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FALSE: A Duck’s quack doesn't echo
OK, a duck’s quack does echo. It’s as simple as that. Just the notion that this particular sound -- out of all the noises in the world -- would not be capable of producing an echo under any circumstances is ludicrous. Moreover, a duck’s echo isn't a universal thing. There are different species of ducks out there and they make different noises (and they all echo). The echo is a little faint and ducks usually hang around open spaces so their echo is not something you would typically hear in nature but, still, it’s just a sound like any other. There is nothing special about it. If you have access to a duck, feel free to test it out by yourself. Take the duck into a bathroom and get it quacking.
OK, a duck’s quack does echo. It’s as simple as that. Just the notion that this particular sound -- out of all the noises in the world -- would not be capable of producing an echo under any circumstances is ludicrous. Moreover, a duck’s echo isn't a universal thing. There are different species of ducks out there and they make different noises (and they all echo). The echo is a little faint and ducks usually hang around open spaces so their echo is not something you would typically hear in nature but, still, it’s just a sound like any other. There is nothing special about it. If you have access to a duck, feel free to test it out by yourself. Take the duck into a bathroom and get it quacking.
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FALSE: Lemmings are suicidal
Basically, the idea that lemmings commit suicide by hurling themselves off cliffs is false. Lemmings are real and adorable and not suicidal. Local population levels can dramatically change though as some species of lemming may migrate in large groups when their density becomes too great. The suicide myth was fueled by a 1958 Academy Award-winning documentary that showed the lemmings leaping to their deaths, but the scene was later revealed to have been staged.
Basically, the idea that lemmings commit suicide by hurling themselves off cliffs is false. Lemmings are real and adorable and not suicidal. Local population levels can dramatically change though as some species of lemming may migrate in large groups when their density becomes too great. The suicide myth was fueled by a 1958 Academy Award-winning documentary that showed the lemmings leaping to their deaths, but the scene was later revealed to have been staged.
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FALSE: Bees die after they sting you
There are around 20,000 species of bee in the world, and only honey bees sting once. This is because their stinger has barbs on it and it gets lodged in the target’s skin. When the bee flies away it leaves the stinger and venom sack behind, basically ripping itself apart and dying within minutes. However, any other species of bee or wasp that has a smooth stinger can sting you as many times as it wants. Even the honey bee doesn't always die after a sting. If its target doesn't have thick skin (typically another insect) it is generally strong enough to pull out its stinger and repeat the process.
At the same time, certain species of wasps can die after stinging because they also have barbs on their stingers, albeit smaller.
There are around 20,000 species of bee in the world, and only honey bees sting once. This is because their stinger has barbs on it and it gets lodged in the target’s skin. When the bee flies away it leaves the stinger and venom sack behind, basically ripping itself apart and dying within minutes. However, any other species of bee or wasp that has a smooth stinger can sting you as many times as it wants. Even the honey bee doesn't always die after a sting. If its target doesn't have thick skin (typically another insect) it is generally strong enough to pull out its stinger and repeat the process.
At the same time, certain species of wasps can die after stinging because they also have barbs on their stingers, albeit smaller.
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FALSE: We swallow an unknown number of spiders in our sleep every year
It is completely impossible for someone to swallow a spider while you sleep, it is definitely not a common occurrence that happens multiple times each year. There is no study or scientific research to support such a claim. If you are not convinced, try to look at it from the spider’s perspective. We are not food. We are a giant predator who can kill it instantly. Why would it go in our mouths? Would you go poking around inside the mouth of a great white shark? Unless you have a tasty fly buzzing around in there, your mouth has nothing to offer to a sHoneybeepider.
It is completely impossible for someone to swallow a spider while you sleep, it is definitely not a common occurrence that happens multiple times each year. There is no study or scientific research to support such a claim. If you are not convinced, try to look at it from the spider’s perspective. We are not food. We are a giant predator who can kill it instantly. Why would it go in our mouths? Would you go poking around inside the mouth of a great white shark? Unless you have a tasty fly buzzing around in there, your mouth has nothing to offer to a sHoneybeepider.
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FALSE: Ostriches stick their heads in the sand
Just because you saw it in cartoons does not make it true. An ostrich is the biggest bird in the world. It weighs up to 320 lb (145 kg) and can run at 40 mph (70 km/h). It grows to be over 9 ft (3 m) tall and have sharp claws at the end of its feet. Essentially an ostrich is the closest thing to a living raptor you’re ever going to see. When in danger, ostriches will either run away or fight. Both are perfectly viable options for the bird. If it does fight, don’t expect a pushover. Ostriches have been known to take down lions with a well-placed kick.
