Today I Learned @lemmy.world Don_Dickle @lemmy.world 2mo ago

TIL that African naked mole rat do not feel the sting of capsaicin (main component of chilies) and acids

link.springer.com Independent evolution of pain insensitivity in African mole-rats: origins and mechanisms - Journal of Comparative Physiology A

The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is famous for its longevity and unusual physiology. This eusocial species that lives in highly ordered and hierarchical colonies with a single breeding queen, also discovered secrets enabling somewhat pain-free living around 20 million years ago. Unlike mos...

Independent evolution of pain insensitivity in African mole-rats: origins and mechanisms - Journal of Comparative Physiology A

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Birds cannot feel capsaicin either.
- Nor apparently can a squirrel in my area who goes for bird suet. The spicy stuff just doesn't make a difference to that one.
  
  Spice Lord Squirrel
TIL my cousin Brandon is a mole rat.
- Naked?
So do they eat spicy peppers as a dietary staple or is it just a coincidence that they are immune?
- Peppers are a north/south American thing, there aren't any native to the old world, so it has to be a coincidence.
Naked mole rat said stop the cap!

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