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More Fun Facts About Animals
Orangutan
• Adult orangutans spend most of their time alone.
• Most male orangutans grow big cheek pads and
throat pouches.
• The orangutan is the only great ape that comes
from Asia.
Walrus
• Male walruses “sing” underwater to attract mates.
• Both male and female walruses have tusks.
• Walruses live in large herds.
Red-eyed Tree Frog
• Red-eyed tree frogs are nicknamed “monkey frogs”
because they are great climbers.
• Red-eyed tree frogs have a third eyelid.
• Male red-eyed tree frogs wrestle one another to mate
with the females.
Polar Bear
• Polar bears hiss like cats when they are angry.
• Female polar bears usually give birth to twin cubs.
• A polar bear’s 12-inch paws act like giant
“snowshoes,” spreading the bear’s weight over
thin ice.
Penguin
• When swimming long distances, penguins leap out
of the water to breathe like dolphins do.
• Penguins can stay underwater for more than
10 minutes at a time.
• A penguin’s tongue is armed with backward facing
spikes that keep slippery seafood from escaping.
Tarantula
• Female tarantulas lay their eggs in a cocoon.
• Tarantulas live in burrows, trees, and on the ground.
• Female tarantulas may seriously injure males
during mating.
Wolf
• Wolves vomit partly digested meat to feed
their pups.
• Wolves use their tails and the position of their
ears to communicate.
• A wolf’s jaws are twice as strong as a dog’s jaws.
Lion
• Lion cubs are born with spots.
• Lions “stretch out” their whiskers to feel their way in
the dark.
• Tiny hooks on a lion’s tongue help it scrape meat off
its prey’s bones.
Komodo Dragon*
• Komodo dragons are excellent swimmers.
• Adult Komodo dragons eat younger members of
their own species.
• Komodo dragons eat carrion (dead animal flesh),
even if it’s crawling with worms!
Elephant
• An elephant grows six sets of teeth during its lifetime.
• Elephants live in family groups led by the oldest
female.
• The only hair on an adult elephant’s body is at the tip
of its tail.
Koala
• Koalas eat so many eucalyptus leaves, they smell
like a cough drop.
• Koalas are mostly nocturnal. This means they are
active at night.
• The koala’s scientific name means “pouch bear.”
Panda
• Unlike some bears, pandas do not hibernate.
• Pandas spend more than half their day eating.
• Female pandas usually give birth to only one cub.
*Photograph © Adrian Warren / www.lastrefuge.co.uk
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