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Thank you. You're listening to Sleep Tight Science.
Did you know that African wild dogs vote… by sneezing?
What? Scientists discovered that before a pack goes hunting they literally achoo their options.
Maybe you could try that at home?
Hello friends and welcome back to Sleep Tight Science, a bedtime show that answers your questions about science.
In this episode, we'll learn all about cats and dogs, but not the kind that curl up on your couch or chase tennis balls in your backyard. We will explore facts about wild cats and dogs.
The fierce, the fast, and the faunal?
We've been flipping through our science books, and exploring some pretty incredible animal facts, and we thought you'd enjoy learning these fun, and sometimes funny facts about some of the most amazing animals in the wild.
Who knows? Maybe you'll impress your friends or family with your wild animal smarts.
Or maybe you'll be inspired to learn even more about these incredible creatures in a book, a nature show or right here with us.
Did you know that lions, tigers, and even your cuddly housecat belong to the same big animal family?
They're all part of the Felidae family, a group of animals we often call wild cats.
Scientists classify them as mammals and more specifically as carnivores, which mean they mostly eat meat.
These animals come in all shapes and sizes.
Some can fit in a backpack while some massive tigers can weigh as much as a small car.
Wild Cats have been roaming the planet for millions of years.
They're thought to have evolved around 10 to 15 million years ago, with their earliest ancestors prowling through forests and grasslands in Asia.
Over time, wildcats spread across the world and adapted to different environments.
Some became speedy hunters on the savanna, while others became expert tree climbers in the jungle.
Did you know that all wildcats share many amazing features that make them expert hunters and super stealthy predators?
Wild cats walk on their toes, which helps them move quietly when sneaking up on prey.
They have powerful legs and flexible bodies that let them jump, pounce and climb like pros.
Most wild cats have retractable claws, which means they can pull them in and keep them super sharp, kind of like keeping their tools tucked away until they need them.
The cheetah is the odd one out.
It can't fully retract its claws, which helps it grip the ground when running at top speeds.
Their tongues are covered in tiny hook -like structures that feel like sandpaper.
These help them scrape meat off bones and groom their fur too their sharp teeth include special carnesial teeth made just for slicing meat like scissors.
Wild cats have excellent night vision thanks to a shiny layer in their eyes that reflects light making them six times better than humans at seeing in dark.
That's also why their eyes seem to glow at night.
Their sensitive whiskers help them feel their way around in the dark and even sense movement nearby.
Most wild cats can make all kinds of sounds like growls, hisses, spits, and even chuffs, a friendly greeting sound.
Some can purr, and a few, like lions and tigers, can let out earth -shaking roars.
Fun fact, not all wild cats can both purr and roar.
It's usually one or the other.
And here's something surprising.
Wild cats can't taste sweetness.
No sweet tooth for them.
Did you know that tigers love to swim?
Most domestic cats don't like getting wet because they come from desert -dwelling wild cats who didn't grow up around water.
But big cats like tigers, jaguars, and leopards often live near rivers, lakes, or watering holes and many have a much different relationship with water.
Tigers, the biggest members of the cat family, are fantastic swimmers.
They have strong muscles and big padded paws that help them easily glide through the water.
Wildlife biologists have even seen tigers cross rivers up to 29 kilometers or 18 miles wide.
So why do they swim?
First, it helps them stay cool under the hot sun. Big cats usually hunt at night, so daytime is for relaxing.
Second, swimming gives them an edge in hunting.
Some tigers will sneak up on their prey and chase it right into the water, where it has fewer chances to escape.
Tigers don't just swim to survive.
They swim for fun too.
Cubs often splash and play in the water while learning from their parents.
Finally, here are six more facts about wild cats.
How many of these did you know already?
Did you know that most big cats you've heard of, like lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars, belong to a special group called Panthera?
Cheetahs are speed machines, not stealth ninjas.
They can't fully retract their claws like other cats.
This gives them a better grip when they run.
helping them zoom at over 96 kilometers an hour or 60 miles an hour.
Did you know that an adult lion's roar is so loud, it can be heard from up to 8 kilometers or five miles away.
Also, lions are the only big cats that live in groups and those groups are called prides.
Female lions, called lionesses, do most of the hunting.
They work as a team to take down big prey like zebras and wildebeests.
No two tigers have the same stripes.
Their stripe patterns are as unique as human fingerprints.
