Sunny

Written by Sunny

Modified & Updated: 30 Dec 2023

Jessica Corbett

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

nature facts

Discover the wonders of your surroundings with these nature facts. These facts will help you realize why we need to do our best to preserve what is around us.

  1. A tiger’s skin has stripes.
  2. Glass is neither a solid nor liquid.
  3. An inch of rain is equivalent to about 10-15 inches of snow.
  4. The rock hyrax is related to the elephant.
  5. The hump of a camel is made up of fat.
  1. To avoid mating, female dragonflies will pretend to be dead.
  2. The only venomous primate is the slow lorises.
  3. Greenland sharks are 21 feet long.
  4. Different planets have their unique sound.
  5. Diamonds and pencils are made from the same material.
  6. It takes Venus 243 Earth days to complete a single rotation.
  7. Frogs absorb water through their skin.
  8. The dinosaur plant can survive extreme cases of dehydration.
  9. 8 different muscles make up the human tongue.
  10. A hurricane can produce the same energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs.
  1. Carrots were originally grown purple.
  2. Your DNA is fireproof.
  3. There are approximately 4,810 known species of frogs in the world.
  4. 85% of the planet’s oxygen comes from the ocean.
  5. Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant.
Table of Contents

Most frogs can jump up to 20 times their height.

The biggest frog in the world is the goliath frog found in West Africa. Their bodies can grow up to a foot long. On average, a frog can jump 130 inches high in one leap.

Nature facts
Source: Pexels

Slow lorises are only found in Southeast Asia.

They are also highly venomous. One bite from these creatures can be painful and lethal. Their venomous trait is said to have evolved to mimic the spectacled cobras.

The Iberian ribbed newt turns its bones into weapons.

This particular amphibian has one of the most disturbing defense mechanisms on the animal planet. The Iberian ribbed newt will push out its bones until it pierces through its body to protect itself from predators. Its bones then act as a poisonous barb that keeps its enemies away.

Tigers are the most vengeful animals on the planet.

Research has found that tigers will seek vengeance on those that have wronged them. One situation was stated wherein a tiger held onto this grudge for over 48 hours before attacking and killing hunters that tried to kill it.

The diet of the Yellowstone bears consists of a large portion of moths.

In a day, the Yellowstone bear will consume an average of 40,000 moths a day. At this rate, scientists state that the bear can consume around one-third of its yearly energy requirements in just a month. Here are some more nature facts. These moths are also high in fat and are energy-dense.

You can boil and freeze liquids at the same time.

The boiling and freezing points of water both depend on pressure. Pressure can be adjusted to make the boiling and freezing point the same. This can be achieved by setting it at the triple point of water or 273.16K.

Black holes are not black.

Black holes exist due to the forces of gravity and because the speed of light is not infinite. This phenomenon appears black due to the particle horizons and the material that is attracted by it.

The sloth only poops once a week.

Sloths need to climb down their trees once a week to poop. However, when they do go down, it makes them more susceptible to predators.

The human femur is stronger than concrete.

The femur is made up of human bone tissue that is incredibly strong. One cubic inch of a bone also has four times the strength of the same size unit of concrete. How’s that for amazing nature facts?

Manatees can control their buoyancy by farting.

Their buoyancy is controlled by discontinuous fart cycles. Manatees can also control and regulate the distribution of their intestinal gases. When they want to sink, they contain the gas and when they want to rise the gases are released.

Only around 200 plant types are eaten by humans.

Here are some fun nature facts that talk about our diets. Humans eat three main crops including rice, wheat, and maize. Out of all plant types, we consume these the most for over thousands of years.

plants
Source: Pexels

A frog’s gender can be determined by its ears.

Frog ears can be spotted right behind their eyes. For males, the disk-like organ near its ears is larger than that of females. Their ears are also called the tympanum.

The poop of a baby guinea pig resembles popcorn.

When a guinea pig is excited and happy it will jump around while pooping. Because of this action, it has been dubbed as popcorning. These creatures may also spontaneously popcorn repeatedly.

The biggest volcano in the solar system is on Mars.

This volcano on Mars is named Olympus Mons. It is about three times the size of Mount Everest and towers 26 km high. This volcano is located in the Tharsis region along with three other large volcanoes.

An owl does not have eyeballs.

