The article discusses fascinating animal abilities that defy conventional understanding of physics. Examples include:
1. Wild goats that can climb steep rocks with ease, thanks to their unique hooves with hard edges and soft soles.
2. Kestrels that can hover in the air by using wind currents.
3. Rock-climbing gobies that can swim vertically along walls using suckers in their mouths and bellies.
4. Thorny devils that can collect moisture from wet sand through microscopic grooves on their skin.
5. Sperm whales that can dive to great depths without being crushed by pressure, thanks to their collapsible lungs and special proteins.
6. Oriental hornets that can harness solar energy through yellow stripes on their bodies.
7. African crested rats that can cover themselves in poison by chewing on toxic plants.
8. Echidnas that can sleep through fires by hibernating in protected locations.
9. Pygmy geckos that can run on water due to their hydrophobic skin and tiny size.
10. Grebes that can sprint along the surface of the water at high speeds during mating rituals.
These examples showcase the incredible adaptability and diversity of animal abilities, often blurring the lines between what is thought to be physically possible.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Wild goats can climb steep rocks and no predator will follow them.
2. Mountain goats lick rocks that contain salt and other minerals.
3. The secret to wild goats' ability to climb lies in their hooves.
4. The hooves of wild goats have a hard edge and a soft sole.
5. The soft sole of a wild goat's hoof conforms to the shape of the rock.
6. The hard edge of a wild goat's hoof traps the rock, making it nearly impossible for the hoof to slide.
7. Pack goats are used for hiking and can carry loads without needing a smooth path.
8. Kestrels can hover in the air, relying on the wind to cancel out their forward movement.
9. Kestrels can appear to be stuck in the air, creating an optical illusion.
10. Rock climbing gobies can swim vertically along walls.
11. Rock climbing gobies use their mouth and belly to climb rocks.
12. Young rock climbing gobies deliberately relocate their mouth to the downward position to eat algae.
13. Thorny devils can collect moisture from wet sand without moving.
14. Thorny devils have a network of microscopic grooves in their skin that can pull water into their mouth.
15. Sperm whales can dive up to 1.2 miles deep and feel great.
16. Sperm whales can collapse their lungs during a dive to avoid damage from pressure.
17. Sperm whales have a special protein that allows them to store oxygen in their muscles.
18. Oriental hornets can absorb solar energy and are powered by the sun.
19. Oriental hornets have a yellow pigment called xanthopteryn that converts light into electrical energy.
20. The current generated by an oriental hornet can reach 700 nano amps.
21. Crested rats are the only known toxic rodents.
22. Crested rats chew the branches of a plant called echocanthera shimperi and then spit it back out to create a toxic substance.
23. The toxic substance from the plant is absorbed by the fur on a crested rat's flanks.
24. Echidnas are not afraid of fire and can sleep through natural disasters like fires.
25. Echidnas can survive high temperatures, up to 138 degrees Fahrenheit.
26. Pygmy geckos from the Amazon rainforest are tiny and have super skin that prevents water from sticking to them.
27. Pygmy geckos can run on the surface of water because they are tiny, light, and hydrophobic.
28. Western and Clark's grebes can sprint along the surface of the water at a speed of about 20 steps per second.
29. Grebes can travel up to 66 feet in seven seconds on water.
30. Grebes' paws are wide enough to slap the water with enough force to support up to 55% of the bird's weight.