Freethought & Rationalism Archive

JPD · 10-26-2005, 01:44 PM

This kind of thing delights me. Kind of a nutty goat version of a hedgehog rolling up into a ball except that it has questionable value as a survival tactic. Or does it?

Craig · 10-26-2005, 01:47 PM

Useful or not it's funny as hell. I'm sitting here at my desk trying not to laugh and not being very successful at it.

Could just be some weird thing humans have selected for.

Hydra009 · 10-26-2005, 02:13 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fainting_Goat
http://www.faintinggoat.com/myotonia.htm

As for it being an ineffective strategy, various other animals do basically the same thing to avoid predation. Possums play dead by falling over on their sides with legs extended as well, the difference being that possums are unconsious while playing dead but fainting goats are fully conscious.

Ponzi · 10-26-2005, 02:34 PM

This can't be an effective playing dead strategy. The video shows that they jump up and continue running just a few seconds later. All that would do is give their predators a head start on them.

EvoDan · 10-26-2005, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPD

...that it has questionable value as a survival tactic. Or does it?

I think any predator with a sense of humor would be incapacitated. :rolling:

MiddleMan · 10-26-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvoDan

I think any predator with a sense of humor would be incapacitated. :rolling:

I know I'd lose my grip on the bow, or my finger would slip from the trigger!

I love those little guys! Maybe it's a defense mechanism to evoke the "awww!" factor!

Sensei Meela · 10-26-2005, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvoDan

I think any predator with a sense of humor would be incapacitated.

Too right!

Welcome to IIDB, by the way.

I have no explanation to offer for the phenomenon, but it sure is damn funny!

anevilpetingzoo · 10-26-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPD

This kind of thing delights me. Kind of a nutty goat version of a hedgehog rolling up into a ball except that it has questionable value as a survival tactic. Or does it?

They were bread to have this trait so that when your heard of sheep get attacked by a predator, the valuable sheep can get away leaving a paralyzed morsel to distract the wolf or fox whatever.

Thief of Time · 10-26-2005, 04:49 PM

lol hey thats pretty clever! And you could poison the paralyzed morsel's coat and stuff, too.

I love these little nutty animals.

Sensei Meela · 10-26-2005, 05:02 PM

Well, I think it might be a good time to point out (as Craig initimated) that not all traits have a survival advantage. Some, perhaps many traits, are a kind of 'side-effect' of other traits that do have a selective advantage, and still other traits have been artifically selected for, despite a reduction in fitness were they to occur in wild organisms.

10-26-2005, 01:44 PM	#1
JPD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 5,322	Fainting Goats This kind of thing delights me. Kind of a nutty goat version of a hedgehog rolling up into a ball except that it has questionable value as a survival tactic. Or does it?

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10-26-2005, 01:47 PM	#2
Craig Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,058	Useful or not it's funny as hell. I'm sitting here at my desk trying not to laugh and not being very successful at it. Could just be some weird thing humans have selected for.

10-26-2005, 02:13 PM	#3
Hydra009 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Has moved to greener pastures. Posts: 2,795	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fainting_Goat http://www.faintinggoat.com/myotonia.htm As for it being an ineffective strategy, various other animals do basically the same thing to avoid predation. Possums play dead by falling over on their sides with legs extended as well, the difference being that possums are unconsious while playing dead but fainting goats are fully conscious.

10-26-2005, 02:34 PM	#4
Ponzi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California Posts: 628	This can't be an effective playing dead strategy. The video shows that they jump up and continue running just a few seconds later. All that would do is give their predators a head start on them.

10-26-2005, 04:49 PM	#9
Thief of Time Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 687	lol hey thats pretty clever! And you could poison the paralyzed morsel's coat and stuff, too. I love these little nutty animals.

10-26-2005, 05:02 PM	#10
Sensei Meela Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ, u.s.a. Posts: 1,202	Well, I think it might be a good time to point out (as Craig initimated) that not all traits have a survival advantage. Some, perhaps many traits, are a kind of 'side-effect' of other traits that do have a selective advantage, and still other traits have been artifically selected for, despite a reduction in fitness were they to occur in wild organisms.

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