• TheTetrapod@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    In Koala’s defense, I’ve heard people say that the “won’t eat picked leaves” thing is an evolutionary advantage to stop them from eating rotting leaves off the ground. Of course, there are other ways to distinguish fresh and rotting food, but like you said, limited neurons.

    • Jerkface (any/all)@lemmy.ca
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      4 days ago

      I have to think that if it evolved this way, then probably there are not better ways, meaning perhaps there is a pathogen that occurs on downed leaves that is invisible and odourless. Or perhaps it just takes them out of the environment where they are at least minimally adapted to survive. Evolution is cruel but it’s not stupid, and if it seems stupid it probably just means I’m stupid.