Historically humans have believed our species to be superior and smarter than animals. But hold on. Science is demonstrating that the superiority is definitely skills related. Some mammals, birds and reptiles are imbued with speed and distance attributes we humans could only wish to have.
For example…I was walking 2-3 miles a day thinking I was doing well. Then I read that some Painted Ladies, weighing less than one Gram, fly from Europe across the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara Desert. Some fly from Canada to Mexico AND they can fly at speeds up to 30 miles per hour! REALLY? I can only average 12 mph on my bicycle. Even dragonflies can fly at speeds of 40 mph and traverse up to 85 miles in a day. And the oversized hippo can gallop up to 19 mph.
The common swift can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour. Brazilian free tailed bats were tracked with radio transmitters and found to fly horizontal at speeds approaching 100 mph. The only time I got anywhere more than three quarters of that speed with a car I met a friendly gentleman in blue.
As for the distance part… I peak out at driving 700 miles a day and feel a flight “across the pond” is challenging. But the Pacific Gray whale’s journey between summer and winter waters can be up to 14,000 miles round trip.
The bar-tailed godwit, a type of sandpiper, often flies from Alaska to New Zealand nonstop, more than 7,00 miles! So you see, speed and endurance wise us humans cannot rival.
And let’s not forget our intellectual abilities. It’s not uncommon to hear some experienced (aged) folks declaring computing skills to be beyond them. But consider this….Southern Illinois University researchers taught an octopus to use an iPad. Thus, some of us may not be as smart as an octopus.
So the next time we feel superior to our feathered, finned and furry friends we should rethink that.
SeniorTraveler 