Male animals sparring for dominance and mating rights must have a understanding of how-to spar, otherwise a muskox can just fake a headbutt and full-on gore his opponent in his side or flank instead, amirite?

+9 Male animals sparring for dominance and mating rights must have a understanding of how-to spar, otherwise a muskox can just fake a headbutt and full-on gore his opponent in his side or flank instead, amirite?

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Social animals don't want to kill each other.

by cchristiansen 5 months ago

social animals desperate to mate accidentally cause deaths. If it's been a hard year and you've been sparring 5x per day during mating season, maybe mammals are smart enough to evolve a way to get rid of your opponent accidentally-intentionally

by Anonymous 5 months ago

My understanding is that animals that do that sort of thing learn it as cubs/kits/etc by having play-fights with other youngsters. They also see the older animals going at it full-bore and can learn from that. Now they probably don't conceptualize it as neatly as we do. I rarely see a lion walk down his opponent with the Philly Shell, jab a few times then drop to work the body. Of course, if you have razor-sharp claws and a mouth full of all-destroying giant fangs, you can get away with having a little less technique.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

I disagree with the initial hypothesis, it's instinctual and not understood by the creature, the animal isn't evaluating their progress before and after fighting like you are basically implying.

by juanita39 5 months ago