Some animals have modest superpowers. For instance, cats have the incredible ability to sleep 20 hours and actually be rewarded for their laziness with catnip and squeaky mouse toys. Polar bears have been taught to solve complex algorithms…or so we are alleging without a shred of evidence. Here are some of the most impressive feats in the animal kingdom.
Dragon millipedes can unleash a poisonous gas cloud
You would think that merely looking at a dragon millipede at a distance would make you want to stay as far away from it as possible. But predators are stupid, you see. So when they approach this freaky fluorescent pink insect hoping it will suffice as lunch, they pay the ultimate price. The dragon millipede shoots a cloud of hydrogen cyanide at their foes so that they can live another day doing whatever it is dragon millipedes enjoy doing in their spare time.
Hairy frogs have Wolverine-like abilities
Hairy frogs get their name from the hairy, hula-skirt-lookin’ thingies that cover the males’ thighs. When another animal tries to mess with the hairy frog, they attack back with protruding claws they create by deliberately breaking bones in their toes. Not surprisingly, they are also called Wolverine frogs.
Pistol fish generate sun-levels of heat
When you’ve got the munchies, you open a jar of stale, five-year-old animal crackers and chow down. While that’s certainly adventurous, pistol fish still have you beat. When they hunt for food, they blast out a stream of water that is hotter than the surface of the sun! If that’s not enough, with a snap of their claws, they can produce a sound that is around 50% louder than a jet engine. This effectively stuns their prey. The lesson here: if you happen to be near a pistol shrimp, you better not look appetizing.
Dogs might have the power of clairvoyance
That’s up for debate. But as anybody who owns a dog can tell you, their furry pet seems to really have a knack for predicting when their owner is coming home. In fact, studies on the matter indicate that they are pretty accurate at anticipating their owner’s return. Is it precognition? Who knows.
Salmon can sense the Earth’s magnetic field to guide them
They use their innate ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field and use it like a compass. Then once they reach the river they call home, they use their sense of smell to pinpoint the exact location of their particular stream and enjoy some of Fish Mom’s home cooking.
Wood frogs can freeze their own blood
When the cold weather arrives, the bears, squirrels and, um, wood frogs all go into hibernation. In order to survive the intense cold, wood frogs freeze their blood by burrowing into the frozen tundra of North America. Admittedly, while this animal superpower is better than anything we humans can do, it’s not as badass as the ability to freeze other animals’ blood.
