NATURE'S SURPRISES

Which reptile cannot stick out its tongue? 10 rare animal traits

Credit: Nandhu Kumar

Although humans have been studying wildlife for centuries, its wonders continue to surprise us. Whether with the discovery of new species or with new details about the familiar ones, nature always catches our curiosity. Our planet is full of incredible creatures with abilities you never imagined. If you want to feel like an expert in your next science conversation, read on. Today, we'll tell you these 10 amazing wildlife facts that'll totally blow your mind!

Credit: James Wainscoat

Have you ever seen a bird flying backward? Chances are you said no, and there's a reason for that: While some other birds can make small backward movements, hummingbirds are the only birds with the superpower of sustaining flight in that direction.

This ability is due to the structure of their wings. Equipped with a rotator cuff, hummingbirds enjoy the freedom to move in all directions. In addition, their wings can perform an 8-shaped movement that, combined with their flapping speed, allows them to hover in a fixed spot.

Credit: Pedro J Conesa

Can you imagine being able to regenerate parts of your body? (Actually, you can, but only the liver). If, unfortunately, you severely injure your toe, you won't be able to replace it with a new one naturally. Surprisingly, some animals can.

The salamander is one of them. This cute amphibian has the amazing ability to regenerate body tissue and limbs. In some extraordinary cases, certain species can even regrow organs. The X-men should consider recruiting these incredible creatures!

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Pests in the house can be a headache. Some insects are a real challenge in terms of control, and among them, cockroaches stand out as one of the more problematic enemies.

These little critters have survived and evolved for more than 300 million years. What's more, they have a creepy talent straight out of a horror movie: they can live headless for weeks. Believe it or not, a cockroach can do that mainly because it doesn't breathe through its head but through tiny holes in its body.

Bonus fact: even after being detached, the head lives for a while, too!

Credit: Michael Chambers

Ever find yourself rolling your eyes when something's just too much? It's like a reflex, right? Unfortunately, poor owls can't make this move.

With their huge eyes, these birds don't have eyeballs like us. Instead, theirs are tube-shaped. This tubular design improves their vision to make them incredible hunters. But this also has a small drawback: They can't rotate their eyes in different directions.

However, these wise birds compensate for this disadvantage with the impressive ability to rotate their necks 270 degrees!

Credit: Julie Wolpers

Is there anything more adorable than a baby sucking its thumb? Maybe there is: a baby elephant sucking its trunk!

These nice giants have many things in common with humans. Like us, they're also mammals, and their babies are born with a sucking reflex to feed on their mother's milk. Surprisingly, they suck their trunks for the same reasons human babies do, to feel relief and comfort.

Their trunks are like our hands since they function as their main tool for eating, drinking, socializing, and, as we just saw, being really cute.

Credit: Jamie Street

Not everything here is about wild or exotic animals. Your pet also has some features to impress you.

While we humans have only two eyelids - cause, you know, we don't need more - dogs have three. In addition to the upper and lower eyelids, they have a third one that we can't see. It's located in the inner corner of your pup's eye, producing tears and adding extra protection against scratches and threats. It's called a nictitating membrane and is actually present in most animals.

We bet the next time you see a dog, you won't look at it with the same eyes.

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What is your favorite dish? Ah, just imagining it makes your mouth water, doesn't it? Well, butterflies can't say the same.

These colorful little insects taste with their feet. That's where their "taste buds" are located, which are like sugar sensors.

Just like butterflies, other insects do this, too. Remember that gesture flies make when they rub their feet? It may look like they're hatching an evil plan, but they're actually just testing their meal.

Credit: Cameron Webb

When you think of the most dangerous animals, terrifying beasts such as crocodiles, lions, or snakes might come to mind. However, in this case, the threat comes in a very small package.

Don't let its tiny size fool you! The mosquito may be small, but it is the most dangerous creature for humans.

Beyond being annoying, these insects can spread potentially lethal diseases with a simple bite. But don't worry, you just need a good insect repellent to face this little villain.

Credit: Sebastien Varin

It's not all about super abilities here. There are some distinctive features that, at first glance, may seem like disadvantages. Take the crocodile's tongue, for instance.

These scary animals, with their imposing size, have something special: they can't stick out their tongues. That's right, crocodiles have their tongues fixed in place, unlike other reptiles.

