5 Animal Myths Debunked: Separating Fact from Fiction

We've all heard common "facts" about animals, but how many are actually true? Prepare to have your mind blown as we debunk five widespread animal myths.

1. Goldfish: The Myth of the 3-Second Memory

The popular belief that goldfish have a mere 3-second memory is far from the truth. Numerous studies have revealed the impressive cognitive abilities of these aquatic creatures.

• Goldfish can remember which colored pedal to push for a food reward for months.
• They can identify the specific one-hour time slot when food will be released within a 24-hour period.
• Goldfish can distinguish between the musical compositions of Bach and Stravinsky.
• They can solve mazes and even navigate a fish-operated vehicle on land.

So, how long is a goldfish's memory? Current research suggests it spans three to five months, possibly even longer. The myth likely originated as a way for pet owners to rationalize keeping goldfish in small bowls.

2. Bulls: Seeing Red?

The image of a bull charging at a red cape is iconic, but the truth is more complex. Bulls don't actually hate the color red. Humans possess three types of cone cells in their retinas, allowing us to perceive a wide range of colors. Bulls, however, only have two. This means they likely struggle to differentiate between longer wavelength colors, including red.

So why do bulls attack the red cloth in a bullfight? It's more likely the flapping motion that triggers their aggression. Stressed animals respond to perceived threats with fight or flight, and in a bullfight, escape is not an option.

3. Bats: Blind as a Bat?

Despite the saying, bats are not blind. While many bat species are nocturnal and rely on echolocation to navigate in the dark, they also possess functional eyesight. Echolocation involves emitting clicking sounds that bounce off surfaces, providing bats with information about their surroundings.

In low-light conditions, bats' vision can even surpass that of humans. They have rods for night vision and cones for color vision, including reds and ultraviolet. Red cones help fruit bats locate ripe fruit, while ultraviolet vision assists microbats in hunting at dusk and dawn. Some bat species in predator-free environments are even active during the day.

4. Sweating Like a Pig: A Misleading Expression

The saying "sweating like a pig" is ironic because pigs don't actually sweat. They have few sweat glands, and those glands don't effectively cool them down. Instead, pigs regulate their body temperature by bathing in cool water or rolling in mud.

The mud serves multiple purposes:

• Cooling effect similar to sweating.
• Sunscreen.
• Insect repellent.
• Parasite removal.

The expression may also refer to pig iron, where moisture forms on the surface of the metal as it cools.

5. Cockroaches: Headless Survival?

The idea of a cockroach surviving without its head seems like something out of a horror movie, but there's some truth to it. Cockroaches can indeed survive for a period without their heads, but not indefinitely.

Here's why:

• Bleed Out: Roaches don't have a closed circulatory system, so they don't bleed out quickly. Their hemolymph congeals, preventing excessive fluid loss.
• Suffocation: They breathe through spiracles, tiny tubes spread across their body segments, so they don't need a head to breathe.
• Brain Loss: While they have a brain in their heads, ganglia in their bodies allow their limbs to keep moving.
• Dehydration/Starvation: This is the ultimate cause of death. Without a mouth to eat or drink, they eventually run out of energy. The head itself only lasts a few hours.

So, while cockroaches can survive without a head for a couple of weeks, they eventually succumb to dehydration or starvation.