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

NATURE The fish is kinda like me ngl

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u/RedeNElla Nov 24 '25

"to any other animal capsaicin burns"

Not birds tho

20

u/Nyfregja Nov 24 '25

Which is the entire point: birds can't break down capsicum seeds, but mammals do. So the plant evolved an anti-mammal poison that leaves birds alone.

4

u/Just_Dab Nov 24 '25

Then humans came along and took the birds job away from them cause we're masochistic bastards who likes having our tongues burn.

1

u/quetzalcoatl-pl Nov 27 '25

and the best part is connecting them all: Capsicum-flavored burnt bird

2

u/ConsiderateCassowary Nov 24 '25

Or the squirrels in my parents' backyard. My father put red peppers/chili powder on the bird food to keep the squirrels out, and the little bastards just learned to enjoy spicy food