Buzz
Taxonomy is the scientific exploration of the genetic relationships that link all living organisms. Thanks to the tireless research of scientists, we continue to uncover shocking truths about the animal kingdom.
In this eye-opening list, we’ll uncover that dogs share a closer bond with seals than cats, dive into the unexpected identity of barnacles, and reveal why seed-eating parrots possess a unique tooth structure capable of breaking vertebrae:
10. Cougar
North and South America are home to a formidable predator known as the cougar, also called the mountain lion. Weighing over two hundred pounds and reaching lengths greater than nine feet, this cat relentlessly hunts prey as large as cattle and wild horses. However, genetically speaking, as shocking as it may be to some, cougars share more in common with the domestic cats we keep as pets than they do with other large cats.
Scientists have definitively established that the cougar is neither a panther nor a lion, but rather a distant relative of the small jaguarundi. Despite their fearsome reputation, “mountain lions” purr and meow, and their evolutionary journey only recently branched off from that of house cats. Thus, the cougar is essentially classified as a small cat—though this classification offers little solace if you ever face one. Cougars are skilled hunters, and fatalities from cougar attacks are tragically not uncommon.
9. Parrots and Falcons
Although their vivid colors, ability to mimic speech, and sociable nature might mislead you, parrots are in fact closely related to the deadly falcons, some of the fiercest predators among birds. While it may seem hard to believe that parrots and falcons are connected, the connection becomes clearer when you remove the extravagant feathers from the picture.
Falcons have a distinctive, razor-sharp notch in their beak known as the tomial tooth, which is specifically evolved to sever the spinal cords of other birds. Unlike falcons, hawks and eagles lack this tooth, forcing them to rip apart their prey—a process that can take several minutes. Surprisingly, certain parrots, including the well-known lovebirds, also possess this tomial tooth, providing both physical and genetic proof of their connection to falcons.
8. Muskox
The muskox is a massive, living relic, roaming the isolated tundra regions of Greenland, Scandinavia, Canada, and Russia. Known as the bison of the Far North, the muskox is one of the few remaining survivors from the Pleistocene Epoch, having once shared the land with mammoths. Weighing up to one thousand pounds, this shaggy creature stands five feet tall at the shoulder and is equipped with a formidable horned helmet.
Although it may appear to resemble an ox, the muskox is actually a member of the goat antelope group, placing it in close relation to domestic sheep and mountain goats. Thorough studies of its DNA and body structure affirm this surprising connection—an intriguing example of taxonomical relationships and convergent evolution.
7. Manatees and Elephant Shrews
The manatee, a large marine mammal with a striking resemblance to a walrus, is found in the warm waters along equatorial coastlines. Rather than being related to cetaceans or seals, as one might expect, manatees are actually some of the closest living relatives to elephants.
Their incredible genetic similarity to elephants is shared only with one other group, the elephant shrews. These small, six-inch creatures, though miniature, bear a resemblance to elephants in their form. Scientists were astonished when they discovered that these peculiar, long-tailed animals were in fact close relatives of the true elephants.
6. Raven
The raven is a large, intimidating, and remarkably clever bird, capable of outperforming eagles in flight and occasionally preying on mammals as large as young sheep. Although ravens are found nearly everywhere, few consider where they truly belong on the evolutionary tree.
The answer might surprise casual bird enthusiasts: rather than being related to hawks or vultures, ravens actually belong to the Sparrow order, Passeriformes, making them the largest members of that group. Despite their impressive wingspan of over five feet and their harsh calls, ravens possess exceptionally sophisticated vocal organs that allow them to produce a range of unexpectedly melodic, high-pitched sounds. These “super songbirds” are also known for their aerobatic feats and rank among the three smartest bird species worldwide. It is believed that ravens may even guide wolves to prey, intending to scavenge the carcasses later.
5. Electric Eel
The electric eel is a fearsome seven-foot-long fish found in the Amazon River basin of South America. Weighing up to sixty pounds, its snake-like body makes it as deadly as the largest constrictor snake. However, what many don't realize is that the electric “eel” is not an eel at all, but rather an extremely unusual species of knife fish.
Along with other species, electric eels independently developed their eel-like shape due to the advantage it provides for stealthy hunting. Surprisingly, the electric eel is closely related to the eerie catfish, and even more astonishingly, to the common goldfish we keep as pets. While other knife fish may produce a modest charge measured in millivolts, the electric eel can generate a staggering five hundred volts.
4. Seals and Canines
People often mention “dogs and cats” together, seeing them as similar in many ways—but how often do we hear “dogs and seals”? While cats and dogs may live under the same roof, the real similarities stop there; they're as genetically distant from each other as camels are from horses.
The true relative of the dog is not the cat, but rather its ocean counterpart: the pinniped. Seals (and even bears) belong to the suborder caniformia, which consists of dog-like carnivores, including dogs themselves. Cats, on the other hand, are part of an entirely separate suborder. Some researchers have even proposed that sea lions are to dogs what mermaids would be to humans, if such creatures existed…
3. Barnacle
The unassuming barnacle, a nuisance to beachgoers, boaters, and whales alike, may appear to be just another bothersome shellfish. However, it might surprise you to learn that this curious shelled creature shares no familial connection with oysters, clams, or mussels.
In reality, the barnacle is a close relative of crabs, lobsters, and prawns. It begins life as a planktonic larva that resembles a shrimp. After swimming freely for some time, it settles onto a solid surface—sometimes even attaching to a whale—and constructs a protective cone made of calcium carbonate. The barnacle feeds by extending its feelers through a gap in the cone, capturing passing plankton. In a bizarre twist, some of the plankton it consumes include barnacle larvae, though the extent to which this affects the barnacle is still unknown.
2. Puffins and Seagulls
When we admire a puffin, sometimes called a 'sea parrot,' with its colorful bill full of fish, it’s hard to imagine a seagull being its relative. Yet, puffins belong to the order charadriiformes, making them the closest living kin to seagulls, terns, and curlews. This order, known for its ‘gull-like seabirds,’ includes some of the most skilled hunters in the bird world.
Puffins have denser bones than gulls, which allows them to dive deep into the ocean to catch fish, sometimes hundreds of feet below the surface. In contrast, gulls tend to feed at the surface and will even steal from their puffin cousins. The great black-backed gulls, in particular, are known to hunt puffins themselves.
1. Stickleback
The three-spined stickleback is a small yet feisty fish often caught by young anglers. Known for its ancient lineage, sticklebacks possess unique traits and are classified in a surprisingly unexpected way within the fish family.
Although it looks like a minnow, the stickleback is actually a close relative of the seahorse. Beneath its armor-like plates and three sharp spines, it shares many physical features with the seahorse, such as tiny fins that let it hover and a tubular mouth. Male sticklebacks even take on the role of guarding their offspring, much like male seahorses do.
