Why animals attack with their face?

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Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 7:58pm

Why only insects figure out to use the back end?

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Originally posted by Morkonan:

Originally posted by Fajita Jim:
Why only insects figure out to use the back end?

It's due to evolutionarily-derived efficiency.

The mouth is the opening of the alimentary canal. (Digestive tract)

For mammals, the beginning of the digestive process begins with mastication of foodstuffs... chewing, biting, cutting up chunks of food matter so it can fit down the tract to the gut. (Saliva is the initial chemical alteration/conversion of food, too.)

So, developing stuffs to bit/chew with serves pretty well to inflict damage..

It may be, though, an animal could evolve prey-capturing/damage devices somewhat removed from the opening of the alimentary canal. Over time, one may expect that one or the other would become a bit closer, increasing efficiency. But, if it doesn't provide a better means to reach sexual maturity and thus reproduce, Evolution doesn't really care that much about such an arrangement's competitive advantage. (IF there is one.)

Because animals often use their jaws during hunting struggling or combative prey, that area is usually fairly well protected and robust. In fact, in most mammals the only true vulnerable spot in that area are the eyes. Even then, the chances of damage to them are dependent on the animal's main prey. A short-faced cat animal probably preys on much smaller, faster, animals than a bear or a wolf.

Predator skulls are pretty durable. A bear's is probably the most robust example, but many predators have adaptions that help protect their vulnerable sensory organs and meat-thinking stuffs. Strong jaws are also an advantage and take up a very large portion of the heads of predators, depending on their hunting habits. Predators, either as cause or consequence, develop very strong bit-forces as a result of those robust attachment points for muscle tendons.

Another thing - What do they hunt and how? All predators have evolved strategies that maximize success and act to mitigate potential damage. That's especially true of mammals, who are generally a bit more intelligent than other classes. When actually hunting, and not defending themselves or young/territory against potential aggressors, what do most predators do? Their attacks focus on the vulnerable spots of their prey and away from dangerous spots, like the horned head of an elk. Some have developed other strategies, like pursuit predation (wolves and man). A little bit of injury goes a long way over time to induce collapse/death... with not a heck of a lot of chance of the predator being severely injured if all goes well.

(Though, injury is common, still, for some predators. Those are predictably in older predators who have already reproduced, though. In fact, it's mostly the experienced older adult pack-hunters that initiate and command pack hunting efforts while juveniles make up the secondary ranks. That's an evolutionary strategy that works well and ensures a reproductive population in those groups.)

Mammals also likely share a common ancestor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapsid

It's likely that once evolutionarily reinforced development found an efficient solution, drastic changes didn't yield any significant evolutionary advantages. Instead, forms developed that inferred advantages other than where to put the fangs.

Insects? They're different.

Most don't "hunt" with their rear-ends, though. So, why the defensive tools, there?

Chemistry.

The most efficient and copious chemical-producer we have is the digestive system. It's comprised of lots of different organs with both direct and indirect contributions/effects.

In insects, that is also a general development strategy. But, insects are different. For one, they have a radically different and extremely dynamic physical structure - An external exoskeleton composed of chitin. Their guts are noticeably different, too. It's pretty easy, at least for me, to see how much more evolutionarily malleable these creatures can be.

Insects that defend from their rear-end use organs probably originally related to digestion have been repurposed. And, the structures necessary to "weaponize" them are much more easily arranged in an insect than a mammal. Though, the arrangement does exist in some mammals, most notably skunks.

But, humans could have them too if we wanted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_gland

Most commonly familiar in dogs, humans have an analogue as well. These glands secret substances into the intestinal tract that act to lubricate, etc, in humans. In dogs and other animals, those have been repurposed a bit to reinforce what survival mechanic? Territoriality.

Humans put up signs, like any animal, to mark territory. But, we use writing and artificially constructed piles of rocks.. Animals can't buy pens, so they scratch trees and... spray scents. Humans have largely evolved out of the whole "smell is critically important" realm. We've got better strategies.

Insects? Some are territorial. But, they've developed other ways to claim dominance over their territory, maybe freeing up those glands to be repurposed to greater effect than could be possible in mammals? Since they're not quite so limited in the different systems that could efficiently evolve, it's not too surprising to see radically different strategies.

Note: I don't know much about insect pheromones outside of the realm of ants, so... /shrug

So, yeah, there ya go...

Thanks for attending my TED-x Talk. ;)

(And, since it was an interesting investigative subject, I just sort of.. delved into it. My apologies in advance for those offended by TLDR.)

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Showing 1-15 of 39 comments

Bomb Shot Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:08pm

Animal big, insect small.

Fire Angel Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:09pm

Teeth

Schindler's Lifts Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:10pm

Clearly you've never heard of cats.

Qlone Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:11pm

Settings...Animals generally defend themselves with fangs and claws and some insects (since others also act the same, frontal attacks) have spears or stingers as a defense mechanism (and poison).

agu Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:11pm

Evolution is weird

🍋 Lemonfed 🍋 Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:12pm

they have strong jaws with sharp teeth.

Bomb Shot Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:12pm

Originally posted by Schindler's Lifts:
Clearly you've never heard of cats.

Cats are badass, they're fear but fighting.

Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:28pm

Originally posted by Supergirl:
Teeth

Originally posted by Lemonfed:
they have strong jaws with sharp teeth.

But so close to eyes and brains. Turn around the kick the ♥♥♥♥ outta foe then let nature evolve.

Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:29pm

Originally posted by Bomb Shot:
Originally posted by Schindler's Lifts:
Clearly you've never heard of cats.
Cats are badass, they're fear but fighting.

Wrong. They fear supersoakah with much feels.

Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:31pm

Originally posted by 123:
L O L
Jim xD
Why am I not surprised that you posted this? xD L O L

My mind don't stop.

#10

Sir Dookface McFerretballs Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:31pm

Skunks attack with their butts.

Then attack with their face if their butts failed.

#11

Bomb Shot Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:37pm

Cat is to be respect.
https://youtu.be/V5cmqeT50Ro

#12

Haemorrhoid Graboid Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:48pm

Monkehs got you covered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk3ltnidF7M

#13

Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:49pm

Originally posted by HaemorrhoidGraboid:
Monkehs got you covered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk3ltnidF7M

Monke all right. Monke do war.
https://youtu.be/rLn9GwHoUy0

#14

Fajita Jim Nov 23, 2021 @ 8:59pm

Originally posted by 123:
Originally posted by Fajita Jim:

Monke all right. Monke do war.
https://youtu.be/rLn9GwHoUy0
https://youtu.be/GhxqIITtTtU

I dunno man...honey badger vs ape. Honey badger.

#15

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Date Posted: Nov 23, 2021 @ 7:58pm

Posts: 39

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