50+ Animal Facts Prove Nature Is Weirder Than Fiction

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Transcript

00:00:00A species of millipede made musical headlines this year.

00:00:04Yep, you heard that right.

00:00:06It's called the Taylor Swift millipede, as was recently discovered in 2022.

00:00:12The scientists behind this finding are said to have named this little critter after the

00:00:16famous singer.

00:00:17They became really attached to her music in their younger years and thought it was a nice

00:00:21homage.

00:00:23The Taylor Swift millipede joins the list of 16 similar creatures found in the Appalachian

00:00:28Mountains of the United States.

00:00:30Obviously, the rest of them aren't as famous.

00:00:33This wasn't an easy discovery either.

00:00:35These invertebrates are extremely hard to find in their natural habitat since they spend

00:00:40little to no time above the ground.

00:00:42They prefer to stay hidden beneath the soil.

00:00:45Since they feed on decaying vegetation, they play a key role in the local natural cycle.

00:00:51Another recently discovered species made headlines since it was named after a famous Swedish

00:00:56activist Greta Thunberg.

00:00:59Her namesake is a frog that lives in eastern Panama.

00:01:03These miniscule frogs live and spend much of their life hidden in bromeliads, which

00:01:08are leafy plants attached to local trees.

00:01:11They hardly ever travel, even sleeping and laying their eggs tucked away.

00:01:16Their most distinctive feature is the fact that they have black eyes, which is unusual

00:01:20for frogs living in Central America.

00:01:23Now how about a chocolate frog?

00:01:25No, it's not the snack from Harry Potter.

00:01:28It's a real species.

00:01:29This unusual-looking creature was stumbled upon quite recently in the regions of the

00:01:34Peruvian Amazon.

00:01:35It's also nicknamed the taper frog because it resembles this big boy.

00:01:40It has a lot to do with the fact that this frog has a long snout.

00:01:45Like other recently discovered species, chocolate frogs are hard to find and study.

00:01:50But it does speak volumes about the incredible biodiversity we've yet to discover from

00:01:55the Amazon area.

00:01:57A new species of cockroach was discovered this year in Asia.

00:02:01It was stumbled upon by local authorities when they were looking at logs transported

00:02:05from French Guiana.

00:02:07It might be interesting for local scientists, but this new species needs to be carefully

00:02:12studied as it may be dangerous.

00:02:15When looking at existing records of local cockroaches, local specialists did not find

00:02:20anything similar.

00:02:21They proceeded to study the new insect's DNA and confirmed it was a newly discovered

00:02:26species.

00:02:28Specialists working at Customs Control around the world continuously monitor deliveries

00:02:32for unknown insects since they may carry diseases.

00:02:36More so, cockroaches are known to be very adaptable and damaging creatures to new environments.

00:02:42Not to mention they also multiply quite rapidly.

00:02:45To preserve local biodiversity, when insects happen to travel from one location to another,

00:02:51they need to be intensively studied to see if preventative measures need to be taken.

00:02:57At the start of 2022, a marine biologist stumbled upon a beautiful sea creature.

00:03:03It was later named the blanket octopus, and from what we know so far, it lives off the

00:03:08coast of the Great Barrier Reef.

00:03:11This beautiful-looking creature got its name because of its rainbow-like appearance.

00:03:16In most species, the male tends to be larger than the female, but this is not the case

00:03:21for this gorgeous creature.

00:03:22In fact, a female blanket octopus can stretch to 6 feet long.

00:03:27Well, most gentlemen in this species are less than 1 inch in length on average.

00:03:32Yeah, that is bigger.

00:03:35Another beautifully colored creature living in our waters was recently discovered in the

00:03:39Maldives.

00:03:40It's called the rose-veiled fairy wrasse.

00:03:44This one got its name after the local national flower, which is the pink rose.

00:03:48In all fairness, this fish species is really like the red-velvet fairy wrasse, but it does

00:03:53differ a bit in terms of coloring.

00:03:55It's not the first time we've seen it, but it's the first time we've studied

00:03:59it long enough to know they are two distinct species altogether.

00:04:09Discovered recently by Irish and Indonesian researchers, the wakatobi sunbird is a small

00:04:15creature resembling a hummingbird.

00:04:17It has a cool color pattern, blue feathers on the neck, yellow feathers on the belly,

00:04:22and brown feathers on the back and top of the head.

00:04:25The reason why it's named a sunbird is that its feathers shine like they're covered

00:04:29in glitter in the sunlight.

00:04:32We rarely discover new species of mammals these days, let alone large ones, but the

00:04:37southern manned sloth is quite the exception.

00:04:40It was initially believed that manned sloths are part of a single species.

00:04:44Turns out, they divide into two distinct categories, northern and southern.

00:04:49They're both found in the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

00:04:52A new owl species called Principe scopes owl was also recently announced by specialists.

00:04:59The main thing that drew researchers to conclude it is a new type of bird is the distinctive

00:05:04sound that it makes.

00:05:08Its call starts with a short tooo sound.

00:05:11It is then shortly followed by other noises that resemble insect calls.

00:05:16Some owls make this call as a duet at nightfall.

00:05:20The name comes from the location it has been discovered in, which is Principe Island, part

00:05:26of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.

00:05:30If you want to visit, you'll have to head to the coast of Central Africa.

00:05:34After looking all over the island, the team behind its discovery found out they only roam

00:05:39a small portion of an already small island.

00:05:43It's easy to estimate there are only a limited number of specimens, so the species has been

00:05:47immediately classified as critically endangered.

00:05:52This year, Europeans also introduced their brand new species of slug, and it's quite

00:05:57impressive too, given it can be as large as a carrot.

00:06:01It features a brown-grayish color and was named the giant keelback slug.

00:06:06The international team responsible for identifying this new species spent a lot of time exploring

00:06:12the Terra Canyon in Montenegro.

00:06:15An international team of citizen scientists were taking part in a field trip by Taxon

00:06:20Expeditions, and they were exploring Terra Canyon in Montenegro, which is Europe's

00:06:26largest and deepest canyon.

00:06:28Now, technically, the Venezuelan poodle moth is yet to be officially identified and fully

00:06:34studied.

00:06:36But ever since it was first photographed in 2009, the internet went crazy over its appearance.

00:06:42This tiny insect looks like a combination between a furby and a gargoyle, but in an

00:06:47extremely cute way.

00:06:49We do know it might live in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela, but apart from that,

00:06:55there's little to no information on these moths.

00:06:58Scientists have yet to pinpoint exactly its insect family, but they do suspect it might

00:07:03be a combination of varied species, like a mutant.

00:07:07Another fun fact – that fur they wear is made of soundproofing cellulose, so if you

00:07:12think about it, their coat is made of sugar!

00:07:17The sponge crab must be one of the most elegant aquatic creatures discovered this year.

00:07:22It has a sponge middle and a fluffy coat and was recently stumbled upon after a specimen

00:07:27was found washed up on a beach in Denmark, Western Australia.

00:07:32The people that found it on a beach were nice enough to send it over to researchers

00:07:36at Western Australian Museum, so that it could be properly identified and studied.

00:07:42To their surprise, this creature did not seem to resemble anything that was previously documented.

00:07:49Nimba bats got their name from the Nimba Mountains, in which they were recently discovered.

00:07:54To visit this region, you'll have to book a trip to West Africa.

00:07:58They are also called bright orange bats because of their uniquely colored furry wings.

00:08:04Along with other similar species, they can be only found in this specific region, so

00:08:09it's crucial to maintain their habitat to make sure they don't become endangered.

00:08:15These guys are named nano-chameleons, and by their name, you can already tell they're

00:08:20not the largest reptiles.

00:08:22Also recently discovered in Madagascar, the male nano-chameleons are amongst the smallest

00:08:28male reptiles in the world.

00:08:30The female chameleon is a bit larger, but it, too, doesn't stretch longer than 1 inch,

00:08:35including its tail.

00:08:37Because their natural habitat is very limited in size, there's still a lot we don't know

00:08:41about them, as they've proven quite hard to study.

00:08:45Yeah, they're shy.

00:08:49In the U.S., people experience 250,000 human bites, 400,000 cat bites, and 4.5 million

00:08:58dog bites each year.

00:09:00Yes, adorable animals can still attack you unexpectedly.

00:09:03Let's take a look at the cutest and fiercest examples.

00:09:08Forget about these viral videos of people hugging pandas.

00:09:12These cuddly-looking cuties can be surprisingly dangerous.

00:09:15Despite cartoonish looks, they're still wild, and they will attack a human when they feel

00:09:20threatened.

00:09:21Even a snow leopard is scared to mess with an adult panda.

00:09:25So if you ever meet this animal in person, keep a healthy distance, especially if it

00:09:30has cubs.

00:09:32Pandas switched from omnivorous to a vegetarian diet a couple of million years ago, but they

00:09:37still have these carnivorous teeth and retractable claws in their paws that can easily cut your

00:09:43skin.

00:09:44It's safe to speculate that pandas' strict bamboo diet may be contributing to their extinction,

00:09:49so it makes sense to plant some more bamboo.

00:09:52To prevent these fluffy monsters from returning to their carnivorous habits, huh?

00:09:59But let's say you're hiking in the woods in China, and suddenly a ferocious panda jumps

00:10:03out of nowhere.

00:10:05First of all, make sure to carry bear spray and be ready to use it.

00:10:09You can pretend you're not alive, especially if the panda is too big to fight with.

00:10:14Don't rush to run away, though.

00:10:16Instead, try talking to the animal while backing away slowly.

00:10:20If a panda follows you while you're hiking, make loud noises along the trail to scare

00:10:24it away.

00:10:25The smell of food can attract pandas, as well as snow leopards, so avoid cooking if you

00:10:30know you're being stalked.

00:10:34And speaking of deceptive fluffballs, koalas and wombats can't be trusted either.

00:10:40These Australian animals are closest relatives, so they share some common traits.

00:10:45Koalas are territorial creatures, and they don't hesitate to use their sharp claws and

00:10:50teeth to prove it.

00:10:51If a koala starts biting you, it won't let go easily – you'll have to pull it away.

00:10:56So it would be wise to wear long trousers and a jacket to provide additional protection

00:11:01to your skin.

00:11:02Also make sure to protect your pets, because koalas definitely won't do that.

00:11:09Don't be tricked by those cuddly videos of people with koalas, too.

00:11:13These are zoo animals that have gone through a long bonding journey before becoming human-friendly.

00:11:18If you ever come across these creatures in the wild, don't try to take a selfie and

00:11:22avoid triggering them with loud noises.

00:11:26Although koalas are known for sleeping 22 hours a day, it doesn't mean you can't

00:11:31trigger them.

00:11:33Koalas tend to get more alarmed when they detect strangers within a 16-foot radius.

00:11:38By the way, spraying urine on enemies is one of the koalas' favorite defense mechanisms.

00:11:44The majority of koalas in the wild can spread unpleasant conditions, so that's another

00:11:48huge reason to stay away from them.

00:11:52Wombats may look like innocent friendly hamsters, but these nocturnal marsupials are known for

00:11:57attacking people, dogs, and even wild dingoes.

00:12:01Yep, they bit several people so badly that they needed hospitalization.

00:12:06So the safety rules are the same as with koalas – no hugs, no selfies.

00:12:11By the way, if you dare to run away from a wombat, keep in mind you can run up to 25

00:12:16mph.

00:12:17What about you?

00:12:20Take swans.

00:12:21When it comes to personal boundaries, these fancy birds can show some sinister traits,

00:12:26too.

00:12:28Wombats can defend their mates and nests very aggressively, which includes biting and even

00:12:31taking your life.

00:12:34Their nesting season between April and June is especially dangerous.

00:12:38So if you're swimming or even walking near a body of water in spring, and you spot a

00:12:43sneaky swan coming your way, make sure to keep a respectful distance.

00:12:47You don't want to try to touch or feed them.

00:12:49Don't do anything that can provoke the birds, and heaven forbid you to approach their nests.

00:12:57Beware of the mute swan – it's one of the biggest hooligans in the bird world.

00:13:03These guys are less vocal compared to other swan species, so they can skip warning shouts

00:13:08and simply attack you in total silence.

00:13:11If it happens, don't rush to run away.

00:13:13Instead, try to stay calm, keep on facing the swan, and slowly back away.

00:13:19Using a barrier such as a fence or a tree can be helpful, too.

00:13:23You can also trick the swan into believing that you're a bigger bird.

00:13:27Just show them an open umbrella or a wide piece of clothing that imitates wings, if

00:13:32you happen to have it handy.

00:13:35Sometimes you can come across a swan that looks like it needs your help.

00:13:38Even if it breaks your heart, safety rules don't recommend trying to save the bird

00:13:42on your own.

00:13:43That's because the swan may perceive your help as a threat.

00:13:47Instead, you should notify local wildlife authorities, and they'll take proper care

00:13:52of the animal.

00:13:54There are many stories of dolphins saving people and being cute and playful.

00:13:58But their games can be surprisingly dangerous, especially in the wild.

00:14:03Even sharks can lose their lives if they mess with the wrong willie.

00:14:07Swimming with these smiley creatures is riskier than you might think.

00:14:11Dolphins can start pushing you with their powerful noses and bodies.

00:14:16In some cases, they can pull you underwater and bite you with their sharp teeth.

00:14:21Unfortunately, not everyone survives such an encounter.

00:14:25So how do you tell a good dolphin from a sinister one?

00:14:28Well, first of all, if the dolphin is wild, never attempt to feed, pet, or play with it.

00:14:35If you see them flapping their jaws, chasing, slapping their tails in the water, or even

00:14:39releasing clouds of bubbles from their blowholes, take this as a sign of aggression.

00:14:45If you ever find yourself kayaking or swimming in the water with an aggressive dolphin, leave

00:14:49the area as soon as possible.

00:14:53Wanna see one of the most poisonous creatures on Earth?

00:14:55Well, here you go!

00:14:57It's hard to resist putting this colorful guy on your palm to take a cute picture.

00:15:02But this could be your last photo shoot!

00:15:04The 2-inch long golden poison dart frog has enough venom to take the lives of 10 healthy

00:15:10adult men.

00:15:11This toxin is meant to attack the predator's nervous system and cause muscle contractions,

00:15:16respiratory paralysis, and even worse.

00:15:20Unlike snakes and scorpions, dart frogs don't need to bite to transfer their venom.

00:15:25They excrete it through their skin glands.

00:15:27So if you ever happen to touch this cutie by mistake, don't rub your eyes and wash

00:15:32your hands immediately.

00:15:33The toxin has to get into your bloodstream to affect you.

