Animals are amazing. We all know that, but have you ever stopped to notice just how amazing they really are? Some of the creatures with which we share the Earth have some incredible superpowers, and we wanted to share some of them with you today!
Move Over Speedy Gonzalez…The Peregrine Falcon Is After Your Crown
To put things in simple terms, this bird of prey is phenomenally quick. The peregrine falcon can reach speeds of up to 200mph in a dive, and this leaves unsuspecting prey on the receiving end very little chance of escaping. Even when flying using only the power of its own wings this falcon can reach speeds of up to 60mph with only a few other species of bird able to match it for pace. Makes you quite glad you are not a pigeon doesn’t it…
This Tiny Beetle Packs More Than A Punch
Beetles don’t exactly strike fear into the heart of many people, but the Bombardier Beetle definitely knows how to look after itself if it ever gets into a tricky situation. These ferocious bugs have the ability to spray an acid into the face of their attacker, and as the video below shows you would not want to be on the receiving end of a bombardier attack!
Meet The Loud And Lairy Lyrebird
The Lyrebird is a master of disguise, but not in the conventional sense! This clever bird can mimic almost any sound it comes into contact with, and this isn’t just limited to other bird species. To attract a mate the Lyrebird can do its best impression of anything from a camera shutter right through to a car alarm, so take a look at the video below and prepare to be dazzled by this clever little copycat bird.
It Isn’t The Horn Of The Horned Lizard That You Need To Worry About
Whilst the spiky skin of the horned lizard is pretty intimidating, it is not the biggest weapon in its arsenal by any means. This lizard has an incredibly unique defence mechanism in that it quite literally shoots its own blood from its eyes to get away from predators. Their blood also contains a canine repellent, and when your biggest predator is the coyote being able to shoot blood from your eyes comes in more useful than you would think…
You Can’t Be Telling Me That There’s Anything Interesting About A Sea Cucumber Can You?
Yes. Yes I can. The humble sea cucumber actually has two pretty incredible superpowers which you may not have heard about before. The first is that this echinoderm has the ability to turn its body into a liquid to enable it to squeeze through gaps of almost any size. The second superpower is just as useful (in the underwater world anyway) but slightly more gross. The sea cucumber has the ability to expel its own intestines as a way of avoiding predators. The newly expelled innards are an easy snack for the predator in question and this gives the sea cucumber a chance to get away and live another day. Handy right?
The Archerfish Has Really Earned Its Name
Whilst archery may not sound like much of a superpower for us humans, it is an incredible skill for a fish to master and that is exactly what the Archerfish has done. This tiny terror has learned how to expel short sharp bursts of water from its mouth and bring down its prey from the surface above. If the Archerfish spots a tasty looking bug sitting on a tree branch above its watery home, it is able to take aim and then fire, knocking the bug into the water and then rapidly into the master archers mouth. A little more practise and we could soon be seeing this fish go for gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!
If you have any other animal superheroes then please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re sure we have missed some, so leave a message in the comments if you have an animal hero you want to show off!
