Buzz
A true expert stands out for their ability to discern subtle distinctions between seemingly similar things. Whether you’re a doctor diagnosing a rare disease or a special agent investigating forgeries at the FBI, these small differences can make all the difference in making an accurate identification.
While most of us may never face a House-style medical enigma or need to impersonate a pilot to escape a situation like Tom Hanks, we can still learn to differentiate between commonly confused things. We've already explored 10 animals that people often mix up, and now here are 10 more to expand your understanding.
10. Octopus vs. Squid
At first glance, an octopus and a squid might look almost identical. However, there are a few simple characteristics to help you tell them apart. Here’s the surprising first clue: An octopus doesn't have tentacles.
Tentacles only have hooks or suckers at their tips. When lined with suckers, they are called arms. Both octopuses and squid have eight arms. However, squid also possess two additional tentacles, which are longer and positioned higher up than their arms.
If you can't count the number of arms, don’t fret. There’s a more obvious way to distinguish between an octopus and a squid. Octopuses have a round, bulbous head, while squid have a triangular head with fins on either side. Unlike octopuses, squid may be found in schools. Squid are also typically larger and live longer.
9. Ape vs. Monkey
Most of us probably encounter apes and monkeys in zoos, where informative placards help identify each animal. While you may not be able to pinpoint the exact species of ape or monkey, you should be able to easily distinguish between an ape or a monkey.
There are hundreds of monkey species, but only around two dozen ape species. One way to tell them apart is to familiarize yourself with the ape species. Size is also a fairly reliable indicator, as apes tend to be much larger than monkeys.
The best way to tell an ape from a monkey is by checking for a tail. Old World monkeys from Africa and Asia usually have short tails, while New World monkeys from South and Central America have long ones. Apes, however, do not have tails at all. Consequently, monkeys tend to spend most of their time in trees, while apes are more often found on the ground.
8. Rabbit vs. Hare
These animals are often seen as quick brown streaks darting across open fields, so spotting the subtle differences between hares and rabbits can be tricky. However, if you manage to get a closer look, you'll notice that hares are typically larger, faster, and more powerful than rabbits, with especially large ears and feet.
Where the animal resides can also be a clue. Hares are wild animals and not domesticated, so if you have a pet, it’s most likely a rabbit (or at least, it should be). In the wild, rabbits tend to fight among themselves and live underground, as their young are born vulnerable. Hares, on the other hand, rarely fight and live aboveground, as their young are independent shortly after birth.
Finally, you can distinguish the animal by its fur and the season. During the warmer months, hares typically have brown fur with some black mixed in, which is often replaced by white fur in the winter. In contrast, wild rabbits are brown in summer and turn gray during winter.
7. Possum vs. Opossum
As a wise man once remarked, “Since when did they change it to opossum? When I was growing up, it was just possum. Opossum makes it sound like he’s Irish or something.” Well, the opossum may not be Irish, but it’s certainly American. Although Americans often refer to the animal as a possum, true possums are native to Australia, New Zealand, China, and a few other regions.
So, what's the real difference?
Both animals are marsupials, with the opossum being the only marsupial native to North America. Opossums typically have gray fur, a white face, and black ears and feet. Possums, on the other hand, can be gray, black, brown, or golden and tend to have larger ears compared to opossums.
The simplest way to differentiate the two animals is by their cuteness. Possums are more like chinchillas, with larger bodies and smaller heads. On the other hand, opossums have hairless, rat-like tails and elongated snouts with sharp teeth, which they may use to threaten you if you get too close.
6. Bee vs. Wasp
When it comes to bees and wasps, most people are more focused on running away than trying to tell the difference. Both are categorized as Apocrita, meaning they have narrow waists. Bees, however, are generally rounder, while wasps are typically more slender and cylindrical.
Bees are generally much less aggressive than wasps for two main reasons. First, bees are herbivores and usually won’t attack unless it’s out of necessity. More importantly, most bees have rounded stingers that, when used, become lodged in their target, causing fatal harm to the bee as it is torn away.
On the other hand, wasps are predators that hunt other insects and possess smooth stingers that can be retracted safely. Although they are still unlikely to attack without provocation, they are generally the more dangerous of the two. Additionally, since bees are pollinators, they are typically covered in hair, including on their legs. Wasps, however, do not pollinate and have smooth, hairless bodies and legs.
