To cut it in the animal kingdom, you have to be tough—really tough. From withstanding brutal climates to fending off ferocious predators, surviving in the wild is no small feat.
But a few cunning creatures have developed interesting traits and habits to stay in the game. Here are some of the most genetically gifted, physically freakish, and just all-around coolest animals in the world.
Snails have a crazy sleep schedule
Snails are all over the map when it comes to sleep. We’ll define them as manic. They may nap for several hours, then stay awake for sessions of 30 hours or more. On the flip side, they have crazy hibernation periods. They can snooze for periods of up to three years, a survival instinct for when they feel the need to self-preserve.
Owls can twist their heads 270 degrees
These birds have the insane ability to swivel their heads in almost a full circle thanks to their flexibility and the fact that their heads are only connected by one socket pivot. Researchers at Johns Hopkins also found that owls have backup arteries, so when they turn their heads at extreme angles, they’re still getting blood and nutrients when their blood vessels are cut off during turning.
African Lungfish can survive out of water for a year
When the African Lungfish feels it’s in a life-threatening situation, it secretes a mucus cocoon and burrows itself up to nine inches under the soil, where it gets air through its lung via a built-in breathing tube that leads to the surface. It then relies on rainwater to breathe.
Electric eels can transmit a shock between 600 and 800 Volts
That’s enough electricity to kill a horse. And while it might not be enough to kill you instantly, it’s enough to knock you out and leave you to drown. Another nasty note: If you’re shocked by one, it burns your skin.
Stonefish are the most poisonous fish in the world
The stonefish produces intense vasoconstriction. If you’re stung by one, it can cause shock, paralysis, malaise, nausea and vomiting, sweating, delirium, pyrexia, cardiogenic shock, respiratory distress, and even death if it’s not treated within a few hours by anti-venom. If you do survive, the symptoms can last a long time, from days to weeks, and full recovery may take many months.
Whale Sharks use their 4,000 teeth…to eat veggies
At over 25 tons, the whale shark is the second largest fish in the world, and yet it’s fueled mostly by plankton, plants, and algae. It has over 4,000 teeth, but it’s a filter feeder. It collects food through a technique called “cross-flow filtration,” similar to some bony fish and baleen whales.
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