DanArmak comments on Babies and Bunnies: A Caution About Evo-Psych - Less Wrong

52 Post author: Alicorn 22 February 2010 01:53AM

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Comment author: DanArmak 22 February 2010 12:05:52PM 0 points [-]

Do we know whether adult non-primate mammals find anything cute? What's a description of their behavior in such a case?

So far I've only seen descriptions of animals adopting other-species young to raise. I think child-raising instincts are separate from cuteness responses, in other animals as well as in humans.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 22 February 2010 12:26:43PM 2 points [-]

*Do we know whether adult non-primate mammals find anything cute? *

Very occasionally

Comment author: DanArmak 22 February 2010 12:55:48PM 1 point [-]

And not for long.

From the comments on the article you linked, the cheetahs happily ate the impala. Go to http://www.biosphoto.com/ and search for "cheetah AND impala". You'll find these photos as well as the ones from a few minutes later...

Is your theory that cats playing with live food before killing it is, in general, an effect of the food's cuteness?

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 22 February 2010 03:38:06PM 0 points [-]

I believe that's a different sort of play, consisting of repeated chasing and catching.

Comment author: Cyan 22 February 2010 02:16:39PM 0 points [-]

Also in the comments, the assertion that the impala that was eaten was an adult eaten earlier. Once sated, the cheetahs were not interested in eating the younger impala.

Comment author: DanArmak 22 February 2010 02:24:16PM 0 points [-]

True, it's not clear which is the complete account. At the very least, photos of some impala(s) being eaten and of this one being played with were seemingly taken in one session.