00:15:37So if you have any cuts on your skin, it makes sense to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

00:15:43Keep in mind that dart frog's skin tends to poison everything it touches, and the toxin

00:15:48can remain on those objects for up to a year.

00:15:52Ah, look at this cute Shrek-eyed toy!

00:15:56Wait a second, it's alive!

00:15:58Say hello to one of the few venomous mammals on the planet – the slow loris.

00:16:03It's no wonder that this furry creature is the star of the shadow pet market.

00:16:08But you should read the directions before purchasing it since a refund is unlikely to

00:16:13be possible.

00:16:14You may have seen this animal raising its hands as if surrendering to the police.

00:16:19You wish!

00:16:21Slow loris has a toxin released from its bronchial gland on the sides of its elbows.

00:16:28This innocent-looking fluffy takes the venom into its mouth to mix it with its saliva.

00:16:33After that, it can rub its hair with the toxin to scare away its rivals.

00:16:38Or give you a fierce venomous bite that you'll never forget.

00:16:44This toxin causes anaphylactic shock, so it's dangerous to human life.

00:16:49Do you still want to bring this cutie home?

00:16:51Nah, I didn't think so.

00:16:55Just because the platypus looks like an ancient Pokemon, it doesn't mean you can let your

00:16:59guard down.

00:17:01Male platypuses have a special tool to fight for mates – hidden sharp spurs on their

00:17:05hind feet.

00:17:07They contain a dose of venom that's fatal to a dog-sized animal.

00:17:11But it doesn't mean you're safe.

00:17:13They can attack humans too.

00:17:16And the sensation caused by the platypus' venom is described as a long-lasting intense

00:17:21ache that cannot be relieved with conventional medicines.

00:17:25So never try to pet this cutie, it's not worth it.

00:17:30There are many more cute but vicious animals on the planet, so remember that looks can

00:17:34be deceiving.

00:17:35And stay safe!

00:17:36If you're being approached by an aggressively looking dog, start yelling and screaming.

00:17:44It'll show your dominance and spook the animal off.

00:17:48Yes, this is a widespread myth, and no, it won't help you if you meet a canine that

00:17:52looks as if it's going to attack you.

00:17:55The best course of action in this rather scary situation is to stand still and avoid direct

00:18:01eye contact with the animal.

00:18:03You shouldn't run, it may only encourage the dog to start chasing you.

00:18:08If the animal attacks, drop to the ground and curl into a ball, protecting your head

00:18:12and neck with your hands.

00:18:15But what if you come across another, much more dangerous representative of the canine

00:18:20family?

00:18:21A wolf?

00:18:23Running away won't save your life.

00:18:25Wolves are much faster than humans, especially in the forest.

00:18:29Plus, as soon as you start running, the wolf's prey drive will immediately kick in.

00:18:34Instead, maintain eye contact with the animal at all times, and never ever turn your back

00:18:40on it.

00:18:42While trying to escape, make sure the wolf remains in front of you.

00:18:45If the predator ends up behind you, its hunting instincts may come into play, so slowly back

00:18:51away while facing the animal.

00:18:56You might have heard that if you've been bitten by a snake, you should apply garlic

00:19:00to the bite area.

00:19:02Another misconception.

00:19:04Garlic has absolutely no effect on snake venom.

00:19:07Instead, try to remember the color and shape of the snake.

00:19:11It can later help doctors treat the bite and figure out what anti-venom is needed.

00:19:16Also, remain still and as calm as possible.

00:19:20Garlic can slow down the spread of venom, and of course, immediately seek medical help.

00:19:27If you see a bear, fall down on the ground and pretend to have passed away.

00:19:32Unfortunately, it doesn't always work this way.

00:19:35First of all, you need to show the animal that you're not prey.

00:19:39Do not make any high-pitched noises and don't scream.

00:19:43This way, you may agitate the bear even more.

00:19:46If you wave your arms, do it slowly.

00:19:49If you decide to talk some sense into the bear, do it in a calm and low voice.

00:19:55Without taking your eyes off the bear, start to move sideways.

00:19:59It won't let you trip and go down.

00:20:02Do not rush or run away.

00:20:04Although at first sight, bears may look clumsy and heavy-footed, they're surprisingly good

00:20:10runners.

00:20:11Plus, these animals love chasing their prey.

00:20:15That's why if a bear charges after you, stop moving altogether.

00:20:22There's a misconception that bees can only sting once.

00:20:25But in reality, the problem is that honey bee stingers are barbed and can easily catch

00:20:30on their victim's skin.

00:20:32The stinger gets stuck.

00:20:33The bee can't free itself and doesn't usually survive such an accident.

00:20:38You need to remember that bees will protect their hives no matter what, and they can sting

00:20:44you even if you're just walking by.

00:20:47Dark colors can make bees more aggressive since such hues make people look like they're

00:20:52natural enemies.

00:20:54That's why if you're dressed in a black t-shirt, your chances of being stung by these

00:20:58insects are higher.

00:21:00If a swarm of bees is following you, hide in an enclosed or dark space.

00:21:05The lack of proper lighting will throw the insects off your track.

00:21:09Similar rules apply to wasp encounters.

00:21:12One of the worst mistakes you can make is wearing your long hair down and wearing dark

00:21:16clothes.

00:21:18Wasps are attracted to dark moving objects, and your clothes and hair certainly fit this

00:21:23description.

00:21:24So, if you suspect you may come across some wasps, put on some light-colored clothes and

00:21:30keep your hair tied up in a ponytail or bun.

00:21:33Contrary to popular belief, bathing a wasp sting in vinegar or baking soda won't help.

00:21:40Instead, apply some ice to the affected area.

00:21:45Gorillas are called the kings of the jungle, and not without a reason.

00:21:48They are leaders that tend to protect their family and land.

00:21:52They won't normally attack you if you behave obediently.

00:21:55So, upon meeting a gorilla, sit down.

00:21:59This way, you won't look large and threatening, towering over the animal.

00:22:04Try not to make loud noises and avoid direct eye contact.

00:22:08In case of an attack or approach, curl into a ball.

00:22:12Gorillas are proud animals.

00:22:14As a rule, they won't attack the weak and defenseless.

00:22:19Surprisingly, a wild kangaroo can pose a serious threat to a person.

00:22:25But it will only happen if you enter the animal's territory and it feels threatened.

00:22:30To avoid a conflict, cough.

00:22:32It's not a joke.

00:22:33Your coughs should be short and quiet.

00:22:36The kangaroo will consider it a sign of disease, and there's a chance it won't attack you.

00:22:41After that, back away slowly.

00:22:44This way, you will look smaller, therefore less threatening.

00:22:48Don't turn away and run, it will only provoke the animal.

00:22:52Remember that kangaroos are perfect jumpers, capable of catching up with you in a few moments.

00:22:58Of course, we must talk about sharks!

00:23:01The good news is that out of several hundred shark species existing on Earth, only about

00:23:07a dozen attack humans.

00:23:10If a shark gets interested in you, it will be extremely hard to break away.

00:23:14To not attract sharks, prevent blood or any other body fluids from getting into the water.

00:23:20Sharks can feel smells at great distances.

00:23:24Also, when you go swimming, take off shiny jewelry or other reflective objects.

00:23:30Sharks are attracted to shiny things because they mistake them for fish scales.

00:23:35Don't turn your back on this predator, and don't try to escape in panic.

00:23:39You will look like prey this way.

00:23:41Move slowly.

00:23:43Hitting the animal in its eyes and gills can only make it angrier and more determined to

00:23:47attack.

00:23:48Instead, start making bubbles.

00:23:51They're too noisy for sharks, and these animals don't like them.

00:23:56If you encounter a wild boar, it'll be a mistake to try to escape the animal by jumping

00:24:01into the water.

00:24:03Boars are actually good swimmers and can easily follow you if they feel threatened.

00:24:08Instead, start whistling or singing if you spot a wild boar walking nearby.

00:24:16If you've encountered a lion, maintain eye contact with the animal.

00:24:21Don't turn your back and don't move your eyes away.

00:24:24It will give the predator some time to attack.

00:24:27Try to look more massive than you actually are.

00:24:30Lift your arms and jack it up.

00:24:32If you look big and threatening, the animal will try to avoid the confrontation.

00:24:37Speak to the lion in a reasonably loud and confident voice.

00:24:41Such behavior isn't typical for a victim.

00:24:44You will baffle the predator, and it will perceive you as an irritating presence, which

00:24:48is better to stay away from.

00:24:51Elephants are clever and quite friendly animals, but they have been known to attack people.

00:24:57This is especially true about female elephant mothers with babies.

00:25:01If you have come across an elephant, pay attention to its body language.

00:25:06If the trunk is curled and the ears are pulled back, it means it might try to attack and

00:25:11crush you.

00:25:13If the animal approaches, don't run.

00:25:16Try to find something to serve as a barrier between you and the elephant.

00:25:20It can be a stone or a tree.

00:25:24Rhinoceroses have bad eyesight.

00:25:26That's why it's easy to frighten them and provoke them to attack.

00:25:30These animals' speed can reach 37 miles per hour, which is why it's really difficult to

00:25:36outrun them.

00:25:37The most foolproof way to escape from a rhinoceros is to hide behind a tree.

00:25:42It's a serious obstacle for the animal.

00:25:44Also, it's unlikely to follow you through bushes or high grass.

00:25:52Hippos may seem cute, but this image is very misleading.

00:25:56These animals can be extremely dangerous.

00:26:00Despite their weight, hippopotamuses can run at a speed of 18 to 28 miles per hour.

00:26:06Plus, it's quite easy to make them angry.

00:26:09So if the weather is hot, try not to come close to bushes.

00:26:13The level of water lowers during the drought season, and hippos hide in tall grass.

00:26:19To make the animal leave you alone, climb a tree, a rock, or a steep hill.

00:26:24Wait there until it goes away.

00:26:27Despite the widespread opinion, bulls react to movement, not the color red.

00:26:32Or any other color.

00:26:33That's why if a bull is running at you, stay straight and still.

00:26:38Use your hat, t-shirt, or other clothes you have at hand as bait.

00:26:42When the bull runs up close enough, throw this object as far away from you as possible.

00:26:47The bull will change the direction and follow this new target.

00:26:54There are sharks that glow in the dark.

00:26:56For example, swell sharks.

00:26:58They live in the dark ocean depths, almost 1,700 feet under the surface.

00:27:04No one knows why exactly, but they admit a fluorescent glow only other swell sharks can

00:27:09see.

00:27:10Scientists detected the glow because they used filters that blocked out yellow light.

00:27:15They think that could be the way for these big fish to communicate with their buddies.

00:27:19This glow helps sharks fight infections on a microbial level.

00:27:24Cowbirds have secret passwords they use to recognize each other.

00:27:29They're a specific type of parasite bird since they lay their eggs in other bird species'

00:27:34nests.

00:27:35The young cowbirds have an inner mechanism where they recognize their species' singing,

00:27:39like some sort of secret password only they know.

00:27:42That's how they manage to find others of their kind.

00:27:46A grizzly bear has an incredibly strong bite.

00:27:48It may look cute, but if you're close to this big guy, you better stay out of reach

00:27:53of its sharp claws and especially its mouth.

00:27:56Its bite force is more than 8 million pascals, which means it can crush a bowling ball.

00:28:04Some animals have skin-deep stripes and others have more superficial ones.

00:28:09Tigers are in the first group.

00:28:11Not only is their fur striped, but their skin is as well.

00:28:14It's the same with some other furry big cats, like snow leopards.

00:28:18Giraffes and zebras are in the second group since they have patterns only on their coats.

00:28:25Speaking of zebras, do you think they're black with white stripes or white with black

00:28:29stripes?

00:28:30At first, it really looks like the second option is correct.

00:28:33Their black stripes mostly end towards the inside of their legs and on their bellies.

00:28:38The rest of it is white.

00:28:40But that's not true.

00:28:41Surprisingly, they're black with white stripes.

00:28:45All of their fur, both white and black, grows from follicles that have something called

00:28:49melanocyte cells.

00:28:52All animals have these cells.

00:28:54They produce a pigment called melanin, and it gives color to their hair and skin.

00:28:59When it comes to zebras, chemical messengers tell which melanocytes send pigment to which

00:29:04area of fur.

00:29:06That's why zebras have a black and white pattern.

00:29:09But white is not actually its own pigment.

00:29:12It's an absence of melanin.

00:29:14So black is their default color.

00:29:18Koalas have fingerprints that are so close to ours that they could even taint crime scenes.

00:29:23It doesn't seem like they have a lot in common with humans, but take a closer look at their

00:29:27hands.

00:29:28They have distinctive loops and arches.

00:29:31So if any koalas want to do something illegal, it would be a good idea for them to wear gloves.

00:29:37Ghost crabs growl when they're around creatures they don't like or find threatening.

00:29:42They do it using teeth in their stomachs.

00:29:45First, they'll let you know they'll defend themselves if you try anything by showing

00:29:50you their claws.

00:29:51If that doesn't work, they'll go for fearsome growling noises like dogs.

00:29:56But the noise is coming from rubbing their three elongated hard teeth inside their stomach.

00:30:02Ghost crabs produce the same noise when they're grinding up food.

00:30:06Speaking of teeth, did you know narwhal tusks are actually some sort of an inside-out tooth?

00:30:12Unlike the majority of other whales, narwhals are the ones that come with a large tusk,

00:30:18or tooth, that grows from the inside of their jaw.

00:30:21It has up to 10 million nerve endings.

00:30:24And they're unprotected, which means its tusk is very sensitive to any type of contact.

00:30:29It's almost like a piece of skin, because tusks usually don't have many nerve endings.

00:30:35Up to 95% of humans are right-handed, and it's the same with bottlenose dolphins.

00:30:41There are even more right-handed ones among them than among humans.

00:30:46During one study, scientists found that bottlenose dolphins turn to their left side over 99%

00:30:51of the time, which means they're right-handed.

00:30:55They place their right side and right eye closer to the ocean floor as they go for prey,

00:31:00such as squids, shrimps, or smaller fish.

00:31:04More cool facts from the ocean.

00:31:06Did you know humpback whales use bubbles when they go after their prey?

00:31:10You might think they don't need any special method, considering how large they are.

00:31:13But when they're lurking for prey in the open waters, these whales team up and use

00:31:18something called a bubble net technique.

00:31:22While swimming in an upward spiral, they blow bubbles underwater.

00:31:26These bubbles make it difficult for fish to escape.

00:31:30The oldest evidence we have of domesticated cats dates up to 12,000 years ago.

