1 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to Creature Feature Production of iHeartRadio. I'm your host 2 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: of Many Parasites, Katie Golden. I studied psychology and edit 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: a little. I studied psychology and evolutionary biology, and today 4 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: on the show we are doing a listener questions episode. 5 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: You can write to me your questions and hey, I 6 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: try to answer them as best I can. If you've 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: got any questions that you would like me to answer, 8 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: you can write to me a Creature Feature Pod at 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: gmail dot com anything related to animals, and I will 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: give it my best shot to answer. So let's get 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: right into it with the first question. Dear Katie Golden. 12 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: A few weeks ago, I was in church when an 13 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: infant was being baptized, and our excellent priest said, casually 14 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: as people do, that the baby was just quote soaking 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: up everything like a sponge, and I thought, I think 16 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: sponges are pretty heavily involved and filtering. However, I'm very 17 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: ignorant about sponges, so when I got home, I took 18 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: a cursory look and found that I wasn't wrong, but 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: more importantly, that sponge physiology is remarkable and romantic. So 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: I naturally and immediately hoped you might do sponges. Thanks 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: for thinking about it. From Marianne. Thank you so much 22 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: for this episode idea, mary Anne, I agree that sponges 23 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: are fascinating. They have no brains, no organs, no true tissues. 24 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: They only have the ability to move around when they're larvae. 25 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: They can regenerate into a new sponge if you break 26 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: off a peach. They are pretty magical. Their cells can 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: migrate through their bodies and some cells can even change function. 28 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: There are even carnivorous sponges which can trap and eat 29 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: small prey. They don't even have just one mouth, they 30 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: have many, many, many tiny mouths called ostia. Despite the 31 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: fact that they have no noses, they can also do 32 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: this thing called a sneeze, where they eject waste filled 33 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: mucus out of their tiny mouths, so they sneeze through 34 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: their mouths, which is rude for a person to do, 35 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: but normal for a sponge to do. And you can 36 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,239 Speaker 1: only see this sneeze if you speed up footage of 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: a sea sponge. But there is some footage online if 38 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: you look for a sea sponge sneeze, I think you 39 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: should find it should be safe to look for that, 40 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: I think, but yeah, it is a great idea to 41 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: do a whole episode on sea sponges. I would love 42 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: to do that and I probably will soon, so thank 43 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: you for that suggestion. Onto the next question. Hey, Katie, 44 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: I was wondering if you were tasked with writing a 45 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: Black Mirror episode in which the bad actors running the 46 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: military of a nation wanted to utilize the animal kingdom 47 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: for espionage in some way, like Valdimir the Blugo, which 48 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: creature would you force to become our surprisingly skilled collaborator. 49 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: This is from PK. Thank you for the surprisingly specific question. 50 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: So some background on what listener PK is referring to. 51 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: Vladimir is a beluga that well, actually it's called Vladimir 52 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: with kind of an H. It's like an H in 53 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 1: front of the name Vladimir. So Vlaldemir is a beluga 54 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: that was found by Norwegian fishermen in twenty nineteen with 55 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: a camera strap to it. The theory is that it's 56 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: a spy beluga from Russia, given that the camera says 57 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: quote equipment Saint Petersburg, which if it's an actual spy beluga, 58 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: seems kind of sloppy to label your beluga essentially as 59 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: coming from Saint Petersburg, So it seems a little too 60 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: obvious to be an actual spy beluga, but both the 61 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: US and Russia have indeed used wales in military program Still, 62 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: it's also probable that the whale is part of some 63 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: kind of zoological research or other purpose, given how the 64 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: camera was so clearly labeled, which again seems weird if 65 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: it's a spible luga. Onto the question of what animal 66 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: would I use as a spy. I think I would 67 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 1: use an animal that's pretty cosmopolitan. So when I say cosmopolitan, 68 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean a cultured animal. It means an animal 69 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,799 Speaker 1: that lives all over the world, so that you could 70 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,679 Speaker 1: train it and deploy it and it would not raise 71 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: too many suspicions. So one also that could be equipped 72 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: with a tiny spy camera and would be guaranteed to 73 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: come back to a certain location. My first thought is bees. 74 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: I'd probably recruit some bees, affix tiny or quarters or 75 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: cameras to them. As long as my target was near 76 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: some flower, I would have an army of faithful little 77 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: spies who would return to the hive at whenever you 78 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: know they're done doing their little patrol of all the flowers. 