As many of you know, I am compiling a list of wild animals that do not know what a calorie is. Thanks to all the readers who left additions in the comments. I am embarrassed by some of my omissions (armadillo, duh).
A reader asks me whether only living species count, or could extinct species be on the list too.
Good question. Since extinct species are extinct,
we cannot say with certainty that they do not know what a calorie is. It would be different if they had left behind a written record stating their ignorance of calories --
but we have yet to find that record. So sorry, I cannot put
Tiktaalik on the list. That's called science, people, and unlike in sports, not everyone gets a trophy.
Here's the updated list (new animals in bold):
- Aardvark
- Armadillo
- African buffalo
- Hamadryas Baboon
- European Beaver
- Cormorant
- Dragonfly
- Fat-tailed Gerbil
- Hawk
- Hippopotamus
- Hyena
- Llama
- Moose
- Panda
- Pangolin (!)
- Peacock
- Australian Pelican
- Squid
- Urchin
- Walrus
Any others that I'm missing?
I think you enjoy being hard to categorize
Comments
The Tuthirds Americana surely
The Tuthirds Americana surely are calorie-ignorant
Awww, but look at Tiktaalik.
Awww, but look at Tiktaalik. How an you resist that sweet smile? I want one!...(I wonder how they would have tasted?)
The giant centipede does not
The giant centipede does not know what a calorie is and this mouse learned the hard way. (Warning YouTube video of a mouse eaten by centipede.)
The only ones I can think of
The only ones I can think of are the platypus, marmot, and quail.
Hen, hamster and hermit crab.
Hen, hamster and hermit crab. Yep, I think we got them all. Good job, team! And big up to John for organizing this comprehensive list.
Do you mean sea urchin,
Do you mean sea urchin, hedgehog, or ragged child on the street? Because I'm reasonably certain that none of those are terribly concerned with calories...