A camel does not store water in its hump. The hump is a mound of fatty tissue that the camel can draw from for energy when food is scarce.
Camels don’t really “spit”. It’s more like they throw up stomach contents along with saliva to surprise whatever is bothering it.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-camel.html
[Stated “fact”: Frogs can breathe through their butts.] I guess you could say that they can. And I quote… “An extensive network of blood vessels runs throughout the frog's skin. Oxygen can pass through the membranous skin, thereby entering directly into the blood. When a frog submerges beneath the water, all its respiration takes place through the skin. Oxygen is obtained directly from the water.” That would be cutaneous breathing.
http://www.lookd.com/frogs/anatomy.html
Frogs seem to blink when they swallow because they are using their eyeballs to help push the food down their throat. Really…
http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/mainstory/frogstory2.html
Toads are just frogs that “generally” have dryer, warty skin and shorter hind legs.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/mainstory/frogstory2.html
The Latin name for porcupine means “quill pig” – and no, the porcupine can’t throw or “shoot” its quills as folks believed a long time ago. The quills do detach rather easily though.
http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/porcupine.html
No, camels do not have three eyelids as you may have read. They have one – plus a clear nictitating membrane (which is sort of like an eyelid) that can protect their eyes while still allowing them to see.
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-camel.html
[Stated “fact”: Chocolate can kill dogs. It affects their heart and nervous system.] True, but a lot depends on the type and amount of chocolate and the weight and physical condition of the dog. Average toxicity levels are around:
1 ounce per once pound of body weight of milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight of semi-sweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight of baker’s chocolate
So… as far as the chocolate is concerned, a couple of M&M’s once in a while probably won’t hurt a thing. (He/she may get the drizzly squirts though, so it’s up to you…)
http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa020401b.htm
http://www.transportcafe.co.uk/dogchocolate.html
While we’re on the subject, you should know that poinsettias are not especially dangerous to your dog or cat. If eaten, they may cause vomiting or diarrhea but that’s probably about the worst it will get. For more info on this and other potential pet dangers, go to:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_dyk#15
Musk oxen have no musk glands and are not oxen. They are most closely related to goats and sheep.
Qiviut – the extremely fine under-wool of the musk ox – is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool by weight and is hand knitted by Alaska natives into beautifully patterned garments.
Tapirs and rhinoceroses have three hooves (or toes) on each foot… unlike horses that only have one hoof – or cattle, deer, sheep, etc. that have two.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/eutheria/ungulate.html
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
http://sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-crocodile.html
Because they store fat in their tails, a large adult crocodile can go as long as two years without eating.
http://sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-crocodile.html
Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
http://www.animaland.org/asp/askazula/tigers.asp
http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/skin2.html
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear – and can move each ear independently of the other. OK - for those of you who tend to be picky, the muscles aren't IN the ear but they are certainly attached to it.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_pets_care_health/article/0,1801,HGTV_3152_1380540,00.html
Every cat’s nose pad is different – like a human fingerprint.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_pets_care_health/article/0,1801,HGTV_3152_1380540,00.html
Cats can not intentionally extend or retract their claws. It just happens when the paws are stretched out and tendons raise the claw so it protrudes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat
Cats can not taste sugary foods.
http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0010003
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only
have about 10.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat
An elephant’s trunk can contain 150,000 muscles. OK, some references put the muscle count at 40,000, others show 100,000. Any way you look at it, it's still a lot of muscles. I'd hate to try to count 'em!
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azeleph.html
An elephant uses its ears to help control body
temperature. Flapping helps cool the blood circulating through the
large blood vessels in its ears.
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azeleph.html
Tigers are the largest species of cat. The male Siberian tiger can weigh up to 675 lbs.
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/tiger/physical-characteristics.htm
Basenji – a breed of dog – can’t really bark. It can make a variety of other noises though. Would you believe yodel…?
http://www.basenjiclub.com/?q=node/5
The West African goliath frog is the world’s biggest frog. Its body can be up to a foot long.
http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/strange/big.html
The Anaconda is considered to be the world’s largest snake. It can grow to be 29 ft. long and weigh up to 550 lbs. The Reticulated python may grow to be longer, but it won’t be as heavy proportionally. (One report from 1944, documents an Anaconda over 37 ft. long.)
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/anaconda.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda
The Fierce Snake found in Australia, has the most powerful venom of any snake in the world. A single bite can contain enough venom to kill 100 humans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fierce_Snake
The largest venomous snake in the world is the king cobra which can grow to lengths of 18.5 ft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cobra
There are only two kinds of alligators – American and Chinese. The Chinese guy is smaller and not very dangerous. The American alligator can grow up to 19 feet long and eat your ass if it wants.
Note: Unfortunately, the Chinese alligator is disappearing fast. There are only about 150 individuals remaining in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/alligatorfund.html
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2002
South Florida is the only place in the world where you can find both alligators and crocodiles.
http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/compare.htm
Copyright 2006, etc., etc. by fairlyuselessfacts.com. All rights reserved.