Despite the fact that we have lived with animals for a long time, we still know little about them. Plus, there are many misconceptions about animals that we continue to believe in.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks
This phrase is often used to state that it is difficult to teach something new to someone with a certain experience, usually in a new workplace. This is the basis of many hiring procedures, as companies around the world prefer people with relatively "clean" heads than those who know too much. For some reason, this belief is inspired by dogs, as it implies that older dogs are more difficult to train and that humans behave like dogs in this context.
If you turn to science, you will find that this statement has no foundation at all. Many experiments - especially those conducted by Mythbusters - have proven that teaching adult dogs new tricks is not difficult if you know how to communicate with these animals. The truth is that puppies and younger dogs are easier to train, and the same can be said for humans and other animals. Young individuals learn something new faster, because this is exactly what evolution requires of them. But this does not mean that dogs lose their learning ability as they grow up. In contrast, older dogs with prior learning experience learn new things even much faster than younger dogs.
Camels store water in their humps
We're unsure of the origins of this belief, but we don't think it's a confusing story. Probably someone took a look at the camels and the desert around them, wondered how they survive without water, and decided that this is precisely because they store water in their humps.
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As you may have guessed, this is not the case. Camels do not store water at all. In fact, they have a lot of fat, which helps the camel survive when there is no food around, as is usually the case in the desert. The hump can even go down if the animal is without food for a long time, which is also a good way to determine if the camel is eating right.
Naturally, camels can survive without water for a longer time than other animals of their size, and their water consumption is also quite high.
Natural killer instinct in big cats
Most of us think of big cats as natural killers, always hunting for another piece of meat, whether they need it or not. Popular science fiction has done a lot to reinforce this idea, and the Discovery Channel has done the most.
In fact, it is true that most of our encounters with big cats are unpleasant, but there is a simple explanation for this. In most cases, we encroach on their territory. It is known that big cats, which are constantly in conflict with people, are aggressive and bring death, but this is not their natural behavior.
With a few rare exceptions, most large cats are quite shy and avoid confrontation, and they absolutely will not attack unless provoked - even if they are hungry. They are some of the most calculating predators on the planet, and they know exactly when and whom to attack in order to have the maximum chance of survival in this battle. If you ever encounter a big cat, it is very likely that the understanding of your physical and mental superiority will cause her to retreat.
This does not mean that there were not those rare cases where big cats were incredibly aggressive towards humans. Take the Bengal Sundarbans in Bangladesh and India as an example, as this is one of the few places in the world where such a large number of people live alongside a thriving population of big cats. Not just the biggest, but the biggest. Bengal tigers are known to kill hundreds of people every year, but the true numbers are not known at all. We certainly expect the tigers to act, but this is the exception, not the rule. Tigers are unlikely to behave aggressively and are unlikely to attack if they realize that you have noticed them, unless they are stressed by their injuries or for some other reason. They usually get the impression that it is almost impossible to survive a meeting with a person,and they are unlikely to take such a risk, even if you are absolutely sure of it at heart.
Cats are selfish and indifferent
There are only a few creatures that are overly criticized, and cats are among them. If you ever mention them in a group conversation, there is always someone who is willing to share a surprisingly enduring opinion on why cats are actually the worst animals on the planet. To some extent, this may be true, as in many studies, cats have proven that they are cunning and selfish, but this is only if we compare them to dogs.
Of course, dogs are much more compassionate towards people, they have lived and worked next to us for tens of thousands of years, although this does not mean that anything less than this behavior is selfish. Research shows that cats are much more prone to attachment and problem-solving than dogs, they just do it on their own, rather than involve humans. This is because they are independent beings and have evolved to live alone. This does not mean that they are selfish, it just does not need you to do everything for them, as we used to expect from dogs.
Cats are also provided with a ridiculously large number of gestures to show affection; all you have to do is learn to read them. Many experts claim that cats are as affectionate and friendly as their canine cousins, but understanding them is a little more difficult.
