Scientists are trying to unravel the mysteries behind strange animal behavior. There are still a lot of things we do not understand about the natural world, and a lot of thing we could learn. Most animal behavior which we consider to be strange is actually an important evolutionary achievement. There is no strange behavior in nature that isn’t a necessity for that specific animal in order to survive and transmit its genes. Some of the most peculiar animal behavior revolves around very intricate defense mechanisms. Others refer to different ways of attracting and tricking pray.

1.      The waterfall toad. This animal has developed a very interesting defense mechanism. Unlike most toads it doesn’t have webbed feat. Its feet end in very powerful hands, both the front legs and the hind legs. Its front arms are in this way perfectly adapted for life high in the trees. Living in the tropical jungle, this toad spends almost all its life high in the trees. The thing that makes this toad have a strange animal behavior is its ingenious defense mechanisms. When it feels a predator near by the toad just lets itself go of the branch or the leaf it’s on and falls down to the canopy floor. Its pretty light considering that it’s only a inch long, so it could survive a plummet from a big height, but actually the toad spreads it’s arms and legs as much as it can during the fall, and it will most likely manage to grab on to a twig or branch with those muscular arms. It is surprisingly powerful for its size and it can support and lift its own body weight with one arm. This seemingly suicidal behavior comes in very handy while trying to avoid predators like snakes and birds high in the canopy of the rain forest.  

2.      The Jesus Christ lizard. Its scientific name is the basilisk, but it is better known by the name of Jesus Christ lizard because of a very interesting defense mechanism it evolved. Like all amphibians, the basilisk relies on the sun’s rays for energy. But sitting in the sun, worming up, makes it a sure target for praying birds. But the lizard has a trick up its sleeve. When it feels threatened it will rise up on its hind legs and literally run on water. This has earned it the nickname of Jesus Christ lizard. This unique feat can be accomplished because of the incredibly long webbed toes on its hind feet. Becoming bipedal, the lizard runs at such a speed that there is not enough time for it to drown. The big surface that comes in contact with the water, due to the webbed feet helps the lizard stay afloat for enough time to move the other foot forward and so on. This way the basilisk has become an expert in avoiding predators.

3.      The flying fish. As its name says this family of fish has the unique ability of flying. It isn’t actually flying, more like gliding, but they can cover fifty meters in a single glide. They accomplish this feet by moving their tails seventy times per second, creating enough energy to leap out of the water. Here is where a very peculiar dorsal fin comes in handy. This dorsal fin is split in two and is abnormally large. It actually spreads out into two wings that help the flying fish glide at the surface of the water. These fish live in tropical warm waters, especially around Barbados.

4.      Dolphins. A very small population of dolphins in the Florida everglades has developed a unique hunting technique. It relies on team-work, and is incredibly effective. Dolphins heard schools of fish and the encircle them. They also hit the sandy bottom of the river bed and so the trapped fish see only a barrier of sand in front of them. The frightened fish start jumping into the air where the dolphins catch them one by one. This incredible teamwork certifies that the dolphins are some of the most intelligent creatures on Earth. This one of the most effective ways of fishing but it is also a very strange animal behavior, because it is only specific to very small population of dolphins.

There are many more strange animal behaviors, but these are the ones that caught my attention. Animals have evolved many skills that for us might seem weird, but which are essential for their survival. Some of these defense or predatory skills surpass many of the things people have thought off. I believe we still have a lot to learn from animals especially from the behavior that seems weird to us. If we think about it from a different perspective, most what we do could seem as extremely weird behavior for most animals.

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