The Most Extreme Births In The Animal Kingdom Watch Think The average litter consists of two cubs, with three occasionally being reported. Gene Kim and Shira Polan. The male brown antechinus mates with as many females as possible for up to 14 hours at a time . How do you tell the difference between a model and a digital twin? A bite isn't fatal to us, but it can cause severe pain, dropped blood pressure and hemorrhaging . You may be aware that male seahorses give birth -- it's one of those quirky factoids they try to hold your attention with in fourth grade science class. Whatever their shape, size, or way of life, they all have some things in common. But childbirth isnt just dangerous or uncomfortable for mothers. Baby Darwin Frogs, an endangered species of tiny frog found in South America, may have terrible mothers to contend with, but at least their dad sticks around to take care of them. Aves (birds) - Warm-blooded, egg-laying animals characterized by two wings, two legs, and feathers. The iconic comedy trio has had a lot of interesting things pop up along the road to stardom. Its impossible to quantify exactly how much pain this causes, but giving birth to larger offspring tends to be more dangerous and to result in more tearing. That's because naked mole rats are the only mammals whose bones grow after they reach adulthood, Kerns said. Gender is a constant source of tension among fire ants. The calf of a 1,300-pound heifer weighs around 100 pounds; similarly, a 140-pound woman might give birth to a nine-pound baby. This unusually long period of development for a predator results in offspring that are comparatively large and fully ready to kill, with their sharp teeth completely emerged through the gums. Prior research has suggested the reason childbirth is so much more difficult in humans compared to apes or other animals is because we evolved to walk upright, and because our babies have very large heads. And only the strongest four will make it. If a cesarean (C-section) is needed, doctors will make an incision through the abdominal and uterine walls so that the physicians can pull out the baby, the association said. How many babies can a hyena have at one time? Their name comes from the Greek term for river horse, which is fitting because these excellent swimmers spend 16 hours a day in the water and can hold their breath for five minutes. From their first wriggling moments of life, they find themselves in a tiny, pitch-dark enclosed place that they don't realize is about to become The Hunger Games. Kingdom Animalia consists of organisms that range from the simplest of the animal forms to the most complex. Childbirth is a uniquely painful and difficult experience for humans. For other animals, the size of the offspring isnt as big a problem. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Thanks, mom. They provide us with entertainment, companionship, transport, security, scientific knowledge, clothing and food. Squirrel monkey infants have such large heads compared to the size of their mothers pelvises that they face a very high rate of birth complications. But complications can arise when the porcupettes are facing the wrong direction because their quills can get caught in the birth canal on the way out. The worst fathers abandon, ignore, and even cannibalize their own young. So it's not surprising that when a baby blue whale is born, the. Fire ant. But others don't -- in other words, they have live babies, but don't have an organ to feed the developing fetuses. In short, nature goes through the trouble of creating 50 squirming newborns and then lets 92 percent of them die pretty much immediately for no reason other than to drive home the point that sharing is for losers. Soul takes birth and leave the body until it gets MOKHSA. Video Explainer: Who Was Our Most Religious President? Symptoms of Early Contractions and Labor in DogsSee also how single celled organisms maintain homeostasis and reproduce Restlessness. For instance, the clitoris, which contains the birth canal, can extend 7 inches (18 centimeters) from the body, Kay Holekamp, a professor of integrative biology at Michigan State University, told Live Science in 2006. Young pregnant woman in process of childbirth in hospital. That's one egg-treme egg to lay! 3 of 32 Corbis. But there's a catch. We have some proof that after death human takes birth as human again. Can a male hyena give birth? The scientific term for it is pseuodpenis. Even Ernest Hemingway called the hyena a hermaphroditic self-eating devourer of the dead, trailer of calving cows, ham-stringer, Because of the females awkward genitalia, successful mating for hyenas is tricky to pull off. How do you get rid of Cuban frogs in Florida. Imagine giving birth to a 24 pound baby. Take the Tasmanian devil. These are some of the pleasant sounds commonly associated with childbirth. While little information is available about the reproductive habits of blue whales, they are known to have a gestation period of approximately one year. The animal kingdom is vast group of millions of different kinds (species) of animals. You can also check out his blog. "The [Obstetrical Dilemma] skillfully ties together many unique or fascinating phenomena in human evolution, such as human bipedalism, human encephalization, hellish human childbirth, helpless. Still, giving birth can be difficult, especially if the baby is born breech (bottom first), Kerns said. Your name and responses will be shared with Cynthia Silva. If a 140-pound mother gives birth to a 7-pound infant, then that infant represents about 5 percent of her body weight. Feasting on her milk, it will gain three pounds a day and will start eating solid foods after 10 days. So guess where they get their nourishment. The reason a female hyena has a pseudo penis is not easily understood. The sixth gorilla born at