Amazing facts about animals for children. Material on the surrounding world on the topic: Interesting facts about the life of animals and plants

It turns out that the squirrel is an excellent builder! How cleverly she arranges her nest, which, by the way, is called gayno!

The animal weaves a nest from thin twigs, deftly working with its front paws. She does this very carefully. First he folds the twig to the twig, and then presses them tightly against each other. After this, the busybody bends the ends of the twigs and weaves them into a large ball with side holes for entry. The guy, as a rule, has two such holes for safety. On frosty days, the housewife closes them tightly with moss. By winter, the squirrel insulates the nest with soft wool, down, leaves and bird feathers. It’s warm in such a nest even in the cold.

A squirrel usually has several such houses: for cubs, for sleeping, and for hiding from bad weather. The animal likes to spend frosty days in its nest. She covers herself with her fluffy tail like a blanket and sleeps sweetly.

About what forest animal do they say: “It will fool anyone”?

Well, of course, about the fox! By nature, she has rather short, thin, even graceful legs, not adapted for long running. Therefore, the fox is forced to take prey thanks to its cunning and special tricks. The cheat easily deceives gullible birds, animals and even people. In winter, the fox most often hunts voles. How interesting she does it! If a red-haired cunning creature smells a mouse in some place, it very quietly creeps up to it, and then jumps up and hits the ground with its paws. Hearing loud sounds and not understanding what’s going on, the frightened mice jump out of the hole with great horror . And that’s all the cheat needs! It is very difficult for mice to escape from the dexterous fox and its sharp teeth. There is another trick - a fox can lie in front of its victim's hole for hours, cleverly pretending to be dead. The mice, believing that the fox is dead, lose their vigilance and easily fall for this trick.

How do parents take care of little wolf cubs?

I can’t even believe that wolves are caring parents! The number of wolf cubs born can be from 5 to 8, but sometimes there are 12. Therefore, it is difficult for one mother to cope with such a litter. The wolf always helps the she-wolf raise her babies. He goes hunting and brings prey for the whole family. The she-wolf vigilantly monitors the children, and at the slightest sign of danger, she transfers them to another place, more reliable and calm. Sometimes young wolves help raise and feed wolf cubs. A wolf pack may have a nursery where one-year-old wolves “work” as nannies. They play with the kids and teach them to hunt.

What and how does a bear eat?

Yes, practically everyone. Her favorite plants are: nuts, acorns, mushrooms, raspberries, blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, rowan berries and viburnum. He will not refuse chicks, small animals, ants and, of course, fish. And, if he is very hungry, he can even attack an elk. Interestingly, the bear hunts for ants. He sticks his tongue into the anthill and waits for the ants to stick around him. It swallows everyone en masse. Toptygin is an avid fisherman and can sit for hours on the bank of a river. The paw is raised in anticipation of the fish. As soon as the bear notices the fish, he deftly and accurately hits it with his strong paw, pulls it out of the water and feasts.

What about honey? A colony of bees will find a sweet tooth in a hollow tree, put their paw into it, pull out the sweet honeycombs and eat all the honey. The bear doesn't care at all about bee stings. A thick fur coat protects the bear from the sharp stings of angry insects.

Why do wild pigs need dirt?

Interesting but difficult to watch marten

The fact is that the animal does not build a permanent home, but moves through the forest, hiding, each time in a new shelter. There during the day she rests in one of them, and at night she goes hunting. The marten has everything that a good hunter should have: tenacious legs with membranes of skin in order to more conveniently grasp tree branches. The animal can climb up even an absolutely vertical and smooth trunk. The large tail serves as a rudder and parachute when jumping. With the help of such a tail assistant, the marten can jump to a distant tree or boldly rush from a great height straight to the ground. In addition, she has excellent vision, hearing and smell. The marten is a dangerous enemy for hares, squirrels, rodents, as well as hazel grouse and black grouse.

The woodpecker knocks and knocks on the tree, but when does he have time to eat?

In summer, the bird feeds mainly on insects. At the same time, the beak and tongue become the main tools for obtaining food. The woodpecker's beak is a real tool for chiseling hard wood. By the way, when a bird hammers a tree, the wood dust does not interfere with its breathing at all, since its nostrils are protected by special bristles. Having hollowed out a small hole in the bark, the woodpecker sticks its tongue into it, which is also unusual. It is flexible, long, covered with sticky saliva and like a grater. set with small teeth directed backwards. The tongue can protrude 12 cm from the mouth. With this tongue it is convenient to get insects from under the bark and narrow holes. And he will have lunch and treat the tree.

People have long had certain stereotypes about certain animals: dogs are loyal, lions are brave, foxes are cunning, donkeys are stubborn. Let's look at 10 facts about animals that will probably surprise you.

