My Science School

Hummingbirds are fascinating and impressive birds. They are not only the smallest migrating bird, measuring 7.5–13 centimeters in length, generally, but they are also the only known birds that can fly backward. The hummingbird moves their wings in figure eight, which allows the bird to easily move backward in the air. Their wing-flapping rates can reach 80 beats per second, and their heart rates can reach 1,260 beats per minute. Their wings beat so fast that they make a humming noise, which ended up earning the bird its name.

With such rapid metabolism, hummingbirds have a long lifespan. A female broad-tailed hummingbird was recorded to live as long as 12 years old. The lifespan of north American species is about three to five years on average.

While in flight, hummingbirds have the highest metabolism among all animals except for insects. This supports their constant wing beating during flights and while hovering. It has been estimated that they can beat their wings at a high rate of 88 times per second. The structure and muscle in a hummingbird’s wings give it total control over the way it flies. This is not present in other birds. Through this, they can fly sideways, backward and forward, even diagonally.

Their shoulder is connected via a ball and socket joint, which gives them the liberty to rotate their wings 180 degrees in every direction. The small size of this bird also allows it to change direction anytime and fly faster and easier than any other bird. It has been observed that the hummingbird exert the same energy when it flies backward and forward. This means flying backward is a normal activity for them, just like flying forward is.

Credit :  CGTN

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No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike—although each of the three species has its own general pattern.

Why do zebras have stripes at all? Scientists aren't sure, but many theories center on their utility as some form of camouflage. The patterns may make it difficult for predators to identify a single animal from a running herd and distort distance at dawn and dusk. Or they may dissuade insects that recognize only large areas of single-colored fur or act as a kind of natural sunscreen. Because of their uniqueness, stripes may also help zebras recognize one another.

Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another.

Plains zebras are the most common species. They live in small family groups consisting of a male (stallion), several females, and their young. These units may combine with others to form awe-inspiring herds thousands of head strong, but family members will remain close within the herd.

Zebras must be constantly wary of lions and hyenas. A herd has many eyes alert to danger. If an animal is attacked, its family will come to its defense, circling the wounded zebra and attempting to drive off predators.

Credit :  National Geographic

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A snake may appear threatening when it flicks its tongue out, but it's simply trying to get a better sense of its surroundings by "tasting" the air.

To compensate for their poor eyesight and limited hearing , most snakes have an excellent sense of smell. Although snakes have nostrils, they also use their tongues to pick up the scent of nearby prey or predators.

When a snake flicks its tongue, it collects odors that are present in miniscule moisture particles floating through the air. The snake darts the tongue into its Jacobson's organ, which is located inside the roof of the snake's mouth.

The prongs of the forked tongue fit perfectly into the two holes in the Jacobson's organ, which is also known as the vomeronasal organ. After the tongue transfers the moisture-borne scent particles into the vomeronasal organ's opening, some of the chemical compounds they contain bind to the organ's receptor molecules. These receptors send sensory messages to the reptile's brain , which interprets the sensory information as a smell, such as the scent of a mouse.

While the moisture-borne odor particles are detected through Jacobson's organ, air-borne scent particles are analyzed through the snake's nasal chamber, which also contains sensory cells that interpret smells.

Credit : Live Science

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Courtship involves calling. The male calls to the female for attention, to attract the female to a suitable nest, although this may vary from one species to another. The calling may be accompanied with the provision of food, by displaying the prey animals. Copulation may follow once the female accepts the food. In order to initiate breeding among owls, they call and sing. The song plays two important roles, which are for claiming the territory and to attract mates, although the male’s song exercise reduces drastically after pairing. Owls looking for mates may sing endlessly until a mate is found. The uniqueness of the female’s song over the male’s lies in higher pitch and clarity. Males of Tengmalm’s owls (Aegolius funereus) are known to utter only a few phrases of song whenever they bring food for their mates. Copulation among owls may take place in rocks, branches or in the nest, with the female carrying the male’s gift with which she has been ‘bribed’ with her bill, as shown in Figure 4. Females may wander from nests to nests but males are noted to be more faithful to territories. Owls may inhabit different locations for breeding purposes, Tengmalm’s owls, Northern Hawk owls (Surnia ulula) and Tawny owls may inhabit tree holes, larger open cavities of tree stumps or natural holes, respectively.

Owls are known to be monogamous. The same mates may stay together for breeding purposes for several years, although variation may exist from one species to another. The sole responsibility of the female owls during breeding is to lay eggs, incubate and hatch them. It is the responsibility of the male to hunt and provide food for the mate during breeding. The feeding of the mate starts prior to the laying of eggs and continues till about 2 weeks after the eggs are hatched. At about 2 weeks after the eggs are hatched, both parents provide for the brood till they become independent at about 10–12 weeks of age.

Credit : IntechOpen

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Piranhas can make different sounds, especially when they’re feeling afraid or defensive. They may bark, grunt or make thudding or drumming sounds. To do this, they use their swimbladder, an organ most fish have that helps them float in water.

Piranhas live in groups called schools or shoals. Usually a shoal has about 20 individuals but sometimes can have over 100. Swimming together helps keep the fish safe from predators, including larger fish, crocodiles, birds and mammals like jaguars and humans. Piranhas spend most of their day hiding and looking for food.

Piranhas eat smaller fish and nips of other fish’s tails, bugs and worms, crustaceans and carrion (dead meat). Some are omnivorous, eating plants and seeds as well as meat, and one species in Brazil is reported to only eat river weeds. These fish help maintain healthy ecosystems as both predators and scavengers.

Red bellied piranhas are known to be carnivorous and hunt in packs. They can smell and sense movement. At Berkshire Museum, they eat worms and frozen fish called smelt. If one of the piranha in pack is weak or sick, the others will eat it.

Credit : Aquarium Facts

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Dolphins also communicate through a series of clicking sounds and whistles, each with their own unique vocal pitch. These differences in vocal pitch are essential to communicating within the pod so dolphins can decipher who’s speaking.  

Beyond echolocation, clicking and whistling, dolphins communicate with a variety of body language signals including tail and flipper slapping on water, leaping out of water, bumping each other and spy hopping. Depending on the hardness and repetition, tail and flipper slaps can serve as a warning to other dolphins of nearby danger, or be a sign of playful communication. Dolphins can also use their tail and flipper slaps to indicate specific desires, if they’re hungry or if they simply want to play.

Sky hopping is when a dolphin pokes their head above the surface of the water for an extended period of time to survey their surroundings. It’s believed dolphins use this technique to keep an eye out for predators.

Dolphins also communicate through physical contact. Hard bumping with the head and charging are aggressive signals dolphins use to ward off competing males during mating periods. On the other fin, gentle bumping and touching are signs of affection.

Credit : Discovery Cove

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