- In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
- Scientists estimate that there are currently 1.4 million animal
species known to science; with possibly as many as 30 million
on the planet.
- A rhinoceros beetle can support up to 850 times its own weight
on it's back. That would be the equivalent of a man carrying 76
family-sized cars around on his back.
- Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.
- The pom-pom cut was originally developed to increase the Poodle's
swimming abilities as a retriever. The haircut allowed for faster
swimming but the pom-poms were left to keep the joints warm.
- The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable
from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at
a crime scene.
- The fastest dog, the greyhound, can reach speeds of upto 41.7
miles per hour. The breed was known to exist in ancient Egypt
6,000 years ago.
- Cats have a third eyelid, called a haw, that is rarely visible.
If it can be seen, it could be an indication of ill health.
- Cats can have freckles. They can appear anywhere on a cat's
skin and even in its mouth.
- A female dog, her mate and her puppies can produce 12,288 dogs
in five years.
- A dairy cow drinks 20-50 gallons of water a day - about as much
as a full bathtub.
- The female dairy goat is a doe; the male, a buck; the young,
kids; and a castrated male, a wether. Their life span is eight
to twelve years.
- Armadillos have four babies at a time and they are always all
the same sex.
- The Venus flytrap takes less than half a second to slam shut
on an insect.
- A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette
in South Bend, Indiana.
- Some ribbon worms will eat themselves if they can't find any
food.
- On June 20th, 1782, the United States Congress made the "American
Eagle" the national emblem of the United States.
- Desert plants, like cactus, developed pointy spines as protection
from animals.
- All dinosaurs walked on their toes.
- Brazil has the most species of mammals (524), fresh water fish,
insects and parrots of anywhere.
- About 600 species of plants are carnivorous. Most eat insects
but also on the menu are frogs, birds and even small monkeys.
- Polar Bears cannot be detected by infrared cameras, due to their
transparent fur.
- When a dolphin is sick or injured, its cries of distress summon
immediate aid from other dolphins, who try to support it to the
surface so that it can breathe.
- Herons stamp and peck at mosquitoes around their feet up to
three thousand times an hour. This behaviour prevents more then
80 percent of the mosquitoes from feeding on the heron's blood.
- The 'Silverback' gorilla is 30 per cent taller and almost twice
as heavy as the females in the group he dominates.
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