the zoo (and the fourth for. What animals have the most painful birth? After just a few hours, a foal can stand and run alongside its mother. Males take no part in the raising of young. Sure, they probably don't deserve the stigma as crazed serial killers who will stop at nothing to devour every person who sets foot in the ocean, but you still wouldn't want to go down and kiss one on the nose. In the United States, about 32 percent of all births are C-sections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SIMPLY PUT - where we join the dots to inform and inspire you. Main Menu Death in childbirth was sufficiently common that many colonial women regarded pregnancy with . After indulging on its mother's nutrient-rich milk, a blue whale calf grows so quickly that it puts on nearly 90 kilograms each day. In May, guests got to witness Heidi the Hartmann's mountain zebra give birth to her. As you can imagine, this presents a problem for the queen. For starters, these porcupine babies are born fully quilled. 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If you like to sneak around ranches so you can secretly watch horses have sex, you've probably noticed something: After a mare gets pregnant, she immediately starts engaging in promiscuous sex with everyone. Labor times for other animals tend to be much shorter than for humans. The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin. There are some women who have experienced pain free and . Imagine giving birth to a 24 pound baby. During birth, the embryo traverses a long and narrow birth canal with a sharp bend in it. But some of the largest creatures, like the African elephant and the blue whale, give birth to some of the planets biggest babies. Photo: Stephen Ausmus. That's 3 times the size of the average human newborn. In Sweden, they send you a thank-you text when they use your blood. In fact, about 15% of first-time mothers die giving birth. Females have phallic-like genitalia. But believe it or not, a species of velvet spider has it even worse. So right from birth, the joeys are literally on a mad dash for their lives. And thanks for watching. Each newborn weighs about 0.3 ounces (10 g), so a litter of two would weigh about twice that. The prehensile-tailed porcupine (Coendou prehensilis) from South America goes through two extreme events during birth. Females of this species give birth through a narrow, penis-like, enlarged clitoris. Seahorses and their close relatives, sea dragons, are the only species in which the male gets pregnant and gives birth. Many clones die during pregnancy or birth. What is this? Babies are at lower risk for respiratory problems and have a stronger immune system. My Blog most painful births in the animal kingdom Cloned embryos tend to be large and can result in painful births that are often carried out by Caesarean section. (Image credit: Paul Gilham/Getty) Naked mole rats. You know how some animals chew up food for their babies? As a result, a few boys do make it through the culling, but only because mass fratricide is apparently quite draining. Females lay a single egg up to 20% of their body weight. Those sharp spines protect it from predators. astros vs yankees cheating. Got a question about todays news? Sign up for a weekly brief collating many news items into one untangled thought delivered straight to your mailbox. Normally, this isnt a problem for mom since the quills are soft at birth and gradually harden over the next few hours. You see, baby porcupines, called porcupettes, aren't hairless like most rodent newborns. The Most Extreme Births In The Animal Kingdom Do dogs cry when in labor? Squirrel monkey infants have such large heads compared to the size of their mothers' pelvises that they face a very high rate of birth complications. Signs range from sudden death to gradual onset of depression over 1 to 3 days, accompanied by huddling of the birds, fluffed-up feathers, unsteadiness, shivering, loss of appetite, markedly increased or absence of thirst, rapid loss of weight, accelerated respiration and watery yellow, green or blood-tinged droppings. Blue whales are the largest known animals to have ever lived on Earth: Adults can measure up to 100 feet long and weigh 200 tons. It can be lethal. After that, all the work is done by the male, who then guards the eggs for up to . Spotted hyena births are not for the faint of heart. ", Prilfish "Oh, don't look at me that way, honey. Knowing and understanding normal labor and delivery, as well as proper pregnancy care, can help make the process go more smoothly and help you know what is normal and when it is time to get the veterinarian involved. In the first stage of labour the body is getting ready to start passing out puppies. But of course they are necessary for survival, because of the whole mating thing. Females lay a single egg up to 20% of their body weight. But theyre sometimes not so fun for mom. Perhaps the most horrifying birth is that of the spotted hyena. Others simply show the particulars of a baby being born. Squirrel monkey infants have such large heads compared to the size of their mothers' pelvises that they face a very high rate of birth complications. Cows are emotionally complex animals, and mothers and their babies have very close bonds. "The last one we had here [at the National Zoo], we watched him cling for dear life onto a branch while the umbilicus was coming off," Kerns said. The Los Angeles Times noted that the newborn dolphin appeared healthy, lively and playful after it emerged while one of her caretakers complimented the mothers calm, relaxed nature throughout the whole entire situation. Is giving birth easier for nonhuman animals? - Frances S. Chance. Well, Stegodyphus lineatus takes this to a whole new level. In appreciation of all the mothers out there on Mother's Day, Live Science has compiled a list