Have you ever been scrolling on social media and run across fun facts about miscellaneous animals? Do you know what the largest rodent in the world is? What about the biggest monkey in Asia? Do you know how fast a manatee can swim?
This article will be a breath of fresh air from academia and politics for curious readers who enjoy delving into fun facts. Come with me as we explore some of the most popular mammals on social media.
Capybara
The capybara is the biggest rodent in the world and is often seen on Instagram bathing in hot springs or riding atop alligators to cross rivers. For this reason, the capybara was catapulted into the spotlight, making people worldwide appreciate this rodent for its cuteness. They have also taken the industrial world by storm with the creation of trinkets, plushies and even in the form of lamps.
One thing that makes the capybara so lovable is its lack of natural predators. Due to their large stature, dense fur and the fact that they travel in groups, most capybaras do not have any predators beyond the jaguar, harpy eagle and anaconda. Because of their aquatic capabilities, they can avoid most attacks by staying underwater for multiple minutes.
However, capybaras are not new to the social media scene. From memes like “OK I pull up” to the infamous capybara song that has graced our feed for over a year, this lovable, semi-aquatic rodent has cemented itself in internet history.
Proboscis monkey
If you are on the “nature” side of Instagram, you have undoubtedly seen the proboscis monkey. Indigenous to southeast Asia, this monkey has a large fan base among animal lovers.
Being one of the largest monkeys in the world, its weight averages between 33-50 pounds. One of the most noticeable things about proboscis monkeys is their bodily features. Their large, drooping nose helps them make loud bellowing sounds and is often a sign of their fitness, while their webbed feet allow them to swim up to 20 meters underwater.
Their social media presence isn’t as matched as the capybara, but it is still large enough to make an impact. From the videos of them eating plants to the funny “honk” sound they make, these monkeys are having their moment in the spotlight, and I know it won’t go away anytime soon. Their quirky behavior and funny nose make every video worth watching.
Manatee
Unlike other marine animals, the manatee has a unique history with social media and humans alike, due to pollution and urban development, manatees have been a threatened species since 2017. Their gentle nature and goofy appearance make them fan favorites on social media, and despite people not being able to interact with them, they can still take cool underwater videos.
A manatee weighs between 1,000 – 1,300 pounds and is one of the only marine animals that strictly eats plants. In the animal kingdom, most other animals consider the manatee too large and friendly to consume as food, making them one of the few mammals to have no natural predators.
The manatee phenomenon is growing, and I suspect it will continue to grow with their increasing population. From their engagement in videos from ocean divers to other water sports personnel, this herbivore has nestled its way into our hearts, and even though we can not hug them back physically, we will in spirit.
Animal companionship is a fundamental need for us as humans. When we are introduced to new and quirky animals from around the world, it can be jarring at first, but overall, it fills us with a sense of joy.
Animals like the capybara, proboscis monkey and manatee are just some of the examples of the ways animals can make us smile and laugh.
