Mental Floss

ANIMALS

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5 Times the Jig Was Up Because the Parrot Squawked

Most of our feathered friends can sing, but only a few can talk. And if those talkers witness something naughty, they might just tell on you.

Espeland et al., Current Biology (2018)

Scientists Reveal the Most Comprehensive Map of Butterfly Evolution Ever—and It's Gorgeous

Take a deep dive into the butterfly's family tree.

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A 'Zombie Gene' Might Be the Reason Elephants Rarely Get Cancer

But instead of eating brains, it kills mutated cells.

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Do Lobsters Really Mate for Life?

The truth behind the trope.

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A Team of Cigarette Butt-Collecting Birds Is Keeping a French Theme Park Litter-Free

The six rooks pecking at litter within the Puy du Fou theme park in Les Epesses, France, aren't unwelcome pests: They're part of the staff.

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Wasps Are Getting Drunk and Terrorizing People in England

Some insects can't hold their liquor.

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Animal Sanctuary on the Greek Island of Syros Wants to Pay You to Take Care of 55 Cats

The salary includes a house with a garden and an ocean view.

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Why Tiny Dogs Lift Their Legs So High While Peeing

They're lovable AND limber.

kvkirillov/iStock via Getty Images

13 Writers Who Really Loved Cats

They say that a dog is man's best friend, but these writers found solace—and occasional inspiration—in feline companions.

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7 Things You Might Not Know About Impalas

They're some of the most jumpy creatures on the African savanna (in more ways than one).

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Are Dogs Empathetic? It Depends on the Individual Dog

Not all dogs have what it takes to be Lassie.

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9 Myths About Bed Bugs, Debunked

They're not attracted to dirt, but you should still clean up your clutter.

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Do Big Cats Get Hairballs?

If they did, it would be a basketball-sized elimination.

Megalodon reconstruction. In its time, the shark would have been eating a dwarf species (now extinct) that measured around 15 feet long.

15 Facts About The Megalodon Shark

It's probably the biggest fish of all time—and this summer, it's taking on Jason Statham.

Micha L. Rieser, Wikimedia

This Bright Blue Tarantula Packs a Mean Bite

It's also called the peacock tarantula, but you may want to think twice before picking one up.

Andy Casagrande in Return to the Isle of Jaws

9 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of a Shark Week Cinematographer

Here's the one thing they've never been able to film.

Paul Kane, Getty Images

Why Conservationists Want People to Take Selfies With Quokkas

Every photo shared helps raise awareness of the vulnerable species.

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50 Collective Nouns for Groups of Animals

What's the correct way to describe a group of your favorite animal? A "bunch of worms" may sound like a lazy descriptor, but it's correct.

Andreas Eriksson, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Meet Storsjöodjuret, the Legendary Swedish Lake Monster That Rivals Nessie

It was even a protected species until 2005.

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Are 'Dog Years' a Real Thing?

Here's why you shouldn't rely on the seven-year rule.

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What to Know About Shark Attacks Before You Hit the Beach

Sharks aren't the mindless manhunters movies make them out to be.

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Whale Sharks Can Live for More Than a Century, Study Finds

They don't reach maturity until they're 25.

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Animal Welfare Groups Are Building a Database of Every Cat in Washington, D.C.

There will even be an app that lets you photograph them.

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How Does Catnip Work?

Not all cats love it.