Dem Bones
June 28, 2012 9:06 PM Subscribe
State Farm, motherfucker.
posted by LordSludge at 9:15 PM on June 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by LordSludge at 9:15 PM on June 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
Any idea what the ants want to do with the skeleton? Not much of "take away" meal there, I'd think.
posted by vidur at 9:18 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by vidur at 9:18 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
What're those ants going to do with that skull?
posted by MaryDellamorte at 9:23 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by MaryDellamorte at 9:23 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Thanks for posting this right before I go to sleep.
posted by swift at 9:30 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by swift at 9:30 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
.
posted by geckoinpdx at 9:32 PM on June 28, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by geckoinpdx at 9:32 PM on June 28, 2012 [11 favorites]
Any idea what the ants want to do with the skeleton?
Didn't you watch it? They were playing it like a marimba.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
Didn't you watch it? They were playing it like a marimba.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
I watched ants do the same thing to a gecko that died on the pario outside my room in India. In the afternoon it was a dead lizard, by the evening it was an ant swarm, and in the morning it was a skeleton. I was impressed.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 9:40 PM on June 28, 2012
A friend of mine in university kept geckos as pets. They smell horrible, so this somehow lessens my opinion of ants.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:41 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by KokuRyu at 9:41 PM on June 28, 2012
They smell fine as long as you keep their tank clean.
Poor lizard.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:50 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Poor lizard.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:50 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
The moment when they removed its cute little toes was a bit sad, but otherwise I thought it was cool to watch.
posted by Forktine at 10:03 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Forktine at 10:03 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Man, ants are fucking hard core. They are endlessly fascinating creatures.
I wonder why the gecko started to curl to the left as its flesh and bones were being stripped away by the ants? Also I too wonder what the ants intended to do with the bones. I imagine they must eat them, perhaps for the calcium.
Or maybe they use them to build tiny, baroque, underground cathedrals -- cathedrals constructed entirely from the bones of small vertebrates. That would be cool.
posted by Scientist at 10:08 PM on June 28, 2012 [17 favorites]
I wonder why the gecko started to curl to the left as its flesh and bones were being stripped away by the ants? Also I too wonder what the ants intended to do with the bones. I imagine they must eat them, perhaps for the calcium.
Or maybe they use them to build tiny, baroque, underground cathedrals -- cathedrals constructed entirely from the bones of small vertebrates. That would be cool.
posted by Scientist at 10:08 PM on June 28, 2012 [17 favorites]
I'M ITCHING ALL OVER!!!!! AACCKKKK!
posted by PepperMax at 10:09 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by PepperMax at 10:09 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Skeleton Dance! Awesome.
posted by ReeMonster at 10:37 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by ReeMonster at 10:37 PM on June 28, 2012
If those ants could do that to the people responsible for the Geico 'gecko' character and commercials, that would something good.
posted by Napoleonic Terrier at 10:51 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Napoleonic Terrier at 10:51 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
My face, a timeline according to this post:
Time lapse [ :) ] video of ants [ :D ] consuming [ :/ ] a gecko carcass [ D: ] in a few hours [ : O ]
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:53 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
Time lapse [ :) ] video of ants [ :D ] consuming [ :/ ] a gecko carcass [ D: ] in a few hours [ : O ]
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:53 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
I'm imagining the skull deep underground occupying some large cavern, its back to a sparkling granite wall, jaw open, the queen sitting inside straining to give birth as the workers crawl over the wide grin to take her children out through the gaping eye sockets.
posted by DisreputableDog at 10:55 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by DisreputableDog at 10:55 PM on June 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
I've also recreated a much more violent and desperate version of A Bug's Life in my head. I can hear her army chanting,
"THEY COME.
THEY EAT.
THEY LEAVE."
The grasshoppers are readying themselves, back legs digging into the ground to gain better leverage for the initial jump, and...and....
Oh god. I'm going to have frickin' sweet nightmares now.
posted by DisreputableDog at 11:01 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
"THEY COME.
THEY EAT.
THEY LEAVE."
The grasshoppers are readying themselves, back legs digging into the ground to gain better leverage for the initial jump, and...and....
Oh god. I'm going to have frickin' sweet nightmares now.
posted by DisreputableDog at 11:01 PM on June 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Someone in Ciudad Juárez is watching this and faintly smiling.
posted by stbalbach at 11:22 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by stbalbach at 11:22 PM on June 28, 2012
My cat killed a gecko that invaded our home. I placed the corpse outside and the next morning took this photo of the ants at work. Pretty amazing stuff.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:25 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:25 PM on June 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Hi ho...hi ho...Its off to work we go!
posted by quazichimp at 11:38 PM on June 28, 2012
posted by quazichimp at 11:38 PM on June 28, 2012
For those that are fascinated by this process, you MAY want to check out other "decompostition" scenarios. Be warned, not for the faint hearted, or light of stomach!
Stages of decomposition
A side note: The scientist who conducted these experiments used to take "sample animals" on family holidays to test decomposition processes in different environments. Imagine that, if you will!
posted by greenhornet at 11:52 PM on June 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Stages of decomposition
A side note: The scientist who conducted these experiments used to take "sample animals" on family holidays to test decomposition processes in different environments. Imagine that, if you will!
posted by greenhornet at 11:52 PM on June 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine in university kept geckos as pets. They smell horrible, so this somehow lessens my opinion of ants.
It's probably the crickets you're thinking of. Nasty (but necessary) bugs.
Very ....distinctive aroma.
OK, ok, they completely reek. And bite.
But geckos in general don't really have a smell in my experience.
...unless it's over 80 outside and they haven't had a chance to shower
posted by geckoinpdx at 1:42 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's probably the crickets you're thinking of. Nasty (but necessary) bugs.
