The Green List
September 2007
Top 10 interesting facts about nature this month

1. As a last line of defense a caterpillar will vomit to warn its predators that it won’t taste good.

2. How important is water? Two-thirds of the human body and three-quarters of the human brain is water. Seventy-five percent of a living tree is water. Humans can survive a month without food, but only five to seven days without water.

3. The Eastern Cottontail Rabbit can have up to five litters per year with up to nine young in each litter. Their gestation period is 28 days and females can mate again within hours of giving birth.

4. A shrimp believed to be extinct for 50 million years was discovered on an underwater peak in the Coral Sea near Australia in 2006. It has been nick-named Jurassic Shrimp. It is the same colour as modern shrimp, but looks bulkier.

5. A cry for help! Plants that are not cared for will cry for help. A thirsty plant will make a high-pitched sound that is too high for humans to hear.

6. Open wide! A hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4ft child inside.

7. Ravens can learn to open a box to get a treat, and then teach others to do the same.

8. The red kangaroo can produce two different types of milk at the same time to feed both younger and older offspring.

9. South paws: All polar bears are left-handed.

10. Stressed out? The giraffe has the highest blood pressure of any animal.