The eyes of an owl are long and tube-like. Because of this shape, they are unable to turn or move their eyes. Instead, they can turn their heads up to 270 degrees to gain vision around their surroundings.

Acacia trees can warn each other of danger.

If you didn’t know, acacia trees have a unique defense system that allows them to better survive. When herbivore animals approach it, it naturally increases tannin production to its leaves that are toxic to them. This tree also emits ethylene gas that can travel through the air and reaches other nearby trees so it warns them as well.

Metal can weld by itself when in space.

This is mainly due to the absence of oxygen in space. Metal fuses more easily because the surface of the metal is not oxidized.

Baby giraffes often use their butts as pillows.

Often giraffes will sleep curled up to do so. Giraffes are also one of the few animals known to suffer from insomnia.

The corpse flower has over 28 different varieties.

All of these variants can be found within Southeast Asia. More specifically, these variants can be found in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The corpse flower is also known as the Rafflesia.

rafflesia, nature facts
Photo from Adobe Stock

Frogs shed their skin.

Like most animals, they shed their skin periodically. However, unlike most animals, they push their shedding skin into their mouths and eat it. Some frogs will shed their skin weekly, and some will shed once a day.

The deadliest weather condition is considered heat.

Scientists have discovered that in the past 30 years, the most extreme type of weather condition is heat. However, floods, hurricanes, and storms are considered to be the most destructive form of weather conditions.

Baby elephants suck on their trunks as human babies suck on their thumbs.

This habit provides comfort to the baby elephant when it is not being nursed by its mother. Trunk sucking also helps the baby elephant learn how to use and control its trunk.

Goats have different accents.

A British study found that goats from different areas will have different accents. These accents are also said to change as they grow older and move in different groups. While it has not been proven if they have their language, goats have been found to understand each other’s accents.

More people have been killed by cows rather than by sharks.

Annually, there are only five deaths caused by sharks. However, cows kill almost four times more the amount every year. Cows kill around 22 people annually.

A fungus that bleeds exists.

The Hydnellum peckii exudes a thick and dark red sap across its white cap which causes it to look like it’s bleeding. The good news is that this fungus is not poisonous. But despite not containing any poison, it has an incredibly bitter taste.

Male frogs croak to attract females.

The deep purring croaks frogs make can ward off males and attract females. In most frog species, only the males can croak.

Around 400-800 million tons of prey are killed yearly by the spider family.

Researchers used two types of calculation methods to get this answer. In both models, the live global population of spiders was shown.

Cheetahs are unable to roar.

Instead of roaring, they meow much like house cats do. Roaring is possible due to the special two-piece hyoid bone in the throat which they do not possess. All non-roaring cats such as the cheetah only have a one-piece hyoid bone.

Remains of 7-feet penguins have been discovered.

The human-sized remains of a penguin were discovered in Southern New Zealand in 2017. The bone length was around 1.7 meter long or the average height of a human man.

Damselflies make a heart with their tails while mating.

The male clasps the female from the back of the head and the female curls down her abdomen to pick up sperm. This position aligns them into the shape of a heart.

The turkey is called ‘India’ in Turkey.

In India, they are called ‘Peru’ and in Cambodia, they are called the ‘French Chicken’. All of its names refer to its mistaken exotic origins.

turkey
Source: Pexels

The human brain has shrunk over the last 10,000 years.

Scientists believe that this may most likely be due to the decline in the human’s average body size. However, this does not mean that humans have grown to become less intelligent.

There are no mosquitoes in Iceland.

Entomologists have found that mosquitoes have never migrated nor settled in Iceland yet. However, they do reside in the neighboring countries that surround it.

The urine of maned wolves smells very similar to marijuana.

The aroma is so similar to the drug that police once spent a day scouting around Rotterdam zoo trying to find illegal smokers. They were surprised to find out that the scent came from the exhibit of the maned wolves.

Often male giraffes will be gay rather than straight.

Around 90% of male giraffes will mate with another male. Additionally, this also acts as a method of establishing dominance in a pack.

Know more about homosexual animals here!

The pee of a camel comes out as thick as syrup.

This is mainly due to their ability to retain water for long periods under extreme heat. Camel feces also come out dry and can be immediately used to fuel fires. Camel pee is also sold as a traditional medicine in Saudi Arabia.

The herds of the African buffalo make decisions based on votes.