The myth probably originates from the bird's defensive behaviour of lying low at the approach of trouble and pressing their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand. Ostriches also dig holes in the dirt to use as shared nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole and turns the eggs. So it also really can look like the birds are burying their heads in the sand.
Just because you saw it in cartoons does not make it true. An ostrich is the biggest bird in the world. It weighs up to 320 lb (145 kg) and can run at 40 mph (70 km/h). It grows to be over 9 ft (3 m) tall and have sharp claws at the end of its feet. Essentially an ostrich is the closest thing to a living raptor you’re ever going to see. When in danger, ostriches will either run away or fight. Both are perfectly viable options for the bird. If it does fight, don’t expect a pushover. Ostriches have been known to take down lions with a well-placed kick.
The myth probably originates from the bird's defensive behaviour of lying low at the approach of trouble and pressing their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand. Ostriches also dig holes in the dirt to use as shared nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole and turns the eggs. So it also really can look like the birds are burying their heads in the sand.
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NOTE: Turtle Vs. Tortoise
People get them mixed up all the time. The basic idea is that tortoises are land animals while turtles are water animals that only return to land to lay eggs. You can typically tell the difference between them by looking at their feet: tortoises have round, stumpy feet with claws in order to walk around while turtles have webbed feet in order to swim better. However, it should also be mentioned that this differentiation is not universal. Some parts of the world (including North America) simply use the word turtle to refer to all species. If you really want to be a smart, you can call them chelonians since that is the term that correctly refers to all species of turtles and tortoises.
People get them mixed up all the time. The basic idea is that tortoises are land animals while turtles are water animals that only return to land to lay eggs. You can typically tell the difference between them by looking at their feet: tortoises have round, stumpy feet with claws in order to walk around while turtles have webbed feet in order to swim better. However, it should also be mentioned that this differentiation is not universal. Some parts of the world (including North America) simply use the word turtle to refer to all species. If you really want to be a smart, you can call them chelonians since that is the term that correctly refers to all species of turtles and tortoises.
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FALSE: Koalas are bears
These tiny adorable marsupials from Australia are simply called koalas, not koala bears. They might look like a teddy bear, but they are not related. Koalas are marsupials (an infraclass of mammals living primarily in Australasia and the Americas), and are only distantly related to bears - we're more closely related to bears than they are!
These tiny adorable marsupials from Australia are simply called koalas, not koala bears. They might look like a teddy bear, but they are not related. Koalas are marsupials (an infraclass of mammals living primarily in Australasia and the Americas), and are only distantly related to bears - we're more closely related to bears than they are!
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FALSE: Don’t touch a baby bird because its mother will abandon it
If you ever found a tiny baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, don’t let this “fact” confuse you whether you should help or not. Birds don’t use scent to recognize their young and, even if they did, they don’t find humans so repulsive that the mere idea that you touched its young would cause it to completely abandon it.
They have a small and simple olfactory bulb, for the most part, which started this idea, combined with the fact that most birds don't exhibit any obvious behavior that suggests they're smelling. Kiwis have an excellent sense of smell, some ocean birds use smell for foraging, turkey vultures (and possibly two of their closes relatives). There's also increasing information suggesting that birds may use smell for navigation on a large scale. Turkey Vultures have the best sense of smell on earth. They can smell a dead animal from miles away.
If you come across a young bird that needs help, it’s advised that you locate the nest and put it back as fast as possible. However, it is important to be able to tell if the bird actually needs help in the first place. Young birds are typically categorized in two: nestlings and fledglings. Nestlings are really small, weak, barely covered in feathers and are not strong enough to fly or to grip stuff. They are vulnerable and need your help if they have fallen out of their nest. A fledgling, on the other hand, is basically a teenager. It has grown to the point where it is starting to explore the outside world on its own so chances are that it left the nest by choice and it doesn't need your help.
If you ever found a tiny baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, don’t let this “fact” confuse you whether you should help or not. Birds don’t use scent to recognize their young and, even if they did, they don’t find humans so repulsive that the mere idea that you touched its young would cause it to completely abandon it.
