Category: Mammals
The horse we know today evolved from a small, multi-toed creature that lived 45-55 million years ago. Humans first domesticated horses around 6000 years ago and there are now over 300 breeds of horses, fulfilling roles from agricultural draft-horse to police mount to therapy riding. Human civilization and culture would not be the same without them. Horses are also prominent in the mythologies of many cultures – no doubt owing to their importance in so many realms of ancient life.
The Opossum Ain’t Playing
Many people associate playing dead with the opossum - that’s where the term “playing opossum” comes from, after all. But something you might not know is that when an opossum feigns death, it really goes all out! Not content with merely closing its eyes and laying down, the opossum begins drooling profusely as if ill or even rabid, releases a putrid, greenish fluid from its anal glands that makes it smell like a decaying corpse, and after losing consciousness may even mimic rigor mortis! This is quite the elaborate routine, but it isn’t conscious: when an opossum plays dead, it has actually gone into shock due to stress.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