of the eight most extreme animal births. But complications can arise when the porcupettes are facing the wrong direction because their quills can get caught in the birth canal on the way out. For example, in University of New Mexico researcher Leah Alberss 1999 study of 2,500 full-term births, labor lasted on average almost nine hours for first-time mothers. Easy Opossums Their pregnancies last only about 14 days. Following is a transcript of the video. The average adult white rhinoceros is only slightly smaller than an average adult hippo, with some growing to 12 feet long and six feet tall and weighing 8,000 pounds. This chapter presents an overview of the ethical, legal, and scientific reasons that mandate the alleviation of animal pain, drawing attention to the principles of the Three Rs (3Rs; replacement, refinement, and reduction) and the central role of refinement in the humane care and use of laboratory animals. Take the Tasmanian devil. But you'd have to think that having 20 sets of panicked, snapping shark jaws inside your belly would be a hell of a lot more than a tickle. Then, the calf unceremoniously drops about 6.5 feet (2 meters) to the ground, making a terrific thud. One physical reason childbirth hurts so much is the fact that all of the muscles need to contract so unbelievably hard. Quirks in our evolution and development make giving birth more dangerous for us than it is for any other mammal, including our ape cousins. This list doesn't just cover the most excruciating attacks you could experience, we included bites and stings as well. Their bodies are made up of many cells, and they have nerves and muscles to move and respond quickly to the world around them. There is no human mom in this world who would say giving birth is easy peasy. So right from birth, the joeys are literally on a mad dash for their lives. They are able to stand and walk within an hour of being born, and generally start suckling within 15 minutes. When she gives birth, the baby rhinoceros will stand 2 feet tall and weigh up to 130 pounds. Once the spiderlings hatch, she regurgitates her own liquefied inside and the babies chow down. Following is a transcript of the video. Sometimes you may hear whining or yelping during contractions. It takes careful positioning for the male to crouch behind her and somehow get his penis to point up and backwards to enter her clitoris. Thanks, mom. Cattle take about two to three hours. That means babies have a long way to fall (over six feet) when they are born. Getty In other words, being slutty saves lives. Here is why mothers all around the earth deserve more than a thank you. The History of Childbirth. What part of the brain shrinks with schizophrenia? Most foals are born at night because the darkness provides protection from predators. But the prehensile-tailed porcupine usually has just one baby at a time. Any donation helps us keep writing! coppell city council members. It ruptures the amniotic sac, allowing the baby to start breathing on its own, Laurie Holloway, a spokesperson for the Dallas Zoo,told Live Science in 2011. Mind Break. The female passes the eggs to the male, who holds them in his belly until they grow up. Has Russia lost any ships in Ukraine war? Getty Each stripe is one more infanticide. The cloning of farm animals can involve great suffering. What is the national animal and bird of Saudi Arabia? Maybe they all become friends. Talk about sibling rivalry, huh? But there are some mothers out there in the animal kingdom who go through the extreme to. The researchers argue that instead of fetal brain expansion being constrained by the dimensions of the pelvis, the dimensions of the human pelvis have evolved to accommodate babies, and some. 00:15. When did Democrats and Republicans switch platforms? Now, you may say that this isn't all that weird as far as animals are concerned -- animals are stupid, after all, and one day dad probably just got hungry and was like, "Hey! Those sharp spines protect it from predators. So it's not surprising that when a baby blue whale is born, the calf itself is as big as some of the other largest animals on the planet. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! Lying on side. Some species of box jellyfish produce potent venom delivered by contact with their tentacles. The egg is so big that the baby is fairly developed by the time it hatches, according to the AMNH. Sort by: Most popular. Giving birth is difficult for female hyenas, as the females give birth through their narrow clitoris, and spotted hyena cubs are the largest carnivoran young relative to their mothers weight. So where do you find a species vicious enough to top that? The kiwi's egg occupies up to 25 percent of its mother's body, making it the largest egg, proportional to body size, of any bird in the world, according to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. Females of this species give birth through a narrow, penis-like, enlarged clitoris. Most nonhuman mammals tend to hide while giving birth, presumably to avoid attracting predators during their time of highest vulnerability. But Mom's weight can increase by 50 percent when she has two babies. Browse 2,046 painful birth videos stock videos and clips available to use in your projects, or start a new search to explore more stock footage and b-roll video clips. All they do is eat, mate and poop. The babies have to eat each other or they'll starve -- Mother Nature literally gave them no other choice. There may be as many as 20 eggs starting out in two uteri, and each will hatch and live peacefully inside the mother. Is human birth more painful than other animals? And while human mothers certainly deserve all of the flowers and phone calls they get on Mother's Day, we dare say that there are other species where motherhood is an even more trying and/or terrifying ordeal.