They have a small and simple olfactory bulb, for the most part, which started this idea, combined with the fact that most birds don't exhibit any obvious behavior that suggests they're smelling. Kiwis have an excellent sense of smell, some ocean birds use smell for foraging, turkey vultures (and possibly two of their closes relatives). There's also increasing information suggesting that birds may use smell for navigation on a large scale. Turkey Vultures have the best sense of smell on earth. They can smell a dead animal from miles away.
If you come across a young bird that needs help, it’s advised that you locate the nest and put it back as fast as possible. However, it is important to be able to tell if the bird actually needs help in the first place. Young birds are typically categorized in two: nestlings and fledglings. Nestlings are really small, weak, barely covered in feathers and are not strong enough to fly or to grip stuff. They are vulnerable and need your help if they have fallen out of their nest. A fledgling, on the other hand, is basically a teenager. It has grown to the point where it is starting to explore the outside world on its own so chances are that it left the nest by choice and it doesn't need your help.
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FALSE: Red makes bulls attack
In bull fighting they use red colored flag to make the bull angry and to get it to charge. However, bulls don’t attack the color red. They attack. Period. You could show them pink, green, blue or yellow with magenta polka dots and they would still charge because they are reacting to movement and noise, not to color. When a bull is placed inside an arena it finds itself in a hostile environment full of screaming people so of course it’s going to attack.
In bull fighting they use red colored flag to make the bull angry and to get it to charge. However, bulls don’t attack the color red. They attack. Period. You could show them pink, green, blue or yellow with magenta polka dots and they would still charge because they are reacting to movement and noise, not to color. When a bull is placed inside an arena it finds itself in a hostile environment full of screaming people so of course it’s going to attack.
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FALSE: You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Dogs can learn at any age. Just because a dog is approaching its more senior years doesn't mean it can't learn a new thing or two. In fact, with just minutes of regular training, even the most stubborn dog can usually learn how to sit, stay and fetch, regardless of age. The saying is meant to be taken less literally about dogs and more about people - specifically, the types who have been set in their ways for so long that changing their behavior habits would be hard.FALSE: Dogs Are Not That Intelligent
Everyone knows that dogs are intelligent, but studies have found that they’re even smarter than we think. Researchers—in a test involving human toddlers, chimps, and dogs — showed the subject two upside-down buckets, one of which had a treat underneath it. The experimenter would then gesture at the correct bucket by variously tapping it, pointing at it, nodding his head towards it, and even remaining completely frozen while just looking at it. Chimps and toddlers were pretty bad at picking the correct bucket, but learned well after a period of trial and error. But the dogs consistently chose the correct bucket, succeeding four times as often as the chimps and twice as often as the toddlers. That’s right: Fido can understand you better than your own child.
Dogs can learn at any age. Just because a dog is approaching its more senior years doesn't mean it can't learn a new thing or two. In fact, with just minutes of regular training, even the most stubborn dog can usually learn how to sit, stay and fetch, regardless of age. The saying is meant to be taken less literally about dogs and more about people - specifically, the types who have been set in their ways for so long that changing their behavior habits would be hard.FALSE: Dogs Are Not That Intelligent
Everyone knows that dogs are intelligent, but studies have found that they’re even smarter than we think. Researchers—in a test involving human toddlers, chimps, and dogs — showed the subject two upside-down buckets, one of which had a treat underneath it. The experimenter would then gesture at the correct bucket by variously tapping it, pointing at it, nodding his head towards it, and even remaining completely frozen while just looking at it. Chimps and toddlers were pretty bad at picking the correct bucket, but learned well after a period of trial and error. But the dogs consistently chose the correct bucket, succeeding four times as often as the chimps and twice as often as the toddlers. That’s right: Fido can understand you better than your own child.
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FALSE: Sheep just follow the flock and can’t think for themselves
If there’s one thing everyone knows about sheep, it’s how stupid they are. After all: if one sheep starts moving quickly, the rest of the flock will follow rather blindly. They’re generally perceived to have almost no individual instincts or motivation, and many people would rank them next to rocks in intelligence. Contrary to this common misconception, sheep are actually extremely intelligent animals. Animal scientists would rank sheep just below pigs, rodents, and monkeys. They are capable of problem solving and are considered to have a similar IQ level to cattle and are nearly as clever as pigs which can outshine dogs!
