9 Strange and Bizarre Animal Facts

The world of animals is vast, colorful and strange in its natural perfection. We know various interesting and curious facts about animals. Yet, some of the facts related to the animal kingdom are stranger than fiction.
Trying to rank the most bizarre animal facts could be difficult. Many wild facts will make it to the top 10.

THE ELEPHANT
Several intriguing facts are related to this nice, large animal. The elephant is the only animal in the world that has four knees. It also happens to be the single animal that cannot jump. The brain of an elephant weighs four to five kilograms on the average. A newborn elephant weighs approximately 100 kilograms. Though they appear large and clumsy, elephants are really mobile. Each elephant travels about 100 kilometers per day.


THE MOOD OF THE CHAMELEON
We all know a simple fact – chameleons change their color to blend in the environment. Another fact about the animal that very few of us know is that chameleons also change their color based on mood. If they feel scared, hungry or sad, chameleons become gray. The eyes of a chameleon can move independent of each other.


HOW DO DOLPHINS SLEEP?
Did you know that while sleeping, dolphins keep one of their eyes open? Further, if a dolphin is wounded, it calls the rest for help. Other dolphins keep the wounded one close to the water surface to facilitate breathing.
THE TONGUE OF THE BLUE WHALE
The tongue of the blue whale weighs more than a fully-grown elephant. Apart from being the largest animal, the whale is the noisiest one. Blue whales are also known for having the slowest pulse out of all mammals – nine beats per minute.
THE OWL’S EYE MOVEMENT
Instead of moving its eyes, the owl turns its head.


WHY DO RATS CHEW ALL THE TIME?
Rats are forced to constantly chew. Their lower teeth have the power to grow exceptionally fast. This growth rate endangers rats, since the lower teeth could pierce through their mouths.

SCORPION FACTS
A scorpion can survive for an entire year without eating. It can glow when exposed to UV light. Another extreme fact – a scorpion can survive frozen for up to three weeks.
THE AGE OF MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are actually very ancient. Some scientists claim that dinosaurs suffered from their bites.
WHAT DO PENGUINS DRINK?
Penguins have no need for fresh water. They can drink the salty ocean water, since special glands in their bodies can separate salt from water.


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5 Awesome Yet Deadly Animals

Striking combinations of red, yellow, green and black are all too often seen wrapped around the bodies of very deadly, poisonous species. Flaunting these glaring colours is not about beauty, but actually about warning – advertising to passing predators that they either hold poison, a sting or a foul taste as a clever tactic of self protection. So let’s take a look at ten of the most vibrantly coloured and deadly species out there!

1. Deadly Glamour – the Sea Slug


Like most of its soft bodied relatives the sea slug is lacking in shell, however, its main protection against lurking predators is its exotic plumage. Composed of a diverse colouration, the warning colours display to predators the slug's remarkable capability of secreting strong acids and poisons, stored in the glands just below the skin on its back. This glamorous marine slug can be found in the sea off Japan.

2. Deadly Colours That Flip – Oriental Fire Bellied Toads


When gazing down at the fire bellied toad their colours appear more modest and calm – in fact the colours provide an example of camouflage, making the toad almost impossible to see on the rainforest floor. When this is not enough to avoid the predator's gaze, and they become threatened, the fire bellied toad flings its body into the air, flipping belly side up, throwing the gleaming red and black underside into the predators face. This is an instant warning of its poisonous glands that settle under its skin.

3. Brightly Ringed Warnings of Deadly Neurotoxins – Blue Ringed Octopus


The bright blue rings on this small octopus are a vital warning of is deadly nature. When agitated or threatened, these markings, just like a disco light, pulse a vivid and iridescent blue allowing others to see that they are ready to strike. This often puts predators and passers-by off the blue ringed octopus – escaping its deadly venomous saliva. If not clever enough to leave, this deadly saliva is capable of subduing or killing predators. This species is not alone and shares very similar characteristics with five other venomous blue ringed octopuses.

