Hominids have been using and abusing substances for hundreds of millions of years, but recreational drug use isn't the sole province of the great apes. Let's take a look at some other animals who've found ways to indulge...
1. Puff-Puff-Pass PufferfishDolphins are mammals and pretty intelligent ones at that. They've been observed using "tools" and making fish traps out of mud - but did you know they also get high?
The drug of choice seems to be tetrodotoxin, a potentially lethal nerve agent that can produce tingling and narcotic effects in smaller doses. It's found as a defensive mechanism in certain fish - the Japanese dish "fugu" contains a small amount.
Researchers observed a group of juvenile dolphins that had captured a pufferfish. They seemed to be taking turns with the captive, agitating it just enough to get a bit of the toxin, then passing it to the next cetacean. After taking their turn, the animals exhibited signs of intoxication, including drifting just below the surface of the water as though mesmerized by their own reflection.
The lemurs harass the poor millipedes (often chewing on them a bit, but usually not killing them) until they release defensive fluid. The lemur then rubs itself with a mixture of saliva and the fluid, where the benzoquinone it contains can act as an insect repellent. The fluid also acts as a narcotic, leaving the arboreal primates high on millipede juice!
3. Drunken MonkeysMaking a new home on the Caribbean islands of St Kitts, Nevis and Barbados, vervet monkeys seem to have developed a bit of a taste for the alcoholic drinks. Perhaps they were initially enticed by the fruitiness of the drinks bought by tourists - these days they raid bars and loot sleeping vacationers in search of booze.
There actually seem to be a few "types" of drinkers amongst these primates, mirroring human behavior. Most are "social drinkers" who prefer alcohol diluted in fruit juice, only drink with company and not before lunch. Others (labeled "regular drinkers") favor unsweetened alcohol without fruit juice - they also seem oddly inclined to leadership positions within their troops.
There are also "binge drinkers" who drink to excess (they'll drink themselves to death over the course of a few years) given any opportunity, and "teetotallers" who avoid alcohol altogether. There's some speculation that the human fondness for alcohol comes from our genetics - our primate relatives sharing these tastes (and even drinking patterns) supports this theory.
It is impossible to know exactly what's going on inside the mind of a cat-nipped cat. Some sources suggest that trans-nepetalactone present in catnip oil resembles cat pheromones, inducing the range of behaviors seen in the drugged-up felines.
This vulnerability to catnip isn't limited to domestic cats either. Big cats display similar responses, and some hunters have used catnip to lure dangerous felines in to an ambush.
Commercial poppy fields are the main source of opium - a significant ingredient in many painkillers throughout history. It seems that the marsupial marauders have picked up on this fact, raiding the fields and helping themselves to narcotics!
The animals munch on the heads of poppies which contain opiates. The intoxicated animals often end up ambling around in circles, browsing crops or simply trampling them under dragging feet... with the end result resembling the work of a visiting UFO!
- Dolphins with a pufferfish habit
- Lemurs who chew millipedes
- Monkeys with a drinking habit
- Cats and their catnip
- Opiate-hungry wallabies
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| Dolphins are sophisticated enough to have vices... (Claudia14) |
1. Puff-Puff-Pass PufferfishDolphins are mammals and pretty intelligent ones at that. They've been observed using "tools" and making fish traps out of mud - but did you know they also get high?
The drug of choice seems to be tetrodotoxin, a potentially lethal nerve agent that can produce tingling and narcotic effects in smaller doses. It's found as a defensive mechanism in certain fish - the Japanese dish "fugu" contains a small amount.
Researchers observed a group of juvenile dolphins that had captured a pufferfish. They seemed to be taking turns with the captive, agitating it just enough to get a bit of the toxin, then passing it to the next cetacean. After taking their turn, the animals exhibited signs of intoxication, including drifting just below the surface of the water as though mesmerized by their own reflection.
2. Lemurs and the Millipede Roll-Up
Millipedes seem to have got a raw deal compared to centipedes. Their relatives are fast, agile and pack a venomous bite - some species can potentially kill a human. Meanwhile, millipedes are forced to defend themselves by curling up and releasing an unpleasant chemical cocktail from their bodies. Unfortunately, this defense can be a downside near the junkie lemurs of Madagascar.The lemurs harass the poor millipedes (often chewing on them a bit, but usually not killing them) until they release defensive fluid. The lemur then rubs itself with a mixture of saliva and the fluid, where the benzoquinone it contains can act as an insect repellent. The fluid also acts as a narcotic, leaving the arboreal primates high on millipede juice!
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| Vervet monkeys have developed at taste for tourist drinks... (LionMountain) |
3. Drunken MonkeysMaking a new home on the Caribbean islands of St Kitts, Nevis and Barbados, vervet monkeys seem to have developed a bit of a taste for the alcoholic drinks. Perhaps they were initially enticed by the fruitiness of the drinks bought by tourists - these days they raid bars and loot sleeping vacationers in search of booze.
There actually seem to be a few "types" of drinkers amongst these primates, mirroring human behavior. Most are "social drinkers" who prefer alcohol diluted in fruit juice, only drink with company and not before lunch. Others (labeled "regular drinkers") favor unsweetened alcohol without fruit juice - they also seem oddly inclined to leadership positions within their troops.
There are also "binge drinkers" who drink to excess (they'll drink themselves to death over the course of a few years) given any opportunity, and "teetotallers" who avoid alcohol altogether. There's some speculation that the human fondness for alcohol comes from our genetics - our primate relatives sharing these tastes (and even drinking patterns) supports this theory.
4. Catnip: The Universal Feline Favorite?
Catnip is a relative of mint, and one that you have probably encountered. Domestic cats love it, as it stimulates their sensory neurons - animals under the influence display a wide range of behaviors, from the playful to the intoxicated or even aggressive.It is impossible to know exactly what's going on inside the mind of a cat-nipped cat. Some sources suggest that trans-nepetalactone present in catnip oil resembles cat pheromones, inducing the range of behaviors seen in the drugged-up felines.
This vulnerability to catnip isn't limited to domestic cats either. Big cats display similar responses, and some hunters have used catnip to lure dangerous felines in to an ambush.
5. Wasted Wallabies Pilfering Poppies
You've probably heard of the Tasmanian devil, but how about the Tasmanian wallaby? This rather inoffensive relative of the kangaroo seems to have picked up an unsavory habit - they raid poppy fields for a chemical high.Commercial poppy fields are the main source of opium - a significant ingredient in many painkillers throughout history. It seems that the marsupial marauders have picked up on this fact, raiding the fields and helping themselves to narcotics!
The animals munch on the heads of poppies which contain opiates. The intoxicated animals often end up ambling around in circles, browsing crops or simply trampling them under dragging feet... with the end result resembling the work of a visiting UFO!
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