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M. B.

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M. B., 716d ago

February 25, 2023

What order of animals are like inanimate objects in appearance?

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  • Chameleon
  • Hawk Moth Caterpillar
  • Scarlet Kingsnake
  • Monarch Butterfly
  • Viceroy Butterfly
  • Marine Shrimp
  • Jellyfish
  • Silvering
  • Mimesis
  • Countershading
  • Plushies
  • Inflatables
  • Pinatas.
    • Chameleon

    Chameleon

    It seems that chameleons can give off an appearance of inanimacy, as they are known to change their skin color on the fly to blend in or stand out from their surroundings. This is mentioned in the "furry alignment chart", which is described as "Viva Piñata territory" [5] . Additionally, a study has shown that some birds and rhesus monkeys can recognize faces in objects [7] , and chameleons are known to change their skin color on the fly [3] , so it stands to reason that they might be able to display an inanimate-like look.
    Hawk Moth Caterpillar

    Hawk Moth Caterpillar

    It seems that Hawk Moth Caterpillar [3] is an example of an animal that is like inanimate objects in appearance. This is because of Batesian mimicry, where an animal's appearance mimics that of an inanimate object [6] . By having a body shape and texture that mimics a snake, the Hawk Moth Caterpillar can protect itself from predators. Compared to other animals mentioned in the notes, such as robots or water, the Hawk Moth Caterpillar is more likely to have an appearance which resembles an inanimate object.
    Scarlet Kingsnake

    Scarlet Kingsnake

    It seems that the Scarlet Kingsnake is an example of a type of animal that can appear like an inanimate object. People say that it is a type of non-venomous snake that looks remarkably similar to the highly venomous coral snake [2] , and it is thought to frighten predators into thinking an even larger animal is looking at them [1] . It also appears to be mentioned in the "furry alignment chart" as "Species Neutral, Anatomy Rebel" [5] , which suggests it has characteristics resembling inanimate objects.
    Monarch Butterfly

    Monarch Butterfly

    Monarch butterflies seem to fit the query, "What order of animals are like inanimate objects in appearance?", as they practice Batesian mimicry [6] , which is when an animal appears like an inanimate object. This can be seen through the monarch butterfly's resemblance to the viceroy butterfly [5] , causing predators to think twice about attacking them. Additionally, their bright colors and patterns make them stand out from their surroundings, yet at the same time also aid them in blending in [6] . People say that monarch butterflies are expert camouflagers as well as visual tricksters [6] , making them quite remarkable.
    Viceroy Butterfly

    Viceroy Butterfly

    It seems the Viceroy Butterfly is an example of an animal that looks like an inanimate object, as people have mentioned it when discussing giving animals characteristics of inanimate objects [5] and it is known for its mimicry [6] . Additionally, it is an example of Batesian mimicry, which involves animals looking like species that are unpalatable [6] . It seems this butterfly has the ability to look like something other than what it is.

    Animal Species

    Humans [1] and trees [1] are the two most commonly mentioned species when answering this query, as well as water [2] .

    Animal Behaviors

    Animals with eyespots on their bodies [3] , robots [2] , and plants [2] are all animate objects.

    Visual Illusions

    Zoomorphism [4] , plushies [5] , inflatables [5] , pinatas [5] , Batesian mimicry [6] , transparency [6] , silvering [6] , mimesis [6] , countershading [6] , chameleons [6] , octopuses [6] , swarms/flocks/schools [6] and motion dazzle [6] are all examples of animals using optical illusions.

    Morphology

    Species Neutral, Anatomy Rebel [5] is mentioned in the "furry alignment chart" as being "Viva Piñata territory". This includes animals with an inanimate object-like appearance.

    Mental Characteristics

    Birds [7] and Rhesus Monkeys have been tested for face pareidolia which is the phenomenon of seeing faces in things that aren't really faces. Self-replicating molecules, six criteria for being alive (metabolism, homeostasis, growth, response to stimuli, reproduction, evolution) and viruses [8] are all used to distinguish between living organisms and inanimate objects. Anthropomorphic animals are often used in children's stories to allow for a wider appeal [9] . No animals were mentioned when discussing an inanimate object gaining the ability to speak [10] .

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    Research

    Source: "Why do children's stories so often involve anth..." (from reddit, r/AskAnthropology)

    • Anthropomorphic animals
      • Animals that think and behave in a human-like way
      • Recognizing that ‘self’ is different from ‘other’ and thinking about the other in terms that are like oneself
      • Children’s stories often involving anthropomorphic animals to appeal to a wide range of children
    • Animals used in place of people
      • To avoid alienating, stereotyping, or offending people by having a villain or evil faction that is a bunch of animals
    • Animals in South Asian Buddhist folk epic Panchatantra
      • Animals talking and sharing moral lessons with each other

    Source: "Are there any animals that use optical illusion..." (from reddit, r/askscience)

