9 Shocking Animal Myths That You ALWAYS Thought Were True…Debunked!

Even people who consider themselves animal experts will be blown away by these.

Did you know that koala isn't really a bear? That an ostrich doesn't actually stick its head in the sand when its scared?

How did these crazy myths find their way into animal folklore anyway? Let's explore some of the most outrageous.

Please SHARE these bizarre, debunked animal myths with everyone you know, so that they don't continue to spread false rumors!

MYTH: Camels store water in their humps.

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Camel humps are actually giant mounds of fat, not water containers, which allow them to survive in extreme temperatures for up to long periods of time.

MYTH: Koalas are bears.

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amazon.com

Koalas are sometimes referred to as "koala bear," but it's a deceptive nickname, as they're actually marsupials and have no relation to bears.

MYTH: Possums hang by their tails.

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Ronald Wittek/Arco Images/Solent

Possums don't actually hang by their tails; they use their tails to grasp onto branches as they climb trees, and the ones you see doing it are babies. An adult would snap the branch in two if it tried to hang around!

MYTH: Touching a toad will give you warts.

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Michal Ninger/Shutterstock

Warts on the human skin are caused by a human virus, so touching a toad friend won't give you any. Besides, the wart-like bumps on a toad's skin are not infectious or diseased, just a part of their charming suit.

MYTH: Cows lie down when it's about to rain.

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Graham Turner

They may be cute, but cows aren't exactly the best weather predictors, and are much more likely lying down to chew their cud or just relax than to give you the latest forecast.

MYTH: Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they're frightened.

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wolaver.org

While the saying "bury your head in the sand" might evoke the image of a ostrich putting its head in the dirt at a sign of danger, these big birds actually run from danger – as they can reach speeds of up to 40mph – rather than stuffing their face in a bunch of pebbles. Those photos you see of ostriches burying their heads? They're pecking at the ground for sand, which aids in their digestion, and it's merely an optical illusion.

MYTH: Mother birds reject their babies if they've been touched by humans.

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Mike Truchon / Shutterstock.com

For one thing, birds don't exactly have a keen sense of smell, so it's unlikely they'll pick up your scent (or be bothered by it) if you give their fallen nestling a helping hand. Fledglings, however, sit around on the ground for a while as they learn to fly, so you should leave them alone.

MYTH: Lemmings commit mass suicides.

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kizaz.com

No, lemmings are not cult-like animals that will run off a cliff to their deaths together, though they've been known to fall off a cliff on accident. Lemmings migrate together together, but this 16th century myth was perpetuated by Disney in their 1958 Oscar-winning documentary, "White Wilderness."

MYTH: Porcupines shoot their quills at foe.

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lizhester.org

Porcupines cannot propel their quills from their bodies, much like we cannot shoot our fingernails at people.

Please SHARE these busted animal myths with all of your friends!