15 Extraordinary Animal Facts that are Hard to Believe

If devoting your time to Ripley’s Believe It or Not titillates your imagination, then this one will definitely be a good addition to your collection of bizarre information and entertainment.

As much as they seemed to be too surreal to be genuinely true, they are sadly a fact. And if you’re still not that convinced, then we suggest you read on for you to catch up with the trend.

#1. Honey, I blew up the SALAMANDER!

Truth be told, if there’s a place where oddity was born, it may probably be somewhere in Asia. Aside from the exotic cuisine that the country is well-known for, China also boasts its enormous amphibian salamander that can grow for about six feet long. A smaller version measuring five feet can be visited in Japan.

Although their size may be a hindrance in mobility, the pepper-smelled amphibians can actually move fast and have extremely tiny eyes. (Source)

#2. Can fishes really be invisible?

While most of us are envious of Fantastic Four’s invisible girl, this fish may be an exception as it is obviously a born natural.

Thanks to a fisher folk from Northland’s Karikari Peninsula, their kind is already out in the open and is actually one of the ocean’s prized inhabitants. Experts say that this type of fish is actually known as Salp, which is made of cellulose, making it capable to digest even the smallest of organisms such as bacteria or plankton. It also has the ability to adapt to global change. However, this fish may be a rare find. (Source)

#3. He is fictional no more!

If you enjoyed the unlikely group of friends in the movie Ice Age then you will probably remember Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel. Although there were speculations that his character was fictional, the 2011 discovery of a fanged, shrew-like mammal in Argentina ended the controversy.

Although the paleontologists struggled in identifying the rock-covered discovery accurately at first, its true colors were revealed after a complete cleanup stating that a creature did exist way back in who knows when. (Source)
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#4. Starbuck now has a new meaning. LOL!

Although “Starbucks” is very well-known for the subliminal addictive effect of its coffee beans, today, the word Starbuck can actually be associated with another kind and we’re not referring to another drink.

Meet Starbuck, the dashing 2,580-pound Canadian bull whose genome was so priceless that his own sperm went up to as much as $25 million mainly because of its reproductive capability! We’re not just talking about having a clan of 2 or 3 children but a 200,000 count! Yes! Just imagine how many spouses does he have?! Haha!

True enough, the Casanova of his kind has been a certified legend since the day he was born – 26 April 1979 – from up until the hike of his career from 1986 to 1995, winning the title of “Premier Sire” for 27 times from five major Holstein shows held in both Canada and USA. (Source)

#5. This will emphasize the phrase “small but terrible”!

Although the sizes of spiders may deceive you, nothing else will beat the natural spinning ability of Darwin’s bark spider. Aside from the fact that it can spin the largest webs in the world, its own-produced silk is also considered the toughest and strongest than any known biological substance.

According to University of Puerto Rico zoologist Igni Agnarsson, the strands of Darwin’s bark spider, scientifically known as Caerostris darwini, is 10 times better than Kevlar and can cover a massive 30-square-foot area hanging in mid-air from 80-foot-long anchor lines. This is evident in the surprising discovery made in the wilds of Madagascar. (Source)

#6. They will prove to you that size does not and will never matter!

If you would be betting on a fight between a spider and a snake, who would you place bet on? As surprising as it may seem, the strength of a giant can be astonishingly equal to that of a spider.

How is this possible? Meet Australia’s Giant Gold Orb Spiders, whose favorite meal is a half-meter snake. As much as snakes are usually the predators in the jungle, these exceptional spiders are most definitely reinforcing the statement that size does not matter when it comes to testing who the real PREYS are. (Source)
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#7. They are not the princes to be kissed!

If you grew up familiar with Disney’s Frog Prince, then this frog is definitely not the kind to be kissed at all. The “Horror Frog”, as they call it, may be tiny and slimy but wait until they feel the presence of danger – only then can they get to break the bones in their toes and naturally force their inner claws to come out. YIKES!

While studies show that Central Africa’s Hairy Frog can break its toes and push them through their skin to create the spikes, Southern Japan’s Otton Frog possess their own distinctive retractable sharps hidden within a false thumb.

Truly, these frogs once again beat the record that not all beasts are visibly humongous and obvious. (Source)

#8. This Headless Chicken lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off.

While most cockroaches can live to about a certain number of days without its head, this headless chicken has made us all baffled for being alive for 18 months!

Rumor has it that Mike, the headless chicken, may be the lost pet of the legendary Headless Horseman in the fictional novel Sleepy Hollow! However, as many would think that this story is a hoax, it is disturbingly true.

Apparently, it was on 10 September 1945 when Fruita, Colorado farmer Lloyd Olsen axed the head of his five-and-a-half-month-old cockerel named Mike for supper, but to his surprise ended up with a headless chicken on the loose. The hometown celebrity turned worldwide phenomenon was lucky enough to live for 18 months thanks to a missed vital jugular vein that drains blood from the head, brain, face and neck, transmitting it to the heart. To add, most of his brain and ears remained completely intact. (Source)

#9. Sorry to burst your bubble but he is not Elsa the Queen of Ice.

Much as a lot of people got hooked up with the movie Frozen, many are thinking if the movie originated from this special frog that has the gift to be solidly frozen during winter months, defrost during spring and still manage to look brand new.

Although the frog’s unique characteristic is close to impossible, the urea accumulated in their tissues is responsible for their ability to freeze. Once the liver glycogen is converted to glucose in large quantities and combined with urea, the resulting compound act as cryoprotectants. This then limits the amount of ice that is formed and, in turn, reduce osmotic shrinkage of cells. (Source)
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#10. They may have a strong personality but their coat makes them adorable!

Let’s face it – dogs are man’s best friends not just for their intelligence and wits, but also for their irresistibly charming looks!

One good example is a Siberian Husky which may have a very fierce look but a huggable fur that can withstand temperatures from -58 to -76 degrees Fahrenheit. Apparently, the coats of these winter wanderers are made up of two layers—first with a thick undercoat and second with a longer topcoat comprising of both short and straight guard hairs. (Source)

#11. Mystique may be X-Men’s most controversial fictional character but wait until you witness how this octopus dazzles your imagination.

As mimicry is their game, they are fondly known as the Mimic Octopus. Not only can they transform into any shape that will threaten any sea creature approaching them, they can also shape themselves into 15 different animals – including the snake, stingray, lionfish and furry turkey. (Source)

#12. This pretty much explains why they are called the King of the dessert!

Ever watched Mummy Returns? Have you ever wondered why scorpions always seem to survive the deadly sands of the desert? Well, that’s because scorpions can survive up to a year without eating anything.

Researches show that their adaptability to the arid environment in the desert is made possible by three factors: they have slow metabolic rates, they have organs called the “hepatopancreas” that functions as their liver and pancreas and they can eat literally beyond their size!

No wonder they can eat up anything they want whenever and however they want! OUCH! (Source)

#13. Imagine a world with the absence of poison. Not possible? It is now!

Centuries ago, a lot of cases remained unresolved and considered taboo just because no acceptable cure has been found. Today, however, as science continues to advance, new discoveries are made and one of them is the mysterious yet envious ability of the opossum to neutralize almost any kind of poison, including those it has not yet encountered.

Thanks to the findings of the Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins, their studies proved that the American Opossum is actually capable of generating a protein called the Lethal Toxin-Neutralizing Factor (LTNF) that is solely responsible for neutralizing the poison.

Who knows, years from now, humanity too can benefit from thee opposum’s special ability. (Source)

#14. Although it may appear as a sheep at first sight, you would not believe what it actually is! Haha!

For anybody who loves meat, this creature may simply look like a stout sheep. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is actually a Hungarian breed of domestic pig called “Mangalitsa” that has a very thick layer of coat, making it resemble a sheep.

Crossbreeding was considered unethical in the old times, until the 19th century when agriculture further developed through time and it slowly became acceptable. The “Mangalitsa”, also acceptably spelled as “Mangalica”, then became popular, crossbreeding the traditional Hungarian Bakonyi and Szalontai breeds with imported Sumadia pigs from Serbia.

To date, the only natural breed of sheep-like pig but has since become extinct is the England’s Lincolnshire Curly Coat pigs. (Source)

#15. Believe it or not, these galloping crocodiles ruled even the largest predators dominating the Earth!

Although dinosaurs were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for 135 million years, researches and further studies show that the moderate to immediate extinction of dinosaurs began when galloping crocodiles started to roam the Earth.

With their sharp tusks and snouts, they were no doubt the nightmare for the long lost beasts of Jurassic period. To date, at least five of such hunters were believed to be found in the remote and rocky regions of Morocco and Niger while some were believed to be tracked down in Africa.

The web of life has always been an interesting topic. However, one can only be thankful for the evolution that the world has gone through. (Source)

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