Maybe I'm an orderist (new word alert), but I don't like seeing 'lower' order animals dining on 'higher' order ones.
Like in this case of a frog being eaten by a giant water bug. Arthropods shouldn't be permitted to eat vertebrates. That's just wrong.
I've been bitten by a giant water bug, and it hurts. Real bad. And they don't let go. You have to flail about, cry for mommy, and then scrape them off. Though frogs can flail about, calling for mommy does them no good, and it's hard to scrape off something that out-sizes you by several classes.
As a human, I like to think of myself as at the top of the food chain, and immune to the predations of lesser beasts. Only aliens and Superman should be able to eat me. I hope never to be disabused of that notion.
Thanks for the photo, Michael. I suggest all of you check out his other work. He's a master at photographing herps.
Nov 24, 2008
Orderism
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7 comments:
No no no no no. Looks waaaay too much like a cockroach to me. YUCK.
I think you mean "phylumist"
Not that it really matters, since there's no such thing as "lower" or "higher" organisms.
These guys are considered a delicacy in various parts of Asia. They're also known as "toe-biters" and "electric light bugs."
BTW, I also get your discomfort with simpler animals eating more complex animals. I freak when I see pictures of bird-eating spiders dining on their vertebrate lunch.
I have always felt this way! I've even expressed it in similar terms to this entry to certain confused friends. If you want to really freak yourself out, go look on youtube at those videos of people feeding their giant centipedes baby mice. (Do -not- post those!)
I can somewhat understand your feelings, but just consider how frequent it is when humans are killed by viruses or bacterias. I would not say lower order (see comment above), but definitely much simpler and ancient life forms.
That's true about the viruses and bacteria. But I'm talking about open predation, being eaten by something with teeth, fangs, beaks, claws, etc.
I agree with Raging Wombat's sympathies...after doing my share of damage to the global shrimp and crab populations at Las Vegas buffets, I do NOT want any crustaceans getting the drop on me.
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