The plant and animal world of our planet amazes with its diversity and wonder. Among the millions of species of plants and animals, there are those that defy the common rules and laws of nature, demonstrating unusual abilities, behavior, and appearance. They are exceptions to the rules we are accustomed to considering common to all living beings.
In this article, you will discover several amazing facts about plants and animals that you may not have known or even suspected. It will be interesting!
Click on the word "FACT" below the image to find out the truth
FICTION
Plants are not dangerous to humans and animals
FACT
In New Zealand, there is a nettle called Ongaonga or Tree Nettle. Approaching it can be deadly even for large mammals like horses or humans. Its leaves and stems are covered with sharp spines and contain histamine and formic acid. The slightest touch to this plant causes a painful burn that lasts for several days.
Because of this plant, at least one person has died, as well as several dogs and horses.
The Tree Nettle has a tree-like trunk and can reach a height of 5 meters. It is usually found in clearings or forest edges, often forming large patches of nettles. This plant is the primary food for the caterpillars of the New Zealand Red Admiral butterfly.
FICTION
Fish cannot live on land
FACT
There is an amazing and dangerous fish called the Northern Snakehead, which can live not only in water but also on land. It has a long body covered with scales and a large head resembling a snake's head. Its homeland is the Far East, but it has spread to many countries, where it has become a threat to local fish species and other animals.
The Northern Snakehead is a predator that feeds on anything it can catch, including frogs, insects and their larvae, small fish, and even crayfish. This fish can breathe atmospheric air and cross terrestrial barriers using its swim bladder and muscles. It can survive without water for up to 5 days by burying itself in mud or wet grass.
The Northern Snakehead reaches a length of up to 1 meter and a weight of up to 10 kilograms. This fish reproduces very quickly and protects its offspring from enemies.
The Northern Snakehead is an interesting subject for study, but also a significant ecological problem. It can disrupt the balance in nature and displace other species.
FICTION
Only insects can run on water
FACT
There are animals that can run on water — Basilisks (Basiliscus). These lizards live in tropical America. They weigh very little and move their legs quickly enough to run, pushing off the water.
The genus Basiliscus includes 4 species of lizards, widely known as "Jesus Lizards" or simply "Jesus Lizards" because of their ability to run on water for significant distances.
The Jesus Lizard can run on the surface of the water, staying afloat thanks to frequent strokes of its webbed hind legs (contact with water lasts 0.068 seconds) and because it lowers its legs horizontally onto the water — the surface film of water does not have time to break under the weight of the body. Each time it lowers its leg, the lizard seems to capture a bubble of air with its fingers, which is why it does not get wet while running.
Basilisks can run on water at a speed of 1.5 meters per second for a distance of up to 5 meters before they go down on all fours and swim. They swim well. When basilisks reach 0.5 meters in length, they become too heavy to run on water.
Basilisks are widespread in southern Mexico, Central America, and the northern part of South America, where they live in trees and near water. On average, they grow to a length of 70–75 cm, including the tail.
To see how the Jesus Lizard runs on water, go to this link on YouTube ☛
FICTION
Not all animals can move their eyes
FACT
Many people believe that all living creatures with eyes have a special system of muscles and ligaments that allows them to manipulate their eyes and change their gaze direction. An exception to this rule is insects, which have compound eyes and a 360° field of view, eliminating the need for such an eye control system. However, along the shores of North America, there lives a deep-sea fish called the Pacific Barreleye Fish, which defies this common rule.
This fish has an amazing feature: its head is covered by a transparent shield through which its green eyes are visible. The transparent head, through which the fish tracks its prey, helps protect its eyes. The green color of the fish's eyes is due to a specific yellow pigment. It is believed that this pigment provides specialized light filtration from above and reduces brightness, allowing the fish to discern the bioluminescence of potential prey.
The Pacific Barreleye Fish was discovered in 1939 but remained a mystery to scientists for a long time because its head burst when brought to the surface. Only in 2004, photographs of live fish were obtained using an underwater robot.
The Pacific Barreleye Fish inhabits the northern part of the Pacific Ocean at depths ranging from 600 to 800 meters, where there is almost no light. Its eyes are capable of seeing in the dark and moving in different directions to search for prey or escape from predators. Its body has a dark color and reaches a length of 15 centimeters. Its mouth is very small, so it can only feed on small animals such as shrimp, squid, copepods, and other small drifting organisms.