79 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: So I think they would be quite useful. I guess 80 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: the downsize of the downside of them is the fact 81 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: that they are so small. But honestly, pigeons are also 82 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: good candidates for spies because you can train a pigeon 83 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: to return to a specific location a lah homing pigeons, 84 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: and in fact, in World War One, pigeons were given 85 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: spy cameras and they were actually used for espionage. The 86 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: CIA also used pigeons as spies during the Cold War 87 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: and actually use them on American soil purportedly for quote 88 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: unquote testing. The pigeons were outfitted with cameras that were 89 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: very readvanced at the time, and we're able to take 90 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: high definition photographs of their targets with like a lot 91 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: of detail. It was pretty exciting. I guess for the CIA, 92 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: little suspicious that they were using them on US soil. 93 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: I'm not saying we're currently surrounded by spy pigeons, but 94 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: I guess maybe think before you share state secrets while 95 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: giving bread to pigeons in the park. That's just my suggestion. 96 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: All right, on to the next listener question. Hey, Katie 97 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: love the show. I have a couple questions for your 98 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: trove of knowledge. One is it true that killing a 99 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: wasp or hornet will attract others to that location? And two? 100 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: Why are some dogs particularly interested in their pemails while 101 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: others aren't. I have a Betty whippett who absolutely has 102 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: to smell everything he walks past, but isn't very interested 103 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: in socializing with other dogs. All other dogs I know 104 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: enjoy a sniff, but aren't as adamant or throw as 105 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: he is. Maybe he's just strange and he attached pictures 106 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: of the little doggie, So this is from Iona. Thank 107 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: you for the questions and for the lovely photo of 108 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: the dog. I know his name's not mister Grumpers, but 109 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: he looks like a mister Grumper's because he's got a 110 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: mister Grumper's face. So let's answer the first question. First, 111 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: is it true that killing a wasp or hornet will 112 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: attract others to that location? So first, let's talk about bees. 113 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: Actually not my spy bees that I talked about earlier, 114 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: but species of honeybees who will release alarm pheromones when 115 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: they are attacked, and they will also release an alarm 116 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: pheromone when they use their stinger, which detaches and higher 117 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: concentrations of alarm pheromones will induce other honey bees to 118 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: want to sting, although this plateause ONTs a certain maximum 119 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: concentration of alarm pheromone is detected, which is pretty clever 120 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: when you think about it, because once you get enough 121 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: bee stings that the threat has probably been dealt with, 122 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: and if you get more things coming to sting, that's 123 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: just superfluous attacks. And it's costly because it kills the bee. 124 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: So killing a bee does other than like the bee 125 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: killing itself by stinging you, doesn't really cause it to 126 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: release alarm pheromones. Unless it releases the alarm pheromones before 127 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: you kill it, it's unlikely to attract other bees. Or 128 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: if by killing it you kind of smooth it and 129 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: like I guess, pop open the alarm pheromone gland. When 130 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: a bee dies, it does release olaic acid, which induces 131 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: hygienic cleaning behavior and other bees basically undertaking behaviors, so 132 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: they will clear out the dead bee because they smell 133 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: the olaic acid, and this is probably you know, to 134 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: keep the hive clean and hygienic. You know, you gotta 135 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: bring out you're dead. When you live in a hive 136 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: and you gotta keep things clear so disease doesn't spread 137 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: onto wasps and hornets. So social wasps and hornets both 138 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: have alarm pheromones like bees, that allow them to coordinate 139 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: with their sisters when there is a threat or a 140 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: target to attack. So, like a bee, if you manage 141 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: to kill a wasp or hornet, if before you kill it, 142 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: you trigger its alarm pheromone that will potentially alert other 143 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: wasps or hornets to your location, or if you smush 144 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: it such that the alarm pheromone gland releases that chemical, 145 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: you may also attract other wasps or hornets to your location. 146 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: But is the act of killing the wasp or hornet 147 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: the trigger to releasing pheromones? So, like say you expertly 148 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 1: assassinate a wasp before it even knows what hits it, 149 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: is that going to release pheromones? Because I see a 150 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: lot of advice online not to kill a wasp because 151 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: it will attract other wasps by releasing an alarm of pheromone, 152 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: like the killing of the wasp is what releases the pheromone. 