Wild Animals
True or False: Ostriches hide their heads in the sand when scared.
False: They dig holes for their eggs and reach down to turn them.
True or False: Dogs can only see in black and white.
False: Dogs can see colors, but they see fewer colors than humans. They mainly see blues and yellows.
True or False: Sharks must keep swimming or they will die.
False: While some sharks need to swim to breathe, many sharks can rest of the ocean floor and still breathe just fine.
True or False: All bears sleep through the entire winter without ever waking up.
False: Bears take long winter naps but sometimes wake up to look for food.
True or False: Cats always land on their feed when they fall.
False: While cats are very good at landing on their feet, they can't always do it, especially from short heights or awkward positions.
True or False: All dolphins live in the ocean.
False: Some dolphins live in rivers! River dolphins can be found in places like the Amazon River.
Who do chameleons really change colors? Is it to match their surroundings or for something else?
They change color mainly to control their body temperature and to communicate with other chameleons.
Will touching a baby bird makes it mother abandon it?
False: Birds have a poor sense of smell and won't abandon their babies if humans touch them. However, it's best to leave baby birds alone unless they are in danger.
Do octopuses have nine brains?
True! Octopuses have one main brain and eight additional mini-brains, one in each arm, that help control their movements.
People say elephants never forget. Is this true, and how good is their memory really?
They have very good memories, but they don't remember everything forever. They are good at remembering paths to food and water.
Do hamsters store food in their cheeks to eat later?
True: Hamsters have special pouches in their cheeks that they use to carry food back to their nests. These pouches can stretch to be quite large!
People say electric eels can produce enough electricity to power a house. Is this true?
False! While electric eels can produce a powerful shock (up to 860 volts), they can't generate enough consistent electricity to power a house. Their shock is for hunting and defense.
Some people think porcupines can shoot their quills at predators. What really happens?
Porcupines cannot shoot their quills. The quills detach easily when touched and can get stuck in predators.
Some people think goldfish only have a 3-second memory. How long can they really remember things?
Goldfish can remember things for months and can even learn to recognize their owners and perform tricks.
Some people think lobsters are immortal and can live forever. Is this true?
False! While lobsters continue to grow throughout their lives and don't die of old age the same way humans do, they aren't immortal. They eventually die from disease, predators, or exhaustion from molting.