10 Animals to Copy Off This School Year

The time is approaching for students to
heave a collective groan and start hitting the books once again. And while we
don’t condone copycatting, these brainy animals would be great cats to copy off
if you find yourself seated next to one this semester:

• Art: Octopuses understand the power of artistic expression. They can change the color patterns
  on their skin to blend in with their surroundings, and when threatened, they
  shoot ink to blur the potential predator’s view and make an escape. Michelangelo,
  eat your heart out.

iStockphoto.com/Tammy616

• Algebra: In math
  classes, buddy up with a dolphin. These math-minded mammals rely on complex nonlinear mathematics to help them navigate
  the ocean and hunt for food via sonar.

Iowjumpingfrog|cc by 2.0

• Gym: Give a dog a ball, rope, or even just some open space and watch what happens. Canines can
  always show us how to score an A+ in fun.

• English: Baboons can tell whether a group of letters is a real word or just gobbledygook, so
  they might even tell you where your Grapes
  of Wrath paper needs some help.

flowcomm|cc by 2.0

• Sociology: Empathetic rats will free their restrained cagemates, even if it means they will then have to
  share a mound of chocolate. So you know they’ll have no problem sharing their
  notes on helpful behavior in social groups.

• Choir: If you forget
  the words, stand next to a nightingale. They can learn 60 different songs after hearing them just a few times. (And
  their melodic singing might mask any off-key notes from their human
  classmates.)

insecta62|cc by 2.0

• Geography: Loggerhead turtles are geography whizzes who navigate by reading the Earth’s magnetic field.

iStockphoto.com/red_moon_rise

• Psychology: Since elephants flirt with each other and argue about directions, they’re likely always up for
  a rousing Mars vs. Venus debate.

sarahemcc|cc by 2.0

• Political
  Science:
  No matter which side of the aisle your political beliefs fall on, try to buzz
  on over next to a diplomatic bee in poly sci. When decisions affect the whole hive, bees put it to a vote.

Horia Varlan|cc by 2.0

• Home Economics: Perhaps they’re
  an exclusive “in crowd,” but prairie dogs describe humans based on physical characteristics, including clothing. Pair up
  with one in the sewing room, and hopefully you’ll never hear, “Oh, here
  comes the girl who always wears that god-awful purple tracksuit.”

thebadastronomer|cc by 2.0

And the most important lesson that we
can learn from animals? Having compassion for them.