What is the ugliest animal according to National Geographic?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perceived ugliness of the naked mole rat, as highlighted in a National Geographic article. Participants share their opinions on the animal's appearance, engage in humorous banter, and explore related topics, including biology and social behavior of the species.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Humorous

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the naked mole rat as "the ugliest and most pathetic looking animal" they have seen.
  • Another mentions the naked mole rat's strong jaw muscle relative to its size as a positive trait.
  • Some participants express a lack of repulsion towards the naked mole rat, with one considering a future in biology.
  • There are humorous comparisons made between the mole rat and other subjects, including personal anecdotes and images.
  • One participant questions if a mole rat in a posted image is pregnant or has a tumor.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the mole rat's appearance is suited to its underground lifestyle.
  • Several posts include jokes and playful banter about unrelated topics, such as plumbing and fictional torture methods.
  • There are references to the social behavior of naked mole rats, noting their unique adaptations to life underground.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions about the naked mole rat's appearance, with no clear consensus on whether it is indeed the ugliest animal. The discussion includes both humorous and serious takes, indicating a mix of agreement on the animal's unusual looks but disagreement on the extent of its ugliness.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference images and anecdotes that may not be universally understood without context. The discussion includes speculative comments about the mole rat's biology and social structure, which are not fully substantiated.

Ivan Seeking
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A recent National Geographic magazine shows a picture of a naked mole rat. This is about the ugliest and most pathetic looking animal I think I've ever seen. I didn't spot the NG article online, but I found another image that conveys the idea. Do we have any other favorites?

http://img72.exs.cx/img72/8599/molerat3sp.jpg
Compliments of Cornell University at
http://www.news.cornell.edu/highres.cgi$http://www.news.cornell.edu/photos/mole-rat.300.JPEG
 
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oh yes, please keep it clean folks. :biggrin:
 
Naked mole rats?
 
Thanks for posting the picture
 
On the plus side, it does have the strongest jaw muscle for any mammal its size.

You win some you lose some...
 
hypatia said:
Naked mole rats?
Yes, they usually wear the traditional mole rat costume, and as you can see from the photo, it's best if they keep their costumes on.
 
I was going to say the ugliest things I've ever seen, but couldn't decide on:

1) This rash that won't go away (or maybe a boil on...?)
2) The guy next to me when I woke up this morning (Boy I had too much to drink last night!)
3) What I saw last night:

http://img20.exs.cx/img20/9164/nicecrack2xx.th.jpg
 
actually i wasnt repulsed by this at all..

i think i might go into biology after physics in the end.. :rolleyes:
 
brewnog said:
On the plus side, it does have the strongest jaw muscle for any mammal its size.

FYI, they also use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation. The NG article showed them holding their little compasses. :biggrin:
 
  • #10
SOS2008 said:
http://img20.exs.cx/img20/9164/nicecrack2xx.th.jpg

I hear that more and more women are working as plumbers.
 
  • #11
Ivan Seeking said:
I hear that more and more women are working as plumbers.
Well that one had better stay away from my pipes.
 
  • #12
Good God has that woman no friends? Surely someone would tell her that her ...ummm Grand canyon has excaped?
 
  • #13
hypatia said:
Good God has that woman no friends? Surely someone would tell her that her ...ummm Grand canyon has excaped?
Grand perhaps, but it sure ain't great.
 
  • #14
hypatia said:
Good God has that woman no friends? Surely someone would tell her that her ...ummm Grand canyon has excaped?

Well, you'd think she'd notice the draft! :bugeye:



Ivan, is that mole rat in the center pregnant?! It really seems to be bulging in the middle quite a bit. That, or it's got some horrid tumor. None of the others seem to be shaped quite that way. It's a good thing they're moles; when you look like that, it's much better to be blind. :smile:
 
  • #15
brewnog said:
...it does have the strongest jaw muscle for any mammal its size...
Is it a female that talks a lot?
 
