Did you know that there are birds that swim and snakes that fly?
The animal kingdom is replete with surprises. What if we told you that there are species of mice that can sing, or snakes that can fly? These may sound incredible, but they are true! Animals continue to amaze us with their strange actions and behaviours, which makes studying them so fascinating. Have you ever heard of a cat that can swim? Sounds strange because cats despise water, right? But Turkish Van cats indeed love to swim and hunt fish. Actually, some parrots can sneeze, a few octopuses can walk and some frogs can fly and the list goes on. If you wish to know more about some extraordinary animals and their amusing behaviours, keep reading!
Goats that faint
If you visit the deep South of the United States, avoid frightening the Tennessee goats, as they may faint. Yes, you read that right. After hearing a loud noise or experiencing a sudden movement, these goats turn over as their legs become stiff and they appear to have fainted. But that is not completely true. Upon a frightening stimulus (a loud noise or a bang), the muscles involved in the movement in these goats are temporarily paralysed. Thus, their legs get stiff and the animals fall over, which looks like they have fainted. This condition is hereditary and is known as myotonia congenita (muscle disorder). Usually, such an episode lasts only 5–20 seconds and causes no harm to the animal.
Birds that swim
This one is easy and you guessed it right! We are talking about penguins. Did you know that these birds cannot fly? Instead, they swim. Of the 18 species of penguins, none can fly and there is a reason for this. Flying birds have lightweight wings, whereas penguins have heavy wings with solid bones that make it difficult for them to stay airborne. When you look at a penguin, you will notice that it has short legs and a stout body. Because of this structure, they are better suited to swimming than flying. They are excellent swimmers indeed. Their flippers can even reach speeds of up to 22 metres per hour. Some penguins can even hold their breath for up to 20 minutes!
Singing mice
You might have seen mice singing in many movies. It’s not a cinematic expression altering truth for the purpose of entertainment. Mice sing in real life as well! Male mice sing to attract female partners. Unfortunately, we can’t hear them because their pitch is too high. But scientists in Austria have developed an ultrasonic microphone that can record them singing. And you’d be surprised to know that mice do not sing the same song over and over again. They know how to mix things up and have songs for every occasion. Now, that is really amazing! They can also pick up tips from other mice. Also, researchers from Duke University in North Carolina have found that when two male mice share a cage, they sing in unison! Time for a mouse musical, won’t you agree?
Flying snakes
Now that you have learned about birds that swim, get ready to know about snakes that fly! In the rainforest of Southeast Asia, there are 5 types of snakes that fling themselves from tree to tree. They appear to fly through the air by changing the shape of their bodies! But how do they do it? When a snake jumps, it flattens out its back, making it wider and forming a wave-like motion in the air. People feel as if these snakes are flying, but in true sense, they are actually gliding through air! They do it by moving their head from side to side and passing waves down the body!