Biology

1406 readers

54 users here now

This is a general community to discuss of all things related to biology!

For a more specific community about asking questions to biologists, you can also visit:

/c/askbiologists@lemmy.world

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Sal@mander.xyz

Hippos can launch themselves airborne for split seconds at a time, surprising scientists (www.businessinsider.com)

submitted 4 months ago by ooli@lemmy.world to c/biology@mander.xyz

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

top 6 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Is this also called jumping?

Many mammals and other animals are capable of this.

Edit: in fact I’m having a difficult time thinking of animals that can’t do this. Maybe turtles and worms? Shellfish, cephalopods?

[–] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Elephants, probably rhinos, tortoises

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I kind of thought elephants might be able to do little jumps. Maybe not though.

[–] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago

Nope! They never needed to so they didn't evolve the ability. Also, they have so much mass that accelerating that mass quick enough to jump would probably injure them, the landing as well. Newton's a bitch

[–] FatLegTed@piefed.social 7 points 4 months ago

Just another reason to make them even more scary.

[–] Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 4 months ago

they fly now!