{"id":14771,"date":"2022-03-18T14:34:22","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T13:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=50095"},"modified":"2022-03-18T14:49:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T13:49:22","slug":"wildlife-anatomy-explained","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/wildlife-anatomy-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildlife anatomy explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Stuart Blackman\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 18 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

All animals and plants are made up of cells, some of which are specialised to carry out different functions. These cells can be used as a form of defence, to enable a species to move through its natural environment, attract a mate or process food. Discover more about fascinating wildlife anatomy and the reasons for the parts of different species.<\/p>\n

How does a rattlesnake\u2019s rattle work?<\/h2>\n
No one wants to accidentally step on a rattlesnake. The snake doesn\u2019t like it much either. Happily for all concerned, as it grows, a rattlesnake accumulates small hollow segments of each shed skin at the tip of its tail, which clank together menacingly when shaken. The result is a warning signal as archetypal as a wasp\u2019s black-and-yellow stripes. Increasing the frequency of the\u00a0rattle adds to the sense of urgency as danger approaches.<\/p>\n
Please note that external videos may contain ads.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<h2>How does a fish\u2019s swim bladder function?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=204%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=204%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=242%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=242%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=275%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=275%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=378%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=378%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=423%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=423%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=277%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=277%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=379%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=379%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-50799\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Anatomical-drawing-of-a-swim-bladder_Tigatelu_iStock_GettyImages-636045460-0af1ffc.jpg?quality=90&resize=423%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Anatomy\" of=\"\" a=\"\" fish=\"\" tigatelu=\"\" title=\""Anatomy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> <em>An anatomical drawing of a fish shows where its swim bladder is located. \u00a9 Tigatelu\/iStock\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Inflatable bags of gas are useful organs whether you live on land (lungs) or in water (buoyancy aids). By inflating or deflating its swim bladder, a fish is able to ascend or dive as required. While lungs are aerated via the mouth, the swim\u00a0bladder is fed by gases dissolved in the blood. The organs have the same evolutionary origins, though, both developing from simple air sacs used by ancestral fish to gulp air in oxygen-poor waters.<\/p>\n<h2>How does a horsefly bite?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=296%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=296%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=350%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=350%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=399%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=399%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=548%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=548%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=613%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=613%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=402%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=402%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=549%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=549%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-50797\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/horsefly_mikroman6_GettyImages-539804514-aaa9ed2.jpg?quality=90&resize=613%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Common\" horsefly=\"\" title=\""Common\" pluvialis=\"\" mikroman6=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> <em>Not all adult horseflies bite \u2013 only the females have mouthparts able to break the skin and feed on blood. \u00a9 Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>The exquisite beauty of horseflies (those iridescent eyes!) belie their utter brutality. No mosquito-like precision here. They simply slice into flesh with a cluster of serrated blades and lap the blood that inevitably flows. They even lack the decency to anaesthetise the incision site \u2013 little point when their preferred victims (horses and cattle) are so ill-equipped to swat them. The first horseflies sipped nectar, as the males still do. Females, though, need a blood meal to provision their eggs.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do baboons have swollen bottoms?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=289%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=289%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=343%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=343%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=391%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=391%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=537%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=537%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=601%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=601%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=394%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=394%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=538%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=538%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-50798\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2021\/12\/Hamadryas-baboon-bottom_Gypsy-Picture-Show_iStock_GettyImages-1264187680-18bc2b6.jpg?quality=90&resize=601%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Hamadryas\" baboon=\"\" bottom.=\"\" title=\""Hamadryas\" bottom=\"\" gypsy=\"\" picture=\"\" show_istock_getty=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> <em>Hamadryas baboon\u2019s bottom \u2013 a red\u00a0derri\u00e8re is a sign of sexual readiness. \u00a9 Gypsy Picture Show\/iStock\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Scientists haven\u2019t quite got to the bottom of the florid sexual swellings on the hind-quarters of female primates including baboons and <a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-chimpanzees\/"\">chimpanzees<\/a>. They are at their most spectacular during the fertile phase of the reproductive cycle, when males show the greatest interest in them. However, it\u2019s not clear that females with the fruitiest booties enjoy greater reproductive success. In mandrills, it\u2019s the males that have the rum bums \u2013 the more dominant the male, the more louche the tush.<\/p>\n<p><em>Please note that external videos may contain ads.<\/em><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Baboon\" troops=\"\" clash=\"\" over=\"\" territory=\"\" life=\"\" bbc=\"\" earth=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iXtc17ioUFk?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h2><strong>What is the purpose of a duck\u2019s speculum?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=265%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=265%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=315%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=315%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=359%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=359%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=492%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=492%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=551%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=361%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=361%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=493%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=493%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-53430\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Mallard-in-flight_Tomas-Rak_Alamy-DXBJTR_cmyk-687574f.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Mallard\" in=\"\" flight.=\"\" title=\""Mallard\" flight=\"\" tomas=\"\" rak=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Watch a mallard in flight for the best view of its purple speculum. \u00a9\u00a0Tomas Rak\/Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>An iridescent jewel nestles amongst the plumage of many <a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/ducks-of-the-uk\/"\">ducks<\/a>. Formed from secondary wing feathers, the speculum is most obvious during flight. Otherwise, it appears as a glinting rhomboid of saturated colour on each flank (purple in mallards, green in teal, white in gadwall, for example). It may play a role in species recognition, but it\u2019s probably no coincidence that it is positioned on the very spot that ducks ritually preen themselves during courtship and competitive displays.