00:31:36Researchers discovered this almost 20 years ago when they were digging through an ancient

00:31:40village in Cyprus.

00:31:43They found cat bones right next to human ones, which suggested they were close even when

00:31:48their lives came to an end.

00:31:50Cats were hunters, so they domesticated dogs first.

00:31:53Some were up to 29,000 years ago.

00:31:56Dogs helped them catch other animals, but they didn't think they needed cats until

00:32:00they started to settle down and store surplus crops.

00:32:04Mice became frequent guests in grain stores, so cats came in handy in those times.

00:32:10Puffins are quite innovative when they want to scratch their bodies.

00:32:13They can surely be proud of their stunning beaks, but they obviously think it's not

00:32:17enough for scratching.

00:32:20As noticed, they tend to spontaneously take a small wooden stick to scratch an itchy spot.

00:32:27There's a special type of ant that only lives in a small part of Manhattan.

00:32:32The Broadway Medians at the 63rd and 76th Street is the area these crawling critters

00:32:37decided was the best spot for them.

00:32:39The Manhattan ant looks like it's from Europe, but no European species can actually match

00:32:45it.

00:32:46Hey Potterheads, can you believe there's a thing like chocolate frog?

00:32:50Well, not quite, but it looks like it.

00:32:53New Guinea and Australia weren't always separated.

00:32:56They spent millions of years together until about 12,000 years ago.

00:33:00Rising sea levels divided them.

00:33:02Since they were together for so long, some animals and plants still inhabit both areas,

00:33:08including green tree frogs.

00:33:10These frogs have spread really far and wide, and some of them, who live in hot, swampy

00:33:15regions, surrounded by plenty of crocodiles, actually look like they're made of chocolate.

00:33:20We all know flamingos for their specific color, but they're not actually pink.

00:33:26They're born gray, and that's how they would stay if it weren't for their diet of blue-green

00:33:30algae and shrimp.

00:33:32These foods have a specific natural dye, which is why flamingo feathers turn pink over time.

00:33:40These little Tasmanian devils grow up and leave their moms.

00:33:43They socialize together, forming bonds that last for the rest of their lives.

00:33:47Not only them, cows also have stronger social ties than we think.

00:33:51They like to socialize, and they make long-lasting friendships.

00:33:55One research even discovered their heart rates significantly increase as a sign of stress

00:34:01when they're separated from their BFFs.

00:34:04Imagine you could simply freeze yourself solid during the cold winter days instead of listening

00:34:08to your teeth chatter and trying to tighten your jacket.

00:34:11That's what frogs can do!

00:34:14Aquatic frogs mostly hibernate underwater and spend most of the winter at the bottom

00:34:18of a pond, lake, or some other body of water.

00:34:23Toads and frogs are generally cold-blooded, which means the temperature of their body

00:34:27takes on the temperature of their surroundings.

00:34:30So frogs can freeze during the winter because of a high concentration of sugar or glucose

00:34:35in their vital organs.

00:34:37Once they unfreeze, they continue as if nothing happened.

00:34:41Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood.

00:34:45They can move at speeds of 25 miles per hour, and they spray ink that not only blurs the

00:34:50predator's visual field but actually harms them.

00:34:53Also, they have nine brains, the central one and eight smaller brains located in their

00:34:58arms.

00:34:59That's why their arms can open a shellfish while the central brain is busy doing something

00:35:04else.

00:35:05An octopus even tastes with its arms.

00:35:08They have cells in their suckers that enable the arms to touch and taste in a way that

00:35:12they detect chemicals marine creatures produce.

00:35:16That way, an octopus can distinguish prey from rocks.

00:35:20Lions, dogs, cats, all these mammals sleep in pretty comfortable positions.

00:35:26But not whales.

00:35:27They look like giant floating loaves of bread, which is a scene one diver accidentally came

00:35:32across in the Caribbean Sea.

00:35:34Six whales were just standing upright with their tails pointed down at a depth of about

00:35:3965 feet below the surface.

00:35:42Scientists discovered that when sperm whales take a nap, they stay in this position for

00:35:4610-15 minutes.

00:35:48They don't move or breathe.

00:35:49But these creatures spend only 7% of their time asleep, far less than other mammals.

00:35:55Usually, they either rest peacefully in the water or relax, slowly swimming next to other

00:36:01marine animals.

00:36:02When they're moving and sleeping at the same time, they're actually taking a nap.

00:36:07These animals can't go too deep and need to stay close to the surface.

00:36:11Great white sharks sleep and hunt at greater depths, which means one less thing to worry

00:36:16about when taking a quick nap.

00:36:18Plus, it gets pretty cold the deeper you go, and whales need warmer environments that can

00:36:23help them maintain the temperature of their large bodies.

00:36:27When alone, dolphins enter a stage of deep sleep.

00:36:31It usually happens at night and lasts for only a few hours at a time.

00:36:35While sleeping, the animal floats at the surface.

00:36:38It shuts down half of its brain, I can relate, together with the opposite eye.

00:36:43The other half is at a low alert level, awake and ready to react if some unwanted visitor

00:36:49comes closer.

00:36:50The part of the brain that is awake also sends signals when it's time to go up to the surface

00:36:55to take a breath of fresh air.

00:36:58Some mammals have the blowhole – that's a flap of skin they can open and close whenever

00:37:02they want.

00:37:04People breathe automatically.

00:37:05Your body knows what it needs to do even when you're sleeping.

00:37:09But whales and dolphins have a voluntary breathing system.

00:37:12It means they need to consciously go to the surface to get some air.

00:37:17And one part of their brain needs to always be awake to inform the animal it's time

00:37:21to go up.

00:37:23Whales and dolphins can hold their breath way longer than other species.

00:37:27They also have a higher tolerance for carbon dioxide and can take in more air.

00:37:32Their red blood cells store more oxygen too.

00:37:36Whales' and dolphins' blood goes only to those body parts that really need oxygen.

00:37:41If a whale only uses its brain, heart, fins, and some other muscles needed for swimming

00:37:45at the moment, those will also be the only body parts that will get the oxygen.

00:37:51Digestion or other functions can wait.

00:37:53The ocean is not a place where you can relax and peacefully fall asleep.

00:37:58While sleeping, fish reduce their activity.

00:38:01Their metabolism becomes slow.

00:38:03Some of them keep floating in the same spot.

00:38:06Others find a safer place among corals or in the mud.

00:38:10Early in life, dolphins learn to make a unique whistle that helps others from their pod to

00:38:14identify them.

00:38:16That means these specific whistles are their names, and dolphins do respond to them.

00:38:22A blue whale's tongue is half-feet.

00:38:23It looks like a large tongue that sometimes protrudes from the shell, but that's actually

00:38:28the foot.

00:38:29And it's relatively long compared to the length of the animal.

00:38:33Clams use this limb to dig themselves in the sand.

00:38:37The blue whale is the largest living animal, and it's also larger than the majority of

00:38:41dinosaurs used to be.

00:38:43They can grow to more than 100 feet long and have a weight of almost 200 tons.

00:38:49That's like 50 adult elephants.

00:38:51A blue whale's tongue alone can weigh more than one elephant.

00:38:54Such a giant surely needs to eat a lot – half a million calories in just one mouthful.

00:39:01The blue whale's heart is the size of a small car and weighs 1,300 pounds.

00:39:06To move the blood through such a giant body, the heartbeats are so strong you can hear

00:39:11them even from 2 miles away.

00:39:14The heart of a whale beats only 8 to 10 times per minute.

00:39:17The whale is one of the loudest creatures out there.

00:39:20Its call can go up to 180 decibels, which is as loud as a jet plane.

00:39:26Almost 95% of jellyfish's body is made of water.

00:39:30For comparison, the human body is 60% water.

00:39:33It's probably not a surprise since jellyfish don't have a heart, blood, eyes, or brain.

00:39:39The other 5% of their body weight is proteins, muscles, and nerve cells.

00:39:45Jellyfish have been around for more than 500 million years.

00:39:48This makes them older than dinosaurs.

00:39:51These creatures haven't changed much, and today's jellyfish are pretty much like their

00:39:55ancestors.

00:39:57These creatures live in the ocean, but in 1991, more than 2,000 jellyfish polyps were

00:40:02taken into space.

00:40:05Scientists wanted to see how they would react in the environment with no gravity.

00:40:09The jellyfish reproduced and created 60,000 new polyps, but unfortunately, those couldn't

00:40:15function normally after getting back to Earth.

00:40:19One species of jellyfish can literally live forever.

00:40:22As it grows older, the critter goes down to the seafloor to become a polyp again, and

00:40:26that polyp turns into a new jellyfish with the same genetics.

00:40:32Greenland sharks can live 500 years.

00:40:35This is an animal with almost the longest lifespan among vertebrates.

00:40:40Sperm whales are sociable creatures.

00:40:42They spend their life surrounded by their family.

00:40:45These animals support one another and have close friends they remember well, even if

00:40:49they don't see each other for a long time.

00:40:53Electric eels have small eyes that are not so effective in environments with no light,

00:40:58so they mostly rely on their electric organs.

00:41:01Those consist of 6,000 cells.

00:41:04Eels use them to stow power, similar to batteries.

00:41:07These creatures use electricity like bats use their radars or dolphins their sonar.

00:41:13An eel can also produce enough electricity to power a panel of light bulbs.

00:41:19There's a small tropical archerfish that can learn to recognize human faces.

00:41:24This fish has an interesting ability to spit small jets of water from its mouth.

00:41:29Researchers showed the fish the image of two different faces placed side by side.

00:41:34One was unknown, and the other was familiar.

00:41:37The fish was supposed to spit water at the familiar one.

00:41:40The creature took the right guess more than 80% of the time.

00:41:45Every year in the winter, great white sharks that live along the California coastline disappear.

00:41:51It feels as if they take a vacation for 30-40 days.

00:41:54The animals go to a point halfway between Hawaii and Mexico.

00:41:58They might do it to get some food, relax, or hang out with their buddies from other

00:42:03areas.

00:42:04The spot is now called the Whale Shark Cafe.

00:42:07Some types of sharks, like makos, whale sharks, or white sharks, breathe in a very specific

00:42:13way.

00:42:14It requires them to swim all the time.

00:42:16They also need to move quickly and with their mouth open.

00:42:20This way, the oxygen can enter and reach their gills.

00:42:23Sea sponges are some of the most primitive animals.

00:42:26They're immobile, don't have a mouth, eyes, bones, brain, heart, lungs, or any other

00:42:32organ whatsoever.

00:42:33And still, they're alive!

00:42:36There's such a thing as a sea unicorn.

00:42:38That's an animal called the narwhal.

00:42:41Its horn is actually a tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long.

00:42:45Manatees, also known as sea cows, are distant relatives of elephants.

00:42:50Their weight can go up to 1,000 pounds.

00:42:53These creatures are vegetarian and need to eat around 10% of their total weight on a

00:42:57daily basis.

00:42:59That's lots of sea salad!

00:43:01In some cases, manatees share space with alligators.

00:43:05But they get along pretty well.

00:43:07You can even find a photo from Florida where an alligator rides a manatee's back.

00:43:12Frogfish have special fins that help these creatures walk along the sand.

00:43:17They're very useful in shallow waters.

00:43:20A ghost pipefish is hard to see, but once you spot it, you're bound to get really

00:43:25surprised.

00:43:27Its head makes up over 40% of its body.

00:43:31Iguanas don't feel like wasting time on such formalities as putting foods in their

00:43:35mouth.

00:43:36That's why they taste it with their feet, which is where their taste buds are.

00:43:41Marine iguanas are the only lizards on our planet that like spending time in the ocean,

00:43:45even though they mainly live on land.

00:43:48They're herbivores that feed in shallow waters and swim like snakes.

00:43:52Iguanas use their long claws to hold on to the bottom when they need to graze.

00:43:57Penguin turtles can cross over 1,400 miles when migrating.

00:44:01They try to find the perfect spot to lay their eggs.

00:44:05Penguins sort of fly when they're underwater, reaching a speed of 25 mph.

00:44:11More than 5 million years ago, I've heard, I wasn't around then, deep-sea worms and

00:44:16humans had a common ancestor.

00:44:19So we still share 70% of our genes with these creatures, and with sea stars, squid, and

00:44:26octopuses.

00:44:27The ocean covers over 70% of our planet, and over 80% of it is unexplored.

00:44:33More than 1 million species live there.

00:44:36But there are not only animals – 3 million shipwrecks are lying all over the ocean floor,

00:44:42hiding mysterious stories.

00:44:44Many of them are yet to be discovered.

00:44:49Well, meet the tiny terrors of our world – fire ants.

00:44:55When they sting, they inject venom that can cause serious trouble.

00:44:59For most people, it's just a fiery sensation in raised bumps.

00:45:03But for others, especially those who are allergic to it, it's life-threatening.

00:45:08These ants set up their camps right under your feet.

00:45:11They're quick to swarm and are fiercely protective of their colonies.

00:45:14They show no mercy to intruders.

00:45:17Their stings are rated about 1.2 on the Schmidt Insect Sting Index, where 4 is the maximum.

00:45:25It feels like a sudden jewel, but the sensations are less burning than when a bee stings you.

00:45:30They originated in tropical regions like Central and South America, but now you can find them

00:45:36even in some temperate zones like North America.

00:45:40In their colonies, fire ants have a strict hierarchy of queen, winged males and females,

00:45:46and different types of workers.

00:45:48They communicate through chemicals and sounds.

00:45:51The most famous member of this genus is the red imported fire ant.

00:45:55They've come from South America and invaded the southern U.S.

00:45:59They build large mounds, making farming difficult and damaging crops.

00:46:04It's almost impossible to control them.

00:46:06And on top of that, there's now the rise of another invasive species – the tawny

00:46:11crazy ant.

00:46:12This one poses a threat to native ecosystems.

00:46:15Turns out ants can be dangerously unfriendly.

00:46:20Natural blister beetles are among the 10 most dangerous insects in the world.

00:46:24Luckily, they're not lethal to humans unless they go for you in a big pack.

00:46:29However, they pose a serious threat to large animals such as horses.

00:46:34Blister beetles produce a toxin called cantharidin, which causes skin blistering in humans.

00:46:40In the past, people believed it could treat warts and even rabies, and some even used

00:46:44it in love potions.

00:46:46However, it's a risky game.

00:46:48In the 1950s, a man was jailed for giving cantharidin-laced candies to two women, resulting

00:46:54in a tragic outcome.

00:46:56These beetles are not to be messed with.

00:46:59Handling them or ingesting them is very dangerous.

00:47:01They're attracted to alfalfa and hay.