The African buffalo is known to be a herd that makes decisions based on actions. In some groups, females indicate travel preferences by standing up and staring in a direction then lying back down. Research shows that only female buffalos, regardless of social status can vote and make decisions for the group.

The upper jaw of a frog contains teeth.

These teeth are called maxillary. However, frogs usually swallow their food whole and therefore have no use for these teeth.

Bats are natural pest control.

This is why they are considered important in terms of biodiversity. Bats prey on insects as their main source of nutrition and help keep the insect population in control. This means that they are also very beneficial to humans as well because there are fewer pests to handle.

The only mammal that can see UV light is the reindeer.

Here are some interesting nature facts about reindeers. A reindeer’s eyes are not damaged by taking in UV light. By letting UV light enter their eyes, they are also able to better process information about their surroundings without suffering any side effects. They use this ability to find food and avoid predators and other mammals.

In the average human lifetime, you will grow around 600 miles worth of hair.

This is about twice the length of Lake Superior and equivalent to about 428.4 inches per strand of hair. On average, a person will have around 150,000 hair follicles on their head.

human hair
Source: Pexels

The King’s holly plant can reproduce through cloning.

The Holly plant has been kept alive for over 140,000 years. However, it has been stated recently that this plant may finally die due to a fungal infection. Australian scientists are looking into methods on how to prevent this.

Only five Camas are known to ever exist.

A cama is an offspring between a camel and a llama. These creatures are bred through a controlled environment in Dubai. However, humans are known to produce them mainly for their fur.

Mosquitoes prefer Type-O blood.

Research has indicated that people who possess Type-O blood are more likely to be bitten than any other blood type. This is mainly due to the blood type containing more protein and minerals than others.

The Milky Way galaxy is in an inevitable collision course with the Andromeda galaxy.

Scientists have stated that in 4 billion years from now, our galaxy will collide with the Andromeda galaxy. This is because both galaxies are hurtling towards each other at a speed of 402,000 kph.

Saturn would float on water.

Saturn is known as the second-largest planet in our solar system. However, this planet is mainly made up of gas and is less dense than water. Therefore, being able to float if it were to be submerged in water due to it being lighter.

Cats can safely drink seawater.

The kidneys of felines can filter out the salt in the water. Because of this ability, cats can consume and properly rehydrate with saltwater.

Research has shown that dogs have distinctive music tastes.

Scientists have uncovered that dogs will have their individual music preferences. While these tastes may differ from dog to dog, one of the most commonly preferred genres is reggae.

Herpetology is the study of amphibians.

This branch of zoology focuses on the study of reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, turtles, and frogs. Many studies and research also focus on the conservation of the species and its environments.

Generally, the southern viscacha spends most of its day relaxing.

On average, it spends most of its time perched on a rock, sunbathing. It will also leisurely groom itself or other viscachas.

The smallest cat in the Americas is the Kodkod.

These felines can be found in Chile and Argentina. Its scientific name is the Leopardus guigna or more often referred to as guina. These felines are also closely related to other small cats found in South America such as the Margay.

cat facts
Source: Pexels

The dementor wasp feeds on its prey alive.

This wasp native to Thailand is known for feeding on live roaches and using their bodies to incubate their eggs. This species of wasp is also known as the cockroach wasp.

Caffeine is a natural pesticide.

Beverages such as coffee and tea are the most popular drink choices in the world. However, they can also be used as a natural pesticide to get rid of insects and pests.

If a chameleon was blind, it can still change its colors to match its surroundings.

The chameleon’s ability to match its environment does not rely on sight, but rather on the cells in its body called chromatophores. Its skin can easily change to blend into its surroundings.

Baby manatees nurse on their mother’s armpits.

The nipples of the female manatee are located under the front of its flippers. They nurse their calves for up to two years while occasionally feeding them leafy vegetables.

Armadillos are bulletproof.

An armadillos shell is made from bony plates called osteoderms that grow in the skin. This shell protects the creature from thorny shrubs and predators.

There are millions of billions of ants altogether.

With more than 12,000 different ant species, that makes up a total of 1 million billion ants living on Earth.

The toxins of a single pufferfish can kill 30 full-grown adults.

There is no known antidote to this toxin of a pufferfish. However, its meat is considered a delicacy and can only be prepared by a trained professional.

The most venomous caterpillar in the U.S. is the puss caterpillar.

This caterpillar is best known during its larva state rather than its moth form. Despite the soft exterior hair they possess, the venomous spines on the bottom of its body are very sharp and deadly to humans.

