You know how some animals chew up food for their babies? One scientist has estimated that up to 18 percent of first-time mothers die. Childbirth is a uniquely painful and difficult experience for humans. Perhaps the most horrifying birth is that of the spotted hyena. Not only is the duck-billed platypus an unusual critter, it has an unusual birth. The women do all the work around the colony, and the males are pretty much useless -- ant males don't hunt, they don't take care of the young, they don't dig and they don't fight. They have to crawl from the birth canal, over her body, and into her pouch, where theyll snuggle up for another 4 months. What to expect when having multiple teeth pulled? 9 Muscles Contracting so Hard. Via: i.ytimg.com. Those sharp spines protect it from predators. With some animals, the baby has it pretty rough. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. 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. Tell us in the comments. They're mean, gluttonous little cusses who will chew through metal if the mood strikes them. Normally, this isn't a problem for mom since the quills are soft at birth and gradually harden over the next few hours. Pound for pound, Tasmanian devils have the strongest mammalian bite in the world. Human babies need a lot of TLC tender love and care. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Somebody left some eggs here! Plain and simple. Unaware of the danger, they wander right into a trap. And they give birth out of this pseudopenis which will sometimes rip apart in the process. Still, giving birth can be difficult, especially if the baby is born breech (bottom first), Kerns said. Well, let's look at how the sharks do it Is anyone surprised that sharks are heartless eating machines that possess absolutely no maternal skills whatsoever? Discover the best and worst fathers in the animal kingdom. Right after she lays an egg sac, the mother's tissues start to degrade. The hippopotamus is the second-largest land animal, with adults ranging from nine and a half to 16 and a half feet in length, and weighing up to 9,900 pounds. 14M views 4 years ago There is no human mom in this world who would say giving birth is easy peasy. Moaning, screaming, and cursing. Our moms aren't the only ones on this earth who went through pain tobring us into this world. So guess where they get their nourishment. 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. He is a human being! But very quickly they will develop jaws, and teeth, and they will grow hungry. Babies are at lower risk for respiratory problems and have a stronger immune system. The Gila monster is one of the most venomous lizards to humans. Support The Healthy Journal! It might sound inhumane, but the fall is necessary. Lying on side. Google is making some big changes to deal with the customer service problem that's plagued it since the beginning, Hundreds of inmates across Idaho's prisons hacked tablets in a mass scheme to steal more than $200,000, Trump claims again that Apple is building 'plants' in the United States, Vivo V27 Pro Review: Capable camera performance in a sleek form factor, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's now been dating for a year, Amazon will halt construction of its planned $2.5 billion Virginia headquarters, the company doubles down on cost-cutting, 'Let's get real': scientists discover a new way climate change threatens cold-blooded animals, IISc researchers show chemically-modified nanosheets are effective for biomedical applications, SC extends stay on order quashing write-off of Yes Bank's AT1 bonds, People have become low on tolerance, not willing to accept opinions: CJI Chandrachud, Startup fundraising hits an 8-month low in February, falls over 83% YoY. Several animals go to. The length of gestation varies from species to species. "Think about being 40 g [originally] and having 20 g [0.7 ounces] worth of baby," Kerns said. Several animals go to the extreme to give birth to their little ones. Kangaroos and giant pandas, for example, have tiny offspring. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. So it's not surprising that when a baby blue whale is born, the. Presumably, their concerts were strictly dance-free, The assailant couldnt steal her good mood. The shortest known gestation is that of the Virginian opossum, about 12 days, and the longest that of the Indian elephant, about 22 months. Tenrecs are covered with spines. How many cubs does a hyena give birth to? In the United States, about 32 percent of all births are C-sections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But they can help make a loving family and maybe even a Mother's Day card if they remember when they're older. When calves finally greet the world, they weigh between 200 and 300 pounds and are about 3 feet tall. Females of this species give birth through a narrow, penis-like, enlarged clitoris. "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. Shingleback lizards also have a tough pregnancy. However, the number of the litter grows over time. But a baby doesn't need to be big to be difficult. 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. But the second you apply it to cats, everyone starts yelling and calling the police. Humans do have an especially laborious and intense birth process due to the relative size of the human head to the birth canal. The mom gives birth to up to 50 joeys at a time, each the size of a raisin. Females have phallic-like genitalia. