does it ever seem paradoxical to you how predator animals tend to be gentle, and prey animals tend to be absurdly violent

Follow

@whitequark I vaguely remember reading in a Konrad Lorenz book that prey animals very rarely if at all fight for dominance, so don't have a concept of stopping a fight when the opponent submits, and that this leads to problems with keeping some kinds of bird in enclosures (they can't signal submission, nor can escape, because enclosure, so they are likely to injure each other significantly if a fight develops).

Sign in to participate in the conversation
Qoto Mastodon

QOTO: Question Others to Teach Ourselves
An inclusive, Academic Freedom, instance
All cultures welcome.
Hate speech and harassment strictly forbidden.