In some tests, they even come close to humans. Recent studies have found that they’re of fairly average intelligence among farm animals. They actually learn quite quickly, and can adapt to changing circumstances, create mental maps of their environment, and possibly even plan ahead. They also have very good memories and can remember the individual faces of at least 50 individual sheep and remember them for more than two years. Like various other species including humans, sheep make different vocalizations to communicate different emotions. Like us, they also display and recognize emotions by facial expressions. Sheep are known to self-medicate when they have some illnesses and will eat specific plants when ill that can cure them.
If there’s one thing everyone knows about sheep, it’s how stupid they are. After all: if one sheep starts moving quickly, the rest of the flock will follow rather blindly. They’re generally perceived to have almost no individual instincts or motivation, and many people would rank them next to rocks in intelligence. Contrary to this common misconception, sheep are actually extremely intelligent animals. Animal scientists would rank sheep just below pigs, rodents, and monkeys. They are capable of problem solving and are considered to have a similar IQ level to cattle and are nearly as clever as pigs which can outshine dogs!
In some tests, they even come close to humans. Recent studies have found that they’re of fairly average intelligence among farm animals. They actually learn quite quickly, and can adapt to changing circumstances, create mental maps of their environment, and possibly even plan ahead. They also have very good memories and can remember the individual faces of at least 50 individual sheep and remember them for more than two years. Like various other species including humans, sheep make different vocalizations to communicate different emotions. Like us, they also display and recognize emotions by facial expressions. Sheep are known to self-medicate when they have some illnesses and will eat specific plants when ill that can cure them.
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/8/8/44881767/319779.jpg?343)
FALSE: Goldfish Are Fragile
Any parent will tell you that goldfish are a great first pet for a child. They hardly need any attention, and they won’t be around for too long. Flushing a goldfish in its first week is pretty common. But it turns out that goldfish aren't as helpless as we all think. In fact, the incredible survival skills of goldfish have become something of an urban legend among those who know. One fish lived for seven hours on a stone floor (it was covered in fuzz when the owner picked it up). It turns out that when goldfish are in a low-oxygen environment, they can often slow down their bodies, much like hibernating bears in winter. When they’re returned to water their bodies speed up again, and they go right on swimming without batting an eyelid.
FALSE: Goldfish have 3 second memories
Despite Dory in Finding Nemo, goldfish do have memories longer than three seconds or seven seconds or whatever other made up number always accompanies this fact. Goldfish have been proven to have a memory span of up to three months. They can actually be trained and will remember what they learned for months. Studies on their intelligence have also shown that they can distinguish between different shapes, colors and sounds. They can also distinguish between different times of day. Other studies suggest that, like us, fish also have their own personalities. Not only that but they are socially aware and can recognize their shoal-mates. Using food as a reward, Scientists have also corrected another misconception about fish by showing that they can indeed feel pain, which has serious implications for the way we treat them.
Any parent will tell you that goldfish are a great first pet for a child. They hardly need any attention, and they won’t be around for too long. Flushing a goldfish in its first week is pretty common. But it turns out that goldfish aren't as helpless as we all think. In fact, the incredible survival skills of goldfish have become something of an urban legend among those who know. One fish lived for seven hours on a stone floor (it was covered in fuzz when the owner picked it up). It turns out that when goldfish are in a low-oxygen environment, they can often slow down their bodies, much like hibernating bears in winter. When they’re returned to water their bodies speed up again, and they go right on swimming without batting an eyelid.
FALSE: Goldfish have 3 second memories
Despite Dory in Finding Nemo, goldfish do have memories longer than three seconds or seven seconds or whatever other made up number always accompanies this fact. Goldfish have been proven to have a memory span of up to three months. They can actually be trained and will remember what they learned for months. Studies on their intelligence have also shown that they can distinguish between different shapes, colors and sounds. They can also distinguish between different times of day. Other studies suggest that, like us, fish also have their own personalities. Not only that but they are socially aware and can recognize their shoal-mates. Using food as a reward, Scientists have also corrected another misconception about fish by showing that they can indeed feel pain, which has serious implications for the way we treat them.
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FALSE: Pigs Are Stupid
Sure, an animal that spends most of its time rolling in its own feces probably won’t be the next Einstein — but what most people don’t realize is that pigs are more intelligent than they look. They can even respond to a given name within one week of birth. Researchers have pitted pigs against human toddlers in joystick-controlled video games involving object recognition and manipulation. The pigs consistently perform better than toddlers. If PIG A notices that PIG B is heading for a stash of food, PIG A will follow him to the stash and try to steal it. But PIG B isn't a complete idiot—so if he realizes that PIG A is stronger than he is, he’ll try to ditch her or lead her to a fake stockpile. The pigs are showing a theory of mind—that is, the ability to understand what other animals are thinking or desiring, a talent previously observed only in chimpanzees and dogs.
