![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_506080585_serial-killer-85x85.jpg)
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_506080585_serial-killer-85x85.jpg)
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1x1-cube_YouTube-screenshot-85x85.jpg)
10 Hilariously Over-Engineered Solutions to Simple Problems
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2078515753_ironic-85x85.jpg)
10 Ironic News Stories Straight out of an Alanis Morissette Song
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1115104607_far-right-85x85.jpg)
10 Lesser-Known Far-Right Groups of the 21st Century
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2429218327_cowboy-bath-85x85.jpg)
Ten Revealing Facts about Daily Domestic Life in the Old West
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_567717730_blue-jeans-85x85.jpg)
10 Everyday Products Surprisingly Made by Inmates
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1419690782_retirement-85x85.jpg)
10 Actors Dragged out of Retirement for One Key Role
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2452968355_hyena-85x85.jpg)
10 Lesser-Known Shapeshifter Legends from Around the World
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/9b-octopus-and-sun-115086226-85x85.jpg)
10 Amazing Animal Tales from the Ancient World
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1170738790-85x85.jpg)
10 Game Characters Everyone Hated Playing
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_506080585_serial-killer-85x85.jpg)
10 Terrifying Serial Killers from Centuries Ago
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1x1-cube_YouTube-screenshot-85x85.jpg)
10 Hilariously Over-Engineered Solutions to Simple Problems
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2078515753_ironic-85x85.jpg)
10 Ironic News Stories Straight out of an Alanis Morissette Song
Who's Behind Listverse?
![Jamie Frater](https://listverse.com/wp-content/themes/listverse2013/assets/img/jamie-frater.jpg)
Jamie Frater
Head Editor
Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author.
More About Us![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1115104607_far-right-85x85.jpg)
10 Lesser-Known Far-Right Groups of the 21st Century
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2429218327_cowboy-bath-85x85.jpg)
Ten Revealing Facts about Daily Domestic Life in the Old West
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_567717730_blue-jeans-85x85.jpg)
10 Everyday Products Surprisingly Made by Inmates
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1419690782_retirement-85x85.jpg)
10 Actors Dragged out of Retirement for One Key Role
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_2452968355_hyena-85x85.jpg)
10 Lesser-Known Shapeshifter Legends from Around the World
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/9b-octopus-and-sun-115086226-85x85.jpg)
10 Amazing Animal Tales from the Ancient World
![](https://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_1170738790-85x85.jpg)
10 Game Characters Everyone Hated Playing
25 Things That Are Not What They Seem
As is obvious from the fact that I write the majority of articles on this site, I love lists. Recently I was reading through a book filled with interesting facts and figures I stumbled upon this list – 25 things that are not what they seem. It seemed perfect for the site, and so I have reproduced it here for you all. Without further ado, 25 things that are not what they seem:
1. A firefly is not a fly – it is a beetle
2. A prairie dog is not a dog – it is a rodent [image above]
3. India ink is not from India – it is from China and Egypt
4. A horned toad is not a toad – it is a lizard
5. A lead pencil does not contain lead – it contains graphite
6. A douglas fir is not a fir – it is a pine [image above]
7. A silkworm is not a worm – it is a caterpillar
8. A peanut is not a nut – it is a legume
9. A koala bear is not a bear – it is a marsupial
10. An English horn is not English and it isn’t a horn – it is a French alto oboe
11. A guinea pig is not from guinea and it is not a pig – it is a rodent from South America
12. Shortbread is not a bread – it is a thick cookie [image above]
13. Dresden China is not from Dresden – it is from Meissen
14. A shooting star is not a star – it is a metorite
15. A funny bone is not a bone – it is the spot where the ulnar nerve touches the humerus
16. Chop suey is not a native Chinese dish – it was invented by Chinese immigrants in California
17. A bald eagle is not bald – it has flat white feathers on its head and neck when mature, and dark feathers when young [image above]
18. A banana tree is not a tree – it is a herb
19. A cucumber is not a vegetable – it is a fruit
20. A jackrabbit is not a rabbit – it is a hare
21. A piece of catgut is not from a cat – it is usually made from sheep intestines
22. A Mexican jumping bean is not a bean – it is a seed with a larva inside
23. A Turkish bath is not Turkish – it is Roman
24. A sweetbread is not a bread – it is the pancreas or thymus gland from a calf or lamb [image above]
Source: The Book of Lists, 2