1. Pit bull terriers are not actually aggressive.

Pit bulls have a bad reputation as aggressive and dangerous dogs, although in reality this is not the case. They are no more aggressive than any other dog breed. Pit bulls were originally bred for dog fighting, but for humans they are quite friendly dogs. Injuries caused by pit bulls are not an indication of greater aggressiveness, but rather the result of genetics in the form of having a more powerful jaw. They are simply stronger, not more dangerous. By the way, the upbringing and behavior of a dog largely depends on its owner, right?

2. Ants were once used as medical instruments.

Ants are amazingly strong and highly organized creatures, although we think of them more as annoying pests. You will be surprised, but for centuries ants have been used as a medical tool. Before sutures and tapes were invented, powerful ant jaws were used. Ancient doctors constructed a kind of “ant clamps” around the wound, and then removed the bodies, leaving only the heads of the ants. This therapy began to be used 3,000 years ago and remained popular until the 17th century.

3. Dragons from Komodo Island are surprisingly weak animals

The word “dragon” itself is associated with a huge, scary and strong animal, even if it does not fly or breathe fire. The Komodo dragon has earned a reputation as a modern dragon for its size, and is in fact the largest lizard on the planet. The "dragon" can grow up to 3 meters in length, but its bite appears to be weaker than that of an ordinary domestic cat. Exactly! Your pet (or pet) is scarier than the mighty dragon from Komodo Island. If a Komodo dragon wants to bite someone, then most likely it will damage both its jaw and skull. This giant weakling hunts with the help of poisonous saliva, otherwise the dragon simply does not have enough strength to cope with the victim.

4. Alligators can dance love dances

Alligators are terrifying animals. People have always feared and revered them, considering alligators to be the most dangerous predators terrestrial fauna. However, during the mating season, they demonstrate a surprisingly touching and charming courtship technique: before mating, alligators. The male lies in the water and vibrates his belly at a low frequency that the human ear cannot detect. These sound waves shake the groom's entire body, forming miniature fountains of water around him. The alligator will perform this sexy dance until the female chooses him as a partner. Just like in a fairy tale: only instead of a prince under the window, the lady gets a romantic tramp-murderer from the swamp.

5. Lions survive through active infanticide

The noble king of the jungle is more of a family killer than a caring father from the cartoon “The Lion King.” When males reach sexual maturity (about two years old), they are kicked out of the pride. In fact, they are forced to fight for their lives and learn to survive. Over time, they mature and begin organizing their own pride, killing other males. And then, to strengthen their power, they kill lion cubs that are not their offspring.

6. Anteaters are aggressive

Anteaters are mistakenly considered harmless, peaceful animals. They are slow, almost blind and hard of hearing, they don't even have teeth. However, their appearance can be deceiving. When angry, these large animals can be truly dangerous. They grow up to 2 meters in length and have sharp claws with which they tear apart anthills. There have even been recorded cases of anteater attacks on humans; in 2012, a resident of Brazil was killed by an anteater. It would seem that the blind and deaf animal inflicted puncture wounds on the man’s arms and legs, damaging the femoral artery, which led to death.

7. Mosquitoes are the most dangerous killers in nature

How we hate mosquitoes in the summer for their incessant buzzing and extremely unpleasant bites! Of course, for us these are just annoying insects, and we are unlikely to be afraid of them. However, they are precisely the most dangerous killers in nature, one might say, serial killers. Mosquitoes are a leading cause of death in animals and also transmit deadly diseases (malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus). They account for almost three million deaths of living beings per year. And this is a record for bloodthirstiness!

8. Bulls are colorblind

How do we imagine bullfighting? The matador deftly waves his red cape in front of the bull, provoking aggression in him. The image is correct, but only half. Bulls do not perceive red cloth, or rather, they do not distinguish the color red, and will react equally aggressively to both a blue and a white cloak. They are irritated by the movement and flapping of fabric. However, the iconic color of bullfighting was red, the color of blood.

9. Kangaroos are cruel and aggressive fighters

Kangaroos are strongly associated with Australia. They are depicted on the coat of arms and are the symbol of many local sports teams (rugby, football, boxing). Alas, the cute, cute and playful animal kangaroo is just a stereotype. In reality, kangaroos are very aggressive: their muscular hind legs and large feet make them dangerous kickboxers. The male kangaroo turns into a monster during the mating season, and with its legs it is capable of not only breaking bones, but also killing. This is exactly the case when cute looks are deceiving!

10. Chicken's eye is a new, unique state of matter

Small, fussy, but generally useful - this is how we treat chickens, considering them animals that can only cluck and lay eggs. However, scientists have discovered that a chicken's eye represents an entirely new state of matter: disordered hyperhomogeneity. As it turned out, chicken eye tissue has the properties of both crystal and water. This startling discovery could well lead to the production of radically new materials. It turns out that a simple chicken can give humanity not only food, but also become the key to creating amazing technologies.