Snow leopards are the long jump champions of the wildcat world.
They can leap up to 15 meters or 50 feet in a single bound.
That's farther than three cars parked in a row.
Jaguars have super strong jaws.
In fact, they have the most powerful bite of all big cats.
Strong enough to crunch through bones and turtle shells.
Next up are facts all about wild dogs.
Wild dogs belong to a big animal family called canidae or the canine family.
This group includes some of the most clever, curious and wide -ranging animals on earth like wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes and even the African painted dog.
With long legs, pointy ears, bushy tails and powerful noses, these creatures have has adapted to just about every place you can think of, from frozen tundras to hot deserts, and even up in trees.
Canines are expert hunters.
Some like the gray wolf and African wild dog are true team players working together in packs to chase and corner their prey.
Others like the red fox or the fennec fox prefer to sneak around alone, hunting for snacks like mice, insects, and berries.
While most canines love meat, some will also munch on fruits, plants, or even crabs, depending on where they live.
They're also fantastic communicators, a wag of the tail, a tilt of the ears, or a powerful howl, can send all kinds of messages, from warning intruders to calling out to friends.
In fact, a wolf's howl can travel more than 10 kilometers, or 6 miles, through the forest. Canines live all around the world, except for Antarctica and a few oceanic islands.
humans ever tamed were probably wild canines that eventually became our pet dogs!
Did you know that wild dogs have some pretty amazing body features that help them survive in all kinds of places from scorching deserts to icy Arctic lands?
Most wild canines have long faces or muzzles, big bushy tails, and sleek bodies made for running.
Their ears? Pointy and impressive!
In hot places like the desert, species such as the bad -eared fox and the fennec fox have with super -sized ears that help release heat, like built -in air conditioners.
Meanwhile, Arctic foxes have tiny ears that help trap heat.
Some wild dogs are really colorful too, like the African painted dog with splashes of black, yellow, and white, or the raccoon dog, which has a dark face mask, just like a racoon.
And though many have solid colors, most also have pale bellies that help them blend in from below.
Did you know that wild dogs are built for adventure?
With long legs and tough, toe -walking feet.
That's called digitigrade locomotion.
They're great at running long distances, even if they're not the fastest sprinters.
Some, like the maned wolf of South America, have legs so long, they look like they're walking on stilts.
In cold, snowy places, wild dogs grow fur on their paws to keep their feet warm and give them a better grip.
Most wild canines have forty -two sharp teeth for crunching, chomping and crushing.
Their long canine teeth help grab prey while the back molars can even crack bones.
And just like your dog at home many wild canines use scent glands near their tails to leave behind smelly messages like this spot is taken.
Next, here are 6 more facts about wild dogs.
How many of these did you know already?
Did you know that scientists have used advanced genetic engineering to create wolf pups with traits resembling the extinct dire wolf?
By editing specific genes in gray wolves, they produced pups that exhibit characteristics such as larger size and broader heads, reminiscent of the dire wolves that roamed North America over 10 ,000 years ago.
Did you know that fennec foxes have ears bigger than their heads?
They hear incredibly well, and their jumbo ears act like built -in fans to help them stay cool in the desert heat.
Did you know that African wild dogs work together in packs of 6 to 20 or more to hunt antelopes and even larger prey such as wildebeests?
Before a hunt, they put on quite a show, playfully circling, nipping, and wagging their tails as if they're cheering each other on, like a pregame huddle.
They're among the few mammals that look after older, sick, or injured pack members.
A red fox's tail isn't just for balance.
It's also a built -in scarf for cold nights.
Arctic foxes have fur even on their paw pads, and the gray fox can climb trees.
Did you know that wolves howl at night to talk to one another, not to sound spooky?
It also helps wolves find each other, gather their packs, or warn outsiders to stay away from their territory.
But howling isn't their only way to talk.
Wolves growl, bark, whine, and whimper to share their feelings.
And they use body language too.
A glance, a raised tail, or even the position of their ears can send a message.
During a group hunt, wolves might not make a sound, but a quick look or a shift in posture litter, can help them work together like a well -trained team.
Did you know that coyotes are super dedicated parents?
They usually raise their pups as a couple, but sometimes, even with help from a bigger family pack.
A coyote litter can have just one pup, or up to 19.
The number of babies depends on how much food and space is available.
When the pups are tiny, both parents help feed them by bringing up food they've already swallowed and partially digested.
