Female Mice Avoid Mates That Remind Them of Their Dads

In the mouse world, courtship involves ultrasonic songs (a squeak that’s inaudible to humans) sent from aroused males to females. But a recent study found that a female mouse—if she grew up familiar with her father’s own serenades—naturally avoids copulating with a male who sounds just like Daddy. So, at least for female mice, Freud’s Oedipus complex doesn’t hold water. Sorry, Sigmund.

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Otters Hold Hands for Safety
While they sleep, otters hold hands to prevent their loved ones from drifting off (maybe you’ve heard: The ocean is kind of huge). And these critters have even been documented wrapping kelp around the wrists of napping mates—think slimy handcuffs—to keep them safe and nearby.

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Crocodiles Can Climb Trees
Swamp survival tip of the day: When a crocodile is inching suspiciously toward you, run for land. Do not climb a tree. Chances are it will follow you, or one of its buddies is already up there, licking its chops. Heed this advice especially in Africa, where you’ll find Nile crocodiles in trees just as frequently as some birds.

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Lions Are the Only Truly Social Felines
Ever suspect that your cat doesn’t love you? Of course, it does. But historically, unlike their domesticated counterparts, lions are the only cats that naturally form stable relationships. They hang out in prides that count as many as 40 members, including adult females, cubs, and one or two males.

(Photo: Nigel Pavitt/Getty Images)

Like an Ostrich?
The next time you happen to be on the plains of Africa and you hear a roar, don’t assume it’s a lion. Turns out, the defensive call of male ostriches is loud and booming and often mistaken for a lion’s roar. Don’t believe us? Listen for yourself.

(Photo: Allan Baxter/Getty Images)