Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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What if Tyrannosaurus Rexes moved and walked like chicken do? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

28 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Bobbing their heads at every step. How ridiculous must have that looked if it was the case.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

It looks stupid but is insanely effective.

The bobs helps pick out movement, once they pick out prey, they have laser focus and stop bobbing.

If you don't think they're similar, watch a video of a chicken hunting a mouse. It could be a scene out of a very low budget Jurassic Park.

Edit:

Randomly came across a relevant video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfYV39SKIiM

[–] [email protected] 21 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Chickens and many other birds appear to bob their heads because their eyes are fixed in their sockets, so they can't fix their eyes on a point while moving, but instead have to keep their head still. What looks like bobbing is the bird pushing its head forward and keeping it completely still for a moment while its body catches up. Without keeping its head still, it wouldn't be able to see much of anything very effectively, prey or predator.

T rex might have been able to move its eyes, in which case it probably wouldn't have bobbed its head.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The best is when you pick them up and move their bodies around but their little heads stay in the same spot

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Nature's own camera stabilizers.