10 curious facts about animals that would surprise even Darwin (11 photos)

In this post you will learn interesting information about our smaller brothers, which may forever change your view of some animals.





1. Dogs perceive the world primarily through their sense of smell.



A dog's sense of smell is many times superior to a human's. Some scientists believe that it is a hundred thousand times, others believe that it is a million. Dogs have approximately 120 million olfactory cells, while humans have only five million. It is believed that a dog can distinguish five hundred thousand odors that people are not even aware of.

2. Global warming is causing albatrosses to form same-sex pairs.





We rarely see albatrosses on land, but these giant seabirds live for decades and can live 50 years or more. Scientists have found that global warming has made albatrosses, considered one of the most monogamous creatures in the world, more likely to leave their partners and have homosexual relationships. Researchers spent 15 years observing 15 thousand individuals that nest on the Falkland Islands. Scientists have observed that under normal conditions, only one to three percent of albatross pairs separate, but in years with unusually warm water, this figure rose to eight percent.

3. Cats can be allergic to people.



It's common to hear that people are allergic to cats, but research suggests that some cats may be allergic to us, too. Fortunately, this allergy is not life-threatening, but it can cause discomfort.

4. Female giraffes prefer older males



A female giraffe usually prefers males who are at least 7 years older than her. And if a female “sets her eye” on a certain male giraffe, she will chase him until he pays attention to her.

5. During play, male puppies may deliberately give in to females.



Even if the male puppy has a clear physical advantage and a higher chance of winning, he will in some cases deliberately lose in order to prolong the game with the female puppy. This allows him to form a close relationship with the female and helps ensure the possibility of mating in the future.

6. An ostrich can kill a lion



Flightless ostriches are the largest birds in the world, and they have incredibly powerful legs that make them really fast runners. In addition to their strength, their paws are equipped with long, ultra-sharp claws. A blow from one of these giant birds is enough to kill even the “king of beasts”.

7. Parrots are capable of reasoning



A series of experiments have shown that the African gray parrot has the thinking skills of a three-year-old child. And although primates have already demonstrated that they are capable of reasoning, parrots belong to a completely different species, which makes this discovery even more interesting.

8. Cows can only dream while lying down.



Large animals, such as cows or horses, are able to doze off while standing thanks to their powerful tendons and ligaments. On the other hand, in order to get enough sleep and enter the deep sleep phase, they need to lie down.

9. Octopuses are fighters



These three-hearted sea animals are loners that are excellent at camouflage and remaining discreet. However, from time to time when a group goes hunting, some strange things can happen. Octopuses can sometimes hit fish and even humans for no apparent reason.

10. Crows are capable of friendly support.



Crows are capable of friendly feelings. If trouble happens to another bird, then friends will definitely come to the rescue. They will bring food to the injured bird until it recovers.