153 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: But I was not able to find any research that 154 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: would back up that claim. It seems more likely that 155 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: when you kill a wasp, or you kill a hornet, 156 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: you don't immediately kill it so it has a chance 157 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: to release that alarm pheromone before dying. Or if you 158 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: smash the wasp and you release the contents of its 159 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: venom glands which contains the alarm pheromones, that could also 160 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: draw more wasps or more hornets to your location. But 161 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: like if you had an instant wasp kill death ray 162 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: that can just turn a wasp from being alive to dead, 163 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: the dead wasp itself does not really release an alarm 164 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: pheromone just because it died. Otherwise, wasps would freak out 165 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: all the time every time a wasp dies of natural 166 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: causes inside the nest, and that would not be safe 167 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: or practical for the wasps. In fact, studies of wasp 168 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: alarm pheromone, they actually capture the wasps by freezing them. 169 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: So they capture the wasp, they freeze them and this 170 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: kills them and that way they can safely extract the 171 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: alarm pheromone from their venom sacks, so you know, because 172 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,640 Speaker 1: they don't they don't want to like kill them by 173 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: smashing them or having them be scared before they die, 174 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: so that you know, they release the alarm pheromone, so 175 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: they can extract it this way, and wasps and hornets, 176 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: just like bees, also engage in this sort of undertaker 177 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: behavior where they remove dead coy members. So it's very 178 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: likely that just like in bees, there's some kind of 179 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: chemical release upon death that the other members of the 180 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: colony are sensing that lets them know that it is 181 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: time for body disposal. I don't know if the exact 182 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: chemical has been identified in wasps and hornets, but you know, 183 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: whether it's like a like acid like in bees, or 184 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: some other fatty acid or something else entirely, I don't know, 185 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: but yeah, I suspect that they are, you know, pretty 186 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 1: well equipped with a chemical that lets other their sisters 187 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: basically know that there's a dead body here cleared out. 188 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: But it's not the same as an alarm pheromone. It doesn't, 189 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: you know, have them all convene to go to war. 190 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: It's just basically like, hey, there's a dead body over here, 191 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: you got to clean it out. So that would be 192 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: my answer is like killing them might indeed cause other 193 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: wasps to convene at the location if they're so so wasps, 194 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,599 Speaker 1: but it's not because it's a dead wasp releasing the pheromone. 195 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: It would be the wasp is aware of the danger, 196 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: like that instinct to release the pheromone happens before it dies, 197 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: or you've smushed it such that it releases the pheromone 198 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: anyways by just kind of popping open the venom glands. 199 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: So yeah, real fun stuff with wasps. So we are 200 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: going to take a quick break. But when we get back, 201 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: we've got more listener questions. I am going to now 202 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: answer the second half of the question why some dogs 203 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: are particularly interested in peepe smells while others aren't. The 204 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 1: prison who rode in has a dog who is very 205 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: interested in smelling everything he walks past, but he is 206 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: not interested in socializing with other dogs. It's really interesting. 207 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: I have noticed this too. I have a dog, my 208 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: dog Cookie, who loves smelling everything. She also is not 209 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: necessarily that interested in socializing with other dogs. She's a 210 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: little scared of other dogs. I think with I mean 211 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: with sense. It is a very enriching activity for dogs. 212 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: So I would highly recommend people lit their dogs smell 213 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: things on walks. It is like for dogs, their sense 214 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: of smell is so incredibly powerful and detailed that it's 215 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: almost like our vision is to us where they can 216 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: find so much information just from smelling smells. They know, 217 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: like when something came by, what it was, they can 218 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: usually tell, like, you know, like was this dog you 219 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: know in estress? Was this dog you know stressed? So 220 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: all sorts of things from these piece smells, and then 221 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: all sorts of other things from so many other different smells, 222 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: and so to them, like when they sniff around in 223 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: a part or wherever, they are getting all this information. 224 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: So it's like reading a newspaper or looking at an 225 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: art gallery. They're getting a lot of stimulation from it. 226 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: So it's really enriching for them. It's a nice idea 227 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: to let your dog sniff around, get some good sniffs in, 228 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: because they're essentially just like keeping up with doggy news. 229 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: Why some dogs are more interested in it than others, 230 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a really interesting question. I think it 231 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: just comes down to dogs having different personalities. You know, 232 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: my dog is kind of an introvert like your dog. 233 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: She enjoys smelling things a whole lot, but she gets 234 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: a little bit scared from other dogs. So maybe for her, 235 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: you know, the smells are a much more safe way 236 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: for