4. Toxic Skin – Poison Dart Frogs

The family of poison dart frogs are extremely popular for their vivid, bold colours that paint their slippery skin to advertise their extreme toxicity and unpleasant taste. These bright colours, and the corresponding toxicity, have developed through an evolutionary adaptation to the many predators in the rainforests of America. The reason behind this is that a lot of snakes and spiders have become resistant to the many mild toxins that thrive within the environment. Evolution has forced these poisonous dart frogs to develop stronger toxins that alternate across each species.


The most toxic species of frogs have become very confident and hunt for insects out in daylight, knowing that their extreme colourations will soon scare off predators with their toxins. These toxins have been used by the Amerindians to poison the tips of blowpipe darts. The poison of harlequin frogs inside contains a painkiller more powerful than morphine and stronger than antibiotics which protects the frogs from the disease-carrying bacteria that plague most rainforest amphibians.

5. Yellow and Blacked Striped Venomous Injection – European Hornet

One of the most famous scourges of them all is the European Hornet that so easily sends people off their backsides and feet when approached by the yellow and black stripes of the insect. Like all wasps, the hornet is protected by a powerful sting and one big enough to deter predatory birds and lizards. The bright yellow stripes are key indications of their painful sting and the capability of releasing alarm pheromones! When close to their nests these summon other hornets, resulting in predators and even humans suffering from multiple stings

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Strange hen that walks like a penguin

A strangely behaved hen has appeared in Jiang Su Province, China. The strangeness began when the hen was learning to walk, the hen’s owner noticed that it walked exactly like a Penguin – it stood straight up while walking, and forgot how to fly back to the roof-top chicken coop with the other chickens, and can only stay on the ground alone.


According to the owner, the hen was bought in the Spring, and when it was young and learning to walk stood out from the others, and now walks just like a Penguin. The more the owner watched the hen’s unique walk, the more they came to like her, and now treat the hen just like a pet.

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Bizarre and Bad Twisted Toys

Something went terribly wrong in the Toytown...

Nightmarish, deeply disturbing and bizarre toys can still be found in this world, lurking just around the corner to haunt unsuspecting children... Some people even pay money to get these products.

Continuing the series of Dolls and Toys that Creep Us Out, here is another bunch of toys to steer clear of - or on the contrary, deliberately seek them out for a nifty collection.

But first, let us celebrate creativity, and start with some neat stuff:

Wonderfully Twisted Toys

These are toys that we actually like, and will gladly add to our roster of curiosities... we may even play with them to unwind after work.

Crazy steampunk rabbit - "Woppit & Hare Clockwork Enigma" - made by Doctor A. using the customized "labbit" evil toy from Kid Robot.


Artists from Kidrobot display endless creativity in coming up with nameless monsters and kinky apparitions. Check out their catalog - here are some examples:

These balloons clearly suffer from bad design:
Hipsters' most favorite teddy bear (with all these accessories in the set, what do they need the bear for?):











For the curious kids and adults alike, there is a sci-fi styled "womb" with a developing clone inside:
Strange praying nuns (meant for bowling?)
Wonderful site Weird Toys is full of that stuff:
Not a toy! "Back to School"... solutions?! -
For really gruesome baby toys, head over here.


From Bizarre to Gruesome, to Obscene?

You think, there is nothing wrong with this rocking horse? Think again! This horse is a dead real horse, "Rocking Horse Winner" - a sculpture made from taxidermed horse, tack, wood, and rug (made by Kathrine Worel):


However, Doctor A. makes the most intense steampunkish toys - check out his site and his line up of "Mechtorians" toys!
"An Alien Clone Baby" is presented by Martin Dolan. For the grown-ups he's got a very cool deskphone, made from a spade!.. mostly (see image below right):


Like they say, this horse "activates the threshold between wonder and horror". It can be forever (undead) yours, for the price of $50,000.

Brilliant ideas:
Speaking about dogs, here is a jigsaw puzzle:


Plush Cthulhu and microbes. Get them here:


Well... in our opinion, any ugly and scary toy is better than games some families play (or played in the 1950s):
And finally, a mystery animal toy (how would you call it?) -

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