00:47:04If a horse eats either of those, even a few beetles can release enough cantharidin to

00:47:09end it.

00:47:12This cute caterpillar from South America is called Linomia obliqua, and it's the most

00:47:17dangerous caterpillar on Earth.

00:47:19It's responsible for several fatalities due to its potent venom.

00:47:23It's the larval stage of the giant silkworm moth.

00:47:27When it grows up, it becomes a beautiful and harmless silkworm.

00:47:31But if you see them as youngsters, it's better to stay away.

00:47:35Its toxicity stems from venom-injecting bristles.

00:47:38They serve as a defense mechanism against predators.

00:47:41The poison messes up how your blood clots and can cause really bad symptoms like burning

00:47:46feelings, throwing up, kidney problems, and sometimes even lethal outcomes.

00:47:52A single bite probably won't lead to anything horrifying.

00:47:55It delivers only a tiny amount of venom.

00:47:57But these caterpillars tend to congregate, and they're quite good at camouflage.

00:48:02This increases the risk of multiple stings.

00:48:07Locusts themselves aren't dangerous to humans.

00:48:10They're ordinary, loud grasshoppers.

00:48:13But they're infamous for their swarming behavior.

00:48:15These swarms often happen when there's a dry period with no rain.

00:48:19And then suddenly, a lot of rain falls, and plants start growing fast.

00:48:24Once it begins, it's nearly impossible to stop.

00:48:27They can become a destructive force within minutes.

00:48:30Throughout history, locust plagues have been devastating, wreaking havoc on crops and farmland.

00:48:36What's interesting is that the term locust can mean different things depending on where

00:48:40you're from.

00:48:41In some places, we're talking about cicadas, which are also known for their loud sounds.

00:48:47But true locusts are ancient creatures, relatively unchanged since the Triassic era.

00:48:52They're among the oldest insects on Earth.

00:48:55Wasps, hornets, and even bees can be extremely dangerous, especially to those allergic to

00:49:02their stings.

00:49:03The Asian giant hornet is the largest of the wasps.

00:49:06It can reach up to 2 inches in size.

00:49:09It packs a powerful venom that can cause serious discomfort and even spray into people's

00:49:14eyes.

00:49:15There's an even more venomous species in the Philippines called Vespa Luctuosa, not

00:49:20to be confused with Expecto Patronum.

00:49:22Any Harry Potter fans?

00:49:24Anyway, fatalities because of wasps or bees are rare but not unheard of.

00:49:30In the UK, about 10 people pass away each year from bee or wasp sting reactions.

00:49:36Always stay cautious.

00:49:37All these insects are very territorial and will fiercely defend their hives.

00:49:42When provoked, they signal danger to nearby bees and instigate a mass defense effort.

00:49:48If you need to handle them, it's best to call professionals.

00:49:54A flea is tiny and humble, but it left a colossal impact on human history and health.

00:49:59They're not just annoying pests, they're notorious carriers of various human conditions,

00:50:05and are responsible for some of the worst outbreaks in history.

00:50:09Back in the 14th century, the bubonic plague wiped out over 25 million people in Europe,

00:50:17and fleas were a big part of spreading it.

00:50:20Fleas spend their lives searching for warm-blooded hosts to feed on, whether it's reptiles,

00:50:25mammals, pets, or humans.

00:50:27Despite their tiny size and absence of wings, they make up for it with impressive jumping

00:50:32abilities.

00:50:33They can leap 6 feet and jump over 1,200 feet in the air.

00:50:38A flea bite might seem like a minor annoyance, causing itching and inflammation.

00:50:43But a lot of them can lead to anemia in their hosts.

00:50:46Of course, the most dangerous part about them is the viruses, bacteria, and worms they transmit.

00:50:53Kissing bugs mostly live in both Americas, with smaller populations in Africa and Asia.

00:50:59Despite the friendly name, they're great at passing on bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

00:51:05One of the parasites they carry is trypanosoma cruzi.

00:51:09It's the culprit behind illnesses that affect millions globally and claim thousands of lives

00:51:14each year.

00:51:15What's interesting is that symptoms don't often appear until 10 or 30 years after being

00:51:20bitten.

00:51:21They typically manifest as heart failure, digestive issues, or nervous system problems.

00:51:26They don't actually kiss you.

00:51:28They suck on you and are attracted to their prey by breath.

00:51:32If you breathe through your mouth, you're a target.

00:51:34They're messy biters, often biting chaotically and almost uncontrollably, which only adds

00:51:40to their unsettling nature.

00:51:45Many have heard of the tsetse fly, an unusual and scary insect from tropical Africa.

00:51:50These flies are carriers of one of the most devastating human diseases, sleeping sickness.

00:51:56Similar to the kissing bug, the tsetse fly transmits trypanosomes, the parasites that

00:52:01cause sleeping sickness.

00:52:03They acquire this parasite from an infected host or from within the fly's own body.

00:52:08Sleeping sickness doesn't strike immediately.

00:52:10After a bite, it takes 1-3 weeks for symptoms to appear.

00:52:14Fever, headaches, joint pains, and itchiness.

00:52:18As the illness progresses, it can invade the nervous system, leading to confusion, insomnia,

00:52:23and loss of balance.

00:52:25Without treatment, it can result in a coma and then a fatal outcome.

00:52:29Luckily, sleeping sickness can be treated, and the number of losses is declining.

00:52:35The tsetse fly holds historical significance too.

00:52:38Its presence has hindered European colonial expansion in Africa.

00:52:44And the crown of the most dangerous insect in the world goes to the mosquito.

00:52:50It's no surprise why.

00:52:51Despite their small size, they wield a massive impact.

00:52:55They're not only responsible for more human losses annually than any other animal, but

00:53:00they've also left an indelible mark on history.

00:53:03These little insects influence the rise and fall of entire civilizations.

00:53:07For example, malaria significantly weakened ancient civilizations such as in Rome and

00:53:13Greece.

00:53:14What's interesting is that it's not just the mosquitoes themselves that are dangerous,

00:53:18but the parasites.

00:53:20Bacteria and viruses carry and transmit through their bites.

00:53:24These tiny horrors spread a buffet of diseases.

00:53:27Despite malaria, there's also yellow fever, which, just like with the tsetse fly, hindered

00:53:32European colonization efforts in tropical regions.

00:53:36The scariest one of them is the Anopheles mosquito.

00:53:38It's the apex predator of the insect world.

00:53:42It's responsible for more fatal outcomes and illnesses than any other insect.

00:53:47So how do we combat these tiny yet mighty foes?

00:53:51With prevention.

00:53:52We need to eliminate standing water in our surroundings and practice mosquito control

00:53:57measures.

00:53:58We must always stay one step ahead to protect ourselves and our communities from dangerous

00:54:03insects.

00:54:11So Megalodon was one of the biggest and most ferocious monsters on our planet.

00:54:16Powerful jaws, razor-sharp teeth, gigantic size.

00:54:20But what do you know about how it sounded?

00:54:23Imagine how loudly it growled, permeating the underwater world with sound vibrations.

00:54:28This sound resembled... nothing.

00:54:31Megalodon didn't have a voice.

00:54:32It was a shark, and sharks don't have sound-producing organs.

00:54:36It was a quiet danger.

00:54:38But despite its muteness, yes, that is a word, you could have still heard it.

00:54:44Come with me.

00:54:45Now you're underwater, clenching your fist, raising your hand, and quickly bringing it

00:54:49down.

00:54:51Now imagine that you have a big submarine instead of a fist, and hear the water flowing

00:54:55around the smooth surface of the hull.

00:54:58That's what a Megalodon sounded like.

00:55:00When this monster was swimming out to the surface and opening its jaws, it sounded like

00:55:04a waterfall.

00:55:06The giant shark swam at high speed.

00:55:08When the water was passing through its mouth and gills, it sounded like a flowing river,

00:55:13a fast, powerful river.

00:55:15Megalodon had no voice, only the scary sound of flowing water.

00:55:20Other ancient fish could make sounds, but you would hardly hear them.

00:55:23Whales, dolphins, and their distant ancestors are not counted because they're mammals.

00:55:29Fish communicated at frequencies elusive to human ears.

00:55:33They still have this ability.

00:55:35But in most, the ocean was and is a pretty quiet place.

00:55:39So let's get out on ancient lands and check what was going on with the sounds there.

00:55:44Thanks to modern technologies, scientists can analyze the sounds of many ancient animals.

00:55:50Using CT scans, they found that some dinosaurs had complex systems of small, open pockets

00:55:55in their skulls.

00:55:56They used these winding cranial mazes to reproduce a wide range of sounds and regulate body temperature.

00:56:04And people have managed to hear them.

00:56:06An ancient bird that lived 79 to 140 million years ago, Vegasus, sounded similar to some

00:56:13farm birds like duck and geese.

00:56:16But the ancient creature probably screamed in a scarier way.

00:56:20Scientists found this out thanks to the syrinx fossil they discovered in 2016 in Antarctica.

00:56:25It's the oldest known vocal organ in the world.

00:56:28It helped Vegasus make a double humming sound coming from the left and right sides of the

00:56:33syrinx.

00:56:34Imagine a duck and goose screaming, increase the volume several times.

00:56:39Perhaps that's what its distant ancestors sounded like.

00:56:42As for other flying reptiles like the pterodactyl, it couldn't scream like Vegasus because it

00:56:48didn't have a syrinx.

00:56:50These winged monsters could growl, hiss, and snap their beaks, and this was their most

00:56:54effective sound.

00:56:56Remember any tall basketball player.

00:56:58The skull of the pterodactyl was slightly longer than their height.

00:57:02Just imagine what a noise the dinosaur created when it was snapping its powerful beak.

00:57:07The clicking sound could deafen and frighten other ancient creatures nearby.

00:57:11Now, you probably know what a Tyrannosaurus sounds like, thanks to the movies.

00:57:17Among thousands of others, you'll recognize this prolonged roar similar to a chainsaw,

00:57:22vacuum cleaner, and horn.

00:57:24And honestly, its roar has a lot in common with the natural sounds that this monster

00:57:29could make.

00:57:30Thanks to modern technologies and well-preserved remains, scientists managed to simulate the

00:57:35voice of these ancient animals.

00:57:38Imagine you're uploading data about a T-Rex into a program and preparing to hear an intimidating

00:57:43roar.

00:57:44You press play, and… it sounds like a beep.

00:57:48Tyrannosaurus Rex's scream was similar to birds, not mammals.

00:57:52But it wasn't just a beep.

00:57:54It used nostrils to scream, not a mouth.

00:57:57The hum came from the chest and resembled a siren with low bass.

00:58:01Maybe it sounded a lot more intimidating than what we saw in the movies.

00:58:05It was louder than all the trumpets of the symphony orchestra, and it did it only with

00:58:09the help of its nose.

00:58:11It's not known for sure whether it could growl through the mouth.

00:58:15You could also hear how long-necked dinosaurs sounded in the movies.

00:58:19Their calls were similar to those of elephants, something between a saxophone and a car horn.

00:58:25But in fact, these tall creatures whispered.

00:58:29Almost all mammals make sounds thanks to the laryngeal nerve.

00:58:33This nerve runs down along the neck, then goes around the blood vessels of the chest,

00:58:38and comes back to the larynx.

00:58:39In short, the brain gives a signal, and it passes twice the distance along the body before

00:58:45the sound is released from the mouth.

00:58:47And now, remember those long necks of dinosaurs?

00:58:51This was the height of a 5-story building.

00:58:53But the voice signal had to run a distance of 10 floors.

00:58:57It took too long to make this long trip, and this affected the dinosaurs' roar.

00:59:01So when they wanted to make a sound, they just hissed.

00:59:06It was probably similar to the sound of a giant viper.

00:59:10But the most detailed sounds scientists have managed to get belongs to the Parasaurolophus.

00:59:16You know this herbivorous dinosaur thanks to the long crest on the back of its head.

00:59:21We saw the dinosaur using it in movies and documentaries to fight opponents and enemies.

00:59:26Some scientists believed it also used the comb to drop fruits and leaves from trees.

00:59:31Others thought the dinosaur used it to improve its sense of smell.

00:59:35It turned out that, in addition to self-defense and fighting, they used the comb to make loud

00:59:40and scary sounds in different keys.

00:59:44Scientists replicated this with fantastic accuracy, thanks to the structure of its hard

00:59:48tissues.

00:59:49Almost all living beings with a voice use soft organs to make sounds.

00:59:54And these soft tissues decompose quickly.

00:59:57Parasaurolophus had solid ones.

00:59:59They noticed tubes leading from the nostrils to the crest and back to the nostrils when

01:00:04they found the skull.

01:00:05It was like a crumhorn, a curved musical wind instrument.

01:00:10This proved the dinosaur used the crest on the back of its head to make the sounds louder.

01:00:14The comb allowed it to trumpet so its relatives could hear it in the forest.

01:00:19They made humming sounds with low and high notes.

01:00:22Mix a saxophone and trumpet with a goose hum, car horns, and low frequencies, then increase

01:00:28the volume several times.

01:00:30That's what Parasaurolophus sounded like.

01:00:33That's also what my 4th grade band sounded like, but I digress.

01:00:37You can listen to different shades and timbres of this dinosaur on the Internet.

01:00:41It used noises with different tones to create complex social connections.

01:00:46They could communicate, identify each other, trumpet danger, or conversely, signal their

01:00:51friendly intentions.

01:00:52All right, we've just heard how some ancient reptiles sounded.

01:00:56But what about ancient insects?

01:00:58They didn't have vocal cords, of course.

01:01:01Instead, they used friction between body parts.

01:01:04Look at modern crickets chirping with their wings.

01:01:07One wing has tiny notches.

01:01:09The second has the shape of a mediator.

01:01:11Take a simple plastic comb and run your fingertip over its teeth.

01:01:16Crickets make their sounds by the same principle.

01:01:18Their wings vibrate and release a series of sound waves into the air.

01:01:22But the clicking of an ancient bush cricket was very different from modern insects since

01:01:27they were much noisier.

01:01:29The sounds of these clicks were like a whistle.

01:01:32With the help of high-frequency waves, they could also communicate secretly as if they

01:01:36were doing it through a closed radio channel.

01:01:39If you heard this, you would hardly be able to fall asleep to it.

01:01:43Now, modern crickets are not so loud, as they began to add more high frequencies to their

01:01:48sounds.

01:01:49Higher pitch waves don't spread as far, reducing the risk that a bat will hear the

01:01:53insects.

01:01:55Just imagine how the jungle of that time sounded.

01:01:58The loud chirping of crickets hurts the ears.

