Little Dogs Pee Higher To Make Themselves Seem More Intimidating, Study Suggests

Scientists have discovered smaller dogs aim higher, most likely to appear larger. Photo Credit: Mike Finkelstein
Scientists have discovered smaller dogs aim higher, most likely to appear larger. Photo Credit: Mike Finkelstein

You know how people say you should aim high? Well, small male dogs have taken that advice to heart. A new study has found that they lift their legs higher when urinating than larger dogs, apparently attempting to appear bigger than they are.  Continue reading “Little Dogs Pee Higher To Make Themselves Seem More Intimidating, Study Suggests”

Crab Gloats After Winning To Discourage Rematches

After a win, mangrove crabs (Perisesarma eumolpe) will gloat to keep opponents from going for round two. Photo Credit: Marut Sayannikroth/Shutterstock
After a win, mangrove crabs (Perisesarma eumolpe) will gloat to keep opponents from going for round two. Photo Credit: Marut Sayannikroth/Shutterstock

From touchdown dances to victory laps, we all love to bask in the glory after a big win. So do mangrove crabs. After a fierce physical altercation, victorious male crabs sometimes stridulate, planting one claw into the ground and rubbing it vigorously with the other to both visibly and audibly revel in their triumph. But the purpose of this gloating was unclear, as little research has examined the consequences of such victory displays. Now, a new paper in Ethology may have an explanation: rejoicing discourages the losing crabs from attempting a rematch. Continue reading “Crab Gloats After Winning To Discourage Rematches”