The animal weapons arms race

The Animal Weapons Arms Race Different animals have different adaptation techniques. Some adaptations help an animal hide from its enemies while others help the animal attack its enemies. Moreover, some adaptations can also be used by the animals to hunt for its prey. The topic in discussion in the Science Friday radio show discusses horns claws and teeth in different animals and how these features are adapted as weapons to fight or protect the animal (Science-Friday retrieved from http://www. sciencefriday. com/playlist/#play/segment/9594). The topic being discussed is of great importance since it is necessary to understand why different animals have ferocious body weapons.
The show is called science frantic, and the person hosting the show was Jordan Koski. The guest on the show is Douglas Emlen, who is the author of a book named animal weapons – the evolution battle. Douglas is also a professor of biology and lectures at the University of Montenor.
I was amazed to realize that it was possible to conduct researches on the extremeness of animal weapons. Douglas claimed that the research leading to writing his book started with watching clips of animal fights. The professor had keen interest in small animals such as dung battles. He claimed that the weapons carried by small animal were very dangerous considering their body sizes (Science-Friday retrieved from http://www. sciencefriday. com/playlist/#play/segment/9594). It was interesting to realize that most fights among small animals were all because they needed access to females.
Douglas noted that some animals had deadly weapons since they cannot swim fly or run fast to catch their prey. He gives the example of Smilodon, which has 7 inch canine teeth but cannot run after its prey. I was amazed to realize that some animals had to lose certain minerals in their body in order to make their weapons more deadly. He also noted that some species with fierce weapons had stunted testes and small genital organs. Some animals use their fierce weapons to scare away other animals of the same species. It overwhelmed me know that animals with the most vicious weapons fought less and were rarely involved in battles.
He discussed an exceptional case where female animals are fiercer than their male counterparts. He said that Jacana females have bigger weapons that than Jacana males since the males take care of the youngness. The females have to fight for access to males, and hence they develop fierce fighting weapons (Science-Friday retrieved from http://www. sciencefriday. com/playlist/#play/segment/9594).
The subject is of great importance to people who have an interest in animals. Research by such scholars helps in understanding of a variety of concepts in the science field. My opinion on this issue is that animals develop different features as adaptation for different situation. The subject was quite interesting, and I would like to learn more about the same topic.
If I had called in during the show, I would have asked about the small animals that do not have sex. I would have wanted to know if animals such as male frogs, which spread sperms on female eggs, fight to do that. Moreover, I would have enquired on how to access the book or where to buy it since it seemed to be a very interesting read.
Works Cited
Science-Friday. ” Horns, Claws, and Teeth: The Animal Weapons Arms Race.” Science Friday. Science Friday, 14 Nov. 204. Web. 21 Mar. 2015.