01:02:01Then you hear a Brachiosaurus hissing.

01:02:04The clicks of pterodactyls shake the sky like thunderclaps.

01:02:08Then you hear the trumpet sounds of different tones somewhere in the jungle.

01:02:13These are Parasaurolophus communicating with each other.

01:02:16And then you get scared by a loud Tyrannosaurus siren.

01:02:20What a racket!

01:02:21You'd probably not find peace in such conditions.

01:02:24Fortunately, humans appeared millions of years later.

01:02:28And by the way, scientists have managed to find out and understand what our distant ancestors

01:02:33sounded like.

01:02:34They carefully examined the insert function of the mouth, nose, and throat on the Neanderthal

01:02:39skeleton.

01:02:41Their voices were similar to ours, but the phonetic range of an adult Neanderthal was

01:02:45the same as if they were 2 to 3 years old.

01:02:48It was like mumbling without consonant sounds.

01:02:51The study of the skull couldn't recreate precisely the sound of Neanderthals.

01:02:56But in 2007, scientists extracted DNA samples from their bones.

01:03:01They found a variation of the gene that responds to human speech.

01:03:05Scientists believe that Neanderthals fought with Homo sapiens, you know, our family tree.

01:03:11As a result of this conflict, their kind became extinct.

01:03:14But the found gene points they could have had other connections with each other.

01:03:19Perhaps Neanderthals could understand their language and even pronounce some words.

01:03:25You decided to go scuba diving for the first time.

01:03:28The water is clear and the sun is shining on the seabed.

01:03:33You take a few selfies and a fish swimming by when suddenly, the ocean goes pitch black.

01:03:40You look up and…

01:03:41Oh my, what is that gigantic animal?

01:03:45It's definitely not a shark, not a whale.

01:03:49Is it… a turtle?

01:03:51Yup, but fear not, it's not gonna hurt you.

01:03:55If you had lived on this same earth about 72 million years ago, then maybe this could

01:04:00have really happened to you.

01:04:04Scientists have recently found the fossils of a gigantic marine turtle that could have

01:04:08grown as big as 12 feet.

01:04:12If you don't have any idea of how big that is, let's see some examples.

01:04:16That's the average length of a hippopotamus.

01:04:20Six golden retrievers, or two Michael Jordans, stacked on top of each other.

01:04:26The turtle's scientific name is an homage to that old school sea monster called Leviathan.

01:04:32Maybe you remember this from old school history lessons.

01:04:36The Leviathan is supposedly a mythical creature that would swallow entire ships or people

01:04:42that were deemed too greedy by the creature.

01:04:46Can you imagine being swallowed by this humongous sea turtle?

01:04:51No thank you!

01:04:54The fossils of this gigantic creature began to be excavated between 2016 and 2021, all

01:05:00the way in northeastern Spain.

01:05:03The first fossil was located by a hiker in the Spanish Pyrenees, and it was around 8

01:05:08inches long.

01:05:09The pelvis of this turtle alone measured around 35 inches.

01:05:15It would definitely be one of the biggest turtles today if it hadn't gone extinct.

01:05:20FYI, the largest living sea turtles today can reach up to 6 feet in length, which is

01:05:27already pretty big!

01:05:30Now, how about a gigantic prehistoric scorpion?

01:05:36I bet most people here are not huge fans of these creatures, especially since they're

01:05:41poisonous.

01:05:42That's why the thought of a 9 foot long aquatic scorpion might be the stuff of nightmares!

01:05:48Let's just say that if they hadn't gone extinct some 400 million years ago, lakes and rivers

01:05:53would be much more dangerous places for humans today.

01:05:58These gigantic insects were considered to be apex predators in their time, hunting everything

01:06:03from fish to other animals, even of their own kind!

01:06:07Yikes, I got goosebumps just imagining these creatures!

01:06:12Should we thank the asteroid that hit our planet now or later on in this video?

01:06:18Another prehistoric animal that would shock humans if it were still alive is the so-called

01:06:22Megatherium, a gigantic sloth.

01:06:26This huge sloth is believed to have grown up to 20 feet long, and its weight could be

01:06:32up to 8,000 pounds!

01:06:35It was found in the woodlands and grasslands of South America.

01:06:39The creature used to stand on its two feet in order to reach leaves on high branches.

01:06:45These giant sloths had huge claws.

01:06:48They helped them climb trees.

01:06:50I gotta say, I feel uncomfortable imagining these elephant-sized sloths climbing trees.

01:06:56Oh, of course!

01:06:59Some dinosaurs will make our super-sized creatures list, but before that, here's a fun fact!

01:07:04Did you know some dinosaurs are still alive today?

01:07:09Experts have proven that birds are classified as theropod dinosaurs.

01:07:14Such infamous creatures as the T-Rex and Velociraptor belonged to this group.

01:07:20I'm sure you've heard these names even before you watched Jurassic Park.

01:07:24The Velociraptor is that scary dino that breaks into the kitchen.

01:07:28Well, they evolved, gained some feathers, and turned into various species of birds we

01:07:33know today.

01:07:35That means that any bird from chickens to those little blue ones is a direct descendant

01:07:40of dinosaurs.

01:07:43Now, does the name Spinosaurus ring a bell?

01:07:48You can see this huge dinosaur in some museums today.

01:07:52It's fossils, I mean.

01:07:54The Spinosaurus was one of the biggest land predators to walk Earth.

01:07:58Actually, to walk its land and water.

01:08:02Even scientists believe that this dino was semi-aquatic.

01:08:07It fed mostly on meat, which means humans would be its natural prey if it lived today.

01:08:14This meat-eating dino lived around 90 to 100 million years ago.

01:08:18It was about 60 feet long, 12 feet high, and weighed up to 22 tons.

01:08:25Its head was around the size of 8 bowling balls and was shaped like a crocodile's face.

01:08:31Basically, the Spinosaurus was a big African elephant with the face of a crocodile.

01:08:38Just kidding.

01:08:39But that would look funny though, wouldn't it?

01:08:42A much more attractive dino was this guy.

01:08:45It's considered to be the largest dinosaur that has ever lived on our planet.

01:08:50What made it so big was its extremely long neck and very long tail.

01:08:56You wouldn't want to stand behind this creature, believe me, if it decided to swish

01:09:00its tail, you'd get catapulted very far away.

01:09:04This creature lived around 100 million years ago and its fossils were first found in Argentina

01:09:10around 2012.

01:09:12The dino measured 120 feet from head to tail, which made it almost as big as an American

01:09:18football field in width.

01:09:22And have I mentioned it weighed almost as much as a space shuttle?

01:09:25A staggering 75 tons!

01:09:29If it had been a carnivore, it would have probably been the greatest predator.

01:09:33But this big guy was a peaceful herbivore that had such a long neck that it could eat

01:09:37leaves from high trees.

01:09:39Cute, right?

01:09:42We must also talk about the Shastasaurus.

01:09:46As the name suggests, this animal is popularly known as the Mount Shasta Lizard, even though

01:09:52it was a marine reptile and probably never set foot on the mountain itself.

01:09:58This dino was usually around 23 feet long, but there was a specific strand of this species

01:10:03that could get as big as 69 feet long, about the size of the Great Blue Whale.

01:10:11This made it the biggest marine reptile to have ever lived.

01:10:15A fun fact about the Shastasaurus is that scientists believe it didn't even have teeth,

01:10:21which means it could only feed on soft-bodied prey such as squid, for example.

01:10:28The next animal on our list is the Blue Whale.

01:10:32Believe it or not, the biggest living animal on Earth actually started small.

01:10:37These days, the average mature Blue Whale can reach up to 100 feet in length and weigh

01:10:43up to 200 tons.

01:10:45That's more or less the weight of 40 elephants put together, or 30 Tyrannosaurus rexes, or

01:10:512,670 average-sized people.

01:10:56Blue Whales have to eat up to 50 million calories per day to support that body.

01:11:02That's the equivalent of 30,000 Big Macs, just FYI.

01:11:09But Blue Whales weren't always this big.

01:11:12They actually evolved from a four-legged mammal that lived on Earth around 48 million

01:11:17years ago.

01:11:19Their ancestor was called Pakicetus, and it was only 6 feet long.

01:11:23Here's a fun fact.

01:11:25To be able to live in the water as one does today, the Blue Whale had to go through some

01:11:30intense adaptations.

01:11:32A Blue Whale can replace up to 80-90% of oxygen in its lungs each time it takes a breath.

01:11:40A human replaces only up to 15% for comparison.

01:11:44It allows these animals to dive for up to one hour at a time, down to a staggering depth

01:11:50of 330 feet.

01:11:54Elephants were bound to make the list.

01:11:56Elephants are currently the largest land animals on Earth.

01:11:59They can grow to be about 13 feet tall and weigh up to 7 tons.

01:12:04That's pretty small if we compare it to the other animals that once lived on Earth, right?

01:12:09If we placed a 6-foot-tall human next to an elephant, we'll see it's not at all that

01:12:15small.

01:12:17African Elephants are bigger than their close relatives, Asian Elephants, and they have

01:12:21a similar lifespan to humans, up to 70 years.

01:12:27Pokemon might have made us collectively wish that Salamanders were real-life dragons, although

01:12:32they're not.

01:12:34They can still be pretty cool, though.

01:12:37There's a giant species of salamander that is known to be the largest living amphibian.

01:12:43They can grow to be as long as a regular-sized human, reaching up to 6 feet.

01:12:48I bet that wouldn't be a pleasant underwater encounter!

01:12:52I have news for you!

01:12:57Rats are ticklish.

01:12:58Well, I thought it was news.

01:13:00Anyway, they have a so-called laugh center in their mid-brain, and it activates when

01:13:05someone tickles the animals or when they engage in some fun and playful activities.

01:13:10Scientists discovered this in 2016 after tickling the rodents on their bellies and listening

01:13:15to their squeaky giggles.

01:13:17Hummingbirds are the only birds we know about that can fly backward.

01:13:22They mostly do it when they want to move away from flowers.

01:13:25And here's an animal that can't go backward, a kangaroo.

01:13:28They can hop around and cross great distances, but the structure of their strong rear feet

01:13:33and big tails prevent them from walking backwards.

01:13:40Narwhals are those weird creatures that look like some sort of sea unicorns.

01:13:45That horn on their head is not a tusk.

01:13:47It's a giant tooth that sticks out through the upper lip of male narwhals.

01:13:52This tooth is probably one of the tools that plays a role in attracting ladies.

01:13:59Flamingos are not actually pink.

01:14:01They're born gray, but throughout their life, they eat lots of algae and other foods that

01:14:06contain a red-orange pigment we know as beta-carotene, like in carrots.

01:14:11This pigment gets broken down and ends up in their skin and feathers, which is what

01:14:15makes them pink.

01:14:16They need to eat a lot of such food to stay like that, though.

01:14:20If we humans wanted to change our skin color, we wouldn't be able to eat enough food rich

01:14:24in beta-carotene to really turn pink, or in our case, maybe even orange.

01:14:33Sloths are really slow.

01:14:35All the jokes and memes about them are true, but they're also very skilled swimmers, and

01:14:40they move in the water around 3-4 times quicker than on land.

01:14:44They can do breaststroke just like people, and it's an important skill for them to have

01:14:49because they're tropical animals that mostly live in jungles, and those areas are often

01:14:54flooded.

01:14:55Tigers are the biggest members of the feline family, yep, even bigger than lions.

01:15:00And no tiger has the same set of stripes.

01:15:03Their coat is actually a camouflage that comes in handy when they need to find a good spot

01:15:08where their prey won't see them.

01:15:10Interestingly, their skin is striped too, not just the coat.

01:15:14Their stripes are as unique as our fingerprints.

01:15:19Even though they look kind of funny and innocent, you wouldn't want to bother a platypus.

01:15:24These wild animals are some of the few mammal species that can poison you.

01:15:29They have spurs on the tips of their back feet that can release venom.

01:15:32It's not potent enough to pose a life threat, but the stain can still be very painful and

01:15:38can cause swelling and other issues.

01:15:41When a ladybug needs to defend itself against potential predators, it starts bleeding from

01:15:46its knees.

01:15:47Now, it's not actual blood coming out of its joints.

01:15:50It's a certain chemical that smells bad and, therefore, repels predators.

01:15:55They have another mechanism that helps them survive in the harsh animal kingdom – their

01:15:59specific color.

01:16:01Predators really don't like the combinations of bright colors, such as red, orange, and

01:16:05black, because they know that creatures colored this way can taste awful.

01:16:13Owls can get extremely noisy in the morning, but they don't go deaf because they don't

01:16:17even hear how loud their crowing can be.

01:16:20What keeps them safe is special built-in noise protection plugs.

01:16:24Hens have the same system that reduces the risk of hearing loss too.

01:16:28Not only do they have this protection, but they can also regrow cochlear hair ears if

01:16:33they get damaged in only a couple of days.

01:16:37Owls don't have eyeballs.

01:16:39They have something that's more like eye tubes.

01:16:42And they can't move them back and forth like we do with our eyeballs.

01:16:45Which is why these birds have incredibly flexible necks.

01:16:48They're able to rotate their heads 270 degrees.

01:16:52For comparison, humans can only manage 180.

01:16:55That's why owls have a specific system of blood vessels in their heads.

01:17:00It delivers fresh blood to the brain if the bird turns its head too quickly and cuts off

01:17:05circulation.

01:17:09You may remember how Dory the Blue Tang sang this in Finding Nemo.

01:17:14Dory wasn't a shark, but that's a message some shark species need to take literally.

01:17:20Mako sharks, great whites, whale sharks, and some other kinds need to keep swimming.

01:17:25Otherwise, they'll stop breathing.

01:17:28We use our lungs for breathing, and some sharks use a method called buccal pumping.

01:17:33This means they swim with their mouths open.

01:17:35That way, they allow water to flow through their gills and thus extract oxygen.

01:17:43The most dangerous animal on our planet isn't a bear, a shark, or some toothy tiger.

01:17:48It's something way smaller – the mosquito.

01:17:51Not only is it extremely irritating, but it also transfers serious diseases such as yellow

01:17:57fever, malaria, or dengue fever.

01:18:00Annually, hundreds of thousands of people don't survive the battle with those diseases.

01:18:05Mosquitoes also outnumber every other creature across the globe apart from termites and ants.

01:18:13Grizzly bears are incredibly strong animals with a bite powerful enough to crush a bowling

01:18:18ball.

01:18:19That's why you won't see them allowed in bowling alleys.

01:18:22Despite that, they're mostly light eaters.