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . And thanks for watching. Veterinarians recommend that you exercise caution when approaching an animal in labor, as she may lash out. Take the Tasmanian devil. 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. Everything is pointless.". And each one will be one jaded son of a bitch. Ouch! 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. Like giraffes, horses make this list for their height, not their weight. It should be pointed out that painful birth tends to be the exception, not the rule, among the animal community. The short-eared elephant shrew ( Macroscelides proboscideus) is tiny; it measures about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long and weighs no more than 1.5 ounces (43 grams), according to the National Zoo.. These are some of the pleasant sounds commonly associated with childbirth. In many, they do not only the birthing and nursing, but also the hunting and fighting and protecting. The babies have to eat each other or they'll starve -- Mother Nature literally gave them no other choice. 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. The drop isnt too bad for baby giraffe calves who are about six and half feet tall at birth. If it poisons you, you will die in about 15 minutes. noaa.gov "Just get inside. Times Internet Limited. They will sometimes abort/eat up to half of the younglings of a homely mate. Males take no part in the raising of young. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU. It can be lethal. Some benefits of a vaginal delivery include: Faster recovery. Pain management. Midwives in 19th Century America Childbirth in the American Colonies Childbirth in colonial America was a difficult and sometimes dangerous experience for a woman. While little information is available about the reproductive habits of blue whales, they are known to have a gestation period of approximately one year. Walt Disney World, the most magical place on Earth, just got . If you have already signed into ted.com click Sign In to verify your authentication. All offer clarity on the subject. The platypus is one of few mammals that lays eggs. Females of this species give birth through a narrow, penis-like, enlarged clitoris. That's why we made a complete guide on surviving wild animal attacks you can see listed in the conclusion section of this article. Photo: Stephen Ausmus. The mothers are also in danger as the birth canal is only an inch in diameter, often making the birthing process fatal, as evidenced by the high death rate for first-time mothers. Here is why mothers on this earth deserve more than a thank you. Wikipedia "I am not in the mood for your human bullshit. Steve Childs "Babies are like beers -- the uglier they are, the more of them you need to consume.". Perhaps the most horrifying birth is that of the, View complete answer on animal-ethics.org, View complete answer on nationalgeographic.com, View complete answer on thehealthyjournal.com, View complete answer on verywellfamily.com. The animal kingdom is vast group of millions of different kinds (species) of animals. 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. Most nonhuman mammals tend to hide while giving birth, presumably to avoid attracting predators during their time of highest vulnerability. Animals Giving Birth | Do Animals Feel Pain Like Human when Giving Birth ? 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. 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. At one end of this classification of animals, you have the microscopic organisms. One factor that can make labor more challenging is the size of the fetus relative to the mother. In the first stage of labour the body is getting ready to start passing out puppies. But theres a catch. Other animal births include a baby mandrill in April and a baby . Some feature voiceovers from doctors that walk viewers through the steps of delivery. The average litter consists of two cubs, with three occasionally being reported. Times Syndication Service. They will look for food, find none, and finally realize in their tiny fetal shark brains that the only thing standing between them and starvation is their own brothers and sisters. Maybe they all become friends. In a typical giraffe birth, the baby's front hooves poke out of the mother first, followed by the nose and head. Thats like a human giving birth to a 7 year old. dayton leroy rogers family. But then scientists noticed something rather odd: Sometimes babies would go missing. These reptiles usually have 1-2 babies at a time, which doesn't sound so bad until you realize that combined, the babies make up a third of the mother's body weight. In Aesops fable The Hyenas, they change their sex each year. African elephants are the largest land animal in the world and they also have the longest gestation period of any mammal around 22 months. For starters, these porcupine babies are born fully quilled. After all, sharks eat. After a gestation of around three months, female hyenas give birth to two to four young, according to ADW. Here is why mothers all around the earth deserve more than a thank you. Safest for the pregnant person and the baby. Violent Birth. 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. Young pregnant woman in process of childbirth. 