Kind of like a warm, mushy coyote smoothie?
Yum?! They're also very protective.
If they sense danger, they won't hesitate to move the pups to a safer den.
Young coyotes usually stay with their parents for six to nine months, learning all the important life skills they'll need.
And sometimes, daughters stick around even longer, joining the family pack for good.
Lastly, we have a question from Magnolia, who is seven and from Colorado.
Magnolia asks, how did cats and dogs become pets from wild animals?
A long, long time ago, thousands of years ago, cats and dogs weren't pets at all.
They were wild animals.
But over time, something amazing happened.
Humans and animals started helping each other and that's where the story of domestication begins.
Let's start with dogs.
Scientists think dogs were probably the first animals ever domesticated.
Wolves may have started following ancient humans around their campsites looking for leftovers.
The wolves that were a little friendlier and less scared of people, got more food.
Over many generations, those friendlier wolves slowly became animals that looked and acted more like the dogs we know today.
Eventually, people trained them to help with hunting, guarding and herding animals.
And just like that, the wild wolf became the loyal, tail -wagging pup we love.
Now, what about cats?
Unlike dogs, cats didn't follow people around, hoping to join the team.
Nope, cats had their own idea.
Thousands of years ago, when humans started farming, they stored grain in big piles.
That grain attracted mice.
And guess who loves catching mice?
The cats that hung around farms had plenty to eat.
And the humans didn't mind the free pest control.
Overtime people began to enjoy having cats around.
And some even started giving them food and care.
The friendliest cats stuck around.
And slowly, wild cats became the sweet, lap -nappers we know today.
So, in a way, dogs chose us and we chose cats.
And now cats and dogs are not just animals we live with, they're part of our families.
Thanks for the question, Magnolia.
In this episode we explored the wild and wonderful world of cats and dogs, the kind that don't curl up on your couch. We learned about wild cats like lions, tigers, leopards and snow leopards and how they're expert hunters with super sharp claws, sandpaper tongues, night vision, and powerful muscles for leaping and climbing.
We discovered that some big cats, like tigers, love swimming, and that no two tigers have the same stripes, just like our fingerprints.
Then we ventured into the exciting lives of wild dogs.
From clever foxes to howling wolves, and team hunting African wild dogs, we uncovered how smart, social, and adaptable these canines are.
Some can climb trees.
Others use their giant ears to stay cool.
And a few even raise their young with help from the whole pack.
We also answered a great listener question.
How did cats and dogs become pets from wild animals?
We discovered that dogs may have chosen us first by hanging around ancient campsites while cats moved in later to hunt mice near early farms. Over time, the friendliest animals stuck around and the rest is history.
They became our purring, tail wagging companions.
Thanks for listening!
And don't forget to give your pet a little extra love today, knowing they've got some pretty wild cousins out there in the world!
Thank you to Albert and Sally from Oakhurst, New Jersey who introduced our show.
You were super Awesome.
Thank you to Joshua, age three in America, Amelia Kay from Los Angeles, California.
Kaydon, six years old, and Amber, nine years old, from Closter, New Jersey.
Freya Utz, age six.
Elina DeFrancesco? Maya from San Marcos, Texas.
Akiva Kedash, 4 and a half years old.
Advic, nine years old in Melbourne, Australia.
Gabriel, four years old from Montreal.
And Ezra, five years old in Hammond, Indiana, for asking questions that spark our curiosity and keep us learning.
We would love to hear from you.
Ask your parents to help you write us a note to the email address in our show notes.
You can also visit our website and send a message that way.
Also, leave us a rating or a comment wherever you listen to our podcast. We love to get your feedback.
Did you know your brain can go on amazing adventures while you sleep?
You might dream about prowling through the jungle with a snow leopard, leaping across mountaintops in the moonlight.
Or maybe you'll run with a pack of African wild dogs, planning the perfect hunt, or caring for the littlest members of your group.
You could imagine what it's like to see in the dark like a tiger, to hear across miles like a wolf, or to sneak through the grass with paws as quiet as a whisper.
Maybe you'll dream of climbing trees with a clouded leopard or chasing desert shadows with a fennec fox, ears twitching at every sound.
Whether you're a roaring lion or a clever coyote in your dreams, your dreams can take you anywhere.
And who knows? Maybe tonight you'll dream about uncovering something new and exciting in the world of science.
Good night. Sleep tight.
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