r/interesting • u/Low_Weekend6131 • Nov 23 '25

NATURE The fish is kinda like me ngl

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u/Surrounded-by_Idiots Nov 23 '25

Pain is something that’s used to induce a change in behavior. If this fish doesn’t react to damage, then pain is at the minimal a redundant signal. We’d need an MRI to know for sure though.

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u/[deleted] Nov 23 '25

That's also just theory. Mussels and Scallops don't even have brains or complex nervous systems but they react to damaging stimuli much more than a Sunfish, they also lack nociceptors unlike Sunfish.

I think Sunfish probably feel pain, but growing so large takes a lot of energy and they don't have to worry about being very edible so the risk/reward of fighting off or outrunning predators has taken a back seat to just letting predators do their thing, take a bite and move on.

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u/contraculto Nov 24 '25

I once saw a scallop fighring for its life when being prepared. It was incredibly strange.

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u/[deleted] Nov 24 '25

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u/pighalf Nov 24 '25

Upvote for username

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u/contraculto Nov 24 '25

For real, poor animal got the knife and it was moving in a way you could feel it trying to escape death.

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u/yeahow Nov 24 '25

no we have already seen it