So if cute faces and noises hold others’ attention, it might be to our advantage to stay cute. The evolutionary process where juvenile features in an ancestor are retained into adulthood in a descendant is called neoteny. This means as an animal gets older, it still looks young by keeping juvenile features perceived as cute throughout its life, such as bigger eyes, shorter snouts in domesticated dogs, gills in the axolotl salamander, and playful behavior. (The bigger eyes and playful behavior is true for humans, too!)
If you’ve ever spent a little longer than you probably should watching video after video of animals doing adorable things, there’s good news: you don’t have to feel guilty because looking at cute animals is actually good for you!
Baby Seal Fun Facts:
Baby seals, or ‘pups,’ have a special call for their mommy, which she can instantly recognize!
Baby seals can hold their breath for up to two hours underwater. They can even take quick naps underwater!
Baby Sloth Fun Facts:
Baby sloths poop just once a week; that’s it!
Caring for twins is difficult, so mommy sloth abandons the weaker twin and only cares for the stronger of the two!
Baby Owl Fun Facts:
Baby owls can imprint on humans. So, the ones in rehabilitation are fed while taking precautions by the rescuers!
Owlets leave their nests within six weeks from birth.
Lamb Fun Facts:
If the mother senses that her baby lamb will die, she can abandon it to save her milk for the healthier ones.
Lambs might cry during the night if they get scared or can’t find their mommy
Baby Octopus Fun Facts:
Baby octopuses are supposed to be so smart that they can play with toys or even solve puzzles!
After baby octopuses hatch, their mother and father usually die shortly afterward. That’s because taking care of the eggs exhausts the parents, leaving them too weak to survive for long.
Baby Panda Fun Facts:
Baby pandas start eating bamboo after they are six months old!
Since baby pandas are highly dependent on their mommy, the mother might abandon the weaker one and care for the stronger one if she delivers twins.
Baby Anteater Fun Facts:
Baby anteaters, or ‘pups,’ ride on their mother’s back till they gain strength to walk on their own!
These pups stay with their mommy till they are two years old before becoming independent and living on their own!
Baby Dolphin Fun Facts:
Baby dolphins learn to swim while they’re in their mother’s womb!
Baby dolphins roll their tongues like a straw in which their mommy shoots the breastmilk!