her to keep up with the dog news know, 237 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: like who her neighbors are, what other dogs are doing, 238 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: but it doesn't come with the same sort of intimidation 239 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: that she experiences when she's actually face to face with 240 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: another dog. So she really enjoys the smells. Maybe it's 241 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: really stimulating for her too, because if she's really high strung, 242 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: she gets you know, a lot of stimulation just from 243 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: the smells alone, whereas maybe for another dog, they're more 244 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: easily bored by just the smells and they want more 245 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: stimulation by actually playing with other dogs. I would like 246 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: in it, maybe too humans, you know, like some people 247 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: like you know, more thrilling things like horror movies or 248 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: roller coasters, whereas others are maybe more satisfied with, you know, 249 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: more calm things, and just taking in like a painting 250 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: or a book really you know, slowly and methodically is 251 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: plenty satisfying. So I think dogs are the same way. 252 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: Some dogs are thrill seekers, they need more stimulation than 253 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: just smelling, and some dogs really just enjoy focusing on 254 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: smelling and taking in their environment that way. All dogs 255 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: typically have such a refined sense of smell, though, I 256 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: think it's a good idea to let them smell and 257 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: it's There's actually been some studies that allowing dogs to 258 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: smell their environment and search for things with smells like 259 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: gives them a more optimistic outlook, like they are more 260 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: likely to continue to try to attempt puzzles and things 261 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: like when they are given the chance to just smell 262 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: around their environments. So I highly encourage allowing your sweet 263 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: little dog who love smelling things to keep on sniffing. 264 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: Onto the next listener question. Do cannibal morphs of axe 265 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: lottles look different from the regular morphs? Also? Are they 266 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: physiologically different from their non cannibal brethren. I've also heard 267 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: that cannibalizing others can cause an axe a lottle to 268 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: quote grow up and become a salamander looking little beast. 269 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 1: Are there cannibal morphs of animals other than axe lottles? 270 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: I know there are other animals that are just generally cannibals, 271 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: but are there any that just have the occasional weird 272 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: guy who starts munching on his friends or enemies? I guess, 273 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: why do you think people are so driven to keep 274 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,360 Speaker 1: exotic animals as pets when they should not be pets 275 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,479 Speaker 1: like chimpanzees? Is it a desire to feel special or different. 276 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: Do they think they have a special connection with that 277 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: animal or is it something I'm not thinking of. My 278 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: first pet was a rabbit named Cookie, which is also 279 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 1: my dog's name, by the way. And after hearing that 280 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: pet birds aren't really domesticated and are apparently the same 281 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 1: as their wild counterparts, I've been wondering if the same 282 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: is true for rabbits, or if bunnies are more like 283 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: dogs and have been selectively bred over a period of 284 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: time to be domesticated for other common animals that are 285 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: kept as pets like rats, mice, fares, hamsters, etc. And 286 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: then I got a bunch of beautiful photos of Cookie 287 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: the rabbit rest in peace, little Cookie the rabbit, and 288 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: a pet dog named Bear who's adorable. And this is 289 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: from Sky. Thank you for all of the really good 290 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: questions and adorable animal pictures. Cookie was a very cute 291 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: little look like a little oreo and Bear is an 292 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: adorable little grimlin of a dog. I love all these questions, 293 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna answer all of them. Let's first start 294 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: with the first question, which is do cannibal morphs of 295 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: axe lottles look different from the regular morphs also are 296 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: they physiologically different from their non cannibal brethren. I've also 297 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: heard that cannibalizing others can cause an axe lottle to 298 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: grow up and become a salamander looking little beast. So interestingly, 299 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: there are many species of amphibians whose larva can become 300 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: cannibal morphs, such as tadpole and salamander larva. Now remember 301 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: that axe lottles are permanent juvenile forms of salamanders, which 302 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: is called neotony. So cannibal morphs of toads occur when 303 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 1: they eat large prey such as shrimp. They will then 304 00:19:55,880 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: become and remember, cannibal more, the larval forms of toads 305 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: are tadpoles. These cannibal tadpoles, when they eat a larger 306 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 1: prey like shrimp, will then become carnivorous and cannibalistic and 307 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: will only eat meat or other tadpoles, and will be 308 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: larger than their brethren who are not cannibalistic. They usually 309 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: have like bigger mouths. They're larger, they are kind of 310 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: freaky looking when you compare them to their smaller siblings. 