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[–] 87 points 1 year ago* (11 children)

Context for this:

The common ancestor that links whales and deer existed millions of years ago and exhibited features shared by both groups. This ancestor likely possessed basic artiodactyl characteristics, such as an even number of toes on each foot and a certain bone structure within the ear. Over time, as these creatures diverged to inhabit distinct environments, their physical traits adapted accordingly. Despite these differences, the underlying genetic similarities persist, revealing their deep-rooted connection.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (10 children)

    Was the common ancestor carnivorous or herbivorous?

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (7 children)
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Weird to think that deer descended from krill eaters. Maybe that's why they love salt licks so much.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    I remember reading that the common ancestors of all birds was carnivorous. Basically every herbivore bird descended from carnivores.

    See also the giant panda and the red panda.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Eh, the giant panda isn't the best example. It's digestive system is still optimized for meat, which is why the need to eat a lot of bamboo and eat very specific parts of it that have a similar nutritional makeup as meat. They wouldn't be able to survive eating other plants, but they could survive (and thrive) eating meat.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    It's interesting because it's very obvious, biologically, that the panda has a digestive system that has a carnivore past, and yet, the very plentiful biomass in bamboo forests just waiting to be eaten rewards the animals that can make use of it. So the giant panda may or may not be "optimized" for meat, but has generations that came out of the free food that is bamboo, so that their very survival depends on a herbivore diet.

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  • [–] 60 points 1 year ago (8 children)

    One of them gets chronic wasting disease and the other one set the record for the heaviest motherfucker on the planet, I know who I'd rather be

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  • [–] 28 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    I'd rather be the one with chronic wasting disease bc I have thalassophobia

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  • [+] -8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Wolves have contracted chronic wasting disease? I thought it had not spread from deer that we were aware of?

    It is spreading amongst the deer it is in like half the country now including where I'm at which is one of the first place it was noticed.

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  • [–] 22 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Homie the second character evolves into a deer

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  • [–] 64 points 1 year ago
    [–] 21 points 1 year ago (6 children)
  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago (4 children)
  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago

    😂😂👌🏻

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