Animals and Their Weird Habits

Charlotte Figler, 27

5 animals and their weird habits

Animals around the world have many strange and seemingly weird habits. Ranging from little insects and bugs on land, to fish and ocean in the sea, animals all over the world possess strange habits that seem to serve no purpose. In reality, many of these habits entail a larger meaning for their daily routines that are necessary for survival. Here are a few that stood out to me:

Crows hold grudges

Crows are more than just creatures of habit; they’re creatures of humanlike behavior. The crows' memory is outstanding, and they are more intelligent than most people realize. They can remember humans who pose a threat to them up to 17 years after they initially make that decision, leaving them to even develop grudges. Crows can also pick up on other humanlike behavior such as counting, using sticks and even cars to retrieve their food, and communal learning to learn new and necessary skills for survivors. (Ralls)

Clownfish can switch genders 

There are some types of fish that - yes - can switch gender. There are two types of these fish. The first are called protrandys, which switch from male to female in their lifetime. One example is clownfish, which once the largest female dies, the dominant male will switch to female. The second kind of fish are called protogynys, which switch from females to males. Wrasses also change gender when the dominant male dies, and the largest female will be the one to switch. While this isn’t in all fish, it's a strange habit that some possess (The Tech Interactive).

Parrots name their kids

Parrots do name their kids, although not necessarily the names we would think of, like Sally or John. In fact, they do name their kids with “peep” sounds. They use certain sounds to identify their individual kids, which can be extremely useful. Dolphins also use similar habits in terms of naming, although they use clicks to identify their children. These vocal signals are incredibly useful for birds and serve a great purpose (NPR).

Humpback whales travel 3,5000 miles to meet their mates 

This annual migration is a critical part of the whale’s life cycle, where they seek refuge in Hawaii’s water to mate, give birth, raise, and nurture their young. They do this for two reasons: to find suitable conditions to breed and access feeding grounds with plenty of food. Their thick layer of blubber is essential for making this trip and keeps them warm in the cold water. The calves they birth later on need the water in Hawaii, because the babies don’t have the essential thick layer of blubber needed to survive the cold water. When they meet their partner and mate, the calves birthed will have all the essential food and water nearby (Revealed Travel Guides).

Dolphins’ sleep schedule

Dolphins do sleep, just not in the way we think. Unlike us, where we fall into a deep unconscious sleep, dolphins only sleep with half their brain and are semi-conscious. Why do they do this? If they went unconscious, they would stop breathing, and they would drown. Dolphins, unlike us, have to think about when they breathe, instead of it being automatic. Due to this, dolphins only allow half their brain to sleep, while the other half stays awake in order to alert for predators and regulate their breathing. Throughout the night, they alternate which side this is, in order to allow their full brain to sleep (WDC).