311 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: Cannibal morphs of salamander larva also happen, so salamanders and 312 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: axe lottls are very closely related. Ax lottles just happen 313 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: to be Basically, they are salamanders, but they retain all 314 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: of their juvenile characteristics throughout their entire life. Where salamanders 315 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: go through a metamorphosis process similar to like toads go 316 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: from tadpole to toads, Salamanders go from being aquatic to 317 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: being terrestrial. So salamander larva can also turn into cannibal morphs. 318 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: Usually this is due to low nutrition stress. They will 319 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: develop larger heads and jaws, and they will be able 320 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: to eat their fellow salamander larva. So yes, for salamanders, 321 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: their cannibal morphs have a different size from the others, 322 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: and it is you know, it's there. They're larger, they 323 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: got bigger mouths, similar to the toads onto ax lottels. 324 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,919 Speaker 1: Now axe lottels are interesting. So young axe lottles, like salamanders, 325 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: can become cannibals if there's not available food. Typically they 326 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: specialize in eating the arms or legs of their fellow 327 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: axe lottles. But cannibalism is so common amongst axe lottels, 328 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 1: it's not so much that there is a cann morph 329 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: of axe lottles. It's kind of an opportunistic thing where 330 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: they will if they can, they will eat the arms 331 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: of their fellow young axe lottles and try not to 332 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: get their limbs eaten. And in fact, it's so common 333 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: that it's thought that the axe lottle's amazing ability to 334 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: regenerate their arms and legs could be a response to 335 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: this selective pressure of just so many arm and leg 336 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: nibbling that happens when food is scarce. Yeah, so axe lottles, 337 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: unlike the previous examples, seem to be typically all potential cannibals, 338 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: and they may be like the cannibells who are successful, 339 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: may actually be bigger because they're more successful at feeding 340 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 1: and didn't have their limbs eaten off. I don't think 341 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 1: that there is a specific cannibal morph of axe lottles. Now, 342 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 1: it's true that axe lottles, which normally of their entire 343 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: lives in their aquatic juvenile forms with gills, can mature 344 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: into a full salamander if they are able to ingest 345 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: enough iodine. So in the lab this is done with injections. 346 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: I've seen some sources say that they can get enough 347 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: iodine through cannibalism, but I've not really seen exactly what 348 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: studies these sources are referring to. I don't really see 349 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: any research to back this up. I think it's theoretically 350 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 1: possible if they're able to get enough iodine in their diet, 351 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: but I don't think it would just be through cannibalism 352 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 1: that they could mature into a full salamander. But they 353 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: would have to get quite a bit of iodine in 354 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: their diet. And usually like these sort of adult morphs 355 00:23:54,080 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: happen like in laboratory settings. Onto the next ques question 356 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:04,120 Speaker 1: in this batch of questions. So this question was why 357 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: do you think people are so driven to keep exotic 358 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 1: animals as pets when they should not be pets. Well so, 359 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: in the case of and this is sort of just 360 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: all my theorizing. In the case of dangerous exotic pets 361 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: such as tigers and lions, I personally think it's a 362 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:27,479 Speaker 1: power fantasy. I think that it being a creature that 363 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: in the wild would not hesitate to kill you, but 364 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: if you have it under your control, or you know 365 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: so you think you have it under your control in captivity, 366 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: it might make you feel powerful. I mean, for some 367 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: it could be about domination, or for others, it could 368 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: be feeling special in the way that like, I think 369 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: it's a similar phenomenon to like serial killer groupies, people 370 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: who write into serial killers and think that they're in 371 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: love with serial killers. Like the idea is like I'm 372 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: so unique. This killer animal or this killer person will 373 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: see something in me and respect me and not kill me, 374 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: and is like my friend or whatever, and so like 375 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: you know, for people who own dangerous exotic animals, I 376 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: think it's similar, like this killer animal is my pet 377 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: and friend rather than my predator, and that makes me special. 