Wild Insides
#Animals
The Songbird That Skewers Its Prey On Thorns
The shrike looks like a harmless little grey songbird, but its feet are too weak to hold prey.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
fulmar · northern fulmar · fulmar chick · stomach oil · bird defense · animal defense mechanisms
The real science
Fulmar chicks spend a lot of time alone on cliff ledges while their parents feed at sea. When a predator lands nearby, the chick sprays it with foul-smelling orange stomach oil made from digested fish. The oil also mats the attacker's feathers and ruins their waterproofing, which can be deadly for a seabird.
Don’t try anything shown in this video.
Follow the facts
- Scottish Wildlife Trust: Fulmar species profile
- Wikipedia: Stomach oil
- Norwegian Polar Institute: Northern fulmar
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#Animals
The Parasite That Replaces A Fish's Tongue
The tongue-eating louse is a tiny ocean parasite that slips into a fish through its gills and clamps onto the tongue.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
#45Animals
Why Your Cat Ignores Your Cake
Cats can't taste sweetness.
Short. Strange. True.The real science