• ickplantOPM
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    5 days ago

    A narrow snoot I would boop the hell out of!

    All joking aside, opossums have been around for about 70 million years, making them one of the oldest surviving mammal groups on Earth. That’s why they play dead (it’s the oldest survival response, coming from the dorsal vagal pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system).

    Maybe that’s why they are such primitive chewers.

    • [email protected]@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      I’ve seen this strategy piecemeal in people, albeit mostly children. Sloppily eating, smelling like poop, and pretending to be asleep so others will leave them be. Although we can only aspire to the majesty of this little bugger.