TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 01:52 PM

The moose was a trial run at making a horse, by the same committee that then designed the camel.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 11:45 AM

I finally got into the link and asked. We'll see what happens........

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 11:42 AM

Yeah, but you've infected us with it now.... WHY are they palmated? Tell us please, the link didn't work for me....

It's worse than squirrelling tunes.... unanswerable questions..... damn you woman!!!

Here's one back at you.....

How does my painkiller know which part of me hurts?

LTS

(yes I know it's a stupid question.....)

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 11:17 AM

Thank you, Allan. Last night it was just a silly diversion, but now I really want to know.......sheesh.

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Allan C.
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 08:55 AM

Sorcha, while there are certainly some folks here with backgrounds in the sciences, you are more likely to get the answers you seek at Ask A Scientist.

My own thought is that a moose is obviously made from spare parts and so it is only logical that it would be crowned with something very different from the average.

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 08:07 AM

Spaw - I'll PM you that answer!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:25 AM

SO..... WHAT IS THE POINT TO PALMATED ANTLERS???? (spaw, it is now after 3 AM at your place.....)

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:09 AM

Yeah Sorch....NOW.....

So Liz, how is that description different than human foreplay and fornication? (Note I didn't say "fucking" as saying fucking would be fucking crude)

Spaw

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:04 AM

sort of spaw. Moose and caribou antlers have large areas between the points which are flat.......palmated, sort of like the human hand. Mule deer, white tail, stag,elk, etc, have only pointed antlers originating from a main branch. Does that explain it?

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:03 AM

Female moose are attracted to both the size and scent of a bull's antlers. Often, as a bull approaches a cow during the rut, she will lick his antlers to help her decide if she will allow him to mate with her.

A mating pair will nuzzle muzzles. A bull will also stomp down the grass and dirt and urinate there. He will continue to stomp and splash around creating what is called a wallow. The cow may then stomp and roll in the wallow, absorbing his hormonal scent. This makes her attractive to him.

Please, if the Reincarnationists are right, please don't let me come back as a moose.....?

LTS

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:01 AM

What the hell is "palmated." Sounds like something that happens to a guy who ain't got a girlfriend........

Spaw

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:55 AM

arg, arg, arg............what is a person to do, then? Thanks, kat for the link. I did know about the "biggest fella", ahem...........but is there really anything other than that?

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:51 AM

I think they are palmated to make it easier for humans to scoop up food, etc. when they conveniently shed the antlers!**BG** Could also be because they are pacifists and didn't want any of their horns being used for gunpowder storage. Maybe the pixies found it more comfortable to sit upon them for scouting ahead> OR, I know, they are relatd to elephants and one day they saw Medusa and their ears froze solid in that position!

This might answer some of your ponderings, for real: A year in the life of a Moose. According to this, growing big antlers is the only way a guy gets a chance to mate and be successful at it!

kat

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:50 AM

Sorcha, sorry sweetie, but it's nearly 8.00am on a sunny Sunday here and for someone who had a party last night, I'm feeling remarkably sharp and clear today!

Sorry. But someone had to beat Spaw to it..... didn't they??

As for the deer question, antlers give an indication of age don't they? The bigger the spread the older the deer, so if you get some big hairy male with a small arrangement, you know he isn't very old. The ones with the huge attachments are the older guys who've got the experience and strength to have lasted this long. They will give you the best chance at passing on strong genes.

This is not an endorsement to the age old adage, size doesn't matter.

LTS

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:44 AM

aaarrrrggghhh!!! These were SERIOUS QUESTIONS, FOLKS!! Dammit, can't a person get a straight answer out of the 'Cat anymore???? :>) Let's talk about DEER, HERE! (and don't tell me about Dear.......) Go to bed, Liz. It's late, ya know?

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:39 AM

Dammit Liz....you took every joke I had on that post!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:36 AM

Palmated antlers are a survival adaptation, to stop them being turned into hatracks.

Sorcha, it's good that you have an interest outside the 'Cat, but I really think that you and I need to go away and have a long talk about us getting a life each!!! *BG*.....

As for the "being mounted by some male carrying 50 or more pounds of excess weight", you should go out with some of the guys I've known..... it can be fun, especially if you are yourself, a little over endowed with curves and bumps..... And they ALL make that noise eventually......

LTS

Subject: TOTAL BS--Cervidae/Deer family
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 02:31 AM

This may be pretty dumb coming from someone in Wyoming, US, but........I just watched a Discovery Channel show about moose..meece, mooses, whatever. Is there a more ungaingly (dare I say ugly???) animal on the planet?

My question is......what exactly is the purpose of antlers? I know that the males/bulls/bucks use them to fight during the rut/mating season, but is there any other reason for these humongous things? I can't imagine being mounted by some male carrying 50 or more pounds of excess weight.

Also, in most of the mammalian species, it is the female who does the "calling" with her estrus......it seems that in the Cervidae family it is the male who calls with rut hormones and bugling.......what gives, here?

Why are moose and caribou antlers "palmated" and none of the other cervidae are? What are the benefits of palmated antlers? Scoop up more moss?

Please help if you can.........hopelessly lost with these questions.