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Cats are perfect. An evolutionary biologist makes the claim and leaves you wondering. That's only a slight exaggeration. The article says they have adapted to
by Jeff_Brown 3y ago
Cats are perfect. An evolutionary biologist makes the claim and leaves you wondering.
That's only a slight exaggeration. The article says they have adapted to fit a specialized carnivorous niche, which is why they all look so similar across different body sizes, and that nothing else can compete with them in that space although many species try, because it requires commitment.
If you were hoping for a mechanistic explanation, that's all the article offers.
- gumby 3y ago> If you were hoping for a mechanistic explanation, that's all the article offers. Because evolution is a very big “just so story” that’s the best you’ll ever get from an evolutionary analysis. I think it came off as an arch conversation to make an interesting but not profound point. Which is entirely appropriate. The interesting corollaries are why there are such a similar niches in different environments, and why monitor lizards might have experienced such similar convergence.
- hinkley 3y agoA cat posing as an evolutionary biologist says it’s so.