  • #16
is it me or those rats are dead??
 
  • #17
cronxeh said:
is it me or those rats are dead??

Well, you don't seem dead either. No, they're not dead, they do look all piled up, probably staged for the photo, but they're supposed to be that ugly.
 
  • #18
2CentsWorth said:
Is it a female that talks a lot?
Since you're new here, I'll excuse your redundancy.

Cronxeh said:
:approve: is it me or those rats are dead??
Must be you... but I was going to blame it on Brewnog's aftershave. :rolleyes:
 
  • #19
Moonbear said:
...they're supposed to be that ugly.
The Naked Truth about Mole-Rats
by Jill Locantore
Endowed with pinkish-gray, wrinkly skin, scant hair, and long buck teeth, naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) aren’t likely to win any beauty contests. Some might refer to them as downright ugly, resembling an overcooked hotdog with teeth. Nonetheless, biologists and zoogoers are enchanted with these bizarre rodents.
Endowed? Well that's one word...
Naked mole-rats spend virtually their entire lives in the total darkness of underground burrows. Ensconced in the arid soils of Africa, these three-inch-long creatures must continually dig tunnels in search of sporadic food supplies and evade the deadly jaws of snakes. Within this formidable environment, naked mole-rats have broken many mammalian rules and evolved an oddly insect-like social system.
They don't need to be concerned about appearances, because no one sees them--they don't even see one another (good thing, for mating purposes, and talk about mothers who think their babies are cute).

As for the other photo, I haven't found data on this species yet, so can't make a "wise crack" at this time...
 
  • #20
2CentsWorth said:
Is it a female that talks a lot?

:mad: Okay sisters, which method should we use for torturing this one? I think Hypatia brought up the topic of boiling in oil recently. I don't think we've done that one yet. :devil:
 
  • #21
<overhears Moonbear and sneaks rapidly back to another thread before being detected>
 
  • #22
Danger said:
<overhears Moonbear and sneaks rapidly back to another thread before being detected>

You'll get yours too, don't worry. I'm thinking we may need to arrange for a few surprises in the cancer clinic.
 
  • #23
Danger said:
Must be you... but I was going to blame it on Brewnog's aftershave. :rolleyes:

Sorry bud, that's 100% au naturelle.

Next time you need an excuse for a smell, give me 24 hours notice and I'll be sweatier than a nun in a cucumber factory.
 
  • #24
Moonbear said:
we may need to arrange for a few surprises in the cancer clinic.
:shy: Oh goodie! :smile: I like surprises! (Will there be cake too?) :-p

Brewnog said:
Next time you need an excuse for a smell, give me 24 hours notice and I'll be sweatier than a nun in a cucumber factory.
:smile: :smile:As much as it galls me to admit defeat, I got nothin' to top that.
 
  • #25
Moonbear said:
You'll get yours too, don't worry. I'm thinking we may need to arrange for a few surprises in the cancer clinic.
Uh-oh. I guess I should stay in the weeds for awhile too... Maybe make ammends by working at the cucumber factory?
 
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  • #26
2CentsWorth said:
Maybe make ammends by working at the cucumber factory?
Just make sure you're careful in there, and watch where you're going. If they're anything like the blind lesbians in the fish market, those nuns'll trample you to death.
 
  • #27
Re Moonbear: Yes, I should have mentioned that the large rat in the center is pregnant.
 
  • #28
Moonbear said:
:mad: Okay sisters, which method should we use for torturing this one? I think Hypatia brought up the topic of boiling in oil recently. I don't think we've done that one yet. :devil:
Skip the tourture. I've just cleaned my bazooka. Wanna test it out? :biggrin:
 
  • #29
Tsu said:
Skip the tourture. I've just cleaned my bazooka. Wanna test it out? :biggrin:
Yes, please! Teach me how to use it?
 
  • #30
Math Is Hard said:
Yes, please! Teach me how to use it?
Down, girl! It's not what you think... :biggrin: