Lemurs in Ecstasy
Black lemurs of Madagascar eat millipedes to extract a toxic chemical that acts like an insect repellant. But eating millipedes sends the lemurs into an ecstatic trance. One scientist described the lemurs' eyelids dropping and mouths frothing. They also "go all kind of sexy." (How closely did that scientist study the lemurs?)
BABY, IT'S A WILD WORLD
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Groovin' Baboons
Female baboons talk about sex. And the better it was for them, the more noise they make about it. … Some biologists believe that the chatter is linked to the quality of the intercourse with the male partner -- the higher his status, the more intense the noise. (But do male baboons listen when it isn't good? Sigh.)
Smokin' Dog
A Daschund lived to the ripe old age of 22 -- on 10 cigarettes a day. When the abandoned dog was taken in, he was found to like eating the tobacco and paper before spitting out the filter. Ordinarily, nicotine is poisonous to dogs. (Disclaimer: Super Dog isn't Smoking Dog. But he's still darn cute.)
Whole Llama Love
Male Llamas make a sound similar to human gargling when aroused. This noise continues while mating, which can go on for an hour. (Is that the reason those Scope commercials are so titillating?)
Felled Elk
The elk is probably the worst drunk in the animal kingdom. In Sweden, in particular, elk gorge themselves on aged apples, not realizing they have fermented. As a result they often end up in an aggressive drunken stupor. Elk have been known to charge joggers. (Note to self: Is it jogger-hunting season yet?)
Hamster Hooch
Studies show hamsters can develop a taste for alcohol with a tolerance that is 40 times greater than humans' in proportion to their body weight. This is the equivalent of a human drinking a case of wine a day -- with no visible side effect. (We have no idea if that pictured liquid is alcohol, but that hamster seems to be all up in it.)
Pickled Pigeon
When Seychelles blue pigeon feeds on fermented Indian almonds they can get so inebriated they won't be able to fly for hours. (If only airline pilots were so smart.)
Sexy Salmon
The appeal of the handsome sailor extends into the fish world. Female salmon prefer males who have traveled to sea and come home bigger, tougher, and wiser for the experience. (Time to start packaging that salmon scent into a musky cologne.)
Right on, Rats, Right on
Rats get turned on by marijuana. (Finally, factual support for that Mickey Mouse meets Cheech and Chong movie we've been trying to sell.)