PRINTMythbusters
May 7, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Do goldfish remember to hate little children tapping on the fish tank? Is your pet frog ruining your complexion? Should you dump your significant other and stick to kissing your dog? Myths like these have been circulating in the animal kingdom for years. Vox gets to the bottom of the tall tails.
Myth 1: Goldfish have terrible memories
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Dory’s lack of memory made her lovable in Finding Nemo, but not all of our finned friends are stupid. An episode of Discovery Channel’s MythBusters tested the myth when host Jamie trained a goldfish to successfully find its way through a maze. Dory’s adorable, but she’s a unique case.
Verdict: FALSE
Myth 2: Kissing a dog is less risky than kissing a human
Although that butt-sniffing, trash-eating canine might have a dirty mouth, the bacteria load is lower and different than what’s in our mouths. Dr. Michael Meyers of Columbia Pet Hospital says a peck from the pooch now and then won’t keep healthy individuals in bed for a week.
Verdict: TRUE
Myth 3: Frogs can ruin modeling careers
Kissing a frog will not make Prince Charming appear. And National Geographic and dermatologist Jerry Litt say that touching one won’t make warts magically appear either. Warts are caused by variations of human papillomavirus and not from our bumpy green buddies.
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