We have all heard claims that camels store water in their humps, ostriches bury their heads in the sand and the classic goldfish have three second memories. But what is fact and what is fiction? To coincide with National Science & Engineering Week OneKind sets the record straight on 10 common myths about animals.
1. Goldfish have 3 second memories
This is actually far from the truth as goldfish have been proven to have a memory span of up to three months. Studies on their intelligence have also shown that they can distinguish between different shapes, colours and sounds. They can also distinguish between different times of day. Other studies suggest that, like us, fish also have their own personalities. Not only that but they are socially aware and can recognise their shoal-mates. Using food as a reward.
Scientists have also corrected another misconception about fish by showing that they can indeed feel pain, which has serious implications for the way we treat them.
2. Sheep just follow the flock and can’t think for themselves
Contrary to this common misconception, sheep are actually extremely intelligent animals. They are capable of problem solving and are considered to have a similar IQ level to cattle and are nearly as clever as pigs which can outshine dogs!
They also have very good memories and can remember the individual faces of at least 50 individual sheep and remember them for more than two years.
Like various other species including humans, sheep make different vocalisations to communicate different emotions. Like us, they also display and recognise emotions by facial expressions.
Sheep are known to self-medicate when they have some illnesses and will eat specific plants when ill that can cure them.
3. Lemmings commit suicide by jumping off cliffs
A common myth is that lemmings commit mass suicide when they migrate, but the truth is much less dramatic. Lemmings are in fact not suicidal. Local population levels can dramatically change though as some species of lemming may migrate in large groups when their density becomes too great. The suicide myth was fuelled by a 1958 Academy Award-winning documentary that showed the lemmings leaping to their deaths, but the scene was later revealed to have been staged.
4. Ostriches bury their heads in the sand
Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand when they're scared or threatened.
Ostriches are the largest living birds, but their heads are pretty small. The myth probably originates from the bird's defensive behaviour of lying low at the approach of trouble and pressing their long necks to the ground in an attempt to become less visible. Their plumage blends well with sandy soil and, from a distance, gives the appearance that they have buried their heads in the sand.
Ostriches also dig holes in the dirt to use as shared nests for their eggs. Several times a day, a bird puts her head in the hole and turns the eggs. So it also really can look like the birds are burying their heads in the sand.
5. Dogs can only see in black in white
For many years it was believed that dogs can only see in black and white. However, dogs can actually see in colour, though not to the degree that humans can. Basically, they have what’s known as dichromatic colour vision - similar to that of a human with red-green colour-blindness, which means they can only see in greenish in bluish shades.
Dogs see a brighter and less detailed world when compared to humans. Peripheral vision is better than humans (dogs see more of the world), but distance is not judged quite as well. Dogs excel at night vision and the detection of moving objects.
6. Bats are blind
The common saying ‘blind as a bat’ is not based on fact.
Bats’ eyes, while small and sometimes poorly developed, are also completely functional, not to mention the fact that they have excellent hearing and sense of smell.
This means that almost all bats have reasonable eyesight, though not as good as humans as they don’t have to rely on their vision as much as we do.
Bats often have excellent night vision. Fruit bats use their eyesight and sense of smell to find fruits and flowers.
Bats that hunt insects, fish, or frogs primarily use a form of sonar to navigate through dark areas and avoid obstacles. They "see" using echolocation
7. Camels store water in their humps
Camels do not store water in their humps. They store fat reserves in their humps, which can be converted to water and energy when sustenance is not available. As it goes without food, its hump begins to shrink and become floppy and flabby.
Very thirsty camels can drink over 100 litres of water in a single drink. There is no evidence, though, that camels can store significant amounts of water for long periods anywhere in their bodies. Camels are just very efficient at using water, and they’re well-adapted to reduce dehydration.
The camel has evolved – both inside and out – to hold on to as much of the water it takes in as possible. Its fur prevents it from sweating too much and special nostrils trap a large amount of water vapour in its exhalations which is returned to its body fluids, thereby reducing the amount of water lost through respiration. Camels also have specialized red blood cells, kidneys and intestines. Apparently their urine can come out thick as syrup and their faeces so dry it can fuel fires! Through these adaptations camels are able to avoid dehydration that would kill most other animals.
8. Touching a toad will give you warts
This myth started because many frogs and toads have bumps on their skin that look like warts and some people thought the bumps are contagious.
Human warts are actually caused by a human virus, not frogs or toads.
Toads should of course always be handled with great care to avoid injuring them. You should also always wash your hands afterwards because of toxins in the toad's skin.
9. You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Dogs can learn at any age. Just because a dog is approaching its more senior years doesn't mean it can't learn a new thing or two. In fact, with just minutes of regular training, even the most stubborn dog can usually learn how to sit, stay and fetch, regardless of age. The saying is meant to be taken less literally about dogs and more about people - specifically, the types who have been set in their ways for so long that changing their behaviour habits would be hard.
10. Pigs are dirty
Pigs are actually no more dirty than any other animal.
Pigs don't sweat like most animals, so they need a way to cool off. Mud holes, if available, are a wonderful way to do this. The mud absorbs the heat from the pig and transfers it to the atmosphere. If there is no mud hole near, they will use that incredibly versatile nose of theirs and root around in the dirt to scrape off the hot outer layer and reach the cooler dirt beneath. A thick layer of mud or cool dirt keeps the pig cool and bugs away. Unfortunately pigs on intensive farms are kept indoors so do not have access to a cooling and pleasurable mud bath.
Pigs will designate one area of their enclosure as a 'toilet'. They will defecate and urinate in here and sleep, play, and eat in the other areas. Unlike dogs, they do this naturally, without any type of training.