Friday, March 7, 2008

How Do They Know?


I recently came across some weird animal facts. What really makes them interesting is that these details are even known. I mean, who took the time and trouble (and, in some cases, put undue stress on the animals) in order to discover that:

A homing pigeon won't find its way home if a magnet is attached to its neck.

An ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

If a tiny amount of liquor is placed on a scorpion, it will sting itself to death.

A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.


Then there's the more mundane facts about animals:

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

A crocodile can't stick out its tongue.

Butterflies taste with their feet.


I have no idea if any of these are true. After all, I found them on the Internet -- not exactly a reliable source. If animals were able, what weird human facts do you think they'd list?

13 comments:

T.H.I.T. said...

I have this mental picture of a bunch of scientists high-fiving and hugging in victory after establishing conclusively that ants fall over tot he right when intoxicated, until one of them asks "So...How do we turn this into something useful?" :-)

Anonymous said...

No doubt, if the tables were turned, I'm sure animals would have a lengthy list of things they could point to, as weird human facts.

And I wouldn't rule out "laughing out loud" at some of them -- which I often imagine animals doing anyway, when it comes to us humans. :-)

T.H.I.T. said...

I wonder what that list would look like.

"When a human falls on his @$$, the first thing he does is look to see if anyone saw him. Compound fractures are a secondary concern"

Shannon Perry said...

"Humans think they're the smartest animals on the planet! Isn't that hysterical?!

T.H.I.T. said...

"Male humans are unable to put down a toilet seat. Female humans are unable to ignore this fact"

Lynn Sinclair said...

Treehugger, I saw the same sort of thing in my head. Some experiments are just not meant to be.

After yesterday's major (really major) snowstorm, I'll bet some critter was looking at me and thinking, "It's that crazy human again -- moving the snow around. Doesn't she realize it's just gonna come back again?"

Lynn Sinclair said...

Georgie, I started compiling a list that I thought animals might make regarding humans -- most of the items were rude, and all ended in "They're idiots".

Lynn Sinclair said...

Rags, I'll bet that's exactly what they're thinking. Oddly enough, believing we are the smartest is what makes us most vulnerable.

Anonymous said...

T.H.I.T: According to my human husband:

"Male humans are expected to put the toilet seat down.... Even though, female humans *should* be expected to leave it up."

Humans.

NuclearToast said...

I'm surprised that pig statistic doesn't include some bit of trivia on how long a pig can smile as well.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Lol, NT. Another bit of trivia I read is that pigs can't look up, but nothing about smiling.

Anonymous said...

What I want to know is that, even when intoxicated, how the hell do you fall over when you've got six legs?

Lynn Sinclair said...

Good point, Petextra. See, I told you the Internet was not a reliable source.