Chapter 1
The ultimate survival cheat codes
Chapter 2
Senses that sound like science fiction
Chapter 3
Outrageous defense mechanisms
Chapter 4
Unconventional family dynamics
YOUR GOAL
Master of Evolutionary rulebreakers of the animal kingdom
Ch 1 · The ultimate survival cheat codes
schopenhauer Animal Survival Cheat Codes
When the pressure gets too high, I just hit rewind and turn back to a polyp!
schopenhauer Alaskan wood frogs freeze solid during winter, stopping their hearts and breathing, only to thaw out and hop away in spring.
schopenhauer The Mexican axolotl can perfectly regrow lost limbs, spinal cords, and even parts of its brain without any scarring.
BETA
schopenhauer Match bizarre traits to their animals to master the wildest oddities of nature.
Fun Fact
Tardigrade space travel: Tardigrades survived ten days in the vacuum of space during a 2007 orbital mission.
Glossary
tardigrade (noun)
A microscopic, eight-legged invertebrate animal that typically lives in damp habitats. In 2007, these organisms successfully survived exposure to the vacuum and cosmic radiation of outer space.
A microscopic, eight-legged invertebrate animal that typically lives in damp habitats. In 2007, these organisms successfully survived exposure to the vacuum and cosmic radiation of outer space.
schopenhauer Microscopic tardigrades survive extreme environments by drying themselves out.
Quiz
How long can an African lungfish survive out of water by cocooning itself in dried mud?
Quiz
What percentage of its body water can an Alaskan wood frog freeze during winter hibernation?
Quiz
Which extreme environment did tardigrades successfully survive during a 2007 European Space Agency mission?
Quiz
What natural antifreeze substance does the Alaskan wood frog pack into its cells to prevent ice damage?
Quiz
How does the African lungfish breathe while buried in dry mud during a drought?
Quiz
What is the scientific term for the state of suspended animation where an animal's metabolism virtually stops?