this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world 90 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months 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 10 months ago (3 children)

Was the common ancestor carnivorous or herbivorous?

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 23 points 10 months 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 10 months ago (3 children)
[–] zedgeist@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago (2 children)
[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago
[–] Hupf@feddit.org 3 points 10 months ago
[–] ryedaft@sh.itjust.works 6 points 10 months 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 10 months 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 10 months 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 10 months 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 10 months ago
[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 10 months ago

Omnivorous most likely, then many animals became herbivores or carnivirous

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 67 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 21 points 10 months ago (4 children)

That pug looks like he just wants to die

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 13 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 3 points 10 months ago

I absolutely can't.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 8 points 10 months 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 10 months ago

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

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago

I feel with him 😂

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 63 points 10 months 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 29 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Not_Dav3@lemmy.world 78 points 10 months 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 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)
[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 6 points 10 months ago

Someone should build a whale MRI to check your hypothesis

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 22 points 10 months ago (2 children)
[–] hDGGgrLpg8nEucjxWnJz@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

Sir, this is a horse meme

[–] Goodtoknow@lemmy.ca 12 points 10 months ago (4 children)
[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

They must by definition

[–] erika_s@piefed.social 5 points 10 months ago
[–] RaoulDuke@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago

It’s merman!

[–] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

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

[–] Petter1@discuss.tchncs.de -4 points 10 months ago

😂😂👌🏻