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
fainting goat · myotonic goat · myotonia congenita · why goats faint · goat facts · animal facts
The real science
Scare a myotonic goat and it tips over like a statue. It looks like fainting, but the goat stays fully awake. A gene fault in its muscle chloride channels stops its muscles from relaxing for a few seconds, and older goats learn to brace themselves standing up. goat
Don’t try anything shown in this video.
Follow the facts
- PNAS: Molecular basis for decreased muscle chloride conductance in the myotonic goat
- PubMed: Chloride channel regulation in the skeletal muscle of normal and myotonic goats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Caprine Myotonia
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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