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Why animals behave strangely during eclipses

Many types of animals are accustomed to their routine.day, which is built in accordance with the cycle of day and night. This change of time of day indicates to them when they need to look for food, when they need to migrate, to multiply. Previously it was believed that the behavior of animals can be affected only by the length of the day. However, as it turned out, lunar activity also has a strong influence on their lives.

Synodic cycle - the period of complete change of alllunar phases from new moon to new moon, which is approximately 29.5 days - leads to changes in the Earth's magnetic field, as well as in the level of illumination at night. Unlike humans, many species of animals are able to notice and respond to these changes. The same mass spawning of corals coincides with the full moon or new moon. But what happens to animals when something unusual happens to the Moon and the Sun, such as blackout?

What happens to animals during a solar eclipse?

Among all astronomical phenomena, perhaps,it is a solar eclipse that most often leads to unusual behavior among animals. Puzzled animals, accustomed to daytime activities, suddenly find themselves in "night" conditions, and animals that are accustomed to nightlife, they think they have overslept and abruptly awaken. A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon and the Earth line up in such a way that the Moon blocks our light from the Earth. While all people are watching this very beautiful phenomenon, many animals around the world literally start to go crazy.

By topic: The best photos of the solar eclipse July 2

For example, some species of spiders in sunnyeclipses begin to unravel their webs, as they usually do at the end of daylight hours. As soon as the astronomical phenomenon is completed, they, puzzled, begin to weave a web again. Many species of daytime fish and birds go to their places for overnight stay. And nightly species, the same bats, deceived by unexpected darkness, wake up.

Observations show that hippos in Africa withsolar eclipse out of the water and sent to the places of night feeding. Halfway to their target, the eclipse ends, and poor animals do not understand what to do. Caught in such a stressful situation, they feel very bad the rest of the day.

How do animals behave during a lunar eclipse?

Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is hidingin the shadow of the Earth and we do not see it completely (total lunar eclipse) or partially (partial). During this phenomenon, the Earth is located on the line between the Moon and the Sun. The so-called "bloody moons" occur only when the full disk of the moon is closed by the shadow of our planet. Scientists find it difficult to determine the difference in the influence of different types of lunar eclipses on animal behavior. But this influence definitely exists.

When observing the monkeys of Azar - typicalby night view — during lunar eclipses, it was noticed that they suddenly stopped searching for food. Apparently, for them everything around becomes so dark that they simply do not see food or can not safely move through the trees.

About three times a year there is a super-moon. It coincides with the full moon or new moon, as well as the moment of the closest approach of the moon and the earth. At this time, the moon is 46,000 kilometers closer to our planet. Therefore, in the sky it seems more.

See also: What happens if the moon disappears

With superlunias the level of illumination at nightit is 30 percent higher than at any other time of the lunar monthly cycle. Recent observations indicate that the same white-cheeked goose (a type of small geese) react sharply to these super moons. Scientists have installed compact devices on birds that monitor their physiological state. It turned out that during the superlunar geese increase the heart rate and body temperature, although at night there is usually a different picture. At the same time, the birds do not react to the super moon, if the moon is hidden behind the clouds. It turns out that the bright light of the satellite of the Earth makes them wake up and think that morning has already come.

How does the lunar cycle affect a person?

For centuries, people have been interested in the connection between the lunarcycles and their effects on humans. Many tales were devoted to our interaction with her. You’ve probably heard werewolf stories? Previously it was believed that the lunar cycles can somehow lead to physiological changes in humans.

The influence of the moon tried to attribute literallyall In the level of fertility, epilepsy, general psychological state of health of people. Some still believe that the crime rate rises on a full moon.

However, studies prove that the behavior of the moon has no effect on humans.

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