Do animals have a concept of "cuteness" as in would they be like "daww that's cute" with something that is not their own young?
In social mammals, adults play with the young, so that is probably closest to such feeling. Not just their own offspring either, in a lion pride they will play with other cubs too. Also adoption does occur but I don't know a good example.
budgies with yellow faces have an easier time finding mates
>>2077068
>"daww that's cute"
how do we measure that in a non talking animal?
>>2077085
Brain scans to see if affection section lights up or something when shown cute animals?
>>2077068
There is some research claiming that "cuteness" protects young animals from becoming instant prey of the others in their group.
>>2077068
Yes
>>2077068
It would be a good explanation as to why cats and dogs are typically very gentle to toddlers even if the little boogers happen to be a nuisance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-UKbDMfnuI
>>2077104
Notice this anon's use of passive voice and lack of citation.
these are the traits of ass-facts. They're presented in passive voice and lack citations. Now anon's claim may or may not be true, but the fact remains that he pulled it very recently out of his pungent ass.
>>2077100
>Brain scans to see if affection section lights up
>affection section
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/16/dogs-are-mans-best-friend-thanks-to-bonding-hormone-research-shows
Basically it says that when our dogs looks at us they get the same surge of oxytocin as we do. So basically when we think "awww cute dog", most the time our dog is thinking "awwww cute human" right back
>>2078423
>most the time our dog is thinking "awwww cute human" right back
that's not what that research indicates.
>>2078423
You read that wrong bruv
>>2077068
I think they do. Predatory adults sometimes "keep" young of other species.
>>2077085
Probably parenting instinct. It's so easy to con parents into raising something they think is their own that brood parasitism is employed across taxa from fish to birds. And animals with very strong parenting instinct are much more likely to "adopt" other species and even inanimate objects.
