I asked why male giant pandas turn handstands in the wild.
>From the massive number of responses to this query (well, two
anyway), Don Allen perceptively came up with the correct answer.
Which is that they do it so they can pee higher up the tree. And the
reason they do that is to show how talented they are, to advertise
their superior genes, so to speak. Better than taking out an ad on
Google.
So say Nie et al (2012) in a recent publication in _Animal
Behaviour_. They cite earlier research that "For male pandas,
placement of urine high on vertical surfaces, using a handstand
posture, conveys competitive status". They also observe, in somewhat
of an understatement that "Aiming urine backwards and hitting the
target is probably no easy task". They don't say whether they tried
it themselves.
A news item discussing the feat ("How pandas pick the perfect spot
to pee") is available here: http://snipurl.com/25dguqq
The report contains a video showing a variety of ways in which male
giant pandas scent-mark, some gross, some less so. Don't miss the
thrilling climax where the panda is caught performing the
handstand-while-peeing manoeuver. As the plummy BBC voice-over notes,
"the male that pees the hghest wins".
Stephen
Nie, Y. et al (2012). Giant panda scent-marking strategies in the
wild: role of season, sex and marking surface. Animal Behaviour, v.
84, 39-44.
Abstract at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000334721200142X
--------------------------------------------
Stephen L. Black, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Emeritus
Bishop's University
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca
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