Animals
Is it True There are No Snakes in Ireland?
Many people believe there are no snakes in Ireland but is it really true? Researchers have been exploring whether Ireland really has no snakes. So, is it true that there are no snakes in Ireland? Yes, it turns out there are no snakes in Ireland but perhaps not for the reason many assume. Why do people believe there are no snakes in Ireland? People have long suspected that there are no snakes in Ireland and it turns out, they’re right. But the reason why there are no snakes in Ireland may be different than what most people believe. The highly popular legend of Saint Patrick describes how the fifth century missionary brought Christianity to Ireland. In addition to ridding the Emerald Isle of paganism, Saint Patrick is also credited with driving out all snakes. The legend of Saint Patrick is ...
Is it True That Scorpions Travel in Pairs?
Do Scorpions travel in pairs? Many species do travel in pairs while they hunt for food or search for shelter. Some also travel in pairs and migrate to a completely different location. Is this true for Scorpions? Do they also travel in pairs? Scorpions are misunderstood. They aren’t as mean and aggressive as people think. For the most part they are quiet creatures just looking for a bite to eat. They like to hunt at night and often do end up inside someone’s home – but are the Scorpions there in pairs? Should a homeowner know that where there is one there is two? The answer isn’t that simple. Since their are many different species of Scorpions it would be hard to say that they all travel in pairs. In fact, there are so many differences between the species th...
Is it True That All Dogs Descend From Wolves?
After snuggling your pooch, it may be hard to believe that all dogs descend from Wolves. It may not be that far from the truth, but the truth about whether or not dog descend from wolves isn’t as black and white as one may think. In fact, the more fossils that are discovered keep telling us more and more about where our furry friends come from. New information has helped researchers understand much more about where dogs came from, if dogs descended from wolves and how humans and dogs first teamed up. Prior to the most recent evidence it was believed that the domesticated dogs we have in our homes descended from the gray wolf. In keeping with that theory, it was thought the split in the genetic line from wolves to dogs happened about 16,000 years ago. But one ancient wolf bone fou...
Is it True That Elephants Never Forget?
We’ve all heard that elephants never forget. Researchers and scientists have been studying elephant behavior and their memory for many years. What they have found out tells us that elephants do actually forget some things. But when it comes to what they need to remember to survive threatening conditions, their memories are incredible. It’s not uncommon for intelligent mammals to have great memory recall for negative experiences and it seems that elephant brains are no different. Even more fascinating is that evidence shows elephants are able to feel a wide range of emotions that are very similar to humans. Researchers found that what makes elephants feel these emotions is a complex neural network that could also be responsible for why they never forget. Is it true that eleph...
Is it True That Armadillos Carry Leprosy?
When people began to say that Armadillos carry leprosy, no one thought to outright question the myth. At the time that the idea first started, it was commonly known that many animals carried diseases that were transmitted to humans. It seemed that leprosy was just another to add to this list. But is it true that Armadillos carry leprosy and if so, can they infect humans? It’s been know for a few years that Armadillos were carriers of leprosy. According to scientists, they are the only animal other than humans that can host the bacteria that causes leprosy. It’s important to talk about exactly why because it does tell us a bit about the bacteria and the likelihood of it’s transmission. It’s believed, although not proven, that Armadillos carry leprosy because of ...
Is it True That 99.9% of All Species Are Extinct?
According to estimations about 99.9% of all species are extinct. Scientists have no way of confirming how many species of animals have lived and are living because there just simply is too many. Even knowing what we know about how fossils are created and the extinction rate of current species, there is no way to be sure about how many species are extinct. However, using information gathered by paleontologists and the history of evolution, it’s been estimated that 99.9% of all species are extinct. That’s not all of the species living here on the Planet today. It’s actually of all the species who have lived on Earth at all. Knowing that life has somehow survived thru 5 mass extinctions, Scientists hypothesized how many species there could have been based on what they kn...
Is it True That Smaller Scorpions are More Poisonous?
A common belief people have is that smaller Scorpions are more poisonous. While the size of the Scorpion can be tied to how much damage it can do, Scorpions aren’t poisonous. Scorpions, like all organisms that bite or sting to inject toxins, are actually venomous. Poisonous organisms release toxins when they are eaten or absorbed by touching the skin. Equally false to the myth about smaller Scorpions being more poisonous is the myth that they are aggressive and deadly. Scorpions aren’t as liberal with their stingers as many people believe. And they prefer to sting prey, not humans. They are more likely to pinch or run when seeing humans. However, myths like the one about smaller Scorpions being more poisonous, have led people to be terrified of them. Like most things, no...
Is it True That All Calico Cats Are Female?
To find out if all calico cats are female it’s best to consult with someone who knows about cat genetics. Simply put, there are some male calico cats, but most often calico cats are female. Why it’s this way is purely about numbers and how cat genes get passed down. Are all calico cats female? No. There are male calico cats but they are unusual. According to the founder of the Calico Cat Registry International, 1 out of every 3,000 calico kittens are male. So why do people believe that all calico cats are female? According to veterinarians, it’s likely because male calico cats technically aren’t possible without a genetic mutation, so to speak. In fact, because of the way genetics work in cats – male calico cats usually have an extra pair of chromosomes....
Is it True That Dogs Are Colorblind?
People have believed that dogs are colorblind for years but is it really true? Some researchers have been exploring exactly what dogs and other animals can see. Does that mean that dogs are colorblind? No, but it turns out they do see the world very different than humans do. Why do people think that dogs are colorblind? The first time it was recorded that dogs are colorblind was in the late 1930s. Will Judy, a writer and dog enthusiast, wrote a book called “Training the Dog.” Inside it he wrote,”It’s likely that all the external world appears to them as varying highlights of black and gray.” The them being dogs in this context. It went mostly unquestioned for the next 30 years and seemed to be confirmed in the ’60s when scientists said that only humans a...
Is it True That Elephants Are Afraid of Mice?
Why do people believe elephants are afraid of mice? Some say it’s because the image is a common sight in cartoons and other media. Often what viewers see is a large and mighty elephant cowering in the corner as a mouse scurries by. It’s a funny picture, an animal weighing thousands of pounds terrified of a teeny-tiny mouse – but is it likely? Some elephant experts have weighed in on this myth and it seems that elephants could actually be afraid of mice. Where did the myth about elephants being afraid of mice come from? Sources have traced this myth all the way back to about 77 AD and ancient Greek folklore. According to the local fable, a mouse once climbed up inside an elephant’s trunk and “drove him crazy.” Upon first thought, it would seem that m...
Is it True that Cats Have Nine Lives?
As the old wives tale goes, cats have nine lives. Is it really true that cats have 9 lives or is it just a myth passed down from generation to generation? The truth is – cats do not have nine lives. Sadly, they are just as mortal as the rest of us and only have one life, that will inevitably end. While it isn’t necessarily true, the saying about cats having more than one life spans across cultures. Admittedly, in some cultures the myth claims that cats have 6 or 7 lives. In spite of this differentiation, most people will still answer 9 when asked how many lives a cat has. Do cats have nine lives? Some people do believe that cats live more than one life because they are reincarnations. Cats have been portrayed in movies and on the television to have more than one life as we...