Women blink more often than men.

The spontaneous blink rate between men and women is said to be 11:19 blinks per minute. A study has also found that older women blink more frequently than younger women. In some cases, excessive blinking may be due to problems with the eyelid or front surface of the eye.

eyes facts
Source: Pexels

The Herring fish communicates through farts.

These fishes communicate with each other through underwater sounds created by farts. A study also found that high-pitch buzzing helps these fishes communicate better at night. This method is also used to avoid attracting predators.

Quokkas are real.

You’ve seen selfies with these really adorable quokkas and their toothy grins. The good news is, they actually exist! And the not-so-good news is, you can only find them in Australia, especially on Rottnest Island of Western Australia. Time to plan a trip down under!

Leaves provide food and air that allow the plant to live and grow.

This process is called photosynthesis which turns light energy into food. The leaves keep plants healthy this way.

Centipedes do not have sex.

They reproduce by males leaving packets of sperm for the females to find. These sperm packets are called spermatophores.

Raccoons are highly capable of unlocking complex locks.

During a study conducted in 1908, ethologists discovered that raccoons can pick complex locks in fewer than 10 attempts. The locks were rearranged and placed upside down multiple times, but the raccoons were still able to open them.

The male orb weaver spider has a detachable penis.

When it knows it is time to mate, it will abandon its penis inside the female. After doing so, the male will flee because it knows it will be devoured by the female otherwise. The detachable genitalia, however, will continue to pump by itself once detached.

Find out more about animal sex here!

Dogs lift their legs while peeing to appear larger than they are.

This is done so that the scent will always be higher than they are. This makes them seem bigger than their actual size to other dogs.

Female brown trout will fake orgasms to avoid inferior males.

The male brown trout will court a female by quivering their trunk muscles. The most powerful male will drive off all other males. The female then prepares to lay its eggs in a hole its dug but more often will fake the release of eggs. This will lead the males into thinking otherwise and release their sperm onto the empty bed.

The Brazilian pygmy geckos can walk on the surface of the water.

This reptile is less than one and a half inches long. It is so small that it could drown in a small puddle. However, because it is so light, they can rest on the surface of the water without being submerged.

Male lobsters often pee in each other’s faces when fighting over a female.

Female lobsters will often seek the most aggressive male. Because of this, the males will aggressively brawl with each other in an attempt to impress the females and establish dominance in the group.

lobster facts
Source: Pexels

Scientists have come up with a special method of identifying zebras from one another.

Each zebra has a special configuration of stripes that differ from others. In 2011, a device was invented to scan the stripes of zebras to tell them apart faster without tagging them. This program was called StripeSpotter.

Vultures are bald due to how they devour their prey.

Vultures will stick their heads into their prey and eat them from the inside out. This is possibly why their heads remain bald as the feathers would cause a mess while eating.

Female tarantulas can live without water for two years.

Their life span is also an average of 40 years. Some species of tarantulas may live without food so long as there is water present.

Sperm whales sleep vertically.

They sleep vertically just below the surface of the ocean in groups. These groups are called pods.

Female platypuses sweat milk.

The female platypuses secrete milk from special mammary glands because they do not have teats. The milk pools into the grooves on her abdomen which allows her younglings to drink it easily.

Turtles can breathe through their bottom.

Certain species of aquatic turtles are structured to be able to breathe through their butts. They have something called the cloacal bursae which are highly vascularized tissues that absorb oxygen.

Female bandicoots are only pregnant for 12-13 days before giving birth.

Its babies are born about a centimeter long. The female bandicoot will give birth to about 2-3 babies during one pregnancy. After the baby attaches itself to the teat of its mother, it begins growing rapidly. They leave the pouch after two months.

Male bed bugs will stab the female in the abdomen and directly ejaculate into her body cavity.

Bed bugs have such an intense mating process that it was even given its name. The process is called traumatic insemination. Male bed bugs are also occasionally found to stab other males with their sword-like penis.

Female kangaroos will abandon their joey when being chased by a predator.

Often, female kangaroos throw away their young to lessen weight and get away quicker from predators. This also doubles as a distraction for the mother as the predator would be eating the joey first.

A porcupine prepares his mate by peeing on them.

When the female porcupine is ready, she will present her hindquarters to the male porcupine. The male and female will mate until the female has had enough.

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