Wildlife things you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask

[Susie]

Originally Posted by Alan

Does this mean you've tried it Kait? Having seen them 'despatched' this way as a kid, the one's I saw, didn't run!

Lawl. I've just watched a vid of a chicken having its head cut off and boy did it run!

[Susie]

Originally Posted by chunkychambers

I like it!!!!.......
I suppose the blood has to rush somewhere

LMAO - that is a bit extreme even for my liking!

[Susie]

Originally Posted by kaitkaitkait

~snicker~

Actually, on a not entirely unrelated note... does anyone know why decapitated chickens will continue to run around for a while? ~has always been curious~

Despite not being able to find anything myself today my pack of google hound friends have been turning out all sorts of nonsense since I posted this question to them ranging from


"Found this on MadSci Network:

The actual muscle movement is the result of ATP release from the muscle.
The direction and balance is due to "muscle / nerve memory" -- this is the
way the muscles/nerves have been have been fired and used at a certain
tension for life -- if the body is bilaterally symetrical-- they can "run"
a short distance as though still alive. This is sheerly reflex action --
no higher or lower brain function is necessary -- only spinal cord and
peripheral nerves.

Chickens and other avians will "run" for a short sprint if they are
decapitated. If cervical dislocation is performed to euthanize poultry -
th head is still attached but loose - this results in asymmetry of weight
distribution -- the running and flapping goes on, but balance is seldom
maintained."

to

Welcome to the Official Mike the Headless Chicken Website

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by Susie

Despite not being able to find anything myself today my pack of google hound friends have been turning out all sorts of nonsense since I posted this question to them ranging from


"Found this on MadSci Network:

This is sheerly reflex action --
no higher or lower brain function is necessary -- only spinal cord and
peripheral nerves.

Welcome to the Official Mike the Headless Chicken Website

That's interesting - I seem to remember reading somewhere that spinal cords (in general) have some form of very primative process control - i.e. the spinal cord is a tiny bit more than a bunch of 'wires' transmitting signals to and from the brain! not sure if there is any truth in this though! well, unless you are a male mantid that is

[Susie]

Originally Posted by ollyk

That's interesting - I seem to remember reading somewhere that spinal cords (in general) have some form of very primative process control - i.e. the spinal cord is a tiny bit more than a bunch of 'wires' transmitting signals to and from the brain! not sure if there is any truth in this though! well, unless you are a male mantid that is

I was reading quite an interesting article the other day about the stomach and how it may possibly deal with some basic thought processes. The article was far too complicated for me to explain here (or really for me to understand properly) but basically when you get a "gut feeling" it is not just your brain working on the thought process and then sending a message to your stomach which your stomach reacts to, your stomach is literally thinking too and reacting.

I think there is still far more for us to learn about the human body than we know yet.

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Susie

Okies, my turn to ask questions. Is it true that ...

Polar bears are left-handed?

I got interested in this one. Seems there is some observational evidence that polar bears do tend to lead with their left paw when hunting - so we're advised to dive to the bear's right if the time ever comes

To add to the questions, the site where I found the polar bear information also said dogs tend to prefer their right paw and cats are split 20% right, 39% left and the rest ambidextrous (they would be inconsistent!). I'm off to provoke my cats to see which camp they fall into.

[chunkychambers]

Originally Posted by Susie

I was reading quite an interesting article the other day about the stomach and how it may possibly deal with some basic thought processes. The article was far too complicated for me to explain here (or really for me to understand properly) but basically when you get a "gut feeling" it is not just your brain working on the thought process and then sending a message to your stomach which your stomach reacts to, your stomach is literally thinking too and reacting.

I think there is still far more for us to learn about the human body than we know yet.

I've been accused of talking through my backside........is that the same thing Susie??

[Paul mabbott]

Talking of fast reactions - Jellyfish: nature's quickest on the draw | The Register

Originally Posted by Deer Stalker

Think the Cheetah is the fastest land mammal & the Perigrine is the fastest bird. They showed a program on the Perigrine a few weeks ago & clocked it at about 205 mph in a stoop I think.
Dunno how fast the Cheetah can run but certainly not that fast.