Humanity knows about the existence of many species of animals, but some of them still remain unknown. They differ from each other in size, color, habitat, sounds made, diet, but most importantly, in the presence of unique qualities. Some animals look charming to us, while others look disgusting. Some are friends and irreplaceable helpers for us, while others are pests or pose a danger. We bring to your attention the most incredible things about animals.

Incredible about animals

1. Beavers' teeth never stop growing, so in order to control their length, animals are forced to constantly gnaw trees.

2. Humpback whales make the loudest sounds of any living organism. The sound they make can be heard at a distance of 800 meters.

3. Elephants can smell water from about 3 miles away. They are also one of only three mammals that undergo menopause - the other two being humpback whales and women.

4. Turritopsis jellyfish is a unique inhabitant of the seas that is able to rejuvenate itself by regenerating the cells of its body. Scientists called her “immortal.”

5. Some African earthworms reach a length of more than 6 meters.

6. Rats reproduce so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could create over 1 million relatives.

7. Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each of which helps them digest the food they eat.

8. Even when he closed his eyes, he can still see through his eyelids.

9. On average, flies live no more than 2-3 weeks.

10. Believe it or not, there are about 50,000 spiders living in small grassy areas. They are difficult to see due to their green color.

11. The bats are the only mammals that have the ability to fly.

12. Alligators can live more than 100 years.

13. Snow leopards eat not only the meat of sheep and goats. They can also consume various vegetation as food.

14. Tarantulas can live without food for more than ten years.

15. When dogs are very hot, sweat begins to secrete through the pads of their paws. Therefore, they sometimes lie on the floor to cool down faster.

16. There are different types of zebras, each of which differs in the number and location of black stripes on the body.

17. Dogs have much better vision than humans, but at the same time they do not recognize such a bright palette of colors.

18. Pigs and people are the only living creatures that can sunbathe.

19. Snails can sleep for three years without food or water.

20. The elephant is the only animal with four knees.

21. An albatross can fly all day long by flapping its wings only once.

22. All domestic cats do not like the smell of any citrus fruits.

23. Chameleons' eyes can rotate independently of each other, allowing them to look in all directions at once without turning their head.