Very ....distinctive aroma.
OK, ok, they completely reek. And bite.
But geckos in general don't really have a smell in my experience.
...unless it's over 80 outside and they haven't had a chance to shower
posted by geckoinpdx at 1:42 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
My day so far: (4:51am)
GET UP
MAKE SOME COFFEE
Hey, Metafilter!
HMM....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT SWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAARRMMMM!!!!!
shiver
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:51 AM on June 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
GET UP
MAKE SOME COFFEE
Hey, Metafilter!
HMM....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT SWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAARRMMMM!!!!!
shiver
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:51 AM on June 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
*Starts video* "hey where are the antOHGOD"
Ants are kickass. This makes me want to have an ant farm again.
posted by littlesq at 2:05 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ants are kickass. This makes me want to have an ant farm again.
posted by littlesq at 2:05 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Any idea what the ants want to do with the skeleton?
What're those ants going to do with that skull?
They're probably going to sell them to these bastards
posted by senor biggles at 2:56 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
What're those ants going to do with that skull?
They're probably going to sell them to these bastards
posted by senor biggles at 2:56 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Any idea what the ants want to do with the skeleton?
What're those ants going to do that skull?
Did you watch it? Ants are totally metal!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:00 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
What're those ants going to do that skull?
Did you watch it? Ants are totally metal!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:00 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
One time, after a long night of worms crawling in and out, I had ants play pinochle in my snout.
I hate it when they do that, because they cheat.
Fucking ants. They don't respect the rules of playing pinochle in my snout.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:33 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
I hate it when they do that, because they cheat.
Fucking ants. They don't respect the rules of playing pinochle in my snout.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:33 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
No waste in nature.
posted by yoga at 4:46 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by yoga at 4:46 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
THE HORROR
posted by elizardbits at 5:17 AM on June 29, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 5:17 AM on June 29, 2012
The scientist who conducted these experiments used to take "sample animals" on family holidays to test decomposition processes in different environments.
That's mean. Couldn't they scientist have found sample animals who didn't have families? Or at least let them have a nice holiday together first.
posted by DU at 5:32 AM on June 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
That's mean. Couldn't they scientist have found sample animals who didn't have families? Or at least let them have a nice holiday together first.
posted by DU at 5:32 AM on June 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
I loved how they guiltily tried to put the gecko back together at the end, as if one of them (the one with the spectacles and wild hair) had access to lots of high voltage...
Left thigh goes in eye socket... no damn! Wrist bone to rib... nope...okay who numbered these things...
posted by arzakh at 6:38 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Left thigh goes in eye socket... no damn! Wrist bone to rib... nope...okay who numbered these things...
posted by arzakh at 6:38 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
My first summer in Japan, I didn't pay too much attention to household chores. I didn't take the garbage out, but stored it under the kitchen sink. It was also real hot.
One day I came home to find a trail of tiny ants trooping in from outside, through the entry hall, down the hall, and into the kitchen. I went into the kitchen to find garbage all over the floor, like an animal had got at it. The ants were attracted by the garbage!
I swept up the ants and the garbage, but still the ants came.
The next day, the same scenario - garbage all over the floor, and tiny ants. This time, though, I caught whatever it was in the act - a stray cat! It shot up the stairs towards my bedroom. It had gotten in through my open bedroom window. However, the cat couldn't figure out how to get out.
I think I caught the cat with a butterfly net or something and gently released it in a field across the street. I learned a lot of lessons that day.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:00 AM on June 29, 2012
One day I came home to find a trail of tiny ants trooping in from outside, through the entry hall, down the hall, and into the kitchen. I went into the kitchen to find garbage all over the floor, like an animal had got at it. The ants were attracted by the garbage!
I swept up the ants and the garbage, but still the ants came.
The next day, the same scenario - garbage all over the floor, and tiny ants. This time, though, I caught whatever it was in the act - a stray cat! It shot up the stairs towards my bedroom. It had gotten in through my open bedroom window. However, the cat couldn't figure out how to get out.
I think I caught the cat with a butterfly net or something and gently released it in a field across the street. I learned a lot of lessons that day.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:00 AM on June 29, 2012
I'm surprised it took the ant scouts four hours to find the gecko. At my house, if it's on the counter for longer than fifteen minutes, it will be swarmed.
It's ant season.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:06 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's ant season.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:06 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Warning - you go two clicks away from that video and you get someone filming a live mouse being eaten by a piranha in a fishtank and other stuff. WTF youtube?
posted by MuffinMan at 7:48 AM on June 29, 2012
posted by MuffinMan at 7:48 AM on June 29, 2012
My advisor told me that, while he was working in the Congo, they got a kitten to keep rodents out of the food supplies. They'd put the kitten in a basket overnight so it wouldn't run away or get bitten by snakes. Except one night, a swarm of driver ants came through. The next morning, it was a basket full of kitten bones.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:01 AM on June 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 8:01 AM on June 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
That was way more fascinating/horrifying/humorous than I thought it would be. Seeing the skull being moved in hi-speed was...comical.
And obligatory: "I for one welcome..." etc.
posted by davidmsc at 10:11 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
And obligatory: "I for one welcome..." etc.
posted by davidmsc at 10:11 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ants are the best.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:41 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by shakespeherian at 10:41 AM on June 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Clearly they re-assemble the skeleton underground for the Reptile Museum.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 9:53 PM on June 29, 2012
posted by XhaustedProphet at 9:53 PM on June 29, 2012
Note to self: don't pass out drunk on that dude's table.
*Wakes up with no face*
posted by antifuse at 6:35 PM on July 19, 2012
*Wakes up with no face*
posted by antifuse at 6:35 PM on July 19, 2012
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