfectly harmless wrinkle-faced bat, and it isn't interested in you.

01:32:39These are fruit bats, and wrinkles on their faces allow them to collect fruit pieces and

01:32:44juice for later snacks.

01:32:46By the way, their Latin name, Centurocenex, was given to them for their semblance to 100-year-old

01:32:52humans.

01:32:54Walking around a Nepali national park and deciding to wash your face in the river nearby,

01:33:00you freeze in terror.

01:33:01A crocodile is looking straight at you from no more than a few feet's distance.

01:33:07Then it raises its snout above the water, and you exhale in relief.

01:33:12It's a gharial.

01:33:13These reptiles have long and narrow snouts that allow them to efficiently catch fish

01:33:19and at the same time prohibiting them from hunting any other prey.

01:33:23While still carnivores, gharials are pretty shy and will slither away at the sight of

01:33:28humans.

01:33:29Right now, there are no more than a thousand of these crocodilians in the whole world,

01:33:34so let it go.

01:33:36Especially if it's a girl gharial.

01:33:40You dig your garden in the backyard and notice something moving on your shovel.

01:33:45You take a closer look and drop the tool in horror.

01:33:49A small creature looking like a hostile alien is scurrying away into some burrow in the

01:33:54ground.

01:33:55No worries, it's just a star-nosed mole.

01:33:59These critters have peculiar snouts that look like they've been blown up from within.

01:34:04Their eyes are small and weak, so the star on their nose helps them a lot to move around

01:34:09and seek food.

01:34:10It's always on the move, touching everything it can reach as if the tendrils were tiny

01:34:15fingers.

01:34:16Oh, you're bathing in the ocean again.

01:34:19Well, look to your right, there's a real toothed shark going right at you!

01:34:24Nah, don't panic, it's just a sand tiger shark.

01:34:28Neither a sand nor a tiger one, it's a vulnerable fish-eating shark that slowly swims in the

01:34:33seas and chases its prey from time to time.

01:34:37There have been no reports of it ever attacking humans.

01:34:40But it still has rows of sharp teeth, so don't try to touch it just in case.

01:34:46It may seem placid, but you don't want it to get a bite out of you, do you?

01:34:51Ok, from ocean to desert, you're in Australia and longing for some water.

01:34:57You see a likely spot and start digging the ground only to stumble upon a creature straight

01:35:02from the depths of neither, all covered in thorns.

01:35:06It eyes you suspiciously and slinks away because it's just a thorny devil.

01:35:12Despite its ominous name, this lizard is harmless to humans.

01:35:16Horn-like bumps on its skin are for protection from predators and birds of prey.

01:35:22The thorns are hard, but as long as you don't touch them, you're fine.

01:35:27If you have arachnophobia, it won't calm you down.

01:35:31But tailless whip scorpions you might meet in North and South America, as well as Asia

01:35:35and Africa, are more afraid of you than you are of them.

01:35:40Tell yourself that.

01:35:41These nightmarish creatures don't have stingers and won't even bite when threatened.

01:35:46The worst they could do, and only if you corner them, why would you do that, is prick you

01:35:51with their front legs, leaving tiny puncture marks on your finger.

01:35:56Many people even keep them as pets, and they're quite affectionate toward their owners.

01:36:02If you ever stumble upon a burrow from which a hairless, big-toothed creature is peeking

01:36:07at you, just don't mind it and let it be.

01:36:11Naked mole rats are the sphinx cats among rodents.

01:36:15They're close relatives of mole rats, but, well, naked.

01:36:19And they're fascinating in their own right too, thanks to living entirely underground.

01:36:24They're almost totally cold-blooded, but can conform to any temperature outside.

01:36:30And their flappy, wrinkled skin doesn't feel any pain at all.

01:36:33So pins and prickles, as well as sharp teeth, don't scare naked mole rats.

01:36:38You're once again lost in the jungle, this time on Madagascar.

01:36:43Poor you.

01:36:44The night has fallen, and you seek shelter.

01:36:47But when you think you've found a suitable tree to build a lean-to, you freeze in terror.

01:36:53A black, long-fingered hand appears on a tree branch right above you, and two huge yellow

01:37:00eyes are staring you down.

01:37:02Then you see a shaggy face and realize it's just a lemur.

01:37:06An aye-aye, more precisely.