01:18:24They're strong enough to make a meal out of whatever they come across, including a

01:18:28bison, moose, or elk.

01:18:31But they still like to munch on their fruits, nuts, berries, and even a small unfortunate

01:18:36mouse that gets lost and ends up in the predator's mouth.

01:18:41The Inland Taipan is the most venomous snake on the planet.

01:18:45We know it as the Western Taipan.

01:18:47It lives in Australia.

01:18:48Just one bite has enough venom to turn out fatal for at least 100 fully grown humans.

01:18:54And it can also do the job within only half an hour if you don't have anything to treat

01:18:58the bite right away.

01:19:00They say these snakes are mostly shy, and they mind their own business.

01:19:04But like other animals, they will attack if they feel threatened or provoked.

01:19:11There's a kind of turtle that can stay alive for months under the ice by breathing through

01:19:15its behind.

01:19:17When it gets colder, some animals can't find safe places to stay, so they must survive

01:19:22harsh winter conditions wherever they are.

01:19:25And while bees get cozy in their nests, and bears sleep in caves, painted turtles stay

01:19:30in their ponds that freeze over.

01:19:32Since the ice limits their access to air, they extract oxygen directly from the water

01:19:38and breathe through their behinds.

01:19:39Yes, that would be handy.

01:19:42It's well-known that ravens are incredibly intelligent animals.

01:19:46They're excellent at solving problems.

01:19:48But it seems they also have impressive social intelligence.

01:19:52They're very in tune with their feelings as well as the emotions of their mates.

01:19:56If one raven in the group feels pessimistic, it's likely to bring the others down too.

01:20:01A real buzzkill.

01:20:03When they see a bird that doesn't like certain food and expresses it in a very vivid way,

01:20:08they lose interest in their own food as well.

01:20:13The pistol shrimp is one of the loudest animals in the world, even though it's tiny, only

01:20:18about 3 quarters of an inch long.

01:20:21When it senses food, it opens its large claw that can grow as long as half its body length

01:20:26and lets him water it.

01:20:28Then it snaps the claw shut extremely fast, which shoots out a very strong jet of bubbles.

01:20:33These bubbles can stun or even finish the prey the shrimp is trying to catch.

01:20:38And when the bubbles pop, it produces a snapping sound, louder than anyone would expect.

01:20:44Crocodiles are even scarier than we thought, because many of them can gallop like horses.

01:20:50They probably inherited this ability from their ancient ancestors, who were as small

01:20:54as cats, had long legs, and could run at speeds of about 11 miles per hour.

01:21:00Smaller crocodiles probably gallop when something's after them, but caimans and alligators obviously

01:21:05don't need to use this skill.

01:21:07It's you who's more likely to gallop away when you see them.

01:21:12Okay, let's face it, we humans are pretty ordinary.

01:21:22I mean, we're no superheroes with superpowers, right?

01:21:25What, you didn't get the memo?

01:21:27But the animal world has a bunch of superheroes.

01:21:30Some creatures live forever, and those who seem to not care about the laws of gravity,

01:21:35critters that are immune to venom, and those that can run on water.

01:21:39But some of them will send shivers down your spine.

01:21:42So the first superpower on the list is the ability to live without water.

01:21:47Kangaroo rats can get by without water for years.

01:21:50They actually don't mind living without any water.

01:21:53Humans, on the other hand, can only survive 3 days without water.

01:21:58Humans 0, kangaroo rats 1.

01:22:00These little buddies live in extremely arid desert areas, and have to get water from the

01:22:05seeds and plants they eat.

01:22:06And although it may sound a bit disturbing, kangaroo rats also know how to extract water

01:22:12from their urine before they set off on a bathroom trip.

01:22:16This way, they don't waste a single drop of precious moisture.

01:22:20Well, that would come in handy at sporting events.

01:22:23Now let me introduce you to the Peter Parker of the animal world.

01:22:27Yep, seems like Spider-Man is real, but not human.

01:22:31Meet a gecko lizard, or simply gecko.

01:22:34This critter has a marvelous ability to climb up all kinds of vertical surfaces and can

01:22:39even go for a walk on the ceiling.

01:22:41This gravity-defying feat is possible thanks to the lizard's unique foot pads covered

01:22:46with tiny hairs.

01:22:48They can cling to almost any kind of surface, no matter whether it's smooth, hard, rough,

01:22:53or soft.

01:22:54One more fun fact about these guys is that they lack eyelids.

01:22:58So they always keep an eye wide open for what's going on around them.

01:23:03If you wonder how they keep their eyes protected, here's the answer.

01:23:06Their eyes are covered with a transparent membrane, the cornea.

01:23:10Sure thing they can't close their eyes, and if they have something in their eye, they

01:23:14simply lick it off.

01:23:16Right, they clean their eyeballs by licking them.

01:23:19I guess that's another superpower.

01:23:22Any supersonic superpowers here?

01:23:25Sure.

01:23:26A 1-inch long subtropical shrimp disorients its prey with a sonic boom.

01:23:32Despite its modest size, the pistil shrimp is one of the loudest marine animals.

01:23:37When the shrimp snaps its claws, it creates a sound as loud as a sonic boom.

01:23:42Naturally, this sound stuns the prey, and the shrimp can catch it without too much effort.

01:23:49In the comic world, there's Venom.

01:23:51In the animal world, there's a guy that can be called Anti-Venom.

01:23:55Opossums are known for their handy trick of pretending to have passed away when a predator

01:24:00attacks them.

01:24:01But that's not the end of the story.

01:24:03These guys are also immune to rattlesnake and pit viper venom.

01:24:07The secret is a peptide that helps opossums neutralize dangerous chemicals.

01:24:12This is the reason why snakes are a favorite treat on opossums' diet.

01:24:16There's one curious thing they have on their diet – ticks.

01:24:20One opossum can hoover up about 5,000 ticks per season, and most of them are picked off

01:24:25their own bodies.

01:24:27Now imagine a fish that is so notorious that it's called a dangerous fish.

01:24:32It's Mabenga, and it literally translates to dangerous fish in Swahili.

01:24:38This monster lives in freshwater and doesn't mind having a crocodile for lunch.

01:24:43Not a whole crocodile, but Mabenga can take a bite out of them.

01:24:46But to be honest, these guys are intimidated by the crocodiles the same way the crocs are

01:24:51intimidated by them.

01:24:54You're watching this video on some gadget, right?

01:24:56Well, we all owe the gadgets we have to the electric eels in some way.

01:25:01I mean, all gadgets have batteries, and eels contributed a lot to the invention of an electric

01:25:07battery back in 1800.

01:25:09I know, I know, the batteries have unrecognizably changed since then, but still, the first electric

01:25:16battery ever was invented thanks to electric eels.

01:25:19Anyway, if you see one of them and want to thank them for their magnificent invention,

01:25:24don't do that.

01:25:25Thing is, they can deliver shocks up to 860 volts.

01:25:30You don't want to experience that.

01:25:33Now let's talk about the Count Dracula of the animal kingdom.

01:25:36Nope, I'm not talking about bats.

01:25:39I'm talking about the fanged vampire fish.

01:25:42These fish are known as payara and have two long fangs protruding from their lower jaw.

01:25:47Here's why some people associate them with vampires.

01:25:51Hippos are the beauty gurus since they know how to save a fortune on skincare.

01:25:57Living under the harsh African sun, these animals secrete a sweat-like red oily substance

01:26:03that evaporates and keeps the animals' bodies cool.

01:26:06Besides, the fluid works as a moisturizer, sunscreen, and antibiotic all in one.

01:26:12But they're not the only ones with such a superpower.

01:26:15Mantis shrimp know how to produce natural sunscreen too, but they use it for eye protection.

01:26:21It's all about amino acid pigments, and these pigments act as special filters that contribute

01:26:27to their sharp vision too.

01:26:29That's what I call multitasking!

01:26:32Meerkats have dark patches around their eyes which make them look even cuter.

01:26:37But these black circles aren't there just to make these buddies more adorable.

01:26:41They also function as built-in sunglasses.

01:26:44The dark fur on the patches blocks the blazing sun, and as a result, meerkats can gaze directly

01:26:50at the sky.

01:26:52On top of that, the sentry, a meerkat that watches out for birds and other predators,

01:26:57can easily see danger coming and alert its mates.

01:27:01Wild goats are famous for their climbing skills, but the Alpine Ibex from Northern Italy is

01:27:07the champion.

01:27:08This critter can climb nearly any vertical surface, defying several physical laws in

01:27:13the process.

01:27:14Interestingly, the animals that do walk on the steepest cliff walls are typically mother

01:27:19goats with their little ones.

01:27:21Large males prefer to keep their distance and use flat horizontal surfaces.

01:27:26Smart guys!

01:27:28Some animals protect themselves with venom or nasty bites, while others use chemical

01:27:34tricks for protection.

01:27:35Listen to this.

01:27:37Some species of millipedes produce hydrogen cyanide and exude it when they feel threatened.

01:27:43Hydrogen cyanide is odorless but highly toxic.

01:27:47One little millipede can't seriously hurt you, but you may have burns or even blisters

01:27:52if your skin is sensitive.

01:27:54Plus, to make the picture even scarier, some millipedes glow in the dark.

01:27:59So watch out, and if you see a crawling spot of light at night, run away as fast as you

01:28:04can.

01:28:06When the bombardier beetle feels threatened, it sprays scorching liquid from the tip of

01:28:11its abdomen with a loud popping sound.

01:28:14As soon as the beetle senses danger, a chemical reaction starts in special reservoirs in its

01:28:19abdomen.

01:28:20The heat from this process nearly reaches the boiling point and also produces special

01:28:25gas that triggers the ejection.

01:28:27This super protection is usually fatal for the attacking insects.

01:28:31I guess so.

01:28:33Bloomed basculus lizards have an uncanny ability to run on water.

01:28:39First of all, their hind feet are equipped with long toes which have fringes of skin

01:28:43that can spread out in the water.

01:28:45As a result, a bigger surface of the lizard's foot comes into contact with water.

01:28:50Then, when it runs on water, it pumps its legs incredibly fast.

01:28:55This creates little pockets of air that prevent the animal from drowning by keeping it on

01:28:59the surface.

01:29:01Fleas can be annoying, but it doesn't make them any less amazing.

01:29:05These tiny critters can leap about 50 times their body length.

01:29:09If people could do the same, we would be jumping about a quarter of a mile into the air.

01:29:14Well, let's try it!

01:29:16The most curious thing about fleas' astonishing ability is that they take most of the power

01:29:21for leaps from their toes, not knees.

01:29:24So what's your favorite animal superpower?

01:29:27I vote for the kangaroo rat.

01:29:30I don't like standing in lines for the bathroom.

01:29:36Take a look at these animals.

01:29:38There's a deer, a dolphin, a squirrel, and a dinosaur?

01:29:43You've already figured out.

01:29:44I'm about to ask you what they all have in common, right?

01:29:48The boring answer is they've all lived on this planet at a certain point in time, blah

01:29:53blah blah, sure.

01:29:55What's even more surprising about their common features is their coloration.

01:30:01On that note, let me tell you about Abbott Thayer and his amazing theories on animal

01:30:06coloration.

01:30:08He was a portrait painter extraordinaire, but he also had a thing for the colors of

01:30:12the natural world.

01:30:15He came up with some pretty cool ideas about how animals can stay hidden from predators

01:30:20or prey, and they're still relevant today.

01:30:24One of his most famous theories is called countershading.

01:30:28Basically, animals are painted by nature so that the parts that get the most light from

01:30:33the sky are the darkest, and vice versa.

01:30:38It's like they're wearing the perfect outfit to match their environment.

01:30:41And let me tell you, this technique is not just for fashion-savvy animals.

01:30:46It's also used by ships to avoid detection.

01:30:50Thayer and his friend even got a patent for it!

01:30:55Thayer also came up with the idea of background blending, which is when an animal or object

01:31:00is painted to match the colors of its surroundings.

01:31:04Think of it as a natural camouflage suit.

01:31:07Thayer didn't stop there, though.

01:31:09He also proposed a theory on something called disruptive or dazzle camouflage.

01:31:15This is when an object is painted with a crazy pattern to make it harder to judge its distance

01:31:20or speed.

01:31:22It's like when you're trying to hit a piñata that's moving all over the place and you can't

01:31:26quite get your timing right.

01:31:29Think about it.

01:31:30If you're a shark swimming beneath the surface of the ocean and you look up, you're going

01:31:35to see the bright sky and the lighter-colored ocean surface.

01:31:40If you're a prey animal swimming on the surface, your lighter belly will blend in with the

01:31:44bright sky, while your darker back will blend in with the deeper water.

01:31:50It's not just aquatic animals that use countershading to their advantage.

01:31:55Land animals like deer and rabbits have lighter bellies and darker backs, which helps them

01:32:00blend in with the dappled light of the forest floor.

01:32:04And let's not forget about birds.

01:32:07Many birds have countershading on their feathers, which helps them blend in with the sky when

01:32:11seen from below and the ground when seen from above.

01:32:16Some creatures out there have a way of warning others that they're not to be messed with.

01:32:21Yeah, it's called opposematism, a fancy word for using bright colors or markings to let

01:32:27predators know that they're toxic or just downright unappetizing.

01:32:33Take the skunk, for example.

01:32:36That broad white stripe on its back is like a neon sign that says, don't get too close

01:32:41or else you'll regret it.

01:32:44And those yellow-banded poison dart frogs?

01:32:47They're walking billboards for their own poison with their bright and graphic colors, letting

01:32:51everyone know that they're not to be fooled with.

01:32:56Even wasps use the power of bright colors to signal to potential threats that they're packing

01:33:00a sting.

01:33:03And you know those cute little ladybugs?

01:33:05The brighter they are, the more toxic they can be.

01:33:08Who knew that something so adorable could be so deadly?

01:33:14It turns out that white, yellow, red, and black are the most effective warning colors

01:33:20in the animal kingdom.

01:33:22Just like how traffic signs caution drivers, these bright markings are nature's way of

01:33:26saying, watch out, buddy!

01:33:29If you ever come across a critter with some serious bling, just remember they're not trying

01:33:33to be fashionable.

01:33:36But how come some animals have evolved to use bright colors and others didn't?

01:33:42It's a question that's been baffling scientists for a long time.

01:33:47Thankfully, one theory coming from a team of researchers at the University of Arizona

01:33:52has uncovered some interesting insights into this colorful mystery.

01:33:58It turns out that the function of an animal's vibrant coloring is strongly linked to the

01:34:02activity patterns of its evolutionary ancestors.

