Yes, all those things still amaze me too! Unfortunately some of the other animal amazers may not be very exciting to you.

Here are some samples:

• Rabbits cannot vomit. This has important ramifications when we are concerned about furballs (trichobezoars for word buffs).
• Most birds do not have urinary bladders. Some that do are ostriches and emus.
• The nasal openings (nares) for the Kiwi are at the END of the beak, not at the top like most other birds.
• A swan's trachea (windpipe) makes a large loop into the sternum (breastbone or keelbone) or into the deep pectoral muscles depending on if a black or white swan. The trachea of mammals is a straight shot to the lungs - no detours!
• Tracheas in birds have complete cartilaginous rings and so if you grab a bird around the neck you will not be able to strangle it (well - not easily). This is not true for mammals. Our trachea has half rings, so it will collapse and we can be strangled.
• Aspirin is highly toxic to cats.
• Chocolate can be very toxic to dogs.
• Man and pigs have several things in common; one is the possession of a uvula (the thing that hangs down in the back of your throat).
• Tuna fish actually are not ectothemic like most other fish (cold-blooded). They can maintain a constant core temperature. See the April 28 Science News. Seaturtles are also not ectothermic. Different mechanisms.
• Goats have retangular pupils.
• Ostriches are very dangerous animals. They can kick and eviscerate a man.
• Alligators have a functional four chambered heart (like mammals). Remember birds and reptiles have three chambered hearts.
• Horses cannot vomit.
• Cheetahs do not have retractable claws like the rest of the feline world.
• Marine fish constantly drink water and freshwater fish seldom do.
• All the domesticated hamsters are descendant from just THREE animals.
• Rabbits can kick so violently that they will break their own backs.

[Editor's note: Drury! This is wonderful! Encore! Encore!]