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Cheetahs have partly retractile claws that help grip the ground.

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Cheetah at Working with Wildlife, South Africa
Animals

Traction

Cheetahs have partly retractile claws that help grip the ground.

A cheetah's claws remain more exposed than those of most cats. Their limited retraction helps the feet grip the ground during a sprint, working alongside specialized pads, long limbs, and a flexible spine. The claws are part of a running system, not a separate explanation for exceptional speed.

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Octopus vulgaris (common octopus)
Animals

3

Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood.

Octopuses have three hearts: two supply the gills and one supplies the rest of the body. Their oxygen-carrying protein contains copper and turns blue when oxygenated.

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Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis) on Maria Island, Tasmania, Australia. The entire island is a national park, Maria Island National Park. The adult is just under a metre in length on average.
Animals

Cubes

Wombats poop cubes.

Wombats produce distinctly cube-like droppings, shaped inside the intestine rather than by a square opening. Research links the shape to differences in the mechanical properties of the intestinal wall.

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