In Australia, Black Kites, known as “Firehawks,” spread fires by carrying burning twigs in their beaks and talons. They drop these twigs in new areas to start fires, which drive out insects and small animals for them to hunt.
68/70 Panda moms abandon one twin; zookeepers rotate cubs for care.
About half of panda births result in twins, but panda mothers typically abandon one cub. Zookeepers manage this by rotating the cubs every few hours, ensuring the mother cares for both.
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67/70 Cicadas’ jet-stream urine sprays intruders, faster than elephants or humans.
Researchers discovered that cicadas use their jet-stream urine to deter intruders, and people have reported being sprayed by these insects. In the study, cicadas urinated with two to three times the force and speed of elephants and humans. This unique ability helps them efficiently excrete the large volumes of fluid they consume from tree sap.
66/70 Hammerheads see 360 degrees vertically, always spotting prey and predators.
Hammerhead sharks can see all around in the vertical plane, constantly monitoring the space above and below them, thanks to their distinctive head shape.
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65/70 Crocodiles swallow stones for deeper, longer dives.
Fossilization is an exceptionally rare event, with conditions favoring organisms with hard parts like bones or shells. It’s estimated that less than 0.1% of all species that ever lived have been preserved as fossils, often requiring rapid burial and specific sediment types to prevent decay.
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64/70 Cicadas are the loudest insects on the planet.
The African cicada called Brevisana brevis is the loudest of them all. It produces an alarm call with a mean sound pressure level of 106.7 decibels at a distance of 50cm. That is almost as loud as a chainsaw!
Owls are known to fly so silently that they don’t make a noise. No noise could be captured even when the flight of the owls was tested in a room with multiple microphones.
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62/70 The Unique Life Cycle of the Barramundi Fish
Army ants sometimes mistakenly follow chemical trails from other ants, leading them to endlessly walk in circles. This phenomenon is called “spiral” or “ant milling,” and if too many ants join in, it may even result in the entire colony being wiped out.