12 Animals With the Longest Gestation Period, Endangered Reticulated Giraffe Born in Florida Zoo, 10 of the Largest Living Things on the Planet, 13 Interesting Facts About Flying Squirrels, Spotted, Striped Endangered Tapir Calf Born in the UK, 16 Weird Sleep Habits in the Animal World, Season's First North Atlantic Right Whale Calf Spotted in Georgia. About 15% of the females die during their first birth, and they lose over 60% of their firstborn young. Wayne McLean Which is why there are no Tasmanian devil copyright violators. Want to burn your workplace down, beer in hand? "It's really weird genitalia, but it seems to work. Although giving birth through a 'penis' isn't a trivial problem.". Your name and responses will be shared with Cynthia Silva. A vaginal delivery has three stages: labor, birth and delivering the placenta. Maybe later I'll let you bone me.". As you can imagine, this presents a problem for the queen. As marsupials, opossums give birth to helpless young which they carry inside their pouch for two to three months. Extreme births. - Frances S. Chance. Kerns said he has never seen a newborn porcupine fall out of a tree, but it likely happens in the wild occasionally. She has won multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for her reporting at a weekly newspaper near Seattle. Is there any story more inspiring than a mother willing to sacrifice everything, even her dignity, for the safety of her offspring? The blue-ringed octopus is one of the most venomous creatures in the world. 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. Box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their box-like (i.e. It's not only painful. In June, a male Masai giraffe calf was born at the park. Normally, this isnt a problem for mom since the quills are soft at birth and gradually harden over the next few hours. Mind Break. If you're going to have ugly kids, why not just eat them before they hatch? But having too many dudes around is a waste of resources. Feasting on her milk, it will gain three pounds a day and will start eating solid foods after 10 days. It depends on the animal. There is no human mom in this world who would say giving birth is easy peasy. Kings of Pain: With Adam Thorn, Robert Alleva, Jim Pratt, Benjamin Abo. How long does it take snapping turtles to get full size? You've likely seen birth graphically depicted . The most extreme births in the animal kingdom Uma Sharma and Shira Polan Our moms aren't the only ones on this earth who went through pain to bring us into this world. It can take more than 24 hours for a woman to give birth, but dogs go through labor in about an hour. But the prehensile-tailed porcupine usually has just one baby at a time. Only students who are 13 years of age or older can save work on TED-Ed Lessons. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). (Image credit: Smithsonian's National Zoo), (Image credit: Clyde Nishimura/FONZ Photo Club/Smithsonians National Zoo/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), (Image credit: Rob Belterman/Sunshine/Zuma), (Image credit: Jon Arnold Images Ltd/Alamy), according to the World Health Organization, according to the American Pregnancy Association, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, In rare case, mother delivers two sets of identical twins, back to back, 'Brain-eating' amoeba case in Florida potentially tied to unfiltered water in sinus rinse, New Moai statue that 'deified ancestors' found on Easter Island, Painful 'cross-shaped incision' in medieval woman's skull didn't kill her, but second surgery did, Human brain looks years 'older' after just one night without sleep, small study shows. But others don't -- in other words, they have live babies, but don't have an organ to feed the developing fetuses. 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. In one case, a sheep's lambs died and had to be taken out of her, and she became depressed until Herriot went to another farm and received permission to take a lamb who had been rejected by its own mother. Mothers in a clan will share the responsibility of nursing each others young and other members of the can may bring food to the den for the cubs. These guys are born fully quilled. By six months, colts are more than 80 percent of their mature height, and by two years of age they are almost the height of a fully grown horse, 58 to 63 inches. Animals have many ways of giving birth, and only our closest relatives in the animal kingdom do it like us. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Their offspring emerge from this unusual birthing organ, almost indistinguishable from the male penis of the species, after 120 days of gestation. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. This flightless bird lays an egg that weighs about one pound, or20 percent of its body mass; one of the largest of any bird (by ratio). A calf can stand up soon after birth and will begin to eat grass and vegetation after a couple of months, though it will continue to rely on its mother for nourishment for at least six months. After about 30 to 60 minutes of labor, the mother pushes the baby out. Like walking across a shag carpet & reaching for the light switch. According to the index, the Most painful insect sting of them all is that of the bullet ant of Central and South American rainforests. 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. Cattle take about two to three hours. Your dogs uterus will be causing some discomfort by contracting although you wont be able to see it. What's more, the hyena's birth canal is just an inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and a 2-lb. Perhaps the most horrifying birth is that of the spotted hyena. If you're a fellow monotreme (there are only five . What is Martha Stewart's favorite perfume? So where do you find a species vicious enough to top that? Humans can also have extreme births.