Ptera Hunter's Blog - Posts Tagged "lying"
Parasitic Birds Blend into their Nests
Be they protists, worms, or vertebrates, parasites depend on their ability to deceive. The nest parasites, like the cowbird and cuckoo, mimic the offspring of their host birds. Their eggs often look like the eggs of a host bird (at least within the visual world of the host), and when they hatch, they imitate the hunger calls of the baby host birds. Some can imitate the calls of a nest full of hungry chicks.
Although their eggs and offspring are usually larger than their host, the adoptive parents don’t care. In fact, birds favor large offspring because it signals health. The parasite takes advantage of the inability of the host to overcome their preference for large, healthy babies. When an animal gives the same response to a stimulus and can’t vary it, we call the stimulus-response behavior “fixed,” and we call it a Fixed Action Pattern.
The Wisdom of Loki, by Ptera Hunter, explores patterns of deceit in the natural world, including predator-prey, parasitic, and molecular deceits.
Although their eggs and offspring are usually larger than their host, the adoptive parents don’t care. In fact, birds favor large offspring because it signals health. The parasite takes advantage of the inability of the host to overcome their preference for large, healthy babies. When an animal gives the same response to a stimulus and can’t vary it, we call the stimulus-response behavior “fixed,” and we call it a Fixed Action Pattern.
The Wisdom of Loki, by Ptera Hunter, explores patterns of deceit in the natural world, including predator-prey, parasitic, and molecular deceits.
Wolves in sheeps clothing.
As Ian Malcolm said in Jurrasic Park, nature finds a way. In this case, the predatory trumpetfish found a way to camouflage itself by shadowing other fish. Like the medieval bow hunters who would crouch behind their horses to hunt deer, these predators blend into their surroundings by swimming aside an innocuous species.
Several studies have demonstrated that species other than humans have used this shadowing technique. Other methods organisms use to decrease their apparency include mimicking the movement of surrounding plants (like the stick insect), and hiding behind objects. Shadowers must combine these techniques. An interesting addition I wish I had in time to include in my book, The Wisdom of Loki.
To see the study, go to:
Matchette, S. R. et al. (2023) Predatory trumpetfish conceal themselves from their prey by swimming alongside other fish. Current Biology, 33(15): PR801-R802, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.05....
Several studies have demonstrated that species other than humans have used this shadowing technique. Other methods organisms use to decrease their apparency include mimicking the movement of surrounding plants (like the stick insect), and hiding behind objects. Shadowers must combine these techniques. An interesting addition I wish I had in time to include in my book, The Wisdom of Loki.
To see the study, go to:
Matchette, S. R. et al. (2023) Predatory trumpetfish conceal themselves from their prey by swimming alongside other fish. Current Biology, 33(15): PR801-R802, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.05....
Question: Are there any reallly cool natural deceits that have come to light since you wrote The Wisdom of Loki?
Political science has explored how we bend reality to support our tribes. I ignored much of the problem but will cover some of these issues in my upcoming book. (Sorry, no hints yet, but it will be out in a few months!)
My last blog entry, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, follows the trumpet fish's swimming habits that use the movements of innocuous species to sneak up on their prey.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-023-04...
My last blog entry, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing, follows the trumpet fish's swimming habits that use the movements of innocuous species to sneak up on their prey.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-023-04...
Micro-level deception.
Deception isn't solely a grand affair; it can unfold on a microscopic scale. Within our bodies, tiny predators lurk unseen. These parasites deploy a cunning arsenal of chemical weaponry. These insidious invaders unleash compounds that mimic our body's natural signals and hormones. Through this subterfuge, they hijack our internal communications to disrupt our regular processes and behaviors. The intricate balance of nature is replete with parasitic plants and animals that concoct deceptive potions, perfectly mirroring the growth hormones of their unwitting hosts. As the host diverts vital nutrients and resources to the imposters, their parasite thrives.
The horsehair worm, without ever breaching its host's brain, orchestrates a macabre ballet in the grasshopper. It compels the insect to leap to its death, seeking out water to leap to its own death, drowning itself in bodies of water. There, the work escapes from the insect's body and lays its eggs, ready to infect the next host in its life cycle.
The horsehair worm, without ever breaching its host's brain, orchestrates a macabre ballet in the grasshopper. It compels the insect to leap to its death, seeking out water to leap to its own death, drowning itself in bodies of water. There, the work escapes from the insect's body and lays its eggs, ready to infect the next host in its life cycle.
