20 Animal Myths We Thought to Be True
Animals have always fascinated us with their unique behaviors and characteristics, inspiring countless myths, and legends throughout history. Some of these myths are so deeply ingrained in popular culture that we accept them as facts without a second thought. From the notion of bulls seeing red to the belief that elephants love peanuts, these misconceptions shape our understanding of the animal kingdom. Let’s dive into 20 extraordinary animal myths that have fooled us all and uncover the fascinating truths behind them. Prepare to be amazed as we debunk some of the most persistent myths and discover the incredible reality of these amazing creatures.
1. Bulls are Enraged by Red
Isn’t this a classic? Even Bullfighters use red, but contrary to popular belief, bulls are colorblind and cannot see red. The aggressive behavior seen in bullfighting is a response to the movement of the matador’s cape, not its color. Bulls react to the swift motion of the cape. I wonder, does the matador know this too?
2. Daddy Longlegs are the Most Venomous Spiders
Despite the myth, daddy longlegs (harvestmen) do not have venom glands, fangs, or the capability to bite humans. They are not even spiders but a different type of arachnid, making the idea of them being the most venomous completely unfounded.
3. Ostriches Stick Their Heads in the Sand
Now this has been around for ages, and NO! Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand to avoid danger. When threatened, ostriches will either run at speeds up to 40 mph or defend themselves with powerful kicks. The myth likely stems from their behavior of bending down to inspect the ground or turn eggs.
4. Elephants Love Peanuts
The notion that elephants love peanuts likely comes from circus imagery. Peanuts are not a natural part of an elephant’s diet. In captivity, elephants prefer fruits, vegetables, and grains over peanuts, so quit feeding elephants’ peanuts if you’re at a zoo, and oh btw, you shouldn’t be feeding the animals at all.
5. Goldfish Have a Three-Second Memory Span
Several fish hobbyists think this to be true, but its not. Goldfish can remember things for months, not seconds. Studies show goldfish can learn to navigate mazes, recognize their owners, and associate sounds with feeding times, disproving the myth of their short memory span. In fact, goldfish have been used as models for spatial cognition, a type of unique memory that involves navigating around spaces, found in animals with high cognition.
6. Touching a Baby Bird Will Cause Its Mother to Abandon It
Most birds have small and simple olfactory nerves which means a poor sense of smell. They will not abandon their chicks if a human touches them. However, human interference can cause stress to the bird. According to biologist Thomas E. Martin of the University of Montana, birds will not abandon their young because of human touch, but they might do so as a response to disturbance, so it’s best to avoid handling them and poking around nests unnecessarily
7. Mice Love Cheese
People have been wasting cheese on mousetraps for ages, but mice do not have a particular preference for cheese. They are more likely to eat grains, fruits, and seeds. The image of cheese-loving mice was popularized by cartoons and media.
8. Bats Are Blind
Bats are not blind; They have small eyes with very sensitive vision and some species have reasonably good eyesight. In fact, there are 1,000 species of bats in the world, and none of them are blind. Bats rely on echolocation for navigation in the pitch-black darkness, but they can see fairly well in daylight.
9. Camels Store Water in Their Humps
Camels store fat, not water, in their humps. This fat can be metabolized into water and energy when food and water are scarce, but the humps do not serve as water storage tanks. Once the camel uses its fat stores, the hump may become limp and droop down.
10. Black Panthers are a Species of Animal
Black panthers are not a separate species. They are melanistic variants of leopards or jaguars, with excessive black pigmentation that makes their typical markings hard to see. Regardless, black panthers are amazing and majestic animals in the wild. Incidentally, The Black Panther was one of the first animals to be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it was first passed in the USA in 1973.
11. Bears Hibernate
Bears undergo torpor, a state of reduced metabolic rate and body temperature, rather than true hibernation. They can wake up and respond to stimuli during this period, unlike true hibernators. In winter, bears aren’t sleeping 24 hours, they just do not feel the need to eat or drink or poop. Moreover, evolution and environment influence bears to stay in their dens.
12. Polar Bears Cover Their Noses While Hunting
Polar bears do not cover their black noses to blend in with the snow. This myth likely arose from the idea that their noses would stand out in the white landscape, but polar bears rely on stealth and patience rather than such tricks.
13. Head Lice Prefer Clean Hair
Head lice do not prefer clean or dirty hair. They are equally likely to infest any hair regardless of its cleanliness, debunking the myth that lice are attracted to specific hygiene conditions.
14. Elephants Never Forget
While elephants have excellent memories, the saying “an elephant never forgets” is an exaggeration. They do have strong social bonds and can remember locations and individuals for many years, but their memory is not infallible. Elephants do forget, and some can more than others. Elephants have incredible spatial memory owing to the fact they need to travel long distances in the wild to locate food and water.
15. Mother Rabbits Eat Their Babies if Touched by Humans
Mother rabbits will not eat their babies if they have been touched by humans. This myth likely stems from misunderstandings about animal behavior and the need to discourage unnecessary handling of wildlife.
16. Cats Have Nine Lives
Obviously, this must be a myth. Cats, like all other animals, have only one life, but here’s the thing. Cats possess an ability called “air-righting” reflex which not only helps them to instantly jump out of harm’s way, it helps them to twist and maneuver their body around in air, and land safely on their feet. It isn’t always the case, but cats have a better chance of surviving falls compared to other animals.
17. A Dry or Warm Nose Means Your Dog Is Sick
We’ve all heard it: if your dog or cat’s nose is warm or dry, they’re sick. However, this old wives’ tale simply isn’t true. Your pet’s nose temperature and moisture level fluctuate throughout the day due to various factors, including genetics, environment, and activity level. There’s no direct link between nose temperature or moisture and illness. If your furry friend is otherwise acting normal, there’s no need to worry about a dry or warm nose. Sometimes, a warm dry nose, combined with lethargy, discomfort and abnormal behaviour could indicate fever, otherwise, your dog is fine.
18. Touching a Toad will Give You Warts
Toads have wart-like bumps, but you can’t catch warts from them. Human warts are caused by viruses, while toad bumps are glands. These glands can secrete substances that may irritate your skin, but they won’t cause warts.
19. Crocodiles’ Tears
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Source: Facts on the Planet
The phrase “crocodile tears” refers to fake sadness. This comes from crocodiles crying while eating. Researchers found that crocodiles do tear up during meals, but the exact reason is unknown. One theory suggests that when crocodiles hiss and huff while eating, air pushed through their noses mixes with tears and empties into their eyes.
20. Porcupines Can Shoot Quills
It’s true that porcupines have quills, in Latin their name translates to Pig Quill, but they can’t shoot them. In fact, the quills are mixed onto their back, sides, and tail and lay flat unless they are feeling threatened. Surprisingly, this prickly animal has hair that is quite soft. Perhaps the myth of porcupines shooting quills emerged because the quills do detach easily when touched.
These animal myths have persisted through cultural storytelling, media, and misinterpretations of animal behavior. Understanding the truths behind these myths helps foster a more accurate appreciation of the natural world.
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