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do moles have large paws?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-59202\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/European-mole_Arterra_Contributor_GettyImages-809839372-a46e6c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""European\" mole=\"\" emerging=\"\" from=\"\" molehill.=\"\" title=\""European\" molehill=\"\" arterra=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> European mole emerging from molehill \u00a9\u00a0Arterra\/Contributor\/Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019re going to spend your life digging tunnels, you\u2019d better have a good shovel. <a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/do-moles-ever-move-around-above-ground\/"\">Moles<\/a> have them in spades \u2013 well, two, anyway. Their massive, clawed front paws are built for excavation. Evolution has even transformed one of their wrist bones into an extra \u201cthumb\u201d to help them shift soil in bulk. Moles aren\u2019t the only mammals to have a false thumb fashioned from a wrist bone. A similar structure helps <a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/why-are-giant-pandas-black-and-white\/"\">giant pandas<\/a> grip bamboo.<\/p>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlightcontent\" editor-content=\"\"> <p>More related content:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/ducks-of-the-uk\/"\">Ducks of the UK: how to identify, behaviours and when to see them<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/do-moles-ever-move-around-above-ground\/"\">Do moles ever move around above ground?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/marine-animals\/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-jellyfish\/"\">8 things you didn\u2019t know about jellyfish<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/whats-the-worlds-fastest-snake\/"\">What\u2019s the world\u2019s fastest snake?<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><h2>How does a jellyfish sting?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C189,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C189,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C223,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C223,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C255,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C255,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C348,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C348,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C390,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C390,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=408%2C257,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C257,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=556%2C350,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C350,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-53433\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/jellyfish_wildestanimal_GettyImages-612444702-535dad8.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C390"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Jellyfish,\" port=\"\" eilzabeth=\"\" south=\"\" africa.=\"\" title=\""Jellyfish,\" wildestanimal=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> The stinging cells, called cnidocytes, are on the tentacles. \u00a9\u00a0wildestanimal\/Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/marine-animals\/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-jellyfish\/"\">Jellyfish<\/a>, corals, anemones \u2013 collectively, cnidarians (with a silence c) \u2013 aren\u2019t the liveliest of creatures. Yet they perform one of the fastest movements in nature, one that cannot be captured even by high-speed video techniques. Their potent stings are delivered by tiny barbed harpoons, each packed into a single cell full of venom. When triggered, they discharge explosively, like an inverted finger of a rubber glove popping back out under pressure, accelerating faster than a bullet in a gun barrel.<\/p>\n<h2>How does a ruminant\u2019s stomach work?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-59203\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Reindeer-grazing_Norway_Sylvain-CORDIER_Contributor_GettyImages-953400152-8ae24ad.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Reindeer\" grazing=\"\" in=\"\" the=\"\" tundra=\"\" spitzbergern=\"\" svalbard=\"\" norway.=\"\" title=\""Reindeer\" sylvain=\"\" cordier=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Reindeer grazing in the tundra, Spitzbergern, Svalbard, Norway. \u00a9\u00a0Sylvain CORDIER\/Contributor\/Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>The multi-chambered stomachs of cattle,<a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/understand-the-british-deer-rut\/"\"> deer<\/a> and other ruminants are dedicated to releasing the considerable energy contained in the complex sugars that form the structural bulk of plants (indigestible roughage to you and me). The magic happens in the rumen, a fermentation chamber containing an ecosystem of microbes with biochemistry skills lacking in mammals. The resulting cud is regurgitated and chewed again (with a contented far-away look in the eyes) ready for a more conventional digestive process.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do roses have thorns?<\/h2>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=265%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=265%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=315%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=315%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=359%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=359%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=492%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=492%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=551%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=361%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=361%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=493%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=493%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-53435\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/03\/Rose_Saskia-Rischka_EyeEm_GettyImages-983485336-e779e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=551%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Rose\" and=\"\" thorns.=\"\" title=\""Rose\" thorns=\"\" saskia=\"\" rischka=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> A rose\u2019s thorns are prickles. \u00a9\u00a0Saskia Rischka\/EyeEm\/Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>One might assume that spines, thorns and prickles are different names for the same things. Botanists would disagree, though. They are different structures used for a common purpose: defence against hungry herbivores. Spines \u2013 most spectacularly deployed by cacti \u2013 are highly modified leaves. Thorns are pointed branches or stems. While a <a href=\""https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/how-to\/identify-wildlife\/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-hawthorn-and-blackthorn\/"\">hawthorn<\/a>\u2019s thorns are true thorns, a rose\u2019s famous thorns are actually prickles \u2013 simple outgrowths from the bark, more akin to thick, sturdy hairs.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main image: Diamondback rattlesnake coiled on a dirt road. \u00a9 twildlife\/iStock\/Getty\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Stuart Blackman Published: Friday, 18 March 2022 at 12:00 am All animals and plants are made up of cells, some of which are specialised to carry out different functions. These cells can be used as a form of defence, to enable a species to move through its natural environment, attract a mate or process […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":14772,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained.jpg",2136,1403,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-300x197.jpg",300,197,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-768x504.jpg",768,504,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-1024x673.jpg",800,526,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-1536x1009.jpg",1536,1009,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/03\/wildlife-anatomy-explained-2048x1345.jpg",2048,1345,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Stuart Blackman Published: Friday, 18 March 2022 at 12:00 am All animals and plants are made up of cells, some of which are specialised to carry out different functions. These cells can be used as a form of defence, to enable a species to move through its natural environment, attract a mate or process…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/14771"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}