How do hippos sleep? In shallow water, maybe underwater
San Diego Zoo says hippos can sleep underwater; a paper says captive studies indicate the possibility. By day, herds prefer to sleep in shallow water.
Natural Behaviors
Why do gorillas beat their chest? Likely to intimidate rivals
Male gorillas likely beat their chests to attract females in estrous and intimidate rivals; researchers call the beat an honest signal of competitive ability.
Do orcas avoid sperm whales? Orcas attacked a pod in 1997
Orcas do attack sperm whales: in October 1997, about 35 killer whales attacked a pod of nine sperm whales off central California, researchers report.
Why do lions not eat cheetahs? Lions kill or compete with them
Lions often kill and/or compete with cheetahs (Animal Diversity Web). Of cheetah cubs, up to 70 percent succumb to lions and hyenas (San Diego Zoo).
How do orcas sleep without drowning? Whales rest half the brain
According to NOAA Fisheries, whales and dolphins rest just half their brain and keep the other half awake to breathe. SeaWorld describes how orcas rest.
Do coyotes live in packs? Inside wild family groups
Coyotes live in flexible family groups built around a lifelong monogamous pair, not in large permanent packs like wolves. Learn how their social structure works.
Where do coyotes go during the day and how they rest
Coyotes spend daylight hours resting in dense brush, crop fields, and woodland edges. Underground dens are reserved for raising pups in spring.
Why do opossums play dead and how it helps them survive
Opossums play dead through an involuntary reflex called tonic immobility, releasing foul odors and mimicking decay to deter predators and survive attacks.
What Are Coyotes Afraid Of? Wolves, Cougars, and People
Coyotes fear wolves, mountain lions, and people above all else. Learn how predator pressure, human activity, and habitat shape coyote wariness and survival behavior.
Why do raccoons wash their food? It is touch, not hygiene
Raccoons dunk food in water to sharpen their sense of touch, not to clean it. The behavior is called dousing, and their scientific name as washer is a centuries-old mistake.