Nature is amazing, nature is beautiful, but sometimes nature can be downright disturbing. Deep down, no matter how cute an animal is, it is still wild. From vampire butterflies to psychologically manipulative jungle cats (yes, you heard that right), the animal kingdom is, no pun intended, a truly wild place.
So, without further ado, here are 17 slightly terrifying facts I recently learned about adorable animals:
1.
Female emperor penguins often kidnap (or “chicknap”) the babies of other penguins.
However, there is usually no happy ending for the kidnapped chick, as the kidnapper often loses interest within hours or days. Most kidnapped penguin chicks die from the cold or are killed by predators.
2.
Who doesn’t love ladybugs? Obviously other ladybugs. Some species of the insect are cannibalistic. This behavior is called intraguild predation and occurs when food supplies are scarce.
3.
Have you ever wanted to cuddle a koala bear? Maybe you should think again, because there is currently a serious chlamydia epidemic among the marsupials.
However, the STI is now sexually transmitted and can also be passed from mother to young. It poses a significant threat to the koala population, which is already an endangered species. It is estimated that the species could be extinct by 2050 if many problems, including the chlamydia outbreak, are not resolved.
4.
Pinball has lied to us all…Despite their adorable reputation, dolphins are actually considered the biggest tyrants of the sea. While they many questionable things, one habit they are known for is torturing their prey.
In some cases, this behavior is thought to be a defense mechanism used by dolphins to ensure that their prey is limp and safe to swallow. However, the marine mammals have also been observed turning over their food to show off to their peers or to intimidate their rivals.
5.
Kangaroo mothers often sacrifice their young to save themselves or their other babies.
In the second case, in times of food shortage or when a mother has several young at the same time, she will sacrifice one of them to increase the chances of survival of the others.
6.
Have you ever noticed how much dogs love squeaky toys? The squeaking imitates the sound of distressed prey and allows domesticated dogs to indulge their natural hunting instinct.
7.
Snails have between 1,000 and 25,000 razor-sharp teeth. The flexible band of microscopic teeth and jaw is called the radula. The jaw is used to cut off large pieces of food, which are then scraped off by the dental band.
8.
Dwarf lorikeets have poisonous elbows. The often illegally domesticated primate has glands on the inside of its elbows that produce poison when mixed with saliva.
9.
If you asked most people which species of bear is the most dangerous, they probably wouldn’t say it’s a polar bear… although that’s true. Polar bears are often considered cuddly winter animals and are more vicious than grizzlies.
10.
Long-tailed cats, also called tree ocelots, hunt using psychological manipulation. To secure their prey, these jungle cats use “aggressive mimicry” to imitate the sounds of their prey.
11.
This isn’t just a meme… Cows are, on average, responsible for more deaths per year than sharks. Although they are generally peaceful, it’s best to be cautious around cattle as they are easily spooked.
12.
In tough times, mice will eat literally anything… including other mice.
13.
Vampire butterflies? Some species of butterflies are known to drink blood, including the Sulphur butterfly and the Tiger Swallowtail.
14.
Tasmanian devils fight so often that they actually transmit contagious oral cancer to each other. In 1996, scientists first discovered the transmissible cancer, known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), in northeast Tasmania.
15.
For much of the last century, beaver butt secretions were used in foods and perfumes to create a vanilla flavor or scent.
16.
Cat-scratch disease (CSD), more commonly known as cat-scratch fever, is a real disease that humans can contract through contact with an infected cat or kitten.
17.
And finally, it’s disturbing enough when otters are just being themselves. The marine mammals are known to attack humans, abuse baby seals, commit necrophilia, and take other otters’ pups hostage to eat.
Which of these disturbing facts about animals surprised you the most? Do you know any shocking facts about adorable animals? Let us know in the comments!
