this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 88 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Context for this:

The common ancestor that links whales and deer existed millions of years ago and exhibited features shared by both groups. This ancestor likely possessed basic artiodactyl characteristics, such as an even number of toes on each foot and a certain bone structure within the ear. Over time, as these creatures diverged to inhabit distinct environments, their physical traits adapted accordingly. Despite these differences, the underlying genetic similarities persist, revealing their deep-rooted connection.

[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Was the common ancestor carnivorous or herbivorous?

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 month ago

Almost all herbivores are opportunistic carnivores; deer eat birds. Presumably some great swimmers thought the krill (or some other sea life) represented a great opportunity

[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] zedgeist@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Weird to think that deer descended from krill eaters. Maybe that's why they love salt licks so much.

[–] exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I remember reading that the common ancestors of all birds was carnivorous. Basically every herbivore bird descended from carnivores.

See also the giant panda and the red panda.

[–] SuperIce@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Eh, the giant panda isn't the best example. It's digestive system is still optimized for meat, which is why the need to eat a lot of bamboo and eat very specific parts of it that have a similar nutritional makeup as meat. They wouldn't be able to survive eating other plants, but they could survive (and thrive) eating meat.

[–] exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 month ago

It's interesting because it's very obvious, biologically, that the panda has a digestive system that has a carnivore past, and yet, the very plentiful biomass in bamboo forests just waiting to be eaten rewards the animals that can make use of it. So the giant panda may or may not be "optimized" for meat, but has generations that came out of the free food that is bamboo, so that their very survival depends on a herbivore diet.

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago
[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 1 month ago

Omnivorous most likely, then many animals became herbivores or carnivirous

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 66 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 21 points 1 month ago (4 children)

That pug looks like he just wants to die

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I mean his face was built wrong. can you blame him?

[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago

I absolutely can't.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago

Can probably only breath while sitting up.

The Ven diagram of pugs I've met whose owners tell me they got surgery to assist breathing is almost a circle

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 6 points 1 month ago

It's kind of disturbing that we bred a variety of dog that can scream

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

I feel with him 😂

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 63 points 1 month ago (2 children)

One of them gets chronic wasting disease and the other one set the record for the heaviest motherfucker on the planet, I know who I'd rather be

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 28 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'd rather be the one with chronic wasting disease bc I have thalassophobia

[–] Not_Dav3@lemmy.world 76 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I have thalassophobia

So do whales. Their "singing" is actually just them screaming in fear of the hell they're forced to inhabit.

[–] SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)
[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

Someone should build a whale MRI to check your hypothesis

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] hDGGgrLpg8nEucjxWnJz@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago

Sir, this is a horse meme

[–] Goodtoknow@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 month ago (4 children)
[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

They must by definition

[–] erika_s@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago
[–] RaoulDuke@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

It’s merman!

[–] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Do they can whales in Japan? Or is it only eaten fresh?

[–] Petter1@discuss.tchncs.de -4 points 1 month ago

😂😂👌🏻