Alpha males in wolf packs
The alpha male theory is one of the cornerstones of most dog training programs, although it is hardly the only place where it is used (just flip through a men's fashion magazine; alpha male looks are apparently in vogue right now). She works on the theoretical basis that in all wolf packs there is a so-called "alpha male" leading the pack; a designated leader who makes decisions and all the other wolves follow him because he is tough. This is what most, if not all, of us believe, despite the fact that the theory is quite false.
While one study did find the existence of individuals with alpha qualities among wolves, it was later found that the study was only conducted on wolves in captivity. All other research on the topic has since proven conclusively that there are no alphas or even elected leaders in wolf packs. Most packs are families, and decisions are usually made in the interests of everyone, and not at the behest of one main wolf.
Moreover, it is completely wrong to apply alpha theory - or any other theory about wolves - to other animals, since the social structure of wolf packs is unique in the animal kingdom.
Lice are a consequence of poor hygiene
We all had a kid in school with a head full of lice, which most kids have kept away from for obvious reasons. Lice infestation is usually considered a bacterial or viral infection, as their appearance is usually caused by a lack of hygiene and poor diet. These are not just grandmother's tales, we are sure that many doctors who do not work with lice directly, and have never thought about the mechanism of their appearance, believe in this, since this is almost a ubiquitous widespread belief.
In fact, it is not only not accurate enough, but also a little unfair to children who do everything to observe the rules of hygiene, but continue to suffer from this problem. According to science, this is not their fault, as lice have nothing to do with cleanliness or what you eat. Lice can attack anyone, just like a mosquito can bite anyone, and the only fault of those who catch them is that they slept in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Dolphins are obedient and calm
Even though we know that dolphins are some of the smartest creatures on the planet, they are also considered quite docile and calm. Even friendly, although we suspect this is solely due to the shape of their faces: we think that they are constantly smiling. However, dolphins are believed to be friendly animals that never harm anyone.
However, if you do a little research, you are presented with a side of dolphins that is not just dark, but downright disgusting, even by generally accepted animal standards. Dolphins allow all kinds of unacceptable behavior that most of us do not even know about, for example, they try to rape and drown people (they do this often), kill rival children and play with their dead bodies like toys, that is, they are real underwater villains. If you are comparing this to the dolphins you see in dolphinariums, don't do it. Because they are incredibly intelligent, it is easy to teach them not to harm people in captivity. If you see a dolphin in the wild, consider it much more dangerous than you thought.
Chameleons change color to disguise
The chameleon is probably one of the few animals that has found a place in our idioms. We use them to refer to someone who has a tendency to change their minds or adapt to circumstances, and the speed with which they do this is an important component. Chameleons - as we understand them - have an excellent ability to change their color according to their environment, which may also be the best camouflage system in the natural world. It's so beautiful that it doesn't exist.
The fact is that very few animals have the ability to change color to match their environment, and almost none of them can be found above the ocean surface. The claim that chameleons use their ability to change color to disguise is not only imprecise, but also diminishes the absolute awesomeness of their abilities. Apart from a relatively boring disguise, chameleons use color to show their emotions, body temperature, state of mind, and many other signals that we may not even understand yet.
Some studies suggest that they can match their color to their environment if they want to, but that's just a small part of why they do it. A more accurate statement would be: "Chameleons change color for many reasons, and one of them is merging with the environment."
Anteaters inhale ants
We're not sure where this claim came from, but many definitely believe it (as we did before researching this question). If we were to ask you about how anteaters eat, you would probably say that they inhale ants, which seems obvious. This is strange because no scholarly book ever suggested they were doing this, and there are no references to the origin of this misconception. It is likely that the human brain looks at something called an "anteater" with a long nose and suggests that it should use it to inhale prey.
However, if you look closely, you will see that this is not a nose, but elongated jaws. The anteater uses its long tongue to deliver the ants into its mouth and then swallows them rapidly in various ways (some even swallow stones to ensure proper grinding upon reaching the stomach). The jaws are designed so that the anteater can chew and swallow the ants before they can seriously bite it, which could be a disaster with a long nose.