01:37:09This creature is native to Madagascar and only goes out at night, so you're lucky to

01:37:14see it.

01:37:15It fulfills the role of a woodpecker in tropical forests.

01:37:18It knocks on tree trunks to find bugs and uses its long, wizened fingers to reach inside.

01:37:25Tired of being scared?

01:37:27You seek your way home, but your horrors aren't over yet.

01:37:30There's a big red and white snake across your path.

01:37:34It hisses and lies in wait for you to move.

01:37:38You know it's a coral snake, a really dangerous venomous kind.

01:37:42You stop in your tracks, and only when it finally slithers away, you realize it was

01:37:47actually a milk snake.

01:37:50They often mimic venomous ones, not only coral snakes, to protect themselves from predators.

01:37:55Still, if you're not a snake expert, it's always best to stay away.

01:38:02This creature will infest your darkest dreams.

01:38:04A giant African millipede.

01:38:07It's big, it's glossy black, and it has hundreds of tiny, crawly legs.

01:38:12And yet, if it had googly eyes, it could even be cute.

01:38:16Perhaps that's why so many people keep them as pets.

01:38:20Giant millipedes can't really bite.

01:38:25Their only defense is curling into a tight ball and secreting irritating liquid from

01:38:30the pores of its skin.

01:38:32If you dare touch it, don't rub your eyes or nose afterwards.

01:38:35It's quite unpleasant.

01:38:39Goliath birdeater is another popular pet creepy crawler.

01:38:43It isn't dangerous for humans, despite it looking like your worst nightmare.

01:38:47This is one of the largest spiders in the world, and as its name implies, it sometimes

01:38:53hunts small birds for food.

01:38:55But they aren't part of its regular diet.

01:38:57The spider prefers worms and amphibians.

01:39:01Make sure you don't frighten it, though.

01:39:02It can still bite or release hairs in self-defense.

01:39:05The bite is similar to a wasp sting, and hairs can cause severe irritation on your skin.

01:39:12But mostly, this gentle giant is just shy and will crawl away at the sight of you.

01:39:18Oh dear, there's another snake approaching you.

01:39:20And fast!

01:39:21You're about to turn and run when you see a hulking eight-legged form cutting into the

01:39:26snake's path and leaping on it.

01:39:28It's another arachnid, and it looks even more terrifying than the snake.

01:39:33It's a camel spider.

01:39:35Not really a spider, nor a scorpion.

01:39:38These creatures belong to a separate family.

01:39:40They became the stuff of many urban legends, but in fact, they don't even have any venom.

01:39:46Sure, they can bite, and their jaws are pretty powerful, but camel spiders can't do much

01:39:51more to a human than just bite.

01:39:53They hide in the sand and burrow to leap on unsuspecting lizards, invertebrates, and yes,

01:40:00even snakes.

01:40:01And now, picture a pill bug.

01:40:05Not exactly a beauty, but since it's small, it's okay.

01:40:08But what if it were 10 times as large?

01:40:11Nope, definitely not okay.

01:40:13Still, such a creature exists, and it's a giant isopod.

01:40:18Thankfully, it lurks in deep, dark, and cold waters, so it won't ever come up in your backyard.

01:40:25Giant isopods grow to such enormous size because of something called deep-sea gigantism.

01:40:31Deep-dwelling creatures have to endure great pressure of water, extreme cold temperatures,

01:40:36and scarce food, so their metabolism slows down.

01:40:41Isopods don't move much, and more often than not, just lie in wait until some poor small

01:40:46bug or crustacean crawls within their reach and they can munch on it.

01:40:51And though it looks like a many-legged chaos from below, a giant isopod can hurt you, even

01:40:57if it wanted to.

01:40:59Just pet it already!

01:41:04They're off.

01:41:05In the ultimate test of speed versus endurance, the cheetah immediately takes the lead.

01:41:11Reaching highway speeds in only 3 seconds, it's the fastest animal on this planet.

01:41:16But just after 20 seconds, covering a distance of 7 football fields in that time, the cheetah

01:41:22can't keep going.

01:41:24And the pronghorn takes the lead.

01:41:26The speediest animals in North America, they leave their natural enemies, coyotes and bobcats,

01:41:31in the dust.

01:41:32Now that's what I call fast food.

01:41:35But it's slowing down as well.

