this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] Rozauhtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 12 hours ago

I wish I didn't know that. Now I really want to pet a jaguar.

[–] PieMePlenty@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago
[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 82 points 22 hours ago (9 children)

Sebastián, I have one very pressing question. Are jaguar soft?

FTFH.

Pro tip: don’t waste people’s time by forcing them to respond before you ask your question. Be polite and pleasant, AND ask your question at the same time. It saves both them and you a lot of time.

[–] jackr@lemmy.dbzer0.com 97 points 22 hours ago

although this is usually correct, here it is important for the joke that setup and punchline are seperated by anticipation.

[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 37 points 21 hours ago

First of its a joke with a set up and punchline. Secondly its a group chat as can be seen from the two hearts and group chats work differently.

[–] ls64@lemmy.world 25 points 22 hours ago (1 children)
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[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 141 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

It's a trick. The jaguars killed Sebastián and used his phone to lure in more prey.

(Edit: As someone who's contacted experts for research to improve Wikipedia, they've all seemed really happy that someone was interested enough in their subject to ask. If you have a question you've tried and failed to find an answer for, the worst they can ever do is say "no" or not reply. Try it sometime!)

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 52 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 73 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Chronographs@lemmy.zip 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works 21 points 23 hours ago (1 children)
[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 17 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Jaguars are the leading cause of male-pattern baldness.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 12 points 21 hours ago

I thought that was the opposite, you get the baldness first, then you buy a Jaaaaaaaag

[–] night_petal@piefed.social 9 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Jaguars prefer bubblegum flavored toothpaste.

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[–] NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world 11 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

How long do I get to pet the Jaguar before it kills me?

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[–] Klear@quokk.au 45 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (2 children)

Touch is a good option to distinguish between a jaguar and a shark in a dark room - jaguar is soft and shark is smooth. Easy. You'll never again confuse a jaguar with a shark.

[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Shark's only smooth from front to back. Otherwise shark's sandpaper.

[–] Klear@quokk.au 10 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Nope. Sharks are smooth as hell in all directions.

[–] moody@lemmings.world 14 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

In general, the crowns of dermal denticles have cusps pointing tailward, which is why a shark feels relatively smooth if stroked from head-to-tail but sandpapery coarse if stroked the other way.

http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/white_shark/scales.htm

[–] Zorcron@piefed.zip 7 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

It’s telling me that shark skin is “smooth from all directions and at all times”

[–] moody@lemmings.world 6 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

Are you reading the same thing I'm reading? Literally every search result describes shark skin as dermal denticles, or sharp tooth-like scales aligned from front to back, "relatively smooth" in one direction, and sandpaper-like in the other.

Apparently other animals regularly get injured brushing up against them.

[–] SparroHawc@lemmy.zip 9 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Well, I'm touching a shark right now. Rubbing it every which way. No direction is off limits. It's smoother than the finest silks

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[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (4 children)

I remember when I went to an aquarium as a kid and touched the sting rays in the touch tank. That texture has stayed in my mind ever since. I still can't find anything it compares well to.

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[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 14 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I was 100% sure that would be the answer. Is there a feline that is rough?

I have one yes, very rough. Negative survival intincts. Got trapped once and didn't even try to get out.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 22 points 20 hours ago

This is an abuse of power. But since you've crossed the line already, could you ask about axolotles? Do they look happy even when they are sad?

[–] LeapSecond@lemmy.zip 29 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Pretty sure Sebastián would be happy to answer this question to non-journalists too

[–] Klear@quokk.au 4 points 12 hours ago

Non-journalists are soft too.

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 17 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

I recently learned that kangaroos are soft, which surprised me as I always imagined them like weird deer and deer are not soft. I feel like this needs to be a list I can look at somewhere.

[–] Mantzy81@aussie.zone 7 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

Stroked many a roo, wallaby and other macropods and they're not soft everywhere. More interesting is that there's no real give to their softness. They're solid muscle below the skin so you don't really want to poke them too hard. Does depend on the species too though - I ain't touching a red. A quokka and bettong are quite pliable and have that give when you stroke them, like a cat.

Domestic cat that is. When I stroked a cheetah it was all muscle and smooth but not soft, more like a deer

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

smooth but not soft

Like a shark.

[–] comfy@lemmy.ml 7 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Are you looking for the Animal Smoothness Scale?

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 9 points 21 hours ago

I think they're looking for the Animal Softness scale

The two together form a two dimensional chart though

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[–] davetortoise@reddthat.com 18 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Why are there two reactions? Who else was let in on this critical information?

[–] GandalftheBlack@feddit.org 18 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Sebastiàn liked his own message

[–] vodka@feddit.org 16 points 21 hours ago

As he should, it was a good message.

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[–] shadowwwind@beehaw.org 28 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Next question, can I visit and experience the softness myself? 

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 44 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 day ago

Forbidden dinner date

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[–] SarahValentine@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Right? Must pet spicy floof!

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[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why’d you remove your own upvote? You’re allowed to like the smell of your own.

[–] RustySharp@programming.dev 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's a server setting. Their instance doesn't auto-upvote, and can't downvote.

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[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 23 hours ago (6 children)
[–] village604@adultswim.fan 7 points 20 hours ago

They definitely are, regardless of the direction.

[–] Johnny_Arson@hexbear.net 10 points 23 hours ago

Depends which direction you pet them.

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