24. Tigers have striped not only fur, but also skin.

25. About 80% of all animals on Earth are insects.

Interesting Facts

about the life of animals and plants

Antelope see well at any time of the day.
African elephant- the largest land animal. Its height is about 3.8 meters at the withers; the length from the end of the trunk to the tip of the tail is 10 meters, and the weight is 10.8 tons. African elephants live 70 - 80 years. With its trunk, an elephant can lift all objects from the ground from a log to a needle.
Bird wing butterfly- the largest in the world. Its wingspan is 28 centimeters.
Bacteria – the most ancient organisms. They appeared on earth 1.5 billion years before the formation of the modern biosphere.
White-breasted swiftflies at a speed of 171 km/h.
White African rhinoceroshas the longest horn. Its length is 158 centimeters.
Polar bear – a powerful predator, extremely adapted to life in ice. The beast is capable of swimming in icy water to cover distances of tens of miles. He is an excellent diver, has keen eyesight, keen hearing and sense of smell. It can smell prey 5-7 kilometers away, as well as through a thick layer of snow. He determines his course in the ice with incredible accuracy. The polar bear's navigational ability is still being studied by scientists. The polar bear is listed in the International Red Book and is protected by all states where it exists.
Cheetah - the fastest mammal. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 110 km/h.
Giant water lily from the Amazon- the largest aquatic plant. Its leaves, reaching 2 meters, are capable of supporting a child.
Pigeons - the oldest companions of man. Five thousand years ago, domestic pigeons were already known in Ancient Egypt.
Dolphins – rescuers. Sailors often see how dolphins save drowning swimmers, pushing them to the surface so that they do not choke. This may seem like some kind of special kindness, but in fact it is an innate instinct. The mother dolphin pushes the newborn dolphin to the surface, where it takes its first breath. In the same way, dolphins support their wounded comrades. A drowning person makes them instinctively want to save him.
Earthworm per year processes and loosens 20 tons of dry soil. This amount of land can fit in 5 dump trucks. Air and moisture penetrate this soil more easily.
Oak – The plant is long-lived, many of them live 500 – 1000 years.
Hedgehog – a very interesting fearless animal, he enters into an unequal battle with poisonous snake and eats wasp and bee nests without fear of being bitten. This is because hedgehogs can tolerate very large doses of poison, from which other animals die.
Giraffe - the tallest animal. The male giraffe reaches a height of 5 meters, but there are reports of specimens measuring 7 meters tall.
Black mamba snake- the fastest. It is capable of covering distances at a speed of 25 km/h. At such a speed of movement, she raises her head and front part of her body, opens her mouth and wiggles her tongue.
Emperor penguins –deep sea divers. They are capable of diving to depths of up to 265 meters and quickly returning to the surface.
Indian peacockproduces the loudest calls of any bird. They can be heard several kilometers away.
Whale shark - the most big fish, reaches a length of 18 meters and weighs about 40 tons. This is a long-lived fish, it lives for about 70 years.
Condor – one of the largest birds living in the Andes, it lived in captivity for 72 years.
Cow tyrant - African bird, it sits on the back of cows and catches frightened or flying insects.
Linden can live and thrive in smoke-polluted air, which is why this tree species is often planted in large cities.
Elk - the largest animal in our forests, the body length of the elk reaches 3 meters, the height at the withers is 2.3 meters, the weight is 250-570 kg.
Guinea pig was domesticated a long time ago, even by the Incas. It got its name because of its resemblance to piglets and its ability to make sounds similar to grunting. But the nickname “sea” most likely came from the name “overseas” - because of the sea.
Sea stars -predators, they eat crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, etc. one of the abilities of sea stars is the ability to regenerate. They not only restore the lost part of the body, but also form a new star from the torn or cut off piece.
Saltwater crocodiles- the largest reptiles. On average, their length reaches 4.5 meters, but there are reports of much larger specimens. So, in 1954, a crocodile 8 meters long and weighing about 2 tons was spotted.
Hawk Moth - the fastest flying insect. It flies at a speed of 53.6 km/h using a tailwind.
Ants can completely replace upper layer land next to the anthill in just 8 years. They remove soil from the lower layers of the earth and mix it. Ants are champion pest exterminators. In 1 day, the inhabitants of one anthill can destroy several thousand harmful insects. Ants are the longest-living insects; they live for about 20 years.
Monkey, elephant, dog, dolphin, bear– these animals make up the top five smartest animals.
Raffia palm has the largest leaves in the world. They reach 20 meters and are larger in size than all tree species.
Leeches are the most powerful of the worms. Their muscles make up 65.5% of their entire body weight.
Floating duckweed Wolffia arhiza– the smallest flowering plant in the world. The size of its leaves is only 0.5-1.2 millimeters in diameter; 25 of these leaves can easily fit on your fingernail.
Bird "Kauai uh" -the rarest bird living on Hawaiian Islands, in 1980 there was only 1 pair of these birds left in the whole world.
Sailfish - the fastest fish, it swims faster than a cheetah runs. It reaches a speed of 109 km/h, and the cheetah – 96-101 km/h.
Blue whale - the largest animal living on Earth today. It can reach a length of 30 meters and weigh about 160 tons. It is 25 times larger than the African elephant.
Tit Eats as many insects per day as she weighs.
Starling They can perfectly copy any sounds; they imitate even the human voice no worse than parrots.
Owls have a natural locator. A slight rustle is enough for the prey to be detected and caught even in absolute darkness. Despite the fact that the owl's body is adapted to hunting at night, its huge eyes allow it to see at any time of the day.
Peregrine falcon – king of speed. It reaches a speed of 250 km/h, but even at this speed it can be overtaken by a golden eagle.
Ostrich eggs - the most durable. One egg can support a person weighing up to 115 kg.
Thailand bumblebee bat- The tiniest flying mammal. It has a wingspan of 160 millimeters; The length of its body ranges from 29-33 millimeters, and its weight is about 20 grams.
Cockroach - an excellent sprinter. Try to catch a cockroach and you will see that it is very difficult. In a second, a cockroach runs 30 centimeters.
Tasmanian wolf - one of the rarest animals on Earth. Over the past 50 years, no one has been able to see it. He has never even been photographed in nature.
Pacific leatherback turtle- the largest Porian reptile, it reaches a length of 2.13 meters and weighs about 453 kg.
Aphid - the sweetest insect. They release up to 2 tons of sugars into the soil every day in the form of honeydew. Aphids have the shortest lifespan. Aphids develop into adult insects from eggs in 6 days and live for another 4-5 days.
Three-toed sloth- the slowest mammal. Its speed of movement on the ground is about 2 meters per minute. The speed of movement through trees is slightly above 3 meters per minute.
Cicadas - the loudest insects. The sound of cicadas can be heard at a distance of over 400 meters.
Turtles They grow very slowly and usually live quite a long time. The record holder among long-livers whose age is reliably known is the male Marion tortoise, who lived to be 152 years old. Turtles have the poorest diet. Large turtles eat so little that one banana per month is enough for them.
Four-winged flying fishcapable of making the longest flights. The range of such a record flight is 1109 meters, height is 11 meters, and duration is 90 seconds.