01:41:37At a lower speed, they can keep it up for miles.

01:41:40Close behind, look out!

01:41:42It's a blue wildebeest.

01:41:44Max speed aside, these animals travel over vast distances, trekking more than 1,000 miles

01:41:49during their yearly migrations.

01:41:51It would take you 20 hours to drive that.

01:41:54Up next, the king of the jungle himself.

01:41:57Like the cheetah, lions are built for short bursts of speed.

01:42:00They hunt by sprinting to their prey and pouncing on it with leaps of up to 36 feet,

01:42:05almost as long as a semi.

01:42:08More than a few seconds, though, and their muscles tire out.

01:42:12Down they go, one after the other.

01:42:14Cats, rabbits, bears, oh my, nearly all the sprinters are tuckering out in under a minute.

01:42:20Now we find out who can endure the longest.

01:42:23The fastest two-legged animal and the largest bird on the planet can't compete well enough

01:42:28with the sprinters.

01:42:29The tendons in an ostrich's legs are like springs, propelling the animal forward without

01:42:34expending too much energy.

01:42:36But after 45 minutes with its speed continuously falling, the ostrich is finally calling it

01:42:42quits.

01:42:44And there goes the pronghorn along with it.

01:42:46Fun fact, it gets its name from that unique split on each horn, like prongs in a fork.

01:42:52It's the only animal that sheds its horns each year.

01:42:56Usually, only antlers fall off yearly.

01:42:59At the one-hour mark, the camel taps out.

01:43:02It can easily transport large loads over 25 miles a day, but not while running.

01:43:08For windy days in the sand, camels have three eyelids protected by two rows of long, thick

01:43:14lashes.

01:43:15They can also close their nostrils completely.

01:43:17Boy, that would be handy.

01:43:19The sled dogs are still going strong.

01:43:22They have plenty of energy to keep up the stamina.

01:43:25Sled dogs eat five times more calories than your typical domestic pooch, taking in up

01:43:31to 10,000 a day.

01:43:33But uh-oh, at one hour and 20 minutes, the fluffy canines are done.

01:43:38The zebras are still hanging in there.

01:43:40As long as they can avoid a lion's quick pounce, they can easily outrun their predators thanks

01:43:45to their stamina.

01:43:46In fact, the lion doesn't get the zebra about 80% of the time.

01:43:51Their equine cousins keep galloping at a steady 10 miles per hour, even though horses

01:43:56can do more than five times that.

01:43:58A racehorse is built and bred to endure, as its spleen pumps out more red blood cells

01:44:03to keep those muscles oxygenated.

01:44:06But at the two-and-a-half-hour mark, the horse is out of the race.

01:44:11And with that, the human takes the lead.

01:44:14Blown in the dust at the start of the race, the fastest our species has ever done is 27.8

01:44:20miles per hour.

01:44:21And that was for a fraction of a second by Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, not your average

01:44:27Joe.

01:44:28Speed is for the animal kingdom.

01:44:30Humans were built for long-distance running, and we top them all.

01:44:34The best we've got in that department is a man named Dean Karnazes, who jogged 350 miles

01:44:39across Northern California without stopping for 80 hours and 44 minutes.

01:44:46That's over three days of nonstop running.

01:44:49Really?

01:44:49He didn't even stop for... wow.

01:44:52Our species evolved for endurance running.

01:44:55We have a body covered not in fur, but two to five million sweat glands.

01:45:00We're aerodynamic and can cool off more efficiently than animals that pant instead of sweat.

01:45:06Our large, strong glute muscles keep us upright.

01:45:09This minimizes our center of gravity and the surface area being hit by the sun.

01:45:14We save energy, maintain balance, and don't get too overheated.

01:45:18Unlike the prey our early ancestors would hunt for, it took persistence, not speed.

01:45:24But any average Joe who's ever tried to run after the bus will know humans need to train

01:45:30to run super long distances.

01:45:33And the wear and tear on our muscles and joints is no joke.

01:45:36Regular marathon runners need weeks, even months, of prep before and rest after a competition.

01:45:43The racers have slowed down to a walking pace, and now the animal kingdom can finally

01:45:48impress with its endurance.

01:45:51The Arctic lemming spends most of its day trotting around looking for grub.