01:34:07So species that use their bright colors to attract mates are usually descended from ancestors

01:34:12that were active during the day.

01:34:15Meanwhile, those that use their colors to ward off predators usually had ancestors that

01:34:21were active at night.

01:34:23It seems that animals have evolved to use their colors in the most advantageous way

01:34:28possible.

01:34:30Now you may be wondering how vivid coloration even came to be in the first place.

01:34:37Well it seems that early in their evolution, most species started out pretty plain and

01:34:42drab.

01:34:43But over time, bright colors evolved across many different lineages because they helped

01:34:49animals survive and reproduce.

01:34:53But not all bright colors are created equal.

01:34:57The researchers found that vividly colored lizards and birds usually use their coloring

01:35:02as a mating signal to attract partners, while colorful amphibians and snakes often wear

01:35:08their colors as a warning sign for predators.

01:35:12And get this, many of these amphibians and snakes are diurnal now or active during the

01:35:17day, but their ancestors were actually nocturnal, active at night.

01:35:23So there's no clear connection between warning colors and present day activity patterns.

01:35:30Mother nature sure is creative when it comes to helping animals adapt and survive in the

01:35:35wild.

01:35:37But there are some creatures out there that could take the award for the weirdest animals

01:35:41any day.

01:35:43Have you ever stopped to think about what it would be like if we could see through all

01:35:47the layers that protect our internal organs?

01:35:50Because that's exactly what has happened with the glass frog.

01:35:56Imagine you're strolling through the lush rainforest of Central and South America, and

01:36:01you come across a tiny little frog perched on a leaf.

01:36:05From above, it looks like your average run-of-the-mill frog, but if you flip it over, you'll see

01:36:11all its organs on display, heart, intestines, and all.

01:36:16You might be wondering, why on earth these frogs have evolved to be see-through?

01:36:21It turns out that their super-thin, translucent skin actually helps them blend in with their

01:36:26surroundings too.

01:36:28When light shines on them from above, their silhouette becomes all jumbled up and difficult

01:36:33for predators to decipher.

01:36:36And let's face it, when you're surrounded by vibrant greenery, a green topcoat is a

01:36:40perfect camouflage.

01:36:43But what about those transparent legs?

01:36:46Well, they help to blur the outlines of the frog's body, making it even tougher for predators

01:36:52to recognize their shape.

01:36:55I for one had no idea penguins also came in yellow!

01:37:01One wildlife photographer stumbled upon a sight that left him gobsmacked on a remote

01:37:06island in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

01:37:10He captured some amazing images of a yellow king penguin that had everyone on the beach

01:37:15flapping with excitement.

01:37:18There were 120,000 birds on that beach, and this was the only yellow one there!

01:37:26Scientists are scratching their heads as to how this coloration happened naturally.

01:37:31They think it's a form of leucism, which is basically an animal's inability to produce

01:37:35the proper pigments for its natural coloration.

01:37:39But they're not entirely sure.

01:37:41All king penguins produce small amounts of this yellow pigment naturally.

01:37:45But in this particular bird, it seems to be the only pigment the animal could produce.

01:37:50Talk about standing out from the crowd, am I right?

01:37:55There are some colors, though, you'll rarely find in the animal kingdom.

01:38:00According to some polls, blue is one of, if not the most popular colors amongst people.

01:38:07Most animals, however, have a tough time sporting this shade.

01:38:11Some animals get their pigment from the food they eat, like how flamingos turn pink from

01:38:15eating shrimp, or how goldfish can alter their golden hue based on their diet.

01:38:22But unfortunately, there's no true blue pigments in plants, so animals can't turn blue through

01:38:27their food.

01:38:29Instead, they have to get creative.

01:38:32For instance, some animals make structures that change the wavelength of light to appear

01:38:37blue.

01:38:38The blue morpho butterfly is a great example of this.

01:38:42Its wing scales are shaped in ridges that cause light to blend in such a way that it

01:38:47reflects only the blue color.

01:38:50If the scales were shaped differently, the butterfly would lose its beautiful blue color.

01:38:59It turns out, starfish don't have a head.

01:39:01They are the head.

01:39:03When you first look at a starfish, you think it's got five arms.

01:39:07Scientists have always been curious about why starfish look like this, and in particular,

01:39:11where their heads are.

01:39:14Most animals, including us, have bodies that are bilaterally symmetrical, meaning you can

01:39:18split them down the middle and get two matching sides.

01:39:21But starfish, along with sand dollars and sea anemones, are different.

01:39:26They're radially symmetrical, meaning their bodies have identical parts spread out from

01:39:30the center.

01:39:32Starfish, or sea stars, are special because they have this five-way symmetry, and you

01:39:36can divide them into five equal parts.

01:39:40To make this discovery, scientists used a technique called RNA tomography, which helps

01:39:44study genes.

01:39:46They focused on the genes controlling the outer layer, including the nervous system.

01:39:50Surprisingly, the genes associated with the head were active in the starfish's head and

01:39:55its arms.

01:39:56Yet, genes linked to the body trunk were hardly active.

01:40:01This suggests that starfish have a unique separation between their head and body.

01:40:05The study sparked new questions about how these creatures evolved and what their ancestors

01:40:09with trunks might have been like, based on their fossil records.

01:40:14It also showed that genes active in the head of an acorn worm were also active in a starfish's

01:40:19skin, covering its entire body.

01:40:23These genes are the most active at the center of each arm, changing towards the arm's end

01:40:28to resemble genes found in the rear of other animals.

01:40:32Starfish lack genes for a torso.

01:40:35All this challenges traditional views on starfish anatomy.

01:40:42There's a rumor about Paul McCartney recording an ultrasonic whistle for his Shetland sheepdog

01:40:47at the end of the Beatles song, A Day in the Life.

01:40:51Dogs can hear ultrasonic sounds since their hearing ability is incredible.

01:40:55To move just one of their ears, dogs need to involve 18 muscles.

01:40:59It allows them to swiftly locate the origin of sounds, and it's another skill where they

01:41:03outshine us.

01:41:05Their awesome ears sometimes shadow their noses.

01:41:09Dogs' sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more acute than that of humans.

01:41:14While humans have around 5 million scent receptors, a bloodhound boasts up to 300 million!

01:41:24Another study proves that dogs and bottlenose dolphins may share a fascinating similarity

01:41:29with humans.

01:41:30They call out the names of loved ones when they become separated.

01:41:34This makes them the first non-human animals to do so.

01:41:37The research has uncovered that dolphins copy one another's signature whistles when they're

01:41:41separated from close pals.

01:41:44In the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program recordings, pairs of dolphins were held in separate nets,

01:41:50but they could still communicate with each other.

01:41:52Turns out some of their chit-chats were mimicking the unique whistles of their dolphin buddies!

01:42:00Next up, we have flamingos with their peculiar dining habits.

01:42:03You often see them feeding with their heads positioned upside down.

01:42:07This distinctive behavior is linked to the anatomy of their mouths and the mechanics

01:42:11of maneuvering their long, elegant necks into the water.

01:42:15These birds are skilled filter feeders, employing their tongues as effective sieves to capture

01:42:20food.

01:42:21When a flamingo lowers its neck beneath the water, it positions its mouth essentially

01:42:26upside down.

01:42:27Then, the bird closes its mouth and skillfully propels water through comb-like extensions

01:42:31on its beak.

01:42:32It also utilizes its tongue to expel the water while retaining all the gathered food.

01:42:41If you've watched the movie, My Octopus Teacher on Netflix, you might already know

01:42:45that octopuses can bond with humans.

01:42:48But this time, we'll only focus on the anatomy of this creature.

01:42:52Octopuses have three hearts.

01:42:53One heart pumps blood throughout the body, and the other two tag-teams send that blood

01:42:58to the animal's gills.

01:43:00Octopuses also have nine brains.

01:43:03Each of their eight tentacles has its very own mini-brain.

01:43:06These mini-brains allow each tentacle to move independently at lightning speed.

01:43:11There's a ninth brain in the mix, and this one oversees the entire octo-nervous system.

01:43:19Opossums are intelligent, in a way, too.

01:43:22They're known for pretending to pass away when their life is threatened.

01:43:26When they face predators, opossums attempt to intimidate their foes by showing their

01:43:30teeth, hissing, and growling.

01:43:32Yet, when these tactics fall short, opossums resort to shutting their eyes, collapsing

01:43:37onto their side, and pretending to have passed away.

01:43:41To look more convincing, an opossum might drool, let its tongue hang out, and even excrete

01:43:46waste to enhance the illusion of a sudden demise.

01:43:49Remarkably, opossums can uphold this state for several hours, waiting until they're

01:43:54confident that the threat is gone.

01:43:57Monkeys can be loud when calling one another, but a howler monkey's shout can travel approximately

01:44:01three miles in specific situations.

01:44:05Males are usually louder than females.

01:44:07The thing is, the sound is created by pulling air through a space in an enlarged bone in

01:44:12the animal's throat.

01:44:13This bone is larger in males compared to females, and that's why males sound louder.

01:44:22Polar bears have black skin beneath all that fur.

01:44:25Their fluffy white coat is actually translucent.

01:44:29It only seems white because it bounces back visible light.

01:44:32The skin itself is jet black.

01:44:35These creatures are also impressive when it comes to swimming.

01:44:38They can hit speeds of up to six miles per hour in the water, which is pretty fast for

01:44:43such big creatures.

01:44:45They can swim for miles and keep going for hours.

01:44:48Their big paws are designed for swimming.

01:44:51They use them to paddle through the water while their back legs stay straight and act

01:44:55like a rudder, helping them steer.

01:44:58Since we visited polar bears, we might as well add a romantic fact about penguins here.

01:45:03Female Gentoo and Adelie penguins put themselves out there with proposals.

01:45:08They offer their potential mates precious pebbles, essential for building nests in the

01:45:12harsh Antarctic landscape.

01:45:15If the lady penguin accepts the pebble, they're in it for life, bonded and ready to mate.

01:45:21Another study has found that our adorable house cats share more than 95% of their genetic

01:45:26makeup with tigers.

01:45:28These little furballs also mimic many behaviors of their wild relatives, like marking territory

01:45:33with scents and the classic, stalking and pouncing during playtime.

01:45:39Biologically though, a cat's brain is kind of similar to a human's.

01:45:43We share identical emotional regions in our brains.

01:45:47Cats can also make up to a hundred different sounds.

01:45:54Owls have eye tubes or cylinders.

01:45:56Their rod-shaped eyes don't do the eyeball moving.

01:46:00Our eyes can move in almost all directions.

01:46:03Owls have to make a full body or full head turn to look around, all because of night

01:46:08vision.

01:46:10To master the art of seeing in the dark, they need large corneas that can scoop up every

01:46:15bit of light.

01:46:16Most nighttime critters, like slow lorises or tarsiers, have enormous eyes to get the

01:46:21job done.

01:46:23Owls have small skulls on their agenda, so those big eyes couldn't swell out.

01:46:32Cockroaches are notorious for their survival skills, and a key reason is their unique brain

01:46:37structure.

01:46:38They have two brains, one in their head and a more basic one near their abdomen.

01:46:42They're so hard to get because these critters are incredibly quick to react.

01:46:47They have tiny hairs on their rear end that can feel the slightest breeze.

01:46:51When these hairs twitch, the cockroach doesn't waste time.

01:46:54It instantly switches to escape mode.

01:46:58Research shows that a cockroach can react in just 1 20th of a second.

01:47:03So by the time we turn on the light or grab something to target it, the cockroach is already

01:47:07speeding off.

01:47:09Cats can have dreams.

01:47:12Sometimes you can see your cat's whiskers twitching or its legs kicking while it's sleeping.

01:47:16This doesn't necessarily mean your pet is having a nightmare.

01:47:19We can look at human sleep to get a clue about what's happening with our feline friends.

01:47:24During REM sleep, our brains get super active, almost like when we're awake.

01:47:29That's also the prime time for dreaming.

01:47:32REM sleep is named this way because of the quick movements the eyes make under the eyelids.

01:47:37But while our eyes might be moving, the rest of our body stays still.

01:47:41The focus is on what's going on in our minds.

01:47:45This is true for cats too.

01:47:46Besides an occasional twitch, cats usually don't move much when they're asleep.

01:48:17On that note, let's venture into the world of animal hearing and try to imagine what

01:48:23life sounds like for other creatures.

01:48:26Look, we humans are pretty great.

01:48:30We've got all kinds of talents.

01:48:32But when it comes to the auditory olympics, we're not even in the running.

01:48:35Put us next to a cat or a bat and our ears look kinda basic.

01:48:39Take elephants for instance.

01:48:41They are big animals and so are their ears.

01:48:44Their auditory organs are capable of capturing infrasound waves.

01:48:49Now these are not your run-of-the-mill sound waves.

01:48:52They're low frequency, rumbling whispers that we humans can't hear.

01:48:57This means elephants can pick up on things like rain clouds on the move.

01:49:01Not only that, but these massive mammals have a pretty clever way of communicating too.

01:49:06They stomp the ground, creating vibrations barely noticeable to us.

01:49:11Like two elephants, these vibrations are the equivalent of a long-distance phone call.

01:49:16The messages are received through their feet and ear bones, even when they're miles apart.

01:49:22Talk about having a good reception.

01:49:28Moving on to bats.

01:49:30They are the masters of night navigation, thanks to their use of echolocation.

01:49:36These animals emit high-frequency sounds, which bounce back after hitting objects.

01:49:41This echo helps bats create a mental map, allowing them to sway flawlessly in the dark.

01:49:48Just when we thought bats couldn't get any cooler, scientists discovered their hearing

01:49:52capabilities extend to their wings.

01:49:55Special hairs called Merkel hairs sense air movements, helping the bats detect upcoming objects.

01:50:01It's not the traditional hearing we're used to, but it's a fantastic adaptation to their

01:50:06environment.

01:50:10Dolphins, on the other hand, are masters of watery acoustics.

01:50:15For starters, you might think that being underwater would put a damper on hearing.

01:50:19But dolphins have turned this challenge into an advantage.

01:50:23They've got their own version of echolocation, emitting sonic pulses from their foreheads.

01:50:28These sounds bounce off objects and are picked up by the dolphin's jaw before being sent

01:50:33to the brain via highly developed auditory nerves.

01:50:37Their ears, though present, don't play a central role in hearing like ours do.

01:50:42Instead, dolphins have found innovative ways to listen, proving yet again how awesome animals are.

01:50:50Don't let their domestic status fool you.

01:50:53Your pet cats and dogs are auditory champs.

01:50:56Cats' ears are designed to catch high-frequency sounds from up to 160 feet away.

