Uncover surprising animal facts like how octopuses have three hearts or that cows form best friends. From cheetahs’ incredible speed to wombats’ cube-shaped poop, these 10 fun facts will amaze you and add a little wild knowledge to your day!
- Octopuses have three hearts: Two pump blood to the gills, while one pumps it to the rest of the body. When they swim, the heart that pumps to the body stops beating!
- Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump: Due to their massive size and unique skeletal structure, they lack the ability to jump like other animals.
- A group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance”: The term fits their colorful and vibrant appearance when gathered in large groups.
- Sloths can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes: They can do this because their metabolism is so slow, which helps conserve oxygen while underwater.
- Cows have best friends: Studies have shown that cows form close bonds with other cows and can become stressed when separated from them.
- A narwhal’s tusk is actually a tooth: The long spiral tusk that is often mistaken for a horn is actually an elongated tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long!
- Wombat poop is cube-shaped: This unusual shape prevents the poop from rolling away, which is important for marking their territory.
- Starfish don’t have brains: Instead, they have a nerve ring that controls their movements and behavior.
- Sharks have been around longer than trees: Sharks have existed for about 400 million years, while trees appeared around 350 million years ago.
- A cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds: This makes it the fastest land animal, though it can only sustain its speed for a short distance.