Photo by Mehmet Derya

White Faced Scops with some long rictal bristles!

  • SendPicsofSandwiches@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    This is still really cool to think about, because I never really thought of an animal actively seeking out another as prey not only as food but also for other properties like chemicals that that animal may have ingested. In this situation is seems like an edge case if it ever did happen, or just as you said a happy surprise. Though that does make me wonder if there are any other instances of this in other animals and also how often it might be un-recognized by researchers. Lots of food for thought there.

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      The closest things I can think of off the top of my head would be:

      Ants farming aphids

      Deer eating bones

      Carnivorous plants sort of came about the same way if I’m remembering correctly as well.

      We put out mineral blocks for the wildlife, and they’ll keep coming long after the block is physically gone and lick at the ground.