5. Butterfly vs. Moth
Butterflies and moths share many similarities, particularly in terms of their life cycles. Moths begin as larvae and spin themselves into silk-covered cocoons. After several weeks, they emerge as full-grown moths.
Surprisingly, butterflies begin life as caterpillars but do not form cocoons. Instead, they create chrysalises, which are harder and smoother than cocoons and lack silk. These chrysalises also have a shorter lifespan, with the butterflies emerging within just three weeks.
Butterflies are often recognized by their vivid colors, but this is not always reliable. Some moths are brightly colored, while some butterflies have duller shades. A helpful guideline is that moths are usually nocturnal, while butterflies are active during the day.
The most accurate way to identify them is to observe their wings when they land. Butterfly wings will always rest vertically above their bodies, whereas moth wings typically fold downward and wrap around their bodies.
4. Shrimp vs. Prawn
If you’re looking at a shrimp or a prawn, you’re probably about to eat one. If that’s the case, the menu will likely tell you which one you're having. But if you place a prawn next to a shrimp, telling the two apart can become quite challenging.
Both prawns and shrimp belong to the Decapoda class of crustaceans, meaning they have ten legs and an exoskeleton. Prawns are generally much larger than shrimp, and their bodies are much less curved. Their body segments overlap like roof tiles, from head to tail.
Shrimp, due to their curvature, have the second segment overlap with both the first and third segments, which serves as a clear identifier. In contrast, prawns possess claws on their first three pairs of legs, whereas shrimp only have claws on the first two.
3. Black Panthers
Most large cats are found in specific regions of the world. Cougars and jaguars are native to the Americas, lions mostly reside in Africa, while cheetahs and leopards roam both Africa and Asia. Black panthers, however, are unique because they can appear anywhere a large cat species exists. The reason for this is that the term 'black panther' refers to a color variation of a different big cat.
What we refer to as a black panther is not a distinct species, but rather another type of big cat. The true identity of the animal depends on its location, but the reason it appears as a black panther is due to a condition similar to albinism. This condition results in the absence of melanin, the pigment responsible for coloring the hair and skin of both humans and animals.
Melanism is the opposite of albinism: too much melanin causes an animal's fur to turn black. In big cats, this excess melanin hides their unique spots or stripes, making them appear entirely black. However, if you look closely at their fur, the patterns that are naturally present can still be detected.
2. Caterpillar/Centipede
Caterpillars, centipedes, and millipedes can be difficult to differentiate when they're crawling in the dirt. However, a closer look will reveal their distinct differences quite clearly.
While caterpillars may appear segmented due to their patterns, they actually have long, continuous bodies resembling worms. Additionally, many caterpillars are covered in fine hair, while centipedes and millipedes lack such hair. The best way to identify a caterpillar, though, is by examining its legs.
Caterpillars possess both prolegs and true legs. The prolegs will disappear once the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, but the true legs will remain. These true legs are the three pairs closest to the head, grouped together tightly with hooks at the ends.
Despite their names, centipedes don’t actually have 100 legs, and millipedes don’t have 1,000. Centipedes typically have about 50 legs, while millipedes can have up to 400. Rather than counting the legs, focus on the body segments. A centipede will have one leg per segment, whereas a millipede will have two.
1. Bison/Buffalo
Although many people have difficulty distinguishing a bison from a buffalo, it's not as complicated as it seems. One clear indicator is their geographic location. Early American settlers mistakenly called the bison a buffalo due to its resemblance to the African buffalo. However, buffalo are found only in Africa and Asia, while bison roam in Europe and North America.
In physical appearance, telling the difference between a bison and a buffalo is as simple as distinguishing a cow from a bull. Bison are characterized by their massive heads and shoulders that seem out of proportion to their bodies. On the other hand, buffalo sport large, mustache-like horns, while bison’s horns are smaller and less pronounced.
Bison, adapted to their colder habitats, have much thicker coats, including a beard, which they shed during the warmer months. In contrast, buffalo, native to Africa and Asia, have much shorter hair suited to the hotter climates of those regions.
