Comments on: Crested rat slobbers tree poison on its fur, dares predators to bite it http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/02/crested-rat-slobbers-tree-poison-on-its-fur-dares-predators-to-bite-it/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Mike S http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/02/crested-rat-slobbers-tree-poison-on-its-fur-dares-predators-to-bite-it/#comment-12682 Mike S Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:47:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5050#comment-12682 Are there any theories as to how this behavior was developed through evolution? Are there any theories as to how this behavior was developed through evolution?

]]> By: Ed Yong http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/02/crested-rat-slobbers-tree-poison-on-its-fur-dares-predators-to-bite-it/#comment-12681 Ed Yong Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:32:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5050#comment-12681 @Torbjorn - I think "stealing" is justified because poisons are energetically expensive to make and store, so it's not like a free-for-all resource that the tree is offering to passers-by. "Stealing" might be unjustified if the rat is actually providing the tree with benefits, but I think that pollination is pretty unlikely and it's not touching the fruit so it's not dispersing seeds. @Torbjorn – I think “stealing” is justified because poisons are energetically expensive to make and store, so it’s not like a free-for-all resource that the tree is offering to passers-by. “Stealing” might be unjustified if the rat is actually providing the tree with benefits, but I think that pollination is pretty unlikely and it’s not touching the fruit so it’s not dispersing seeds.

]]> By: Torbjörn Larsson, OM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/02/crested-rat-slobbers-tree-poison-on-its-fur-dares-predators-to-bite-it/#comment-12680 Torbjörn Larsson, OM Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:23:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5050#comment-12680 That is interesting, indeed. Suggested context is stealing poison. My own immediate reaction was using poison. IIRC there are primates that purloins poison from killed giant centipedes to rub in pelt, for their insecticide properties. Delousing, as it were. It's a weak memory though and I can't find any on it now, so take it for what it is. Just maybe small mammals can acquire complex behavior around the chemical store that is a forest. That is interesting, indeed.

Suggested context is stealing poison. My own immediate reaction was using poison. IIRC there are primates that purloins poison from killed giant centipedes to rub in pelt, for their insecticide properties. Delousing, as it were.

It’s a weak memory though and I can’t find any on it now, so take it for what it is. Just maybe small mammals can acquire complex behavior around the chemical store that is a forest.

]]> By: Rob http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/02/crested-rat-slobbers-tree-poison-on-its-fur-dares-predators-to-bite-it/#comment-12679 Rob Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:11:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=5050#comment-12679 Your URLs in the last paragraph appear to have a typo, missing the "notrocketscience" so should be: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/03/28/pocket-science-sperm-races-and-poison-stealing-voles/ Your URLs in the last paragraph appear to have a typo, missing the “notrocketscience” so should be: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/03/28/pocket-science-sperm-races-and-poison-stealing-voles/

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