378 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 1: Of course, this does not always work out in the humans' favor, 379 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: and it almost never works out in the animals favor, 380 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: so I don't necessarily think it's a healthy way of 381 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 1: viewing relationships between humans and animals. So in terms of 382 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: less dangerous exotic pets, so not like your chimpanzees, lions, 383 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: or tigers, but you know, like smaller exotic pets, I 384 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: think a lot of it is novelty, like you want 385 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: something more exciting than a cat or a dog. I 386 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: personally find cats and dogs plenty exciting, very fascinating. Behaviorally, 387 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,239 Speaker 1: I think the fact that they've co evolved with us 388 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 1: to some extent. Their behavior really really interesting, So to me, 389 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: there's nothing cooler than that. But you know, I do 390 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: understand that exotic pets are They're unusual, and so we 391 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: are often drawn to novelty, to interesting things that we 392 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: haven't seen before. And certainly a lot of exotic pets 393 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: are really cute and cool. I've seen my share of 394 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 1: exotic animals that I wish I could keep as a pet, 395 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: because they're really cute or beautiful, and I'd love to 396 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: hold them and pet them. The reason I generally don't 397 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: go for these types of pets is that there's a 398 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: lot of difficulty in figuring out whether they are ethically 399 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: sourced or if I can really provide them with a 400 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: good quality of life, if I can even keep them alive. 401 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: When I was a kid, I really wanted all sorts 402 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: of exotic animals. Though like I wished I could keep them, 403 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: I didn't get them because I don't think my parents 404 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: wanted to turn our house into a zoo. But I do. 405 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 1: I think that, like when I was a kid, it 406 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: was born out of this and fascination with nature, and 407 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: so I don't really blame people who see like a 408 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 1: cool animal and wish they could have it as a pet. 409 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,199 Speaker 1: I don't think it's a bad human quality that we 410 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 1: see things and we want to be friends with these animals. 411 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: It's just that when when we're adults, you know, we 412 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: have a responsibility to do research and make sure that 413 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: we know what we're doing before we buy a pet 414 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: we've never heard of. And if you don't know much 415 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: about this animal and you're drawn to its novelty, I 416 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: think the responsible thing to do is to realize, well, 417 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: if I don't know much about this animal, how can 418 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 1: I provide a good life for it? You know. That's 419 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: not to say that all non domesticated animals make bad 420 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,360 Speaker 1: pets or they're an ethical it's just a really tricky 421 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 1: territory and you really really have to know what you're doing, 422 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 1: you know, And the ethics of like the animal trade 423 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: is not very transparent. It's not like you can go 424 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: to pet store and be like, hey, did you is 425 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: this frog like ethically traded? So that's that's going to 426 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: be really difficult to figure out. So, you know, I 427 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,320 Speaker 1: think that in order to own an animal that is, 428 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: you know, more unusual, you have to do a lot 429 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 1: of research. You have to really know what you know, 430 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: what the situation is with those animals, and how to 431 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 1: keep them happy and healthy. So onto the last question. 432 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: This question was about animals and domestication because the listener 433 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: referenced an episode where I talked about how birds aren't 434 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: really domesticated and are very similar to their wild counterparts, 435 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 1: and so the listener was wondering if the same is 436 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: true for rabbits or for pets like rats, mice, ferrets, hamsters, 437 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: and et cetera. So, bunnies are definitely domesticated. They are 438 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: far more docile around humans than their wild counterparts. You 439 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: can actually see the classic signs of domestication in bunnies. 440 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: Their ears flop down. You see their coat coloration kind 441 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: of change, much like with dogs. With dogs, the ears 442 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: flop down, they have the color blocking on their coats, 443 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: which is something that is kind of a side effect 444 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: of domestication. While it's true we will look for those 445 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 1: traits and then try to exaggerate them in our dog 446 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: breeds and bunny breeds, the ear cartilage weakening and the 447 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: coat colors sort of turning spotty and blotchy. That is 448 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: a side effect of essentially during the development of the 449 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: animal as a fetus, Like there are these neural crust 450 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: cells that when we select for animals with a better temperament, 451 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: we're essentially selecting for certain types of like you know, 452 00:29:55,360 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: this neural crust development that also impacts things like cartilageduction, 453 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: coat color. So it's like this interesting thing that just 454 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: sort of by this like accident. They are connected in 455 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 1: terms of the animal's development, both the you know, the 456 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: temperament and coat and cartilage development. And so you see 457 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: that in domesticated bunnies, you see the floppy ears. I 458 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: would actually compare bunnies more to cats and dogs than 459 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: I would to like pet birds, pet exotic birds. Obviously, 460 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: chickens are domesticated and are much more docile than jungle foul. 461 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:37,959 Speaker 1: So chickens are a bird that's been domesticated. So domesticated 462 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: rabbits cannot be released into the wild. I don't care 463 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: what you read with watership down, that situation would generally 464 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: not be good for domesticated bunnies. They do not have 465 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: the same kind of survival abilities as wild rabbits. Wild rabbits, meanwhile, 466 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: do not make particularly good pets, and even when raised 467 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: as young, they will not be as docile as a 468 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: domesticated bunny. Bunnies can make great pets, they just take 469 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: a lot of care and research because some concepts around 470 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 1: keeping them, such as like leaving them in a hutch 471 00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: all the time or feeding them carrots all the time, 472 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: are not good care practices are. They're a big responsibility, 473 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: just like a dog, just like a cat. In fact, 474 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: in some ways they may be more difficult than a 475 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: dog or a cat because they have all sorts of 476 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: behaviors that you have to you know, like nibbling behaviors. 