01:45:56The tiny 3-ounce creature travels 10 miles a day, just like you walking the distance

01:46:01of 40 Grand Canyons in 24 hours.

01:46:04A polar bear usually covers 20 miles a day, but some have been tracked traveling 50 or

01:46:10even hundreds of miles.

01:46:12Polar bears are actually considered marine mammals since they spend their lives on the

01:46:16sea ice and depend on the ocean for food.

01:46:20Packs of wolves travel up to 30 miles a day in search of food.

01:46:24Loners looking for a new pack or a mate can travel much further, up to 500 miles.

01:46:30That'd be like going up and down Mount Everest 50 times.

01:46:34And why would you want to do that?

01:46:37During their yearly migrations, caribou can cover over 3,000 miles, more than the distance

01:46:42from San Francisco to New York.

01:46:45The eye color of Arctic caribou changes from gold to blue in the winter.

01:46:50It makes their vision more light-sensitive during these months of little sunlight.

01:46:55But what's this?

01:46:56Up in the sky, it's the endurance flyers.

01:46:59Grab your binoculars and have a look at that ruby-throated hummingbird.

01:47:04Weighing not much more than a penny, some of them cross the Gulf of Mexico, a distance

01:47:08of 500 miles, in about 22 hours of non-stop flight.

01:47:14Not bad for the smallest bird on our planet.

01:47:16Whoa, watch out little guy!

01:47:19It's a peregrine falcon, zooming by at 125 miles per hour.

01:47:23These birds can travel up to 800 miles a day and reach speeds of close to 190 miles an

01:47:29hour when diving.

01:47:31It's the fastest endurance flight among birds, and technically, the fastest animal on Earth.

01:47:37Ooh, a looming shadow covers the peregrine falcon from above.

01:47:42Here comes the biggest flying bird in the world.

01:47:45With its mighty 11-foot wingspan, the wandering albatross can travel 10,000 miles, almost

01:47:51halfway around the world in a single journey.

01:47:55They spend most of their time in flight, coming to land only when it's time to breed.

01:48:00Ah, here we have a globe-trotting dragonfly that recently dethroned the monarch butterfly

01:48:06for the number one spot among massive insect migrations.

01:48:10Monarchs make an annual 3,000-mile trip from Canada to Mexico.

01:48:15But the globe-skimmer dragonfly crosses oceans and flies up to 11,000 miles.

01:48:21If you're looking to set a world record for the longest walk in the world, you'd need

01:48:25to start on the most southern tip of Africa and trek to the furthest northeastern tip

01:48:29of Russia.

01:48:30It's 14,000 miles, more than half the circumference of the Earth.

01:48:35The Arctic turn covers about 18,500 miles.

01:48:39That's three-quarters of the Earth's circumference in three-week-long flights.

01:48:44If you tried to hike that, it would take you four years to complete such a trip.

01:48:48Still, nothing compared to the bird that can fly nonstop for 200 days in a row.

01:48:55Dragon swifts can be airborne for 10 months at a time, which means they cover the distance

01:48:59to the moon and back several times in their life.

01:49:03Like many migratory birds escaping winter, they eat and sleep while flying.

01:49:08Switching to X-ray mode, you'll see these birds switch off half their brain for rest,

01:49:13while the other half keeps the flight going.

01:49:16Now don't be so impressed, humans can do that too.

01:49:19Well, sort of.

01:49:21It's why you sleep so lightly in unfamiliar places.

01:49:25If your brain is on alert and not entirely sleeping.

01:49:29Humpback whales swim over 6,000 miles every year during the migration season.

01:49:34They hold the record for the longest migration among marine creatures.

01:49:38Fun fact, each humpback's whale tail is as unique to it as a fingerprint.

01:49:43There's even a picture catalog of all the known ones.

01:49:47Yet many sharks would sit back and laugh at all of them, if sharks could laugh.

01:49:52Species like great whites and makos, contemporary relatives of the megalodon, by the way, don't

01:49:59stop swimming their entire lives.

01:50:01If they stop, they won't be able to breathe.

01:50:04Continuous movement allows water to flow through their gills, and that's how they get oxygen.

01:50:10But most of their muscles don't need oxygen to function.

01:50:13That's their white muscle tissue.

01:50:15It's for long-distance endurance swimming.

01:50:18White muscle tissue, which needs oxygen from the blood, is only used during short bursts

01:50:23of speed.