    • Batesian mimicry
      • When mimicry is done in such a way as to look like a species that is unpalatable
      • Examples include the non-venomous scarlet kingsnake looking remarkably similar to the coral snake which is highly venomous and the monarch butterfly and viceroy butterfly
      • Hawk moth caterpillar mimics a snake
    • Transparency
      • Marine organisms such as many small shrimp and jellyfish that are somewhat transparent
      • Some forms of planctonic animals can reach a transparency of up to 90%
    • Silvering
      • Highly reflective body surfaces precisely angled can achieve almost 100 per cent reflection in some wavelengths, mirroring its surrounding and becoming close to invisible
    • Mimesis
      • Natural camouflage involves some form of visual illusion
      • Trying to become visually indistinguishable from your environment
      • Coloration patterns that imitate their surroundings, often to great effect
    • Countershading
      • Counteract the dark spot below the belly by developing a gradient of color that turns from dark at the top to light at the bottom
      • Dark, matte backs and light, reflective bellies
    • Chameleons
      • Change their skin color on the fly, allowing them to blend in or stand out from their surroundings
    • Octopuses
      • Change body shape and texture on the fly, some even replicate complex movement patterns
    • Swarms/Flocks/Schools
      • Visually merging into one big mass
      • Constant but erratic movement of countless shapes makes it very hard to single out an individual to prey on
    • Motion dazzle
      • Vertical stripes in zebras
      • Causes an optical effect called motion dazzle that further confuses predators

    Source: "Inanimate Objects Now Gain The Ability to Speak..." (from reddit, r/hypotheticalsituation)

    • No animals:
      • The webpage focuses on inanimate objects such as commercials, couches, chairs, cars, pots and pans, guns, electrical outlets, metal utensils, dildos, fleshlites, wheels, motors, cars, toilet paper, knives, guns, computers and furniture.
      • No animals are mentioned.

    Source: "If both organisms and inanimate objects are mad..." (from reddit, r/AskScienceDiscussion)

    • Self-replicating molecules
      • The consensus seems to be the fact that living organisms possess self-replicating enzymatic and chemical reactions that an “un-alive” object lacks
      • Living organisms contain self-replicating order, whereas coffee does not
      • The definition of being “alive” can be boiled down to self-replicating chemical reactions that a coffee table lacks
    • Six Criteria
      • Organisms undergo metabolism, maintain homeostasis, grow, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and evolve
      • Viruses contain some of these characteristics, but not all, leading to debate on whether they are alive or not

    Source: "Do animals experience pareidolia?" (from reddit, r/askscience)

    • Birds
      • A study showed that some birds react to objects resembling snakes
      • This behavior is more evident when they hear an alarm call that is related to it
    • Rhesus Monkeys
      • A study looking at face pareidolia in rhesus monkeys showed that they can recognize faces in objects

    💭  Looking into

    Are there any animals that are completely indistinguishable from inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What are the common characteristics of animals that resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What aspects of animals experiencing pareidolia make them resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What aspects of animals with eyespots on their bodies make them resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What aspects of water make it resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What aspects of trees make them resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    💭  Looking into

    What aspects of humans make them resemble inanimate objects in appearance?

    Source: "Are plants animate objects or inanimate objects?" (from reddit, r/NoStupidQuestions)

    • Most animals
      • Animate as an adjective is defined as: alive or having life.
      • Most animals are known to move.
    • Robots
      • Animate objects are ones that are “animated”.
      • Robots are known to move.
    • Plants
      • Animate as an adjective is defined as: alive or having life.
      • Plants are alive.
      • Plants don’t move (so are not “animated”).

    Source: "Are inanimate object looking animal fursonas ge..." (from reddit, r/furry)

    • Species Neutral, Anatomy Rebel
      • This is mentioned in the “furry alignment chart” mentioned in a comment
      • This is described as “Viva Piñata territory”
    • Plushies
      • Mentioned in multiple comments
      • Described as “they’ve got some spirit to them”
    • Inflatables
      • Mentioned in multiple comments
    • Pinatas
      • Mentioned in multiple comments

    Source: "Do other animals see face patterns in inanimate..." (from reddit, r/askscience)

    • Animals with eyespots on their bodies
      • Many animals have eyespots on their bodies. That’s marking that look like eyes.
      • These eyespots have been shown to frighten predators into thinking an even larger animal is looking at them.
    • Animals experiencing pareidolia
      • Pareidolia is the phenomenon where people see faces in things that aren’t really faces.
      • Reddit user suggested animals experience this phenomenon.

    Source: "What is it called when you give animal characte..." (from reddit, r/writing)

    • Zoomorphism
      • It is the correct term for figuratively giving something (whether a person or an inanimate object) the characteristics of an animal.
    • Personification
      • This is the term for figuratively giving something (whether an animal or an inanimate object) the characteristics of an person.

    Source: "What animal, insect or inanimate object would y..." (from reddit, r/AskReddit)

    • Human
      • A reddit user said they would like to stay a human
    • Tree
      • A reddit user said they would like to be a tree, with a quality view and grooving on it for 100 years
    • Water
      • A reddit user said they would like to be water in a nice, not polluted stream

    💭  Looking into

    What is the best animal that looks like an inanimate object?