Surprising Facts
When most people think of the ocean, they imagine it to be teeming with fascinating and adorable animals. From the small, graceful seahorses to the playful dolphins, these creatures have many unique and unexpected behaviors. With that in mind, here are 5 facts you should know.
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1. Seahorse Babies
Seahorses are unusual in the animal world because it is the males, not the females, who carry the children and give birth. The male carries the unborn babies in a special pouch on his body until the babies can survive by themselves. The seahorse is one of the wonders of nature because of this complete reversal of the normal reproductive process.
2. Octopus Moms
Mother octopuses are very protective and will keep watch over their eggs at all times. They never leave them, not even to eat, until they hatch. Once the babies have hatched, the mother will pass away, having given her life to the babies' protection.
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3. Sleepy Dolphins
Dolphins sleep with half of their brain at a time and one eye open. They do this so they can stay awake to watch for predators and carry out other functions like coming up for air. So who’s to say whether a dolphin is floating around awake or asleep.
4. Baby Octopuses
Baby octopuses are no larger than your pinky finger when they hatch. Even so, they are able to swim, hunt, and evade predators from day one. So they’re very self-sufficient, but their small size still makes them cute and fascinating.
5. Crab Feet
Crabs taste their food with taste buds on their feet. They can recognize what they can eat by simply walking over it. It is one of the more bizarre biological quirks in the natural world.