01:50:24Fail.

01:50:25Ah, what a waste of an hour, running around with a rolled-up newspaper, trying to get

01:50:33that fly that keeps buzzing around your head.

01:50:36Well, three things.

01:50:37Why isn't it afraid of you?

01:50:39And why won't it just fly away?

01:50:42And how is it so incredibly fast?

01:50:44Flies actually have a pretty normal speed for their size.

01:50:47You're just a bit too slow.

01:50:50A tiny fly brain reacts several times faster than yours to what it sees.

01:50:55One second to the fly feels like 5 or 6 to you.

01:50:59When a fly looks at you, it sees you as if you're hanging out at the bottom of your

01:51:03local pool, moving around really slowly.

01:51:07What if you dropped a balloon from your bedroom window and watched it fall to the ground?

01:51:12That's how slow a fly sees regular things fall.

01:51:15So it has ninja reaction speeds, but it also has special eyes.

01:51:19They're divided into thousands of receptors that capture light all at the same time.

01:51:25You use small muscles to turn your eyes and head around to look in different directions.

01:51:30Flies don't have these muscles, they don't need them.

01:51:33They can see in every direction at the same time almost.

01:51:36No matter what side you attack from, that fly's almost definitely gonna see it coming.

01:51:43You've probably seen supersonic planes in the movies, turning and flipping around at

01:51:47warp speed.

01:51:48A fly's kinda like that, but with way cooler wings.

01:51:52It can change directions mid-flight, stop, and dodge any obstacles.

01:51:56It can even calculate a flight strategy before it takes off.

01:52:00Well, this time you're really gonna swap that fly.

01:52:04As you raise your rolled-up paper, the insect's brain calculates where it's gonna land.

01:52:09The fly immediately puts its body in the perfect position, ready to perform an evasive maneuver.

01:52:15If your hand moves in front of the insect, its legs immediately tilt backwards to help

01:52:20it fly off in the other direction.

01:52:22Wow, that fly would make a great boxer.

01:52:24Or soccer goalie.

01:52:26So why does that fly even bother sticking around?

01:52:29You're always trying to squish it.

01:52:31Well, because your body is a 5-star feast, and your skin is the buffet table with row

01:52:37upon row of tasty treats.

01:52:40As you move about your day, your skin releases sweat, proteins, carbs, salt, sugar, and all

01:52:46other chemicals that flies are crazy about.

01:52:50Imagine you're hungry and thirsty, walking through a desert.

01:52:53You come over a tall sand dune and see it.

01:52:56Free food, tables of fruit, candy, sandwiches, and the world's biggest soda fountain.

01:53:02The bouncer looks big, tough, round.

01:53:05It's a giant slow turtle!

01:53:07Now you know why the fly sticks around.

01:53:10You're the turtle.

01:53:12You actually do have a chance to get that fly.

01:53:14But it's still going to get away 8 times out of 10.

01:53:18Say a fly's sitting on your kitchen table.

01:53:20Here's what you do.

01:53:21You need to aim a few inches in front of where you think it's gonna fly to.

01:53:26The fly brain will think you're aiming right at it, so you can actually outwit the fly

01:53:30and take it by surprise.

01:53:32The problem?

01:53:33It's really hard to predict the fly's escape route.

01:53:36So you're too slow.

01:53:38How about calling in some backup?

01:53:40Meet the tiger beetle.

01:53:42Speed – 8 feet per second.

01:53:44It can't fly, but that doesn't matter.

01:53:47This beetle runs so fast, it loses the ability to see while it's moving.

01:53:52It aims itself at a target and then runs.

01:53:55It's not a ninja like the fly, and it can't change directions mid-sprint.

01:53:59It has to stop before each run.

01:54:02You walk at around 4.5 feet per second, so the beetle goes like twice your speed.

01:54:08But for its size, it's incredibly fast.

01:54:11It runs 125 lengths of its body in one second.

01:54:15Say you're 6 feet tall.

01:54:17You have to run 750 feet in one second.

01:54:21As long as it's on the same surface as that pesky fly, the fly doesn't stand a chance.

01:54:27Or maybe it's time to call in air support.

01:54:30The dragonfly is the fastest flying insect in the world.

01:54:34This little creature can reach 35 miles per hour.

01:54:37That's faster than you riding your bike down a steep hill.