477 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: They're always trying to chew on things, so you have 478 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: to be careful about electrical cords. But you know, you 479 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: and I think there's like, you know, they need a 480 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: lot of freedom. They need a lot of like hopping 481 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: around space. So that might be difficult sometimes for people 482 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 1: to provide, especially when the ideas that like, oh, you 483 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 1: just keep them in a cage all the time, which 484 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: is not really good for them. But yes, I mean 485 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: if you once you know like what you have to 486 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 1: do with bunnies, and if you are able to provide 487 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: them with all the stimulation and food and care that 488 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: they need, they can be great pets. In fact, I've 489 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:05,239 Speaker 1: heard bunnies will follow their owners around the house. They 490 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: can be very loving. They are fully a domesticated pet, 491 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: so they are not like a wild exotic animal. Pet rats, hamsters, mice, 492 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: guinea pigs, and ferrets are also all domesticated. Their behaviors 493 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 1: are significantly different from their wild counterparts, mainly in that 494 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: they are more docile, much more easily handled, much calmer 495 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 1: around humans. So pet ferrets, which seem sort of like 496 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: some little wild, wild little grimlin that you get from 497 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 1: the forest, are actually fully domesticated. They are not simply 498 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: captured and tamed blackfooted ferrets from the wild. Pet ferrets 499 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: are domesticated, much like bunnies versus wild rabbits. In fact, 500 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: the first pet ferrets were probably domesticated over two thousand 501 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 1: years ago. So all of the animals that I listed 502 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: can make good pets, given that you research them beforehand, 503 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: ferrets being perhaps the most high intensity in terms of 504 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: activity and destructiveness, and rats being very needy in terms 505 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: of socialization. Sometimes also depending on where you live, you 506 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: can't keep them as pets, especially in islands like Australia, 507 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: because escaped pets can kill or out compete with the 508 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: native species, so you always want to check that to 509 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: make sure that they're actually safe to keep in your 510 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 1: local area. But yeah, I mean, you know, these are 511 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: all animals that I think can make very good pets. 512 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: It's just something that I think, I mean, especially with 513 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: like hamsters, like it's seen as like a starter pet, 514 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,400 Speaker 1: and it often results in the hamster dying because like 515 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: a child who's too young to understand is given the 516 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 1: hamster and doesn't know how to take care of it. 517 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: And hamsters are actually very delicate. They can be quite 518 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 1: difficult pets to keep healthy. And it's you know, I 519 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 1: think that you know, despite the challenges, it's very worthwhile 520 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 1: as long as you put in a lot of effort 521 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: into taking care of the animals and doing what you 522 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: need to do to keep them healthy and safe. And 523 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: you know, I am definitely not against responsible pet ownership, 524 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 1: and I think all of them can make good pets. So, 525 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, thank you guys so much for listening. That'll 526 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:21,319 Speaker 1: do it for this listener Question episode. If you have 527 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 1: a question that you would like me to answer, you 528 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: can write to me at Creature Featurepod at gmail dot com. 529 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: As you can tell by this episode, I am happy 530 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: to answer any question relating to animals, to people, to 531 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 1: people and animals, and you know it's I really enjoy 532 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: these because it will send me on fun little research 533 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,479 Speaker 1: paths and make me think about things sometimes I haven't 534 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: even thought about before. So please do suit me those 535 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 1: questions and next next time I will do the Animals 536 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,359 Speaker 1: Sound of the Week answer that for you, So stay 537 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,680 Speaker 1: tuned for that, and thank you so much to the 538 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 1: Space Classics where there's super awesome song so Lumina Creature 539 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 1: features a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts like the 540 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,320 Speaker 1: one you just heard, visit the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts, 541 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,839 Speaker 1: or Hey, guess what where have you listened to your 542 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: favorite shows? I don't judge you. See you next Wednesday.