Review Blogs

Search
Related Reviews
Featured Reviews
Most view Reviews
Review Categories

Top Ten Strangest Animal Stories in 2016

National Geographic magazine selected 10 animal stories in 2016, which was strange in many ways, including nature.

1. The longest-lived vertebrate

A study published in August 2016 confirmed that the Greenland shark is now the longest-lived animal on the planet.
The animals, which inhabit the deep North Atlantic, live for at least 272 years and can reach a lifespan of up to 500 years.
“We also predicted that this (Greenland shark) is a long-lived species, but it’s really surprising that it’s actually so old,” said Julius Nielsen, a biologist at the University of Copenhagen who led the study.
View Details

2. White-necked tall deer

An extremely rare white-necked deer was spotted in January 2016 in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, East Africa.
Scientists at the Wildlife Research Institute in New Hampshire said the cub was born in 2015. It’s called Omo, after a locally popular detergent.
Omo’s special skin color is explained not by leukemia but by a rare gene expression called leucism. While Omo’s skin cells do not produce pigments, other soft tissues, such as this little deer’s black eyes, still function by normal mechanisms.

3. Skiing Cat

A video made for National Geographic magazine in March 2016 introduced Jesper, a cat who travels through the wild snowy landscapes of Norway. Looking as brave as a sled dog, Jesper often trots ahead of his owner Aina Stormo every time she skis. When he feels tired, Jesper will sit on Aina's shoulder. This 3-year-old cat has become an online phenomenon because in addition to skiing, Jesper also participates in a variety of other physical activities such as exploring the forest, swimming and horseback riding.

4. Use your anus to find friends

When it comes to mating, birch inchworms may have the most unusual method. Scientists have long known that birch inchworms rub the hairs on their tails against leaves to create vibrations to attract mates. But according to a study published in April 2016, the peppercorn-sized insects actually use their anus to signal others to join their nests.

5. Disco Spide

Often seen in Singapore, the spider’s distinctive shape and its disco-lit, multicolored body are a puzzle to Mother Nature. Scientists don’t know how the creature generates its internal vibrations, or why. Some theories include attracting prey or warning predators, or simply its digestive juices kicking in. Either way, the spider is “weird and interesting,” admits Linda Rayor, a spider biologist at Cornell University.

6. Two-headed shark

When you first hear about two-headed sharks, you might think of them as fictional characters in movies. In fact, these creatures actually exist and are increasingly being seen around the world. Most recently, a two-headed Atlantic catshark embryo was discovered by Spanish researchers in November 2016. No one knows why two-headed sharks are appearing more and more, but some suspect that uncontrolled fishing is reducing the gene pool and leading to genetic abnormalities. Another hypothesis is that it is simply because scientific papers on two-headed sharks are being published more than before.

7. The popcorn-scented urine of the civet

Binturongs, a Southeast Asian mammal, are famous for their movie theater-like urine. A study published in April 2016 found that the strange scent is produced by a chemical compound called 2-AP. When a corn kernel is heated, the protein and sugar in the kernel react chemically to form 2-AP. According to scientists, this compound is the ingredient that gives popcorn its delicious flavor.

8. Fox gardening

Against the gray ground, lush green grass and yellow wildflowers stand out. No one would believe that this idyllic garden was created by arctic foxes. In a report published in May 2016, scientists described how the carnivores cultivate gardens. A group of about 8 to 10, sometimes up to 16, small foxes create organic nutrients in and around their underground dens through a mixture of urine, feces and the remains of their prey.

9. Leaf spide

A spider in southwestern China is the first known creature to mimic the shape of a leaf. A report published in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of Spiderology describes how the spiders wrap their silk around leaves and then hide behind branches. Researchers aren’t sure why they do this, but they believe it may be a way for the spiders to hide from predators or ambush prey.

10. Ghost shark caught on camera for the first time

In December 2016, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) released a video of the blue-nosed chimanera. According to scientists, this is the first time a chimanera, a species of ghost shark, has been filmed. More specifically, this time the chimanera was caught in the waters off the coast of California, in the northern hemisphere, while previously it was believed that this creature only lived on the rugged seabed of the southern hemisphere. Like other sharks, the skeleton of the chimaera is made of cartilage. However, the chimaera does not possess jagged teeth like its fellows, but uses its mineralized teeth to chew food such as mollusks and insects. The small dots around the head of the chimaera are believed to be sensory organs that help them locate prey. The male chimaera also has another interesting identifying feature: retractable genitals on the forehead.
Like the Top Ten Strangest Animal Stories in 2016? share me

Would you like to write a review for your company or brand?

Contact Us

Related Reviews

Latest Reviews

promotionsand ADs

category banner
category banner
category banner

© Copyright 2015 SmartCms All Rights Reserved.