01:54:40The dragonfly's wings also allow it to fly back, right, left, up, and down, just like

01:54:46a helicopter.

01:54:47Doesn't matter how fast the fly moves, it's pretty much game over.

01:54:53Flies, dragonflies, and tiger beetles are fast because they don't want to spend a

01:54:58lot of extra time out in the open.

01:55:00There are a lot of hungry creatures around.

01:55:03But there's one insect that runs fast because if it stopped…

01:55:07Ouch!

01:55:08To meet a speedy silver ant, you need to go to the Sahara Desert.

01:55:12The sand here is so hot, you could fry an egg on it.

01:55:16Mmm, sandy.

01:55:17That's why the silver ant speeds at around 2.5 feet per second.

01:55:22It doesn't want to burn its feet.

01:55:24It also has triangle-shaped hair that reflects heat, helping the ant escape the scorching

01:55:29sun.

01:55:31If that ant were human-sized, it could run at 400 mph, faster than the fastest car in

01:55:36the world.

01:55:37There's another ant that holds a speed record.

01:55:40The dracula ant can't run as fast as the silver ant, but it has the fastest mouth in

01:55:45the world, um, other than me.

01:55:48It can open and close its jaws 5,000 times, all in the blink of an eye.

01:55:53Literally.

01:55:54How about another fast one, this time a bit closer to home, or in it?

01:55:58The American cockroach can hide in the walls, behind the stove, pretty much anywhere.

01:56:03It's almost impossible to catch.

01:56:06It can run 5 feet per second.

01:56:08That's because of its 6 legs.

01:56:10Each one has 3 knees.

01:56:12Its legs are covered with small hairs that sense any change in the air.

01:56:17That's why it reacts so fast when you walk into the kitchen and turn the light on.

01:56:23And the world record for fastest creature on land is the size of a sesame seed.

01:56:28It's a type of mite, and it can move at 322 body lengths per second.

01:56:34If you zap the mite to turn it to human size, it could go almost two times faster than the

01:56:39speed of sound.

01:56:41The mite can even change direction while moving.

01:56:44That makes it the fastest, most elusive creature on the planet.

01:56:48But let's find some animals that actually make us feel good about ourselves.

01:56:52The garden snail.

01:56:54It belongs to the mollusk family, and it likes to take its sweet time.

01:56:59If you were moving at snail speed, you'd take two steps every two hours.

01:57:04But snails don't care.

01:57:06They have been around for hundreds of millions of years.

01:57:10Snails use their shell for protection, but they have other tricks too.

01:57:14Some snails give off a nasty smell so that no one bothers them.

01:57:19If it gets too hot and dry, snails hide in their shells and seal themselves in using

01:57:24that cool slime they make.

01:57:26That slime also helps them climb up trees.

01:57:30Sloths are the slowest mammals on the planet.

01:57:33Thanks to their slow metabolism, food can take up to 16 days to get digested.

01:57:38Wouldn't be that hard to catch up to one of them.

01:57:41But their slowness actually helps them.

01:57:43You know how in the movies they say, stop, don't make any sudden movements?

01:57:48Well a sloth has that part down cold.

01:57:50Other animals simply don't notice them up there among the leaves.

01:57:55Manatees are one of the slowest sea creatures, but they're not too worried about anyone

01:58:00messing with them, except for humans in motorboats.

01:58:03They are huge and they have thick, thick skin.

01:58:06It's like a sea tank, but way cuter.

01:58:10Another slow swimmer is the Greenland shark.

01:58:12It swims at less than 1 mile per hour.

01:58:15Like the manatee, it's large and in charge.

01:58:19No one's likely to challenge it face to face.

01:58:21But this all leads to the most hilarious snacking technique ever.

01:58:26The Greenland shark is basically slower than every single fish in the water.

01:58:30The only chance it has is to wait for some of those fish to fall asleep.

01:58:35Then it's snack time.

01:58:37The cool thing is that their easygoing lifestyle actually prolongs their life.

01:58:42The average lifespan of a Greenland shark is 300 to 500 years.

01:58:47They live in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

01:58:51Imagine you're on a cruise and you see one of these slow-motion giants.

01:58:55It might be 400 years older than you!

01:58:59That's it for today!

01:59:01So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your

01:59:06friends!

01:59:07Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!

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