fun fact! while that move is mainly for show now, it originated from when we used horses in wars and battles so they trained the horses to do this and absolutely obliterate anyone behind them
(yes that means someone would be on the horse while it does this)
Fun fact! This particular movement was never actually used in war. In battle the horse would be wearing heavy armor and it would be very hard to do it. In addition, he has to dance in place for a pretty lengthy amount of time before he jumps and this would give anyone around him a long time to get out of the way. While it was taught in those eras, it was moreso to help the horse learn to be balanced and agile, not to perform in battle. They also just taught it to show off sometimes. (Source)
The “Squidworm” is believed to be a transitional organism from benthic worms to free-swimming pelagic worms. They are named Squidworms due to their tentacle-like branchiae and palps.
Life is hard for the mighty cephalopod. “If you’re a cephalopod, you’re super easy to eat,” says Sarah McAnulty, a squid biologist. “You’re basically a swimming protein bar.”
She studies a species of cephalopod called the Hawaiian bobtail squid. While most cephalopods have flashy adaptations to stay off predators’ dinner menus this particular squid relies on something that many other cephalopods don’t—its bacteria BFF.
Although some invading bacteria are destroyed by cells within the bobtail, their immune systems can learn to recognize “beneficial bacteria,” or bacteria that is ignored, and may even receive help from the immune system if it proves helpful to the livelihood of the animal. Learn more about the Bobtail squid’s BFF in the latest Macroscope video!
