Animals are fascinating creatures that possess some of the most peculiar and bizarre habits. From the way they feed, communicate, mate, to how they defend themselves, animals exhibit a wide range of extraordinary habits that often leave us in awe. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most strange and fascinating animal habits that will leave you astounded.
One bizarre habit exhibited by the male Emperor Penguin is their unique method of incubation during the harsh Antarctic winter. After the female lays her egg, she leaves it with the male who then spends two months incubating the egg by balancing it on his feet while huddled together in a large group to keep warm. During that time, the male Penguin does not feed and loses up to 25% of his body mass. Once the females return from their two-months ocean voyage, the male transfers the egg to her and goes on a 120 km journey to feed before returning to take over the responsibility of incubating their chick.
Another peculiar habit is the defense mechanism of the Opossum, which involves playing dead or feigning unconsciousness when it senses danger nearby. This peculiar habit is known as ‘playing possum’ and involves the Opossum falling into a rigid, comatose state that lasts for an extended period. Interestingly, the Opossum does not do this only when it’s under attack but also as a way of deterring predators from attacking in the first place.
The African Elephants also have a very unusual method of communication known as infrasonic vocalization or low-frequency communication. Elephants communicate with one another using low-frequency sounds that are beyond the range of human hearing. These sounds can travel over long distances, and it’s believed that elephants use them to warn of danger, locate each other when separated, and even for identifying different elephant herds.
Octopuses are another group of animals that exhibit bizarre habits, including their ability to regrow lost limbs. When threatened, octopuses can shed one or more of their limbs as a defense mechanism. Unlike most animals that cannot regenerate lost body parts, octopuses can regrow their missing limbs, with some species regenerating their entire limbs in just a few months.
Male Red Crabs have a unique habit of forming a huge migration to the Australian coast to breed. During the breeding season, millions of crabs migrate over five kilometers from the forest to the coast, making it one of the most incredible animal migrations on earth. The crabs construct burrows on the beach, and the females lay their eggs before the crabs set off back to their forest home.
In conclusion, these bizarre habits exhibited by animals show the incredible complexity of life on earth. From their communication methods, feeding habits, mating and defense mechanisms, there is so much yet to learn about these creatures. Studying these habits can give us insight into how animals think and act, and also, help us understand the relationship between humans and animals. So if you ever get the chance to observe animals in their natural habitats, take a closer look and you may be surprised at what you see.