FALSE: Pigs are dirty
Pigs are actually no more dirty than any other animal. Pigs don't sweat like most animals, so they need a way to cool off. Mud holes, if available, are a wonderful way to do this. The mud absorbs the heat from the pig and transfers it to the atmosphere. If there is no mud hole near, they will use that incredibly versatile nose of theirs and root around in the dirt to scrape off the hot outer layer and reach the cooler dirt beneath. A thick layer of mud or cool dirt keeps the pig cool and bugs away. Unfortunately pigs on intensive farms are kept indoors so do not have access to a cooling and pleasurable mud bath. Pigs will designate one area of their enclosure as a 'toilet'. They will defecate and urinate in here and sleep, play, and eat in the other areas. Unlike dogs, they do this naturally, without any type of training.
Sure, an animal that spends most of its time rolling in its own feces probably won’t be the next Einstein — but what most people don’t realize is that pigs are more intelligent than they look. They can even respond to a given name within one week of birth. Researchers have pitted pigs against human toddlers in joystick-controlled video games involving object recognition and manipulation. The pigs consistently perform better than toddlers. If PIG A notices that PIG B is heading for a stash of food, PIG A will follow him to the stash and try to steal it. But PIG B isn't a complete idiot—so if he realizes that PIG A is stronger than he is, he’ll try to ditch her or lead her to a fake stockpile. The pigs are showing a theory of mind—that is, the ability to understand what other animals are thinking or desiring, a talent previously observed only in chimpanzees and dogs.
FALSE: Pigs are dirty
Pigs are actually no more dirty than any other animal. Pigs don't sweat like most animals, so they need a way to cool off. Mud holes, if available, are a wonderful way to do this. The mud absorbs the heat from the pig and transfers it to the atmosphere. If there is no mud hole near, they will use that incredibly versatile nose of theirs and root around in the dirt to scrape off the hot outer layer and reach the cooler dirt beneath. A thick layer of mud or cool dirt keeps the pig cool and bugs away. Unfortunately pigs on intensive farms are kept indoors so do not have access to a cooling and pleasurable mud bath. Pigs will designate one area of their enclosure as a 'toilet'. They will defecate and urinate in here and sleep, play, and eat in the other areas. Unlike dogs, they do this naturally, without any type of training.
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/8/8/44881767/5329701.jpg?250)
FALSE: Dog Vision - Cannot See Color
Poor dogs, forever living in their sad, monochrome worlds. Except, they don’t. Dogs do see color, but not quite like us.
Most humans see three primary colors, red blue and green. Dogs have what’s known as dichromatic color vision - similar to that of a human with red-green color-blindness, which means they can only see in greenish in bluish shades, but the rest of the color spectrum they can’t tell apart, Which they don’t mind, until you buy them a red toy and throw it into the green grass and act like they’re stupid for not finding it. It’s easy for you to see because your ancestors spent several million years foraging for red objects on a green background and so got quite good at it – unless they didn't which in that case they died – but canine eyes are not monkey eyes and to your dog, if it isn't blue it’s all the same color.
Dogs see a brighter and less detailed world when compared to humans. Peripheral vision is better than humans (dogs see more of the world), but distance is not judged quite as well. Dogs excel at night vision and the detection of moving objects.
Poor dogs, forever living in their sad, monochrome worlds. Except, they don’t. Dogs do see color, but not quite like us.
Most humans see three primary colors, red blue and green. Dogs have what’s known as dichromatic color vision - similar to that of a human with red-green color-blindness, which means they can only see in greenish in bluish shades, but the rest of the color spectrum they can’t tell apart, Which they don’t mind, until you buy them a red toy and throw it into the green grass and act like they’re stupid for not finding it. It’s easy for you to see because your ancestors spent several million years foraging for red objects on a green background and so got quite good at it – unless they didn't which in that case they died – but canine eyes are not monkey eyes and to your dog, if it isn't blue it’s all the same color.
Dogs see a brighter and less detailed world when compared to humans. Peripheral vision is better than humans (dogs see more of the world), but distance is not judged quite as well. Dogs excel at night vision and the detection of moving objects.