While it might appear to be a drawback, this peculiarity serves a purpose. It keeps the crocodile's tongue safe when it rapidly opens and closes its jaw during hunting.

Credit: Christina Victoria Craft

At times, your day is disrupted by irritating noises. Loud music when you're trying to sleep, a construction site soundtrack while you're working, or the repetitive barking of a neighbor's dog can be good examples.

But here's a noise-maker you might not be familiar with: the howler monkey, considered the world's loudest land animal. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the howler monkey's vocalizations can be heard from 3 miles away!

While its appearance may be cute, the howler monkey's grunts are far from friendly.

IDIOM ADVENTURES

8 Idioms And Expressions That Will Leave You Speechless

Credit: Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While some idioms are as familiar as old friends, others lurk in the linguistic shadows, waiting for their moment in the spotlight. These idioms might be rare guests in our everyday repertoire. Still, their colorful histories and unique imagery serve as potent reminders that the challenges people encounter today often echo those faced centuries ago. In this exploration, we unveil eight rare gems that may raise eyebrows, tickle your fancy, and perhaps even inspire you enough to include them in your next conversation.

Credit: Jon Toney

Meaning: To make something difficult.

This idiom takes us back to the days when wagon wheels had wooden spokes. Inserting a spoke would jam the wheel, causing chaos for the unsuspecting traveler. Unfortunately, you can still experience the same thing with a bicycle (don’t try it!).

Today, using this phrase signifies throwing a wrench into someone's plans, causing an unexpected obstacle.

Credit: James Lee

Meaning: To do whatever it takes to achieve something.

Hailing from Scotland, this idiom refers to the ancient practice of fashioning spoons out of cattle or sheep horns. It means that you are so determined to accomplish your objectives that unwittingly ruining something in the process—or even failing completely—is part of the cost you are willing to pay. You might want to question, though, if you really need that spoon so badly.

Credit: Aziz Acharki

Meaning: To be two-faced or deceiving.

This expression is actually one of the many represented in the famous painting Netherlandish Proverbs by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (pictured at the beginning of this article). Among the many curious characters that inhabit the oil painting, a keen eye can spot a lady carrying a bucket of water in one hand and a hot ember on the end of a metal tong in the other.

Credit: Michal Bar Haim

Meaning: To be born out of wedlock.

In the olden days, a child born out of wedlock was deemed quite scandalous, as bearing children outside the institution of marriage was considered illegitimate. Many parents would have terrible headaches just thinking about the possibility of their children engaging in this kind of behavior. As a curiosity, the word wedlock is a thirteenth-century way to say "marriage," from the Old English root word wedlac or "marriage vow."

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Meaning: To know how to better benefit yourself.

This idiom has roots tracing back to the mid-1500s. Its essence lies in the wisdom of discerning one's best interests—recognizing where to channel efforts for personal gain, understanding advantageous choices, and identifying those who can be of help. The metaphor refers to the notion that the buttered side of the bread is undoubtedly the best part of it (even in an allegorical bread, apparently), and that identifying the most advantageous aspects of a situation is much like savoring the richness of the buttered side in the realm of life's choices.

Credit: Mario Heller

Meaning: To submit passively to a reprimand or punishment.

An old English proverb, this one refers to the act of yielding without resistance, tamely surrendering to someone else, or a difficult situation, as if you were bowing your head to be washed. It sometimes appears in literature as "to put one’s beard to the washing," but the meaning is unchanged.

Credit: Cody Wingfield

Meaning: To force yourself to do something unpleasant.

Biting the bullet is a metaphor used to depict a situation where an unavoidable impending hardship is acknowledged, and a decision is made to staunchly endure the associated pain. This metaphor draws its inspiration from the practice of providing soldiers with an object to clench in their teeth before a painful surgical procedure on the battlefield. This phrase was first recorded by Rudyard Kipling as "bite on the bullet," in his 1891 novel The Light that Failed.

Credit: Markus Spiske

Meaning: To make peace.

To bury the hatchet means to end all hostilities. The expression originated in the symbolic—and sometimes literal—practice of burying or caching weapons in times of peace among Native Americans. The custom is notably associated with the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy and was prevalent in Iroquois traditions.