FICTION
Not all animals can move their eyes
FACT
Many people believe that all living creatures with eyes have a special system of muscles and ligaments that allows them to manipulate their eyes and change their gaze direction. An exception to this rule is insects, which have compound eyes and a 360° field of view, eliminating the need for such an eye control system. However, along the shores of North America, there lives a deep-sea bat called the Madagascar Sucker-Footed Bat, which defies this common rule.
This bat has an amazing feature: its feet are equipped with suction cups that allow it to cling to smooth surfaces. The suction cups are located on the bases of its large wing digits and the soles of its hind limbs. They are so powerful that one suction cup can support the weight of the bat's body. This adaptation helps the bats inhabit caves and trees, where they find shelter and food. The suction cups also allow them to hang upside down without exerting muscle effort.
The Madagascar Sucker-Footed Bat has a body length of no more than 6 cm and weighs no more than 10 grams. It feeds on insects and fruits and serves as an important pollinator for plants. Unfortunately, this bat is threatened with extinction due to the destruction of its natural habitat.
FICTION
All plants extract water through their roots
FACT
In the Namib Desert of Africa, where water is scarce, grows a plant called Welwitschia mirabilis. It's not the root system that supplies moisture to the entire above-ground part of this plant; rather, the leaves provide water to the root.
Welwitschia mirabilis more closely resembles a stump, usually no more than 0.5 meters tall, with huge wide leaves that are whimsically twisted and extend several meters above the surface. Every day, cold fogs come from the ocean into the desert, providing moisture to this plant.
The leaves of Welwitschia feed water to the root using a special mechanism. They have many thin fibers that protrude on the leaf surface and collect moisture from the air. The moisture accumulates at the tips of the fibers and flows down the leaf, reaching the soil. Thus, the leaves of Welwitschia create their own irrigation system, allowing the plant to survive in dry conditions.
Welwitschia mirabilis has only 2 leaves, which never fall off and continue to grow throughout its life. The growth rate of the leaves is 30–40 cm per year. The length of each leaf is 2–4 meters (sometimes reaching 8 meters) with a width of about 1 meter (maximum width — almost 2 meters). The tips of the leaves split into several well-separated belt-like parts. The tips of the leaves eventually die off and weather away, but the oldest living parts can live up to 10 years. To the touch, the leaves are similar to boards.
In the photo above, you see the largest known Welwitschia mirabilis. Its height is about 1.5 meters, diameter — more than 4 meters, and age — about 1500 years.
FICTION
Fur is found only in mammals
FACT
In Southwestern Africa, there is an amphibian with unusual abilities. It's the Hairy frog, also known as the horror frog or Wolverine frog. During the breeding period, males of this species develop what appears to be hair.
The "hair" on these frogs is actually thin skin extensions that contain many arteries and help the males breathe underwater while they guard the eggs. The hair forms on the sides of the body and the hind legs and can be up to 15 mm long. It can vary in color, depending on the frog's coloration. The hair disappears after the breeding season ends.
The Wolverine frog has another unusual ability. It can form claws from its own bones by breaking the bones of its phalanges and piercing the skin. This likely serves as protection against potential predators or to hold onto the female during mating.
FICTION
No one eats poisonous animals
FACT
Actually, there are two known species of living creatures that eat other poisonous beings: the common hedgehog and humans.
The European hedgehog has high resistance to toxins that can be deadly for other animals. Why are hedgehogs so resilient to poisons? Scientists believe it's related to their lifestyle and diet. Hedgehogs primarily feed on insects, many of which have venomous glands or contain toxic substances. For example, hedgehogs can consume bees, wasps, bombardier beetles, centipedes, and even snakes.
To avoid poisoning, hedgehogs have developed special enzymes in their liver and blood that neutralize toxins. Additionally, their low body temperature slows down the action of poisons. Hedgehogs can also secrete a substance from their quills that neutralizes toxins on their skin.
Studies have shown that hedgehogs are also less affected by poisons such as arsenic, strychnine, opium, and even cyanic acid. While extremely high doses of poisons are lethal to hedgehogs, the doses that kill other animals and humans do not harm hedgehogs.
Now we know that hedgehogs eat poisonous creatures because they have a natural mechanism that blocks the effects of toxins. But why do humans do it? Humans consume poisonous pufferfish (fugu) not only for its taste but also because of its danger. Fugu contains the deadly toxin tetrodotoxin, which can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. To prepare fugu, one needs a special license and the skill to properly remove the toxic parts of the fish. Some people believe that eating fugu gives them strength, courage, and passion because they are risking their lives. Others simply enjoy the mild numbness caused by a small dose of poison.