5 Animals With Superpowers Way Cooler Than X-Men

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox

Published August 3, 2014

Updated February 5, 2018

Alpine Ibex

They can give Spider-Man a run for his money Source: Imgur

Here is a gravity-defying animal that laughs (bleats, actually) in the face of danger. That is because the alpine ibex mountain goat can climb places that no other animal would even dare breach. These include dams, cliffs and mountain sides that are almost vertical.

I can see my house from here Source: Skene Intelligence

All goats have a reputation for being excellent climbers, but the ibex is probably the top of its class. Because it has short legs and a low-slung body mass, the ibex has a very low center of gravity. It also has extremely powerful muscles, especially in its rear legs. However, its most prized assets are definitely the hooves. They are designed with a thin, solid external rim and a soft central area which makes them ideal for climbing.

Now you know where the phrase “sure-footed as a mountain goat” comes from Source: Wikimedia Commons

author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.