01:51:02Handy for catching mice, don't you think?

01:51:05Dogs, on the other hand, are pros at localizing sounds, thanks to the muscles around their ears.

01:51:11Ever seen your pooch perk up their ears when they hear something suspicious?

01:51:15That's their sharp hearing at work.

01:51:21Even the tiniest critters buzzing around us, like insects, can actually listen to the world.

01:51:27In fact, some insects have something akin to our human eardrums.

01:51:32It's a delicate little membrane, given the name tympani.

01:51:36Our eardrums jiggle with the sound waves.

01:51:39That shaking is then turned into a signal our brain would understand.

01:51:43Now, you've surely heard the nightly serenade of crickets or the rhythmic song of cicadas

01:51:49in the summer.

01:51:50These little symphony masters use exactly this kind of setup to listen to their world.

01:51:56That's not all, though.

01:51:58Some bugs take a different approach to eavesdropping on their surroundings.

01:52:02They've got these sensory cells right in the middle of their antennae.

01:52:06This structure is called the Johnston's organ.

01:52:09Take mosquitoes, for instance, or bees, or even fruit flies.

01:52:13They use their antennae not just to feel their way around, but to listen in on the world, too.

01:52:19It gets even wilder.

01:52:21Rock moths, some dusky, nocturnal creatures, have this unique organ nestled right in their

01:52:27mouths.

01:52:28It's like a superpower that lets them hear ultrasonic sounds.

01:52:33With this, they can dodge the dangerous dives of bats out on the hunt.

01:52:41When it comes to the ultimate hearing trophy, the animal kingdom has a completely unique

01:52:45winner.

01:52:46It's actually a moth.

01:52:49Not just any moth, though.

01:52:50It's the greater wax moth, discovered by the scientists based in Glasgow, Scotland.

01:52:56They've got some fascinating insights about these moths that make our ears want to stand

01:53:01up and listen.

01:53:04Just to give you some context, the greater wax moth does not stand out when it comes

01:53:08to its appearance.

01:53:09I mean, it's brown.

01:53:13As for its daily activities, it loves nibbling on honeycomb.

01:53:18Despite blending in seamlessly in the animal kingdom, it's got a serious set of ears.

01:53:23How good is its hearing, you ask?

01:53:26Well, it's been found that this tiny creature can pick up on sounds at frequencies up to

01:53:31300 kilohertz.

01:53:33By comparison, our human ears can only detect sounds up to around 20 kilohertz.

01:53:39This already unimpressive ability drops to about 15 kilohertz as we grow older.

01:53:45I mean, not even dolphins can compete.

01:53:48They can only hear sounds up to about 160 kilohertz.

01:53:55You're probably wondering, why would a moth need such super hearing?

01:54:00Scientists explain that the reason behind this extraordinary hearing lies in a survival

01:54:04instinct.

01:54:05Predation, to be precise.

01:54:08Bats use high-frequency echolocation calls to find their tasty moth meals, amongst other

01:54:13insects.

01:54:14But these clever little moths have evolved to pick up frequencies even bats might not

01:54:19hit.

01:54:22Despite this reasoning, it was a bit of a mystery as to why these moths would even need

01:54:26to hear such high frequencies.

01:54:29During the research, specialists discovered that their recording at high-frequency ultrasound

01:54:34is tricky business.

01:54:36So there's a chance that bats might actually be capable of emitting calls at these super

01:54:40high frequencies that the moths can hear.

01:54:44To uncover all this, scientists used a specially designed ultrasonic device.

01:54:49It emitted these crazy high frequencies, and they then looked at the moths' reactions

01:54:54using electrodes to measure their neural responses.

01:55:01The practical implications of this research could be far-reaching.

01:55:05Understanding the inner workings of the greater wax moth's ear could have a big impact on

01:55:09the world of technology.

01:55:12This knowledge could help researchers build super tiny microphones, for example.

01:55:18We know that all sorts of critters, from the tiny creatures scuttling on the ground to

01:55:22the gigantic ones swimming in the ocean, can pick up on certain sound frequencies that

01:55:27our human ears just can't.

01:55:30However, scientists have made a fascinating discovery.

01:55:34They've shown, for the first time, that our ability to pick up on tiny differences in

01:55:39sound frequencies might just be superior to that of animals, thanks to our individual

01:55:44neurons.

01:55:47How did they prove this, you ask?

01:55:49Well, they took advantage of a unique technique that lets them record what single neurons

01:55:54are up to in the auditory cortex.

01:55:56That's the part of our brain that's a major player in processing sounds, when we're exposed

01:56:00to various noises.

01:56:04You see, most of what we know about the auditory cortex was unearthed from past research that

01:56:10studied how animals' neural activity reacts to sound.

01:56:14Those studies were super useful in giving us a peek into how sounds are processed in

01:56:18our auditory system.

01:56:20But they didn't really let us know what sets us humans apart in the way we perceive sounds.

01:56:28When scientists tested how we respond to made-up sounds, they found out that our neurons in

01:56:33the auditory cortex responded with a surprising level of accuracy to specific frequencies.

01:56:39They could even pick up differences as tiny as a quarter of a tone just by looking at

01:56:43the reactions of individual neurons.

01:56:48That's a level of detail that you wouldn't typically find in the auditory cortex of other

01:56:52mammals.

01:56:54The one exception might be bats, who use their hearing in pretty unique ways.

01:56:59But this could explain why we humans can distinguish between frequencies better than animals.

01:57:05It seems like the way our brains process sound frequencies has some special features to it.

01:57:11When they played more natural sounds like conversations, music, and everyday noise,

01:57:16the neurons showed complex activity patterns.

01:57:20These patterns couldn't be fully explained just by the neurons' frequency selectivity.

01:57:25Several studies have shown similar phenomena, but it's the first time we've seen this in humans.

01:57:32It's just a regular day.

01:57:34As usual, you're taking a shower before starting to get ready for work.

01:57:39Everything is going as planned.

01:57:40Until it isn't!

01:57:42One clumsy move, some water spilled on the floor, and you're flapping your arms in the

01:57:46air, your body nearing the floor with frightening speed.

01:57:51Everything goes black.

01:57:53The first thing you hear is a high-pitched whining in your head.

01:57:57Ouch, your head!

01:58:00You carefully get up.

01:58:01There's no blood, and that's good.

01:58:04An even better thing is that the annoying noise stops abruptly.

01:58:09Holding your head, you leave the bathroom and almost stumble over your cat, Milo.

01:58:14He hisses, and then a clear voice in your head says,

01:58:18Clumsy loser.

01:58:20Huh?

01:58:21You whip your head around in fear, but you see no one.

01:58:24It's just you and Milo?

01:58:27You've probably hit your head more than you thought.

01:58:31You shrug and make your way to the kitchen.

01:58:34Milo follows you.

01:58:35You hear ceaseless grumbling.

01:58:37Why can't he sleep in the bedroom, and I'm banned from there?

01:58:40Why haven't I gotten my meal yet?

01:58:42This leather creature is too lazy.

01:58:45Shall I scratch the sofa or leave a mouse on his pillow?

01:58:49The first thought that comes to your mind is,

01:58:52We have mice in the house?

01:58:54The second is more relevant.

01:58:56I'm losing my marbles!

01:58:58Great!

01:58:59Acting on autopilot, you pour some milk into Milo's bowl

01:59:02and fill another one up with some dry food.

01:59:05The cat doesn't seem to be satisfied with how fast you are

01:59:08if his, oh for goodness sake, moving hand is anything to go by.

01:59:15Okay, now you'll have to live with the knowledge

01:59:18that your beloved cat Milo

01:59:20actually has the personality of a grumpy old man.

01:59:23Duh.

01:59:24You decide to lock yourself in the bathroom again

01:59:27because you're starting to get overwhelmed.

01:59:29You sit down heavily on the toilet lid

01:59:32and almost jump a foot in the air

01:59:34when you hear someone arguing loudly.

01:59:37After looking around, you find out that,

01:59:40apparently, there are not only mice,

01:59:42but also cockroaches in your house.

01:59:45Just great.

01:59:47At the moment, you're staring at a couple of these insects,

01:59:50which seem to be having a fight.

01:59:53At least one of them is accusing the other of,

01:59:55wait, what?

01:59:57Cheating?

01:59:58You've heard enough.

01:59:59You're about to dash out of the bathroom

02:00:01when you hear a bang.

02:00:04In the living room, you find your cat on the floor

02:00:07under a smashed flower pot.

02:00:09The worst thing?

02:00:11He seems to be really hurt.

02:00:13He won't stop whimpering and meowing.

02:00:15Ugh, it hurts, it hurts.

02:00:18My paw, ouch, ouch.

02:00:21But the sofa can't remain unscratched today.

02:00:25You grab Milo, shove him into the carrier.

02:00:28Hey, watch out, you leather bag.

02:00:30And head for the clinic.

02:00:32On the way, you have to concentrate hard

02:00:34to block out the noise of countless voices assaulting you.

02:00:38The waiting area at the vet is full.

02:00:41Uh-oh, you're in for a long wait.

02:00:43Half an hour later, your head is ready to explode.

02:00:49You found out that that yellow python

02:00:51is suspiciously interested in the hamster

02:00:53a girl in the corner is clutching to her chest.

02:00:56So fat, so pretty.

02:01:01The hamster's worried about his stash of nuts.

02:01:04Where did I hide them?

02:01:05Where, where, where?

02:01:07A tiny dog that has come with an elderly lady

02:01:09is anxious about needles.

02:01:12If that shop thingy comes near me once again,

02:01:14they'll regret it.

02:01:15I'll destroy everyone on my way.

02:01:18Finally, it's your turn.

02:01:20The vet invites you to her office

02:01:22and you bend to pick up Milo

02:01:24when a desperate-looking young man bursts into the room.

02:01:27My puppy, what's wrong with him?

02:01:30The vet looks at you apologetically,

02:01:32but you're focused on the puppy.

02:01:34It looks weak, but you manage to figure out the words,

02:01:38chocolate, yum.

02:01:40When you tell the vet and the anxious owner

02:01:42that the pooch has eaten some chocolate,

02:01:44which is basically poison for dogs,

02:01:47they give you a funny look

02:01:48and disappear into the doctor's office.

02:01:51Sometime later, the guy exits,

02:01:54holding the dog that looks better than before.

02:01:57When they leave, the vet turns to you.

02:02:00How did you figure out the dog had eaten chocolate?

02:02:04Uh-oh, here it comes.

02:02:06You decide that honesty is the best strategy

02:02:09and tell the vet that you can understand what animals say.

02:02:13Of course, she doesn't believe you.

02:02:15You have to try hard to persuade her,

02:02:18but with the help of two other dogs,

02:02:20Milo and an elderly squirrel,

02:02:23you manage to make her believe you.

02:02:27When you get back home, your head is spinning

02:02:30and you're pretty hungry.

02:02:31All you can think about is some fried eggs and bacon.

02:02:35Yum, wait, bacon?

02:02:38But it's, uh-oh.

02:02:40Apparently, starting today, you're a vegan.

02:02:45Anyway, that's when it starts.

02:02:47You don't know how it happens,

02:02:49but you become famous overnight.

02:02:51The next morning, a loud noise wakes you up

02:02:54and it doesn't sound like animals talking to you.

02:02:57You look out of the window

02:02:59and see crowds of people gathered around your house.

02:03:02Some of them are reporters,

02:03:03but others are pet owners

02:03:05that have come to ask you for help.

02:03:08Milo is not happy.

02:03:11While grumbling nonstop and calling you names,

02:03:14he bites your leg and retreats under the stairs.

02:03:17And you go out of your house to talk to people

02:03:20and answer the reporters' questions.

02:03:23In the evening, you're exhausted, but also happy.

02:03:26You've saved several animals today.

02:03:29They had serious health and psychological problems

02:03:32their owners couldn't figure out on their own.

02:03:34Lying in bed in the dark,

02:03:36you think of how you can use your ability.

02:03:38That's when your plan takes shape.

02:03:42Soon, you become the most renowned

02:03:44animal care specialist in the world.

02:03:47You listen to animals talking about their problems,

02:03:50talk them out of depression,

02:03:52and help them resolve misunderstandings with their owners.

02:03:56TV shows invite you for interviews.

02:03:59Your YouTube channel is growing every day.

02:04:01People recognize you on the street

02:04:03and ask you to take pictures with them.

02:04:05You travel the world,

02:04:07help endangered species, and give lectures.

02:04:10You open vet clinics all over the globe

02:04:12and invite the best professionals to work there.

02:04:16You never feel lonely.

02:04:18There's always someone to talk to or listen to,

02:04:21at least some birds when you're walking in the park

02:04:24or some fish when you're having

02:04:26a rare moment of rest on the beach.

02:04:29At the same time, you've come to realize

02:04:31how many animals are begging for help,

02:04:34but no one can hear them.

02:04:36You decide to take up the role of their speaker.

02:04:39It turns out you're now famous

02:04:41not only in the human world,

02:04:43but also in the world of animals.

02:04:45They're grateful, and in return,

02:04:48they start informing you of different natural disasters

02:04:51that are about to happen on the planet.

02:04:54You've heard that animals can predict

02:04:56earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

02:04:59And if before, people had to try hard

02:05:02to notice some unusual behavior of certain species,

02:05:05now animals just pass you information

02:05:07about what's going to happen and where.

02:05:11With time, you notice that you spend less time

02:05:14among people and more time with animals.

02:05:17Together, you plan campaigns against zoos,

02:05:21circuses, and other places where animals

02:05:23are kept against their will.

02:05:26And then, one day, the unthinkable happens.

02:05:30You're returning home when a black van stops next to you.

02:05:34A few big masked guys grab you and push you inside.

02:05:37The doors close behind your back.

02:05:41Inside, you find out that several influential people

02:05:44aren't happy with your activity.

02:05:46You realize that this trip isn't going to end well.

02:05:51The guys blindfold you and lead you somewhere.

02:05:54But at one moment, you lose your footing

02:05:57and hit your head on something hard.

02:06:01You open your eyes.

02:06:03Milo is standing over you,

02:06:04looking at your lying body rather indifferently.

02:06:07And then, the most terrible thing happens.

02:06:10He meows what sounds like a whole sentence,

02:06:13turns away, and walks out of the bathroom.

02:06:17And you don't understand a meow of what he's saying.

02:06:21Was it all just a dream?

02:06:25That's it for today.

02:06:26So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity,

02:06:29then give the video a like and share it with your friends.

02:06:31Or if you want